Sunday

Today is the last day that Evie is an orphan. So powerful! For six and a half years she has lived with many children and nannies. Tomorrow is the day we have been waiting for for 14 months - to make our child a daughter!

We ate ate a big breakfast this morning. My new choice today was that noodle soup. I chose noodles, baby bok choy, chili paste and green onions in a broth. It was so delicious. We met Cindy at our lobby at 9am and rode in the van the PEK airport. We hoped to find our friends there that were flying in from Thailand. They live in Beijing and both teach English. They adopted their son when we adopted Joy. We missed them and were so sad. We boarded the plane and had a perfectly smooth flight. I had to sit away from everyone, but it was nice to be alone for a moment :-). I sat beside a man that was snoring almost on my shoulder. Lol. I dozed off at the first of the flight and started dreaming that a tiny girl toddler to the emergency door and opened it. It was really a person opening the bathroom door and then loudly flushing the toilet. I jumped out of my skin! I thought we were all going down!haha. Why do people open the door and then flush? If you're one of those people please don't tell me. Hahaha. We flew northwest to Hohhot and I quit dozing when I looked out and saw a huge mountain range. It was gorgeous! We landed smoothly and deboarded. Our new driver was so kind and he picked us up at the door... in another Mercedes van with .... wait for it... purple shag carpet, baby! These vans are older but I love them. The middle seats face backwards, making lots of leg space. We made it to the hotel in 30 minutes and wow, this hotel is amazing. Very top of the line with very expensive restaurants and shopping inside. The lobby is gorgeous and the staff is so accommodating. We had fruit on the table, two cokes, two Evian bottles and sparking water. They also gave us a case of water! The shower is in the same area behind glass doors as the tub. Strange, but pretty. This hotel has blown us away. We also have had the biggest blessing. In china, therebaremt many large parties that travel together, so connecting rooms almost do not exist. We got two this trip! One room has a king size bed and the other has two double beds - so nice and roomy to have the connecting door! :-). We got our bags in the room and headed out with Cindy to a noodle place across the street. Justin, Anna, Ezra and Eli all ordered the beef noodle soup bowl and I got the fried noodles with green beans and pork. We all got a drink and the bill was 15 USD. We ordered the small bowls and only ate half. Those noodles were AMAZING. Handmade, thick-cut noodles. The broth of the soup was amazing and we added chili paste to make it spicy. We haven't had a bite of American food and we are all so content. Ezra got a drink made by Pepsi and instead of orange Fanta, it is green apple. This would be a hit in the USA, so I don't know why on earth it isn't sold there. This was HILARIOUS, but Joy got the Jasmine flower tea in a bottle. She told our guide "Mrs Cindy, you need a little cup to try this tea." Cindy didn't miss a beat and replied "Joy Joy, (we call Joy that lol) I live in china, I've tried it." Oh, we laughed and laughed. Joy wants to share all her happiness with others. She really loves Cindy and I don't know how we will tell Cindy goodbye, nevertheless Joy. I shudder to think about "goodbye" a yuck! She has an open invitation to America to stay with us :-)
We came back and explored the hotel a little and came up to the room to get swimsuits on (I could cry... I want to rest). The plan is to swim, get showers and get our paperwork ready and Evie's bag. In her backpack we will pack some toys and snacks we brought to help distract her after we meet her if she is scared or overwhelmed. We will sit down tonight at bedtime and go over things one last time with the kids about how to treat Evie, what to expect, and have them practice saying her Chinese name because we will probably call her by that name until we get home. Her Chinese name is Li Yi Ran. Li is her surname and YiRan is her given name. You pronounce it like "yee ren". Her nickname is Ran Ran (Ren Ren).

Today is the last full day that her nanny (probably the same one since birth) will care for Evie. I know the nanny's heart must be breaking. She will never see Evie again. Adoption comes from such loss. Think of it this way ... if I said "I was adopted" people would say "oh wow! You're so lucky! Congratulations!" If someone said "My parents died" you wouldn't have the same reaction. Your heart would be heavy. Adoption is a beautiful thing and it's a living picture of the Gospel in the flesh, but it comes from severe loss and trauma - loss in so many areas.

We always try to look at the bright side, and we are very excited, but adoption is heart-wrenching. I am very worried about how Evie will react to us. She has never seen our photo. She doesn't know what to expect at all. I just hope she isn't a runner. The streets are covered in icy snow and my boots have no traction. I probably need to go get some boots that are flat with rubber grip soles. Please PLEASE pray for Evie's heart and that she will transition well. I am so so nervous. My days have started at 3-4am because when I wake up to roll over, Shen pops into my head and I'm done sleeping. I've guarded my heart for so long. I literally would think of Evie since Oct and physically shake my head and think "stop thinking about her" in case anything happened. I am now fully prepared and have my walls down.

I'm ready to love.

1John 4:19

We are HERE, Evie Li! We traveled the world for you. We chose you out of every child in the world. We looked over the whole world! You are ours. God couldn't have made a more perfect story. Lots of heavy heartbreak, but we have to trust that Lily is happy and taken care of and that you were the plan. You were the chosen one for us after so much loss in your life. Since the day you were born, you were placed and you were ours since the day of your birth. Amazing. We love you!

Wo ai ni, Li Yi Ran! Nǐ shì yīgè zhēnguì de nǚ'ér (We love you, Li yi ran. You are a treasured daughter!

Mommy!