Today is the big day. Please feel free to scroll down to look at the pictures first. We can wait…. You’re back. Isn’t she beautiful!!!!
I will tell the tale of Aimee Anne Hong Mei’s Gotcha Day. We slept fairly well that night. I woke up and saw the sun rise on the city of Changsha. We ate at the breakfast buffet and joined our nervous group of three expectant families in the lobby. We drove a short distance in the van to the government building where adoptions are conducted.
I had the same feeling I have had just prior to giving birth to my older children. Fear mingled with excitement. We rode a small elevator to the upper floor. We went immediately into a large conference area. “Aunties/Nannies” lined the wall sitting in chairs with a dozen or so babies. The other two families in our group were immediately greeted with their two year old girls. Both mothers moved in slowly to their children. I on the other hand was wiping tears from the moment I stepped into the room. I can say that the most spiritually powerful moment on this earth is when you meet your child for the first time.
I was glad that we had to wait for Aimee Mei as I am grateful that we were able to watch others have their amazing moment. Soon more families and more babies came into the room. The room was now crowded. I believe that I only heard one baby cry for a little while. The room was overflowing with happiness so we were taken into a smaller conference room. Vicky told us that Hong Mei’s foster family was having a difficult time letting her go. Our joy was now tinged with sorrow and guilt for her dear foster family.
At 11AM it was announced that Hong Mei was in the building!!!! Hong Mei strolled into the conference room with such a confident and happy personality. She looked just like the last picture we saw of her in August. She is tall and willowy. I would have recognized her dear face anywhere on the streets of Changsha. She had an air of “hey there is a party going on!” She told the Auntie that escorted her that she was excited to meet Baba and Mama. She was excited to go on the airplane to America. She immediately came to me. Now Baba was crying. I gave her the doll and she liked it right away. Like any good little Mama she tried to take the doll’s clothes off.
Hong Mei was lovingly dressed in a lime green Minnie Mouse outfit with a jacket. She had a Barbie phone and a large red backpack filled with her favorite snacks packed by her loving foster mother. She complained to the Aunties that in all the rush she had not had breakfast. She got out an opened bag of snacks and offered some to the other girls in the room. This act of charity melted my already soft heart. Here was a child with so little who was so willing to share what she had with others.
We signed a few papers. We asked the Auntie a few questions. Too soon it was time to go. Now many families filled both rooms. Surely the heavens wept with joy that Mother’s day that so many orphaned children now had families. As we left, Hong Mei whimpered a little as the Auntie said goodbye. Excited we carried her to the bus and back to the Dolton Hotel. All her joy ended as we stepped foot into the room. Hong Mei ran back to the door as it closed behind her and burst into tears that would last for several hours.
Now she does not like her Mama only Baba. Mama took Hong Mei away from the Aunties and Grandma/Foster Mother. We tried to comfort her with food and drink. We tried walking and playing in the Dolton play room. Nothing worked. While in the play room we meet another family who had adopted a four year old a few days earlier. This dear girl gave Hong Mei her bubbles and unopened milk drinks to comfort her. The two girls conversed and it appeared to us that the four year old was telling Hong Mei, “Look kid, it’s okay to be adopted.” Still over and over she ran to Rulon and she cried, “Baba take me back to Grandma.” She repeated this phrase for a couple of hours until exhausted she fell asleep in his arms; little sobbing shudders emanating from her sleep. She woke up after a two hour nap, and the grieving started again.
At this point, we had to go downstairs to meet with Vicky to sign the adoption papers. Hong Mei was so pitiful that other families cried for her. A truly grieving child is a difficult thing to bear. Hong Mei spoke with Vicky and told her that we had not fed her lunch. She asked Vicky to take her back to Grandma. Vicky told her no, she must stay with Mama and Baba. Hong Mei does not want Mama and Baba, but she wants grandma.
We left and went back to the room and ordered room service as we are a public spectacle when we are out. We still had not got her to potty or take her jacket off. I sat beside her and she allowed me to remove one shoe and sock. With lotion I rubbed her dry foot. She immediately sat up and smiled at me!!! I massaged her leg rubbing in more lotion. I carefully took off her other shoe and slowly by rubbing lotion and massaging I got her clothes off and into pajamas. She was now able to use the potty. We were able to play. She also ate a few crackers and drink.
Rulon gave her a father’s blessing of comfort. She lay quietly onto her cot and fell fast asleep. We pray this night that her Chinese Grandma and her birth mother will find comfort that she is where she belongs. We will always be thankful for their sacrifice.
Mere words cannot describe the amazing day that we had. It was a testimony to me that God in all his power and tender mercies was able to bring our family together from across the world; past the barriers of politics, culture and language to bring our Aimee Mei into the loving arms of her forever family.
Good night,
Joanna
PS Happy Mothers Day to Gran and Grandma B.
Daddy and his little girl
Hong Mei's new baby
Misses her grandma
Nap with baby
Ready For Bed
No eye has seen, nor ear has heard and no mind has imagined what God has proposed for those who love Him. 1Cor.2:9
