We have arrived in Zenghzhou, and while I should be sleeping, I am posting. Though it is now 11:22 PM, I am sitting at the computer because....there is someone out there wondering if I am going to post today. Someone like me. You see, when my friends are in China, I anxiously await each new post. And...when there is one day when they don't I am terribly disappointed.
So, for any of you like me...this is for you!
This day feels like two days in one. We began very early. I got up at 5:30, because we had to be ready to go to the Civil Affairs at 9:00 this morning, which meant we had to leave the hotel at 8:30...all packed and ready to go for our train ride this afternoon.
Dang Qing Zhuang is now officially.....Ezekial Gunter Qingzhuang Mattox!!
While he has been a part of our family in our hearts for over a year now, today the Chinese government made it official. We have our official red book adoption registration.
It is hard to believe our little fellow has only been with us for 2 days. He has amazed us at his trust. When we put on our jackets, he puts his own. When we go, he sweetly follows. I wonderd how he would feel today, though, returning to the civil affairs office, if it would bring tears we have yet to see.
When we arrived at the civil affairs office, Qing Zhuang became very quiet. He began to look distraught. I asked our guide Helen to ask him if he was scared. He shook his head, but he still the smile was gone. He was no longer animated.
When the officals from the orphanage arrived they did not approach him at first. Finally, the director quietly called him over. I have no clue what he told him or asked him, but Zeke just nodded his head. I was so worried about him, thinking he must be sad to have to say Goodbye AGAIN.
When the director left the room at the end of the proceedings, we had a different thought. He was afraid we were going to leave him!!!! As soon athe the orphanage officials were out of the room, he livened back up. He began to talk and play again. Our guide Helen even said, "He now knows that Mama and Baba will never leave him. He is very happy you are his parents." What more could we ask for?
We went back to hotel just in time to have quick lunch before leaving Taiyuan. If you are in Shanxi, or going to Shanxi, I highly recommend the restaurant on the 2nd floor of the Shanxi Grand. It is a very upscale restaurant, but the back of the menu has affordable dishes. For $3, I had the best noodles I have ever eaten, flat noodles of some sort with shredded pork and garlic shoots. I'm sure I will never have anything like it again.
We left for the train station at 12:30. In a few days I will do a post about train travel. I loved the experience. Stan says to Whitney, "Your mother has taken me far out of my comfort zone today."
I have the girls in bed. Stan has Qingzhuang in another hotel room. Unfortunately, we do not have connecting rooms here at the Crowne Plaza. It is a super fancy place.
We get Drew tomorrow at 10 a.m., 10:00 PM your time on Tuesday.
BTW, tell our Brandon Happy Birthday today!!!
8 comments:
WOOHOO!!! I am so unbelievably happy!! I CAN NOT wait to meet both of these boys! Get some rest tonight! You will surely need it.
Love this and love you all. I have been one of the ones checking your blog continually. I am loving your updates and checking in the mornings when I get up and before I go to bed at night!! BTW, I told your Brandon Happy Birthday about 12:30 this morning via facebook. He was sure to remind that it is his birthday! Safe travels!!
Sabra
Okay, I am that person... I check blogs first thing in the morning and was disappointed there was no update. Very excited that there is one now!!
amy
Thank you for posting in spite of your fatigue. Praying for your sweet family!
Congratulations!! Thank you for sharing your special day with all of us. Continued blessings and safe travels.
Aww, Happy Birthday Brandon!
By the way, thank you so much for understanding that those waiting for travel look forward to all the details of those already over there!
So looking forward to it being US someday!
so very thrilled for all of you!
OK yeah - I'm a lot like you!! I start checking blogs of current travelers at about 0600 local time - 1800 your time - just to see if there are updates before you go to dinner!! I guess I should really start more like noon - because if you are like us - we posted late in the evening!
Great joy for you guys - Zeke "gets it" - and I think you're right - he was simply afraid that he's have to go back. We always tried to keep our kid's perspective in mind - oh the angst they have to feel - still sometimes I think they feel that angst - but that's another post!
Holding you guys in our prayers - thanks for "getting it" from your childs point of view - and looking forward to more!!
hugs - aus and co.
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