Gotcha Day!

How to describe this day! Wow, God is so very good to all of us! After a reasonable night's rest (despite very firm beds and this persistent 3 a.m. wake-up thing), we all were excited and anxious to get ready for the day. We had a good breakfast, then shortly after that we left for the civil affairs office. 

So different from where we received John-Nathan. With John-Nathan we were the only ones there, but with Jack we were amongst many waiting families. Some were waiting to see and hold there little ones for the first time and others were there to complete the adoptions.  It was a full house and it was a teary-eyed scene to watch: precious little souls whose lives were changing in an instant.  And although they couldn't know for themselves that it was very good thing, they sure knew that SOMETHING was different, and most, quite frankly, were letting people know that they didn't like it!

Jack got out of the van with his nanny, who immediately pointed us out.  He had a smile on his face and came to us warmly.  It wasn't a "I go up to every stranger this way" kind of greeting, but more like he was actually familiar with us.  From there it's all kind of a blur, amidst the flurry of photos, video, paperwork, and other families milling about.  We got to speak to the nanny a bit, too, before she left.

We trekked on back to the hotel, for some play time in the room, before getting carry-out. (Funny that our guide said that Chinese food wasn't good taken out from the restaurant…)  After lunch, Celinda got him down for a nap, and Peter took the kids to play some ping pong and explore the hotel further.  Four more days here in our home-away-from home, until going south to our NEXT home-away-from-home!

Jack woke up in a good mood from his nap.  We have been playing in the room since then.  It will soon be dinner and evening routine--whatever THAT will be!  Julianna's Mandarin has definitely come in handy.  She says that she and Jack are on about the same level!

Tomorrow we will finalize the adoption here in town, before heading to his home town where we will apply for his passport and visit the place that has been home to him for nearly three years: Maria's Big House of Hope.