OUR FIRST MEETING WITH OUR DAUGHTER!!!!

Friday,  March 27.  Well,  it was hard to get going in the am after jetlag,  but we made it to AG's foster group home.  We visited the home for the under 2 yo kids first,  about 10 of them--so cute!! We dropped off a duffle of clothes we had brought.  Played for a few minutes with the kids.  Some were scared of us white people,  others warmed up quickly.  This was the home where AG lived from 15 mo old when she came to Beijing from Henan,  to about 2 yo,  when she moved to the older kids home.  One very young baby had cleft lip and palate like AG had,  2 had clubfeet, others had hidden special needs.  It was fun!.  We then walked through narrow alleyways a short block to AG's house!  We had our fam of 4,  my mom,  and my cousin,  MC,  who was adopted with her twin sister from Taiwan when I was around 7-10 yo.  It meant a lot to her to be there.  She had just taken the night train from Dalian, where she lives with her husband and 4 kids.  She was our videographer.  AG was at the door and peeked out.  About 3 other kids were in the room.  2 boys had recently been adopted and 1-7 yo was out with a volunteer--it is too hard for him to see yet another friend leave his house,  and he stays.  It was all very surreal.  AG had the book of photos of us we had sent her,  and pointed to the pictures and to us.  It was almost as if we all knew each other already!  The 3 yo girl,  my cousin said,  said "I have a mommy and daddy too".  She has recently been sent the photo album of her new family who will come for her in a few months.  We played on the floor a few minutes,  then AG took us upstairs to show us her room she shares with the other kids,  the school room ,  and playroom.  We watched the video we had sent her,  and she seemed at ease with us.  She had held Pa's hands as she climbed the stairs,  and sat on my lap in the playroom.  She goofed around with us,  and let me kiss her!  She then needed to go down for lunch.  She sat at a little table with the 3 other kids,  and she led in prayer--lasted awhile!  Wish I knew what she said.  We said goodbye,  and left.  I was not nervous,  I was not emotional, but it was exciting,  and scary at the same time.  This is the beginning of a new life for us.
     We then went to  see the Forbidden City,  Bei Hei Park--very pretty, and Tiananmen square.  We finished with a late Peking Duck dinner.  Lots of walking,  and lots to see throughout the day.
     Thanks for your prayers.  Ma