He Gives and Takes Away

Yesterday and today have been beautiful, powerful, overwhelming, scary, amazing days. As we boarded our flight from Beijing to Guangzhou I decided I would listen to my music to try and avoid getting motion sick. Distraction always helps right? The song Blessed Be His Name played. I hadn't heard this song for quite awhile. The line in the song that really hit me was, "He gives and takes away." That is what the last days have been. Chloe has been taken away from all the smells, sights, securities, foods, and people she has ever know, and given to us.  Some may say how lucky she is to have the four of us watching her every move; actually I say we are the lucky ones because we have been saved, adopted into a forever family, and have this enormous opportunity to love another person and give her a home and family. More importantly we pray we lead her to her heavenly father where she will ALWAYS find security.

Today's the Day~

After our flight we found our guide Hellen.  She hurried us into a taxi, we rushed to the hotel to drop off our luggage and she gave us 15 minutes to grab Chloe's things, our documents, and other supplies for our "Gotcha Day".  Needless to say it looked as if our luggage exploded inside our room.  

After crying Chloe settled down and we shared a snack and book while Tom signed papers.  She traveled by bus 8 hours with her nanny   She had a very long day before meeting us at 3:00 p.m.  

I look better here than when I gave birth to Em and Nick.  If you would have seen me on the plane ride to China, you wouldn't have thought that though.  

 This is the second day of paper work for Chloe.  She is official our daughter now.  We went through a notary appointment and had an interview.  I guess we are acceptable parents~shew.

I am so proud of Em and Nick.  They have been amazing during the entire trip.  God has been so good to me. 

I believe that Emily summed our day up in such profound, succinct words…"Mom, being on the Great Wall was incredible, but this (the room where 10 children were meeting their forever families) was even more amazing." We witnessed something so much bigger than we can express.  No one had dry eyes nor will ever be the same again!