Day 5 – Gotcha Day

Introducing Mayah Li 

Her file said that she is terrified of strangers.  I can’t imagine anything more terrifying at the age of two than being thrust forever into the arms of strangers who look, smell  and sound different than anyone you have ever seen before.  It takes a girl with gumption to do it without falling to pieces.  In fact, she held up better than i did.  (Add one more female to the rank and roll call of strong Williams women.)
 

We arrived at the civil affairs office at 9:00 am and there were children already waiting for their new families.  We watched five other families receive their children while we and another couple also adopting a girl from the Luoyang orphanage waited.  And waited. And waited. 1.5 hours later (just 30 minutes before the bus was supposed to leave,) we saw the door open. I saw her immediately and practically ran over some of the other little children playing in the middle of the floor to get to her.  (Sorry about that kiddos, i have a one track mind!)  

They dressed her in a beautiful frilly peach colored dress that looked lovely with her her skin tone.  Peaches and cream will always be in season at our house!  Her nanny (pictured below) spoke softly to her, calling her ‘Fei Fei’ as she handed her over to me.  She said something to me in Chinese a couple of times.  I will forever wish that I knew what she was saying, but in the chaos of the moment and the process, there was no translator available to help.  Regardless of the words, I saw gentleness and compassion in her eyes.  That was all I needed to know.

I am going to keep this short for now because I am trying to share info with you my dear friend before the sun comes up over Zhengzhou and two little girls begin to stir and chase the day.  I need more coffee before the next round of paperwork begins! Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers on this exciting, beautiful journey.  It hasn’t peaked yet.  It has only begun.

Your friend,

Meredith

LLI

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