(I have intended on posting a few words about all the wonderful e-mails we have received, but keep forgetting. Thank you so much for ALL of your encouraging words and for sharing with us the details of life back home. We have never before felt so much love and support. We are receiving quite a bit of e-mail and I haven’t had time to answer very much of it at all. Please know that we are reading every word; but responding with a two year old in my lap just doesn’t work too well. I have just enough energy in the evening to post to the web-site and then it’s off to bed…)
I am humbled once again by answered prayer. I know that so many of you prayed for a positive trip to the orphanage and that is exactly what we had.
This morning we set off for Yangjiang at just after 8 a.m. It was a long car ride, but it was also an unbelievable blessing to see so much of the province and city that Amy is from.
We visited two orphanages today – ours and the one that another little gal from our agency is from. Our director met us at the other family’s orphanage, as did one of Amy’s caregivers. I opted not to tour the first orphanage because Amy was whimpering and I didn’t want to scare her further. Her and I stayed in the welcome office while Chris went with the other dad to see the facility.
Our wonderful orphanage director took all of us to lunch before our visit to YJ (Yangjiang SWI). It was quite a treat! We dined in traditional “relaxed” Chinese style with a lazy susan and many various dishes. I am sorry to admit that I didn’t try everything; but I really did like everything I tried. All the Chinese that we dined with enjoyed several good belly laughs at poor Chris’s expense; his chopstick skills are quite poor and it was evident to all.
Chris had to take Austin to the restroom while we were eating. While he was gone, the director had a few questions for me. He wanted to know my occupation. After I told him that I am a homemaker/stay at home mommy he said that I am a good mother and have taught my children very good manners. Woo Hoo!!!
THEN I had to take Ashleigh to the bathroom (squatty potty… so it took awhile). While I was gone, Chris and the other dad were talking to the director and told him thank you for our lunch. His response was sincere gratitude for taking care of the girls.
After lunch we set off for YJ. As we turned the final corner to enter Amy’s orphanage it was obvious to me that she knew where we were going.
We are so happy to see such love and care for the children. The baby room was more than a little overwhelming! So many little ones playing in one room; and so many nannies right down on the floor with them. Ashleigh and Austin had crackers to share with all the children and it was so special to see them paying very special attention to each child. We visited with the older children in the courtyard also. This was the age group that Amy spend a lot of time with. She didn’t want me to put her down and I did not push the issue. I did allow her to watch her brother and sister interact with her friends though and that was a treasure.
Right before we left I asked our guide to tell the nannies and the director thank you for taking such wonderful care of Amy for her first 25 months. I was very teary eyed. I saw one nanny who turned and walked away with eyes full of tears. I made an effort to make eye contact with her once more to smile and show my gratitude.
As we loaded into the van to leave, Amy looked out the window and was very sing-song-y; humming something. As we pulled away she waved and very clearly said several times “bye-bye”. More tears from Mom. This was the closure all of us needed.
That is really all our day consisted of, as we did not make it back into Guangzhou until 6:30 p.m. But there is one other funny thing…
After we ordered food for supper, Chris needed to run and pick up our laundry. Austin wanted to go with him, so I thought I would just keep the girls here. As Chris went to leave, Amy had a near meltdown as Daddy left. It was an AWESOME step forward for her.
And while he was gone I had the joy of Amy’s first real two-year old moment! I had been walking with her to soothe her after Chris left; she was very calm. I sat on the bed and she just started screaming at me and hitting me with her plastic link toys. This was not a child grieving, but instead a two year old tantrum! I very carefully set her on the bed next to me and firmly said “no” to her behavior. She kicked and screamed some more. I told her that I really wanted to hold her, but I would not let her act like that. She quickly understood and stopped the tantrum. No more tears for the rest of the night!
Oh the joys of a two year old! But the great thing is that the language barrier isn’t really a barrier at all! Love is a language that needs no words.
Enjoy the pictures!
Mrs. Hall and Mrs. Jordan’s classes…
I am so sorry that we haven’t had a lot of time to e-mail. I hope you got Ashleigh and Austin’s e-mails earlier.
On our visit to Yangiang today we stopped at one store to buy a very special memento of Amy’s birth city. It is a beautiful set of kitchen knives and a nice wood block to store them in. Yangjiang is known all over the world for their knives an scissors. If your mom has a very good knife she uses in the kitchen, it was probably made in Yangjiang.
Amy finishing her breakfast
Lunch with the orphanage director; mmmmm good!
Ashleigh making lots of new friends at YJ SWI
Austin riding the merry-go-round from Amy's referral picture
The five of us in front of the place Amy's birth mother chose for her to be found
