God is Good!

God is good!  There is no doubt in my mind that God is at work in this adoption process.  We have been blessed beyond measure with our little Evie J!

On Monday,  March 11, 2013 Bryan and I met our guide and other adopting families in the lobby of our hotel at 8:30 am.  From there, we boarded a bus and headed to the Civil Affairs office where we would meet our daughter.  It was a short bus ride, about 15 minutes.  This was just enough time to read through special messages that several dear friends in Charlotte had left for me on note cards.  With each card, the emotions swelled.  We also chatted with a nice family who were there to adopt their third child from China.  Their first two children were with them to welcome their baby brother.  They were a wealth of information and advice for the meeting that was about to come.  Soon, our Holt guide, William, announced that we were at the Civil Affairs office, and the excitement was overwhelming.

We were led to a room that had several couches and a desk.  The room was not modern or decorated in any fancy way.  The furniture looked worn and I couldn’t help thinking about all of the families who have gone before us in this room.   Those families are now thriving in their lives outside of this two-week in-country process.  It is very comforting to know we are not alone in this process.  Our agency, Holt, is excellent at making us feel supported and comforted. 

Bryan and I sat on a loveseat in the corner of the room next to a large window.  Every once in a while I would stand and look out the window hoping to get a glance of the children driving in the front parking lot.  No such chance.  After about 20 minutes of waiting and watching all of the government and Holt staff scurry around with our paperwork, the door opens and in walks a lady that looks to be in her 50’s and a little girl with pigtails and a huge puffy outfit.  They said nothing and it felt as if Bryan and I were the only ones to notice them come in the room.  Bryan and I started chatting, “Is that her? Do you think that’s her?  Oh my, is that her?  She’s soooo cute!”  Bryan started rolling the video camera.  The lady led the little girl over to a loveseat next to ours and they sat quietly.  At this point, still with nobody else noticing they had arrived, I got up and walked slowly over to kneel in front of the little girl, who we would quickly officially find she is Jian Miao (our Evie J).   Then one of the officials noticed and announced it was Jian Miao.  Ahhhhh! What a relief!

Evie did not make a peep.  She sat quietly and barely lifted her head to look at us.  The lady with Evie was the Orphanage Director at the orphanage that registered her.  Evie J has been in a foster home for nearly three years, but made monthly visits to this orphanage for health checks.  As we got closer, I picked her up, I felt my nerves calm.  Loving her came so natural.  Holding her and knowing she was ours forever was amazing.  She continued to stay very quiet.  Eventually one tear fell from her left eye.  This made a couple other ladies who were adopting cry. That one tear said a lot.  She was sad.  The orphanage director described Evie J as quiet and introverted.  She said she is very shy around strangers and does not look them in the eye.

After some paperwork and a family photo, we boarded the bus and returned to our hotel.  Now it was time for Evie J to meet her big brothers!  As we walked in the room all three boys watched quietly.  They were so good and sensitive to her insecurities.  The day went on and she became more comfortable with us.  We can only tell this because she now looks without reservation.  She is extremely quiet and only speaks when she has to go to the bathroom.  Yesterday she did not eat, and took only a few sips of apple juice and Sprite.  This morning she has taken a few sips of juice and ate some dried little toast-like biscuits that we found at a supermarket.  They were like the food that her foster parents had sent with her yesterday when we got her.

Yesterday, I wanted so badly to change her clothes immediately because they looked hot and dirty, but I had to be patient.  After a couple of hours, I changed her clothes.  She was not happy about taking off of her clothes, but as soon as she was dressed she was okay.  Two to three hours later, I gave her a quick bath and covered her dry skin with cream. She quickly was comforted and content when she was wrapped and warm in a big towel in Bryan’s arms.  My heart melted. God is good!

Today, we have another meeting at the Civil Affairs office for more paperwork.  Evie J will go with us.  Before that, we are going to enjoy our morning as a family with breakfast and a swim in the pool.  We were told that Evie J takes a nap at about 2pm, and I can tell she’s ready for it at that time.  She slept fantastic last night in our bed.  I tried to put her in a crib, but she seemed sad and scared in there.  She was fast asleep for the entire night between Bryan and I.

We still have not heard her voice besides the couple of bathroom requests, and we know in time she will become more and more comfortable with us.  Our priority now is to show her every moment of the day that we love her and she is forever going to be a Springer.  Did I mention, God is good?!