Tuesday in Liaoning

Today was a busy day of paperwork.  We left the hotel at 8:45 and returned at 6:30.  The whole time we were working on paperwork.  We look forward to our first and only free day here in this province.  Thursday we will have a day of sightseeing and then we will fly to Guongzhou.

Lucy has had another incredible day.  She woke up very happy this morning.  We woke her up at 6:30 to call her friend Betty on Skype.  Betty was adopted by a family in Florida a couple of months ago.  The girls had a great time seeing and talking to each other.  It was fun for them to catch up.  Priceless really.  A great start to her day.  Betty's mom and I have decided it would be a great thing if they could skype each other first thing in the morning for a few days to make sure Lucy is ok.  Betty would be able to tell us if she had any needs.  Thank you so much, Betty!

While we were getting ready for breakfast we skyped with a few others and then headed out for the day.  She loved the buffet breakfast downstairs this morning.  It was the first time she had used a fork.  She had told us through a translator yesterday that she was nervous about using a fork and knife for the first time.  You would think she would not be nervous after seeing us trying to use chopsticks at every other meal.  She usually eats porridge for breakfast every morning so I think she enjoyed all of the selections.  In fact, tonight as we were eating dinner, she typed in to her electronic translator that she thought it would be a great idea for us to eat breakfast downstairs again tomorrow morning.  I thought that was great that she felt comfortable enough to ask us if we could eat there again.

We ate lunch in the city of her orphanage with one of her teachers/nannies and a past orphanage director today.  These are two people that really love Lucy.  I was a little nervous that she would not want to leave after being with them or that she would be really sad.  Well, as we left, I am the one that cried.  I know that  really shocks some of you.  :)  But I know how much this nanny has done for her and cared for her.  I know Lucy really loves her too, but there were no tears.   That really spoke volumes to me of how happy she really is to be going home with us.  She got right into the van and carried on smiling like she has done all along.  We have hardly any communication, so when one of us looks at her, she just smiles really big. 

Tonight we ordered room service and then put together a puzzle.  Afterwards we were all sitting on the bed eating miniature candy bars and Mentos, and she picked up the electronic translator and simply typed "happiness".  Lauren shrugged her shoulders as if she did not know what she was talking about, and she typed the words "I am happy."

Ok, if that does not get you, how about this one.  Anytime she has typed a message to me tonight she makes sure she types "mother" in front of it.  And I have heard her tell a couple of people something, and I hear the word "mother" or "mama"  somewhere in there.  I think she is so thrilled to be able to use that word.

She is very affectionate as she has to always be holding someone's hand, have her arm around someone's neck, of just sitting really close to them.  We do not mind it AT ALL.

Well, my eyes are rolling back as I type this so I think I will close for now.  I will try to do better as the days pass.  I have just been so tired as we come in from long days.  Still a little jet lag also.

Lastly, thank you all so much for your prayers.  We feel prayer like never before.  It just does not make any sense for things to be running this smoothly.  All praise to God!

Oh yeah - one more thing that I can not forget to mention.  Lauren is still doing an amazing job.  I am sooo proud of her.  She makes this whole process so much easier.

Goodnight,
Christy