Adoption Day - Learning Our Girl

Good morning little one. We have been doing this dance with you now for about eighteen hours. You are a sweet little girl. Eager to please. Even more willing to learn. And it seems like maybe you have a lot to learn.

Today, your orphan status will change to "Loved forever!"

Yes. Really. You will have a family to call your own.

I know the day didn't exactly start out the way we thought. Here is where we found you this morning. Maybe you fell out of bed but more likely, the bed was too soft for you and you were able to sleep better on the floor.

How frightened you must be although you have an excellent game face and haven't shown us much emotion. Yet.

Back to the Civil Affairs Office for two interviews and some signatures assuring

China that we will never abuse, neglect, nor abandon you. We promise.

Look at the shadow across her face. At one point Joy began to tear up. We quickly got our guide to tell her that we were not leaving her. I don't think she has any idea what is happening. Sure, she has a mommy and a daddy. But what in the world does that mean? She has no frame of reference. At all.

Hugs and kisses. Soft words and smiles.

It's all we can do for her right now.

The notary asked us, "Why do you want to adopt her when you have so many others?" Flustered is an understatement here. Operating on basically zero sleep, we left that hanging probably longer than we should have. "Because we love her? We want HER to have a family? We love children?"

Apparently our stupor and consequently our answers were satisfactory as we got a nod and a signature. We returned to the big room and waited for our guide to pay the fees on our behalf.

Joy MeiNi.

 

You are a Peterson.

 

Officially.

 

 

 

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