Countdown!

We are on the countdown now! We leave for China on Thursday November 29th. It's all getting very real, very fast. Though we had expected to travel over a month ago, it's still hard to believe how close we really are to holding our little Adalynn. We wonder what that day will be like. We are going in with no expectations. While we would love it if it were love at 1st sight for us and for her, we realize that very well may not be the case. Love we have found through adoption, is a CHOICE and that it takes time.

What will Gotcha Day look like..all we really know is that it will be sometime on Sunday Dec 2nd. We know that we fly out of Beijing on Sunday morning...(keep in mind China is 13 hours ahead of us.) We fly into Lanzhou China, in Gansu province. At that point we will most likely go directly to the Civil Affairs office were we will be handed our daughter. It will be a stressful day for all of us, but, especially Adalynn, as she has to make a long..6 hour trip to this city. Everything that she has known will be gone. We are strangers to her, we look different, we smell, different and most imporantly we sound different. As she has probably never heard English before, adn we speak ZERO Chinese...and anything we do learn in the 2 days we are in China before we get her..won't be worth repeating..as Matt seems to pick up on "bad words" in every country we travel to:) LOL!

While we are so excited to pick up our daughter, this situation is a little different. Though her care is through an orphanage, she is actually in a foster home. Adalynn, has not been in an orphanage,per say, which is much better for her, and us in the long run with attachment. However, I can't help but, think of her foster family, as we are counting down the days until we get our precious little girl, they are very well savoring the days they have left. She has been cared for as an only child, by, her foster mom, dad and their adult daughter. In China they could not adopt her because of many factors but, including the fact that they already have one child. We do appreciate that China is providing this type of care, and that they are really looking to the best interest of the children. But, we realize that with our GREAT JOY, we leave behind and take with us sadness and grief. As Adalynn will also grieve the loss of the only life she has ever known.

Here is a picture that I consider a true gift of Adalynn with her foster mother. I don't know if we will have the opportunity to meet her or not. But, I am forever grateful, for this family.

I am so anxious to get my hands on this little sweetie!!! Less than 2 weeks!