What An Amazing Day!

We started the day with a wonderful breakfast at the hotel and then we met up with the Ng's. There's nothing like traveling halfway around the world to get to visit your friends that live in the same state. Who is this Ng family you may be asking? Well, for those of you who do not know, let me just briefly share.. Shortly after we moved to Southern California, Michael met a physician at UCLA named Phil Ng. They hit it off and quickly discovered that they were both Christians. His wife Pat is a pediatrician and they have two adopted daughters from China. After one of their lunches together, Michael called me to tell me that God had been working in his heart and that he realized that God didn't bring us to California just for a job promotion, but that it was the realization that we had a daughter waiting for us in China... Yes, this was certainly an ordained encounter and how the seed of adoption was planted for us.. so now you all know. Our families enjoyed getting together for dinners as they lived in a nearby community, they were a great help in walking us through our adoption with Kylee.

As a ministry the Ng's travel back to China once a year with USA Affairs- (our agency) and help adoptive families. Pat helps with the babies as often they are sick when coming home. They also help with some other organizations, and as a bonus their two daughters have had the opportunity to visit many different provinces in China. Of course we were elated to get a call from them that not only were they coming with our group, which is spread all over China, but that they were going to come North and be with us for two weeks. We feel so honored and blessed.

After breakfast we headed to the civil affairs office, which was only about 5 minutes from our hotel. Of course it's very warm and the humidity is high here. So with lots of sweat and my frizzy hair we headed in anxiously excited not sure what to expect. We went upstairs in the elevator and came out to a hallway which led into a big room. We came around the corner and there he was waiting by the door with a cautious smile. We were shocked and overjoyed with how little he was. He's about the size of a 5 year old, just a little bigger than Kylee, and sooo cute! We kneeled down to his level and he said in Chinese "hello mamma and daddy". We told him how much we loved him and were so happy to be his parents, and that we have been waiting for him. He seemed happy that we were there. We gave him hugs and showed him pictures from a little photo album we brought for him. He was very interested in these as we were telling him about his other siblings. He got a big smile when we showed him a picture of Kylee, his Mei Mei.

He loved the soccer ball Kennedy brought for him, and a back pack (from Michael's team) with some goodies. After we stood up to take in our surroundings, we realized there was another family there also picking up their son from the same orphanage. It was obvious he and Landon were friends, as after our brief introduction they were back to playing. They play so rough, lots of play hitting and very territorial! We enjoyed meeting them, they were from South Carolina. I took some pictures of the boys. We signed the papers to be his official guardians for 24 hours. Tomorrow is adoption day! Later, while in another office doing paperwork he was trying to get out into the hall, he was trying to find his friend. So great to have Pat to translate and talk to him while Michael and Maggie were finishing paperwork. When we were done with civil affair photo we said goodbye to his friend Wu Fei and he seemed willing and happy to leave with us.

Back to the hotel for more paperwork, while the kids all played. He was so excited, running around playing with these balloons that fly all around. This kid has a lot of energy! Kennedy was having a ball. He really enjoyed some legos we brought with us. He was proud to call out Baba (daddy) and show him what he had made. He is so sweet, we can't keep our hands off him. He's not completely sure about all this hugging and kissing, but by the end of the day he was kissing us both on the lips and he told Kennedy in the elevator that he loved him.....


We went to McDonald's for lunch and boy was that exciting! He is such a ham, I'm not quite sure where they got "quiet and shy" in his referral report. I'm certain this will not be the case. We love hearing him talk and all the little sounds he makes. Lot's of little grunts and noises. So funny! He is so precious we just can't hardly believe he's ours. It's amazing how all the little trials we had getting here just melted away the moment we met him, so worth it all!

We were told by the orphanage director that he was very excited the night before that we were coming and he wanted to know from her more about his new family. He was wearing a t-shirt some shorts, (no undies) and some little blue ripped sandals. That is all he came with. His feet were just amazingly dirty. It's also very obvious he has had absolutely no oral hygiene. Dr. Orlando is going to have a heyday in his mouth. We brought him some clothes but most of them are way too big. He'll grow into them. I couldn't wait to put him in the tub, but their was not time, so we just put a new shirt on him.. He loved matching with Kennedy. We spent the rest of the afternoon touring the Forbidden City, the palace of the first emperors of the Quin dynasty. It was so great walking around getting to know our little boy. Kennedy has been so helpful- modeling the way.. Later we had a prearranged group dinner. Wonderful Chinese food. Landon was so excited about the food. He unfortunately got sick that night after his tub. Throwing up and bad diarrhea...poor little guy.. Is there a Dr. in the house? Yes, thankfully two- and they can communicate with him too which is so great. Despite him getting sick this has been such a wonderful day. He did not have a single tear....(which I'm sure it's coming) We are just amazed at how smooth it has gone, thank you to all of you that are praying for us. We know God is doing miracles. Tomorrow is his official Adoption Day!

I'm having trouble posting pics. I will try again tomorrow.