Hey guys! Today was the day we went to visit the orphanage. I have had mixed feelings about how this day would go for a long time. When our guide came and got us this morning I asked her to please explain to Sadie that we were going to go visit her caretakers and teachers at the orphanage but that she would be leaving with her mama and baba. We were just going to say goodbye. She told Sadie and she nodded like she totally knew what we were saying. Almost as soon as we pulled up you could see she was just a nervous wreck. We started to walk in and she was ok but apprehensive. We took the elevator up a couple floors to where she spent most of her days. As soon as we got off the elevator she started holding on to me so tight. Every person that came to talk to her including her friends made her more and more nervous. We walked into the room that was her classroom (and mind you in 3 days we have never seen her cry) and our guide said she is starting to cry. It wasn't at this point a loud cry she was just holding me as tight as she could and tears were streaming down her face. Talk about a heartbreaker. As we were in her classroom a little longer it started. She cried and cried. I tried so hard not to cry but I just couldn't help it. It didn't help that Maggie was crying too. I think we stood there and cried for probably a few minutes while several of the women just stared at us. Sadie was still just clutching me as tight as she possibly could. Our guide told her over and over you aren't staying here you are going home with your mama and baba. How do you expect someone to fully trust you after only a few days? Once we had our cry I just kept holding her tight and we kept going. We finished our tour and we were on our way. I think by the time we were walking out to the car she was totally fine again. Reassured that we were telling the truth and we were not going to leave her.
This is her classroom.
This area there was a lot of kids Sadie's age and older exercising when we got there. Keith was a huge hit. He is such a fun guy. All the kids were playing with him. I think he was Kung Fu fighting some boys and dancing with some girls. We spent forever in this area. Finally I had to tell him it was time to move on;) He makes my heart so proud.
This is the room Sadie slept in. That is her little bed. I can't wait for her to see the new room we have ready for her. When she looks at the pictures her eyes just light up.
This little ID kind of card was hung over her bed. She looks so silly in her picture.
These are a couple of Sadie's caregivers. The one on the left came to the Civil Affairs office the day we got her. She is such a sweet lady. She was wanting to love Sadie and tell her goodbye but as you can see in her picture she had a vice grip on her mama.
Here we are on the way out. It was raining out or we would have taken a picture in front of the building. Don't mind my beautiful looks. It was like a million degrees in there. We were all sweating to death. Sadie and I both look like we have been in a wrestling match or something;)
When children age out and don't get adopted (at age 14) they stay at the orphanage and learn skills to hopefully help them get a job someday. They also make crafts to sell. These are a few things that we bought for Sadie to keep.
The rest of these are just bc she is out of control cute. She wanted to try on her floaties and then brought me her bathing suit. We were tired but we went swimming again. She got totally in the pool this time. No fear for this girl anymore. She loves swimming,
As I am typing this right now Sadie and Maggie are sitting on the bed brushing the hair of the doll Sadie's baba bought her today. She is speaking Chinese to Maggie in the cutest voice and they are giggling. Like 2 girls who never didn't have each other. Sadie is now calling me Mama. If I am in the other room she will say Mama. Such a sweet sound to my ears. Maybe going to the orphanage with her today was the affirmation she needed to know that we are forever. I don't know but I do know that she loves us and we love her more than what we could have ever thought was possible. I was so sad to leave those kids behind today when we left the orphanage. It's never easy when you think that was my daughter only a few days ago. We are humbled that we have been called to be Sadie's family. We are glad that her story is now a story of hope and she will always be loved;)
Hey boys- We are missing you guys like crazy! We are almost half way done with our trip. Your little sister is so crazy;) She is busier than Brennan I think. Always getting in to things and running and jumping. She is keeping us very busy. She gave Maggie and I some kisses today. I bet she will be giving them to you all soon too. Love you, Love you, Love you Mom
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