China Trip Update: Hope is Ours!

Today was our Appointment at the Civil Affairs Office. I was a little nervous about how Hope would do with us going back to the same place we were yesterday. I knew that there would be people there from the orphanage again, and I was afraid that it would upset her again.

Today's meeting was to sign the Adoption Decree.

She did fine going in to the room. There was an older lady there from the orphanage today. This lady is in charge of adoptions at Hope's orphanage. She also said that she was a special friend with Hope and that she would often hold and hug Hope. Today she reached to get Hope, to hold her and Hope would not go to her and would not let go of me. And I sure wasn't going to hand her over. The lady was pretty persistent and tried several more times to hold her, but Hope wouldn't have it. Finally, at the decree signing she reached over and took her from me to get Hope and Hope begin crying immediately. I quickly took her back and she was fine.

I was sad for her but felt as though I had just passed a great test! She's mine, and knows she's mine.

The paperwork today was almost painless. They asked some questions that were difficult to answer. Not difficult because we didn't know the answer, but because we wanted to answer the questions in such a way that they wouldn't offend, yet would help us to shine a light. And as of today, she is officially ours, in the eyes of China and the US.

She was very happy all day. The appointment today and the situation w/the lady seemed to give her confidence in us and in herself.

Thanking God, continually, today!!!

Melanie