Friday, June 2, 2006

We had hoped to have the opportunity to visit Ellie’s birth city of ChangNing while we were here, but unfortunately, ChangNing’s orphanage is not open to visiting adoptive parents. Though I am disappointed that we can not see the area she is from, Ellie has not actually lived in the orphanage for the past 13 months anyway. A visit with her foster family is not allowed either, but would certainly not be wise, even if it were. We were granted permission, though, to visit Kate’s orphanage in Yiyang. We drove the one and a half hours to Yiyang this morning and had the opportunity to meet with the director of the orphanage and present him with some gifts before touring the orphanage and the room where Kate spent her first 14 months. She is such a different little girl than the one we met a year and a half ago, and seeing her in this place again was a poignant picture of what miraculous changes occur when a child is wanted and loved.

Somehow being in Kate’s birth city stirred many emotions within me, much like it did the first time I traveled here. Just knowing that her birth mother is somewhere nearby brings tears. How sad to realize that she would never know the beautiful treasure she had given birth to. And yet, her loss has been one of my greatest gains, so the extreme emotions felt by this adoptive mom are very hard to explain. Those of you who know Kate personally know what a special, special little girl she is. Never have I seen visibly the hand of God on anyone the way I see it on Kate. Seeing her standing in the very place she had been abandoned almost 3 years ago made that more evident than I could possibly describe in any words here. Suffice it to say, that this was a very special day for us, and we are most grateful to have shared it with all three of our girls.

Ellie had a pretty good day today, though it does seem that we take three steps forward, to then take 2 steps back the next day. She is happy when, and ONLY when, she is with Doug. If he leaves her sight or even appears to be leaving, she starts to cry. She will have very little to do with anyone else, and will ignore us “girls” if she is forced to be with us “against her will”. She is definitely bonding with Doug, so this is a good sign, though very, very difficult from mommy’s point of view. My head knows that it will all work itself out in the end, but my heart is having a hard time with it, none the less! :)

We leave for Guangzhou tomorrow and are admittedly ready for the change of scenery. Hopes are high that a new environment might help Ellie (and Mommy) through this difficult time…

 

Sarah’s Travel Tip of the Day- Don’t order food without a translator…or you might just end up with “pickled” FUNGUS! Doesn’t that sound delicious?...   Kate says “pee-yew” to fungus