OUR TRIP IS ABOUT OVER, BUT THE REAL JOURNEY HAS JUST BEGUN.....

 It is 2:00 AM in Guangzhou.  We are leaving at 10:30 AM for the airport to start our LONG trip back home.  It's hard to believe that it has been TWO weeks since I was running around frantically, trying to get everything ready for not only Roger and me, but also for Molly Kate for a two week stay in China, and NOW that two weeks is almost over.....

We are getting ready to take our daughter away from the country of her birth to a new home almost 8,000 miles away.  But you know, she left the only life she had known from birth the day we took her in our arms.  That was truly the day her new life began.  It has been amazing to watch Molly Kate as she's observed her surroundings each day.  When we were in Nanchang, she was SO quiet, and even when we were in public, or with the other families in our group, the only sound she ever made, IF she made any sound at all, was to cry.  Tonight when we were eating our evening meal with Greg and Tami Staut and their precious baby Marissa, (one of the DEAR families in our travel group), Molly Kate was babbling and smiling, and leaning over to me to give me LOTS of loving.  She was reaching out to Marissa and truly acknowledging that there was another child in her presence.  When we left the restaurant, we did some last minute shopping, and she smiled at every person who talked to her.  Ten days ago before Molly Kate was delivered to our hotel, we were given updated information about her.  We were told that she was shy, bashful, introverted, and cried when she saw strangers.  That information was very true.  I said, WAS.....  Our little lady has certainly come out of her shell!!!!  She is still cautious around strangers, and her real security is with Roger, Shea, and me.  We can tell that our bond with her gets stronger every day, and that's exactly what she needs.  If you are one of the lucky people who is going to get to meet our Molly Kate in person, please don't be offended if she doesn't want to be held by you.  We want to be careful not to overwhelm her.  We want her, though, to love everyone and just be a sweet, happy little girl.  With time, we truly believe she is going to be a little social butterfly!!!  I can promise you that when you see her smile, it will truly melt your heart.....

SO, our trip is just about over, but the REAL journey has just begun.  Molly Kate will always be our little girl "made in China," but once we land in Atlanta at 9:05 on Thursday night, she will officially be an AMERICAN!!!!! 

Roger and I can't thank you enough for all the prayers that we know have been lifted for us and for our sweet baby.  PLEASE don't stop praying for us now!!!!  We know we still have lots of adjustments and routines to get in to in the coming days.  Our life has been changed forever.... but, OH HOW MUCH SWEETER it is now!!!!!



How sweet it is to be loved by you....