It has been quite a day here in China. Our plane from Beijing to Zhengzhou was delayed 2 hours due to heavy fog. Once we arrived in Zhengzhou, our guide “Bob” informed us that Madelyn was not going to make it to the civil affairs office today since her orphanage was so close to the flooding this past week and the roads were still bad with high water. I was disappointed yet knew I had to be strong so I fought back the tears and prayed that God would calm my nerves and help me through this!
One other family has traveled with us and their daughter did make it today. We enjoyed our first official Chinese lunch…the buffet had a chocolate fountain, need I say more :o)! We then headed back to our room to relax and get comfortable for the week we are going to be here. At 3pm our phone rang with a excited yet confused Bob on the other line. Dang Xiao duo (Madelyn) had indeed made it to the Civil Affairs office and would be ready for us at 4:00. I nervously started getting my things together but was still so apprehensive. Now our other traveling family was being told their daughter was the one to arrive tomorrow. How could I get my hopes so high when everything seemed to be in disarray for the day.
We arrived at the CA office a few minutes after 4pm. Our guide had told me Madelyn was there but I had no idea when I would see her………I walked in the door and there she was. Much, much bigger than what her pictures had shown her and beautiful. I did not have the emotions I thought I would until Madelyn realized they wanted her to go with me and she was not at all happy with that. I fought back heavy tears, I wanted her to see me happy and not be afraid. She is VERY fluent in Mandarin and was talking up a storm but not wanting anything to do with me.
It’s 10pm here in China now, Madelyn sleeps soundly in her crib and has decided that I might be ok after all. There is no easy was to describe my feelings at this moment. Madelyn is beautiful, she has stolen my heart 100% already. I look forward to these next few bonding days with her. She got to say Hello to Matt and big brother Joshua already over the phone……actually she would not stop yapping and I could not get the phone back :o)
I wish I could tell you that this has been the picture perfect trip so far but as the lump grows in my throat as I type this I miss Matt and Joshua more than I ever imagined. They are going to be so intrigued by Miss Maddie and I wish somehow they could have joined me on this trip. God has blessed our family today with this little China doll and I am forever grateful. Would you please pray for our family as I continue this journey with out my husband and son, that our hearts would remain strong until we see each other on July 20th.
Also, please pray for the Jacobs and that their daughter does arrive on Tuesday.
God is amazing and so I praise His name for this day he has given us.
With love from China,
Jennifer, Paula and Madelyn |
