Emma's Gotcha Day

Today was incredible. Our guide picked us up around lunch time to take us to the adoption center. We had a few papers to fill out and then it was finally time!

In walked two nannies with a precious little girl that looked like a giant pink marshmallow and she was OURS!!

One of the nannies held her while we asked a few questions and tried to not appear too scary. You could see the fear in her eyes and I don't blame her!  She spent the last 19 months in the same room and today, she traveled 3 hours and was handed off to some strangers. Her world was rocked but she was amazing. I gave her the Baby Be Blessed doll we had made forever ago. She held it so tight and would not let go. The Nannie finally pretty much forced Emma off of her and handed her to me.  She cried for just a minute and then calmed down. I can only imagine how confused she must have felt. Her nannies brought a scrapbook for her with pictures of the city she was born in and the orphanage where she spent the first 19 months of her life.  They also brought her a jade snake necklace since she was born in the year of the snake.  It was so special to see how much these ladies loved her and we will treasure those precious gifts forever.

Just a few minutes after they put her in my arms, it was time to go get her passport picture taken. (Yes, I realize I am holding her in a moving vehicle. They don't have car seats. And trust me, after being here a few days, the lack of car seats is the least of their transportation worries. I have to shut my eyes every time we get on the road. It is insane.) Sister girl was worn out from her busy day and fell asleep in my arms on the way to the office.

We finally made it back to the hotel and things really went very well.  She ate great for supper and played with some toys.  She really loves the doll and the lady bug lovie we got her. We were excited to see that she did receive our care package. She was carrying the photo book we sent when we first saw her today and she was wearing the outfit we sent (underneath 4 other layers of clothing Bc that is how the Chinese roll). The nannies told us that she would kiss our pictures.  So sweet.

Emma has been an angel baby and such a trooper. We are praying that she will begin to trust us and the walls of fear and hurt will come down.  We love her so much already and feel honored to be her parents. The journey to adopt Emma may have come to an end, but the best adventure is yet to come as we get to watch her grow up into the person the Lord desires for her to be.