Red Thread to Her

Abigail is here!!  I first met her at 2:00pm at the Nanjing Civil Affairs office.  There were 5 other families receiving their children at the same time.  Emotions were high all around..  Then children 3 years old and younger started arriving, carried by orphanage caretakers.  When I saw Abigail from the window, I choked up with emotion and cried, "There she is!  It's her!"  Then they walk in and stand before me..  What do you do?  I reached out to her and let her touch my fingers..  the orphanage director hands her to me and says, "Ma Ma".

I sign paperwork that I can't read, we take a "family photo" (without Mike - we miss him so much!) and I was able to ask a few questions like what does she eat (congee and steamed egg, warm milk in a bottle, rice, noodles, some vegetables, fruit), when does she sleep, does she have a favorite friend (yes, a little boy)...  I requested to visit the orphanage and we plan to go Thursday.  I would like to see where she's lived these first couple years of her life, and meet her special nanny.  She was selected to be a little sister in the Half the Sky Foundation program and has had only two nannies who lovingly took care of her - so she's had consistency and felt love.  The nannies made a memory album for her with many photos from tiny infant to now, with written updates on milestones, her birthday and other special events.

She has a super sweet demeaner, likes music and loves to eat (she ate heartily at dinner).  She had never taken a bath and wasn't too sure about that but settled down after I dressed her in warm pajamas and gave her a warm bottle of milk.  I held her as she fell asleep then laid her in the crib.

There was another baby girl, maybe 2 1/2 or 3 years old, who was insolible when her new family went to receive her.  The baby hit her new mother many times and cried and cried.  So scared.  I pray that she settles down soon.

What a day.  So many firsts for sweet Abigail..  What a blessing she is to our family!