130 km/hr

We reached that speed during at least one point on our outing this afternoon to Jack's "hometown" of Luoyang.  I'll leave you to calculate the mph.  Of course, we were buckled, even if our driver and guide in the two front seats were not...

Well, this morning started out by returning to the government office to finalize the adoption.  The director presented us with certificates and congratulated us on the happy event!  From there, we went to another government office for a notarization process (i.e. more paperwork, money, and gifts).  From there, the real fun began...

We were told that it would be 2-2.5 hours to his "orphanage".  We told our guide that someone who had gone there yesterday had encountered a closed road and a difficult detour.  She assured us that both she and the driver knew where they were going.  Some 3+ hours later we were there (we encountered the same closed road and difficult detour).  We saw more of his local city than we ever cared to.  It was actually quite comical, watching the driver and guide figure out how to arrive at a location whose road had been closed. After several stops on the road to ask "locals" and calls on a cell phone to a mystery person, they finally took our advice to call Maria's itself for directions, which proved to be the most helpful.

The welcome at Maria's Big House of Hope was, well, like home.  We saw people we knew, people we knew of, and people who have known and lovingly cared for Jack for nearly three years.  So much could be said about this incredible place and its incredible people.  Needless to say, we are grateful for what the Lord is doing at and through Maria's.

We will try to get some video posted on our YouTube channel tomorrow.  Right now, we're beat, but we did want to get some pictures posted for you.  We love the comments--keep 'em coming!!!!

Whose crib is this anyway?

Jack is a good eater!

Chillin' out.

Lovin' the bath!

It's official!

Long day in the van!

When we pulled up outside Maria's, his nanny called and waved to Jack from his former fourth floor room.

A hug for/from Jack's nurse, Jonalyn.

And from Becca the preschool teacher.

Stayin' close to mommy at Maria's,

Sorry, Alice -- we missed you but enjoyed seeing your daddy! 

Visiting with his nanny in his room.

Next to one of our pictures they had posted on his wall.

Out front of Maria's, just before leaving "for good".

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.