The visit to the Children's Institute

Wednesday, 7/23/08 at 9:30 PM, Zhengzhou. - We visited the Children's Institute today that has been Joy's home for almost two years. It was about a four hour trip each way with about 1 hour at the Institute, so a very full day.

The institute welcomed us and Joy with open arms. Joy lit up and smiled brightly for the first time since we have had her when she saw her caregiver; the women who has acted as her foster mother for the time that she had been there. Joy's caregiver is a very warm and caring person, and it was evident that she had shown Joy a tremendous amount of love over the last two years. It was encouraging to us and very touching to watch her hold Joy as she spoke to Joy and reassured her of her future with her new family. With Joy in her arms she pointed to us & refered to us with Joy as Mama & Baba (daddy in Chinese), and speaking of Mac, Jake, & Melissa as Joy's brothers & sister. We wish we could of understood all that she said to Joy, but there was no question that what she said was more than we could have asked for from the one who has cared for our new daughter from infancy.

We thanked Joy's foster mother from the bottom of our hearts and assured her that we would give Joy all the love & care that she deserved. It was evident that she was grateful that Joy would have something that they could never give her there, but none the less it was very emotional for Joy, her caregiver, and all of us. On the trip home we could not help but feel that something in Joy had changed just by the way she looked at us. Though you could see the sadness of her loss, there seemed to be a new recognition & acceptenace in her eyes of who we were to her now as well, and an ease we had not seen before. We are very grateful for this time, as emotional as it was at the time, and for the fact that Joy has had the opportunity already in her life to know & experience being loved; we know it will only help in allowing herself to embrace ours for her.

While there we got to see where Joy slept & played and to meet & see alot of her friends that we have seen previously in pictures & videos. The workers acknowledged us to the kids as their aunt, uncle, & cousins. We took candy, treats, and gifts and it was touching to see how grateful they were; they were so precious and you wanted to hug them all. We know at least two of these friends Joy will likely get a chance to see again as we are aware that adoptions are in process for them from our area. It was alot of fun to see the kids and to interact with them. The needs are great for all of these kids but it was encouraging to see how much the workers & caregivers were doing for these children, and to know that many of them will be on there way to new homes soon too.

We are sure that this blog will not do the day & its significance justice. We do have some photos but were having trouble downloading so will post some once we have it resolved. Thanks for your continued prayers for us, and add some for the kids and workers we had the opportunity to meet today. Thanks!!!