Here comes Jenny! -1/22/2008

Okay, here we go. This morning we had to get up early and pack. Yesterday evening the jetlag along with a whole day sightseeing just caught up with us and we had to start the packing at 5:00 am in the morning. At 7:30 we left for the airport. The trip was normal and without excitement. By 12:00 am we arrived in Hohhot. Hohhot is a nice city that seems to be in the middle of nowhere; surrounded by mountains and with a wonderful blue sky. It is cold but dry. The temperature today was about -20C / -4F. What we saw from the city was very nice. They had snow yesterday and that made the traffic real difficult. We settled in the hotel room and waited to get XinXin (Jennifer) at 3:30. There was quote some tension and nervousness in the air. After two days of tourist program we finally got to our original task.

When we left our room to meet her in the conference room, Bert said:" Life will never be the same. We leave this room with three kids and will come back with four.”

When XinXin walked in, we saw a smile. A smile no words can describe; a smile that instantly took all the tension out of the room. If we would send kids with such a smile into fighting our wars, nobody ever would get hurt. As we heard later on from the representative of the orphanage, she was excited about being adopted and could not wait to go to her new home. She came directly to us. She called Sue “Mama” right away. Then Anna and XinXin gave each other a big hug. I think we have a picture of this. Then she gave Bert a big hug. The boys were busy taking pictures and video taping the whole event. After a while, all the kids played together. XinXin was fascinated by the video camera and started using the camera. 10 minutes after she walked into the room, she said:" Mama, can we go home now" - in Chinese of course. The whole family feels so lucky and blessed. The boys are happy and Anna is very excited. They plays together, have fun and get wild. We feel so blessed and cannot thank God enough for the gift we received.

We did some paperwork and everything was in Chinese. Fortunately Sue can read it. Bert was not sure if he adopted a daughter or sold his house to buy a boat and move to China or something along these lines. He signed everything and fingerprinted it. There is no way back now in case the boat arrives at our doorstep.

During the paperwork she asked Mama a few times to go home - she is very impatient. She got the package we sent to her and knows we have cats. As soon as we got to the hotel room she asks where the cats are. She doesn't understand yet that we have some way to go. Sue tried to explain what is coming, but we are not sure if she fully understands everything.

We gave her a little suitcase for her few things she brought from the orphanage. She put everything in there and she really appreciates to have her little on space. She brought a notebook with a note from a 16 year old boy. According to the person from the orphanage who brought her, this boy is very fond of her and she calls her “big brother”. He helps her and protects her in the orphanage. He is very sad and happy at the same time to see her go. We have his pictures and plans to keep in contact with him. He gave her a good luck and safe journey necklace. A few times today, she called Bert “gege” (big brother). We think this is a male model in her life. There is also a photo of an older girl who has mental illness. They share a room together. According to this person from the orphanage who brought her over, she is the most beautiful girl in the orphanage. Everyone loves her. She is often being taken home by visitors for a weekend or shopping. Last year, she was chosen to go to Beijing and Climbed Great Wall with a group of foreigners who volunteered at the orphanage. We have some photos of her with these people on the great wall! It so good to know she is well loved and she knows how to love others.

For dinner we went to a restaurant in the hotel. It was a large buffet that was very good. Everybody, including XinXin, ate very well. XinXin liked the food. She had crab for the first time in her life and loved it. She got a little upset when a couple of us left small items on the plate rather than finishing our plates. She explained to Sue that wasting food is not good. Also, she cleaned up after she was done. Something our kids won't even think about without reminder. We had to send her and Anna upstairs with the boys before we pay our checks because Sue could not finish her noodle soup. She was afraid that her new daughter would think she was wasteful.

Later on we met the couple from Michigan in the hallway along with another couple who also adopted a 6 years old girl. Oh, by the way, if you ask these girls, they will say they are 7 years old because in China, you are counted as one year old immediately after your birth. Kids played for an hour in the hallway. We all had a ball.

Xinxin had told us that it is OK to call her Jenny. Jenny and Anna took a bath and shower together. They still could not sleep, so we tried to play some games and do some coloring. It turned out that both girls are very competitive so we have some trouble to deal it…..Finally Anna was so tired and she gave in. Jenny was too excited to sleep. We spent a few more minutes with her. Right now they both sleep and sleep on the same bed!

We also found out that she can speak a few words of English, like Bananas, Apples and count numbers and sing ABC's....She told me she plays computer games too at the orphanage.

Everything is just perfect.... We can't believe it. However, we are still prepared to some melt-downs to happen.

Now it is time to finish. We are all tired and still struggle with the time difference.

More tomorrow - best wishes to all our friends.