GZ China Zoo........

March 12, 2013

Orphanage visit......

• Things are going better than I could have expected! The orphanage was a wonderful experience for everyone! Of course there were tears but I would have been worried if not! It was bittersweet at best! It was such a comfort to feel YaYa clinging to me when she cried but it hurt so much to know we were the reason she was being pulled (eventhough I know, she knows, & all the staff/friends know it's the very best things for her).   YaYa is also very happy; we see it; the guide sees it; her nanny, orphanage director, & teacher stated it.  

  She held my hand, hugged on me, laid her head on my shoulder as I comforted her as mamma! We got lots of pictures. Her nanny had raised her since she was 8y/o & we found out the nanny was the reason she is adopted now! So many things had to fall in place on both sides that it is amazing to see how God worked to get her home! She had not been on the list for very long because the orphanage had never put a deaf child (this is what they said but I wonder if they meant an older deaf child) on the list to be adopted because they did not feel anyone would adopt a deaf child. Her nanny pushed the orphanage director to put her on the list because she said YaYa had so much potential and would really thrive in a forever home. The director finally gave in but they knew her time was limited to even find a home at the age she was placed on the list. God just took over and made it all work when it really did not seem possible. It's is nothing short of amazing to see God's work through YaYa!

  When we were at the orphanage the director told me of an older child (I believe age 13years old). The girl had gone to school so I could not meet her. The director told me this girl had so much potential & was fine in every aspect mentally, physically but she had been burned on the face. She told me that she would not put her on the list because she knew no one would adopt her with the scares on her face. I begged her to send me pictures & more information because I told her that she deserved a home & that I would do everything I could to find her a home before she aged out. Please pray with me that someone will give this girl a home she deserves! My heart just breaks!  I will post more information as I get it.

  Also, we got to met YaYa's friends & see her school. We were only allowed a few steps into the school gate but all of YaYa's friends came running to her. Her best friend was so sad & crying. I continued to find myself hugging & kissing on her because my heart just broke! YaYa was all smiles as she told her friends good bye. Her reaction was so much better than I expected!  She truly seems happy with this crazy family!

  I was also very happy that her teacher told her that she needed to make new friends & focus on a better future. She told her they would always be there but that she must move on & make a new home. It was very encouraging the things she said to Guan Ya & the support I felt from her!

  My heart was so full & I was so blessed to see God work! Yes, it was hard for all, but it was beautiful too!  Thank you for all the prayers!!!  Love to you all!

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

  

  
  

Pictures.....

 Birthday girl just saw her cake.  We went out to eat for her birthday & had it delivered while we were gone.

 Today at the longest & oldest shopping street in GZ.

This is Guan Ya with Grace our guide.

Yes, I'm as tired as I look but I'm a happy Mama!!!

I realized after this pic that I don't have any pics of Phil & YaYa because he always has the camera.

I'll try to get some tomorrow

 Bubbles at the mall anyone?

 You see things like this everywhere.  This guy is pushing corn in the middle of the busy streets.

View outside our hotel in China.

Written earlier on my FaceBook for those of you that didn't read it:

We have had some wonderful days! Guan Ya just loves on me & holds my hand! She really seems to crave the love we give her! We see lots of big smiles & giggles & not a scared girl anymore! She even tried to say I love you Babba & Mamma last night. She used the translator to type out what she was trying to verbalize. We have been signing it often but she wanted to say it with her voice! I thought yesterday was her birthday but she really blessed us! I have pictures (above) I will try to put on the blog later. I'm sure we will have rough days but I'm enjoying the good days to the max!

We will be going to the orphanage tomorrow so please pray for her! I know it will be a very hard & emotional day for her! It hurts to even think about it as a mamma, but I know it is what she needs to do! I would never deny her going back to say goodbye! We have been preparing gifts for her friends, teachers, "aunt" (this is what she called her, but maybe her foster mom in the orphanage), etc. I had been mistaken because I thought she had lived with foster parents but she has been calling the people that watch over her end of the hall at the orphange her foster parents. She has been caring for herself & was living with 3 other girls that had aged out. The orphanage director said she was very lucky last Monday when we united because none of the other girls made it to forever homes! 

