Flying into Guangxi provinces China

Monday 5/8/06

Yongjiang River runs thru the center of the proviance and the City on Nanning. It is the major tributary of the Pearl River water system. Yes there are fish in it.

Nanning Airport

Our Hotel lobby

Downtown from our room

Downtown Nanning from 9th floor of hotel

Welcome

This our guide Mary. She meet us at the airport at took us the our hotel. She has been there for evevrything. She just tells us what time and what we are doing. Its great.

On the road to Hope

This country is wonderful. There are more bikes and mopeds then there are cars. We drove right between these two. There is no rhyme or reason to how they drive. They take the traffic signals as a suggestion. The amazing thing is that no one ever gets mad or are there any accidents.

Our guide

Mary has been our guide. She is such a sweet lady. She has made our trip so easy and fun.

On the way to get our Hope

Waiting for Hope at the Civil Affairs Office

Waiting room

This where we ended our long, long wait for our Hope, and this is where Hope ended her long wait for her Mama and Baba to come.

HERE IS OUR HOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
OUR SWEET GIRL!!!!!

We just don't have the words to describe the moment. ......
wonderment....awe.....amazement......joy....our hearts are overwhelmed....
Hope came into the room we were waiting in with the orhanage directer and 2 helpers from the orphanage. There were other parents meeting their children for the first time and the room was a little loud and there were a lot of things going
on. It was hard for Hope to focus on anything.
We knew we needed to leave there soon and she had to say good bye to the only people she knew. when the director and the helpers left she yelled for them and reached out, but they kept going. We comforted her and she received our comfort. This day was momentous. Hope is a courageous, tender and wonderful little girl and we thank God for her and for bringing us together as a family.

Oh, Hope feels SO good in my arms!!!!!!

Waiting in the van with Mama

On the way back to the hotel we had to stop for supply's for our sweet Hope. Know where?? Wal-Mart of course(that's a story in itself). Hope stayed in the van with Kelly and played with all the fun beads that her friends Kate and Addie had given her. She just loved them!! The had a good time waiting and they had to wait a loooonnnggg time. Hope was very patient and enjoyed soaking up all the love and attention from her Mama.

In the van leaving the Civil Affairs Office

I think her smile says it all.

Hope's pearsonality comes out

Bet you can't finde me

Where did I go

Hope had so much fun with this cabinet. I was sitting on the ground playing with her when she found the handle. I just new where this was going. Kids will amuse themselves with the strangest things. Once she found out it open it wasn't 10 seconds and she was inside. We must have played (were is Baby Hope for at the least 25 minutes). It was such a joy to be bonding with her and see her pearsonality come out. Sitting there with a scence of wonder that we finally have our daughter, watching her have so much fun.

Here I am !!!

Getting close

Our first meal together

If I could only show Mama how to use chopsticks

Hope shows us how to use chopsticks!!

Hope loved her bath!

We were really surprised at how much Hope loved her bath! She started to smile and giggle and splash! Then she would look up to me for my reaction...of course she got a good one from me!
I was soaked at the end of her bath - soaked and so happy!

Baba falls asleep

Baba falls asleep with his beautiful.... wonderful ... sweet .... adorable ..... daughter. ( I think you get the picture.) In case you missed it I am hoplesly in LOVE.

Baba is waking up

Baba is awake

I woke up with arms full of Hope, even though they were totally asleep I didn't want to move.

Sweet Dreams

Our sweet Hope had a very long and intense day. So did Mamma & Baba, but nothing like what our precious child went through. Hope had a serious melt down before going to bed. Kelly just held her very close and spoke softly and reasuringly and I prayed as we let her cry it out. The pain and anger in those 25 minutes that came out of Hope spoke volumes.
There was no way Kelly was letting go of her.