Monday Morning

Didn't get much written for Gotcha Day..and don't really remember what we sent off since it was such an overwhelming day. We left Beijing and arrived at Xian without any trouble. The airport in Beijing was so huge...the terminals you go to, or gates, are in a three level building. You eventually get sent to a door which leads you to a bus and then they taxi you (standing room only) out weaving through the runway until they (hopefully) find your plane. We were only at one terminal building, there were many. It was crazy and I wish we could've taken pictures but they don't allow it.

We arrived at Xian and were met by a guide, who was a talking history book. She seems very knowledgable in the adoption process but not overly sympathetic what we are actually going through. She took us to our hotel for an hour to unpack and get ready to meet Emma. Then when we left the hotel we had to go to the Bank of Ch*na to exchange our huge wad of new US dollars to Chinese currency. It was a very nerve wracking process, which I am amazed we even got done. We were exchanging more than the allowable amount for one day. It had us a bit frazzled and by then late to our next stop...Emma. When we got to the huge building where we would meet Emma, we walked into a huge abandoned building and got onto an elevator that was only plywood, seriously! Somehow, by Gods grace we made it up to the correct floor, which I think the building is being remodeled or something. We walked down a little hallway and already heard children crying and people talking. We walked in and there sitting in the arms of a nanny and next to the director..was Emma. No one had to introduce us, we knew it was her. She had been waiting for two hours for us and yet still was just sitting there content. She let me hold her right away, no tears, no struggle or reaching back for the Nanny. She really loved my glasses and kept pulling them off. That one moment time stopped but then chaos took over...we were asked to sign all kinds of papers, ask any questions we had for the nanny, and then we were ushered out. One note is that the couple we met in the airport the first night were there as well, but there was a miscommunication and there daughter had never left the orphanage over 9 hours away. They had to leave empty handed. I am hoping we see them today when they get to meet their daughter. Kara, the woman, took all kinds of pictures of us with Emma, she will email to me later...what a blessing!

Have to get ready to leave so will write again later, the internet doesn't work in our room so I am sitting in the lobby. Been trying to send pictures via cell-phone, glad you have gotten them and shared them, if you have.

Love to all, miss everyone so much! We are so tired but feeling better this morning after some breakfast. Will finish our days events later.

Blessings!

Sent from my iPad