We came to our room last night and everyone was exhausted!  Early to bed!  And the girls room looks like a mass of beds!

As wonderful as this process of adoption is, it is still so very difficult on these kids to leave everything they know behind and start anew.  They are so very brave, but sometimes you see the cracks.  Peyton had more than a few tears and somewhat of a restless start to her night.  The warm arms of a caring mom helped her  go to sleep.

However, she woke up happy this morning and ready to go to the government center to finish off the adoption process!

Finalizing the adoption was a rather brief event, mainly because Madison had already signed her adoption paperwork before she arrived.  Kelly and I had to sign a few things and Peyton had to give her hand print.

Michael, the guide helping us, had a few challenges with the ink.

But was able to get it done as needed!

Then Michael made a short presentation and gave us their adoption paperwork with a  flourish!

And a hand shake!

While this little cutie just looked on…

One final adoption picture in front of the big red wall.  Not sure we will ever been in this room again, but it has brought us a lot of joy!

A short ride home and we headed out to the park to chew up a little time.  It was cold out today, probably in the high 40’s, but the air was clean which was a welcome change!

I won’t lie.  It is kind of nice to have a “little one” again!  Even if she IS six years old.

Someone you can hold.

Who will lay their head on your shoulder.

Or ride on those same shoulders!  And Madison certainly did not mind the extra blankets to keep her warm, especially since Jessie has a tendency to drive fast!  That girl is NOT getting her drivers license anytime soon!

Taylor didn’t think the family picture in front of the red wall was all that impressive.  So, as the family photog for the trip, she suggested another family picture in the park.

We took another swing by the bread lady while Madison and Petyon wanted chicken wings on a stick.  They were all cooked and ready to go, but apparently when you buy them they still have to spend another ten minutes warming them up for you!  So … we stood there and waited.

Tay tried her best to keep Peyton warm!

Madison has told us that she doesn’t like to go fast in her wheelchair, but that was before Jessie took control today.  Now, we think she may have the need for speed!

This afternoon, John from Love Without Boundaries, took us to their healing home here.  Between two sites they take care of around twenty children from orphanages around Anhui.  Children with medical needs that that need specialized care … personalized care.  If you are in an orphanage here and need surgery, you are taken to the hospital and left.  When you are ready to come home, someone comes and gets you.  But wonderful ministries like Love Without Boundaries (and New Day were Taylor is working) takes these kids to the hospital, stays with them while they are there, and provides care for them until they are ready to return to their orphanage.

With that premise in mind, we pulled into a modest apartment complex not far from our home. Identical buildings surrounding a central courtyard with playground equipment providing a place for children to be occupied.

A door through which we passed along with children in need of care.

One with, thankfully, a wheelchair accessible ramp!

Through a somewhat dingy hall, at least by our American standards.

And onto an old elevator we traveled.

To be ushered into a modern, clean, really quite beautiful apartment spread over two floors!  It was both joyful and sad to see these children who are being taken such good care of by the staff, and yet in so need of a home and a family to love them!

Taylor was SUPPOSED to be taking picture, but putting Kelly and her into this environment is like pouring gas on a fire!!

I will leave you today with the faces of those children we saw today.  What a blessing to have staff like John and the nannies who work tirelessly to give these little orphans what they need!  And a special thank you to the administrators like Amy Eldridge, who took a dream and made this a reality, and the board members of Love Without Boundaries, like Tony McQuinn, who intercede for those less fortunate on a continual basis.

Cameron

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” – James 1:27