She's Officially Ours FOREVER!

Day 2 with Sophie is the day she officially became ours!

We had to return to  the  Civil Affairs Office where  we received her,  so  I wasn't too sure  how  things  would go given her screaming and thrashing  about yesterday!   Don't be fooled by some of yesterday's  pictures,  it was a scream fest! I'm  sure  that  everyone was glad they  were  not  us! The Lord had prepared my heart for her reaction and I was actually grateful to see how close she was to her nanny.  It means good potential for solid bonding with us in the future!  In all things, give thanks!

But for the return trip,  she was fine and we even got a picture of her smiling in front of the big red sign.  All of  the families were presented with their  final adoption  decrees and thanked for adopting Henan children...with a special thanks given to the 3 families who were returning to adopt from Henan again!  Joshua is also from Henan!  After that we headed to get paper work notarized, and then we were done for everything official for the day.

After lunch, it was time to do some laundry the old-fashioned way!  Sophie was my little helper and seemed to know exactly what to do!  I gave her a couple of washcloths and she thrilled at dropping them in the water and then wringing them out.

That evening we needed to make another trip to Wal-Mart and get dinner.  Christmas lights and Santa are covering many buildings, though they have no idea what Christmas is about.  One of our guides said they aren't allowed to celebrate it and asked if we are in the US.

Our hotel...

We met an ex-pat who came up to us and asked if we were here on adoption trip.  I learned that he has been living in China for 15 years working with undocumented orphans.  That means that they do not have any paperwork listing them as orphans, or as even existing.  Without paperwork in China, not only can these children not attend public school, but as they age it will be very difficult to do work or even get a license for their car.  His 'charity foundation' gives rears them and gives them a private school education.  There are so many areas of ministry in China!  One of the sweet girls was with him and they were very helpful to us for finding the little sausages Sophie is accustomed to.

Dinner we decided needed to be close and fast.  Much like when you are in that predicament in the US, we opted for fast food...Burger King.  We ordered what looked like Bacon Cheeseburgers, but were called Italian Whoppers (or something like that).  They were slathered in a spicy Marinara Sauce.  Interesting.  The fries were good, though.

As for Sophie, she is doing well and is smiley, friendly, giggly, snuggly, beyond adorable.  I didn't think it was possible for her to be cuter than her pictures, but she is!  Probably because in real life her personality takes over.  Oh, my!  Are we ever in love!  She makes it so easy!  How her heart has blossomed under such difficult physical circumstances is a testimony to the grace of God and the love that Show Hope and New Hope provide through their special care centers.

In Him,
Mandy