Also, will you help me think of questions that we might ask to the orphanage staff, teachers, etc when we go back tomorrow. I've been making a list & I thought you might have some suggestions of things I've not thought of yet. I'm thankful that we will also be able to visit her school that she attended. I am grateful to get the chance to see the life she lived. Blessings to each of you! God is great!

Wednesday

Above are pictures from our day Wednesday.  It was our rough morning so there weren't as many pictures of our beauty.  She wasn't up for picutes and that was alright.  Phil said there were more pictures from this day but they did not upload to the computer for some reason.  Maybe there are some with GY on the camera. 

We could tell Wednesday when we got up our girl was distant.  She laid her head down at breakfast, walked on the other side of the room we were in with her back turned to us.  As we were going to the park, she started crying.  As a momma, it hurts because you want to take the pain away.   We tried to comfort her but she refused to do anything.  She refused to look at anything at the park, she pushed away from us physically by walking as far away from us as possible & told us "Do not talk to me!" Yeah, I guess some of that is just typical teen girl stuff too!  However, I knew my YaYa was mourning the loss of what she knew & what was familiar.  I knew she was pushing us away because we were the reason things were changing.  

Guan Ya knows this is a great change.  I really believe she loves us & she signs it to us often.  However, the orphanage life is her past/her norm/her comfort.  This has to be a very hard change for her & we know that!  After we went to the beautiful garden above, she got in a happier mood.  The rest of the night was much better.

Yesterday, GY was in a good mood yesterday and I felt huge steps were made in bonding!  We went to Shamian island yesterday.  There were lots of giggles & great bonding moments.  She loves the typical girl things - jewelry, purses, clothes (Chinese fashion is very different than in the US)  We are going to try and limit the amount of clothes we purchase here for her. It is not because we want her to be more "American" in style, but when she comes to America, I think she may see style is different & want other clothes.    Guan Ya came to us with only the clothes on her body, the items we had sent her and a few pictures.

Ya Ya also LOVES paper, pens, orgami, & anything stationary stye.     She seems very proud of the items we give her!  She is very opinionated and pretty head strong.  I am very glad she will tell us her likes/dislikes because I want her to keep who she is as a person.  I've already experienced the typical eyes rolling ("really mom") from her.  I took it as a sign of bonding & that she feels comfortable enough to be a teen with me. 

 I've worked a ton to get these pics to upload for all of you so I will stop here & write a different post later.  Maybe I can get caught up soon!  Thank you all for the continued prayers & love you have shown!  You are the reason this beautiful girl is no longer an orphan!  All praise be to our Lord!  

  

Long delay.......

I am really sorry for such a long delay in writing!!!  I brought all of you on this journey to share with you & I did not mean to leave you out!  It have been absolutely crazy!  This is how it's gone since Saturday:
Saturday - on plane by 6:30 am
                - changed planes 2xs (once in TX, once in Seoul)
Sunday   - get to HK about midnight (slept just a few hours)
Monday  - left hotel in taxi to train
               -  on train by 10:30a.m.
               - train in Guangzhou  China by 12:30pm where we met our guide                                                                           
                - go to hotel (check in & put down bags)
                - by 3pm we had our daughter
                - eat, buy translator, buy clothes for Guan Ya
Tuesday   - adoption completed by afternoon
Wednesday - paperwork, pictures for GY, walk around shops close to hotel
Thursday - rough morning start but it was nothing not expected.  
                   Guan Ya was mourning all she knew and is leaving.
                   We went to the see beautiful flowers & she was much better.
Friday - go to the Island; walked around close to the hotel

Yesterday was a great day!  I have to admit I loved the most hearing Guan Ya giggle!  2 of my most memorable moments happened yesterday!  First, we were in a shop & GY wanted to get my attention.  I heard the sweetest voice say "Mamma"  When I turned around it was Guan Ya showing me something!  The second was as we were walking home, Guan Ya reached to for my hand for the first time.

We have been surprised at how well the signing has gone for communications.  Many of the Chinese signs are the same or similar to the American sign.  We are all teaching & learning from each other.  We are teaching GY the ASL & she shows us the CSL.  When we sign, we often sign one form of SL followed by the opposite form of SL.  I am very pleased at how well we are translating. 

Since I have this much written, I'm going to post it.  I'm going to start a new blog now.

The much wanted pictures of Ya Ya & her new doll.