We will always be grateful that we took the opportunity to do what we did today, but it has changed each of us forever. To see so many children who are in need of a family was hard on our hearts for sure. I cannot even process the images in my head of all those beautiful children….they are images that will stay with me forever.

The orphanage and the grounds were so well kept, with beautiful gardens and very clean rooms. The caretakers had enormous smiles for us and were very excited to see Eliza and Vivian. There is no air conditioning there, and the heat here is not something I can explain in words. It is beyond any hot we have ever experienced!

Today was hard on our little miracle Eliza, but we pray bonding will reach a new level because of the good-byes we said at the orphanage. I held on to her tight, as she did to me, to try to comfort her and let her know we were not leaving her. She cried a lot though, and kept pointing back the direction we had come from.

We were granted the privilege to take some photos. I am so grateful to have them….a piece of Eliza’s life before us.

Eliza was a cuddle bug in the van on the way there. Our morning was fast and furious to get to the van on time, but it went very well.

We were allowed to take photos outside of the buildings, and the grounds. It was so beautiful!

We went and saw the preschool classrooms first. We were taken inside Vivian’s classroom.

Then, as we were walking, I peeked into another classroom, and Eliza went crazy with excitement! She saw her preschool teacher, and it was obvious they love each other very much.

Next we saw Eliza and Vivian’s cribs, and we were given their name tags from that room. Eliza’s crib is on the left, Vivian’s is on the right.

We saw where the girls ate their meals.

What tore at my heart the most was when we saw the “baby room”. So many beautiful babies. I will never forget it. Eliza’s “Foster Grandma” (who took care of Eliza as a baby before she moved into her foster family) was there, and so we got a photo with her as well.

We left there and walked to the medical buildings. We were shown a model of the whole orphanage complex which was mind boggling to see. That place is huge. Our guide told us there are 1,000 orphans there. One thousand children with out parents.

Once we all agreed it was time to go, we drove to a hospital to see where Eliza was found. The traffic and people there was crazy, and so we took photos of the outside of the building and the street name as we drove by.

We really enjoyed seeing the culture while in the van. It is SO neat. We want to soak up every bit of it we can! China has made it’s way into our hearts, and we will have a hard time leaving even though we are more than ready to go home.

All afternoon all I can think is part of a verse in Psalm 139: “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Each and every one of those beautiful children we saw today was fearfully and wonderfully made. I can’t help but wonder what God’s plan for those children will be. The tears are coming easily for us today. Thank you for praying us through a very hard, but very necessary day.

“I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14

(This was written at 5 p.m., Wednesday, July 16)

Eliza started grieving during the night last night. We are so thankful that the grieving process has started, but that does not mean that it has been easy. Quite the contrary. We have had a very long night and an even longer day today.

Yesterday evening we were having a blast though! The only time when I put Eliza down that she doesn’t throw a fit and cry is when I need to use the bathroom. I take her with me, set her down, and she just stands there. Last night I walked to the sink without picking her up to see what she would do. She followed me! It was the first time I have seen her walk.

But wait. It gets even better. I washed my hands, and then just acted like I was still doing things to see what she would do. She walked back and forth from me to the mirror over and over! I went to the door, opened it to leave, and she followed. When Blake and Addie saw my arms empty and looked down to see Eliza walking, they cheered! Then Addie got down on her knees, and opened her arms wide. Eliza RAN straight into Addie’s arms and gave her a big hug. It was priceless!

Not only does she walk well, but this chick can RUN!!

Yesterday we were in the honeymoon period. We had many wonderful moments together with Eliza!

Today the honeymoon is over. Eliza slept until almost 8 a.m. this morning after a very rough night. Do you think she is being fair with her share of the bed? Yeah, me neither.

After we attempted breakfast and had to quickly leave before even getting our food, we ate in the room and then walked to a store to get some things we needed. Like two new arms for me. In the shape of a stroller. Not sure she will agree to sit in it, but we are going to try sometimes.

This photo is hazy because it is 100 degrees here with 1000% humidity. Yep. Really!

The bulk of our day has been spent in the room. Eliza took a great nap on my lap. I love holding her so much!

Late this afternoon we headed to the police station to get Eliza’s passport picture taken. It was a very neat experience, minus the four miles I paced with a flailing, screaming child in my arms.

There is hope that we are turning the corner as I type. She is letting Addie Mae feed her, and is smiling and acting more like the Eliza we first met. Even if we don’t turn the corner, it is all good, because grieving all the change that has happened to her in the last few days is a very important thing.

Please pray for us as we have made the hard decision to visit Eliza’s orphanage in the morning tomorrow. We are not sure it is the best thing for her right now, but it is a once in a lifetime chance, and we are hoping that it will provide closure for Eliza instead of more confusion into her little mind. Her foster Mama will probably be there too, and that may be really hard. Please pray!

We have been SO, SO, SO blessed by the support all of you are giving us right now. I wish I had time to answer every comment and e-mail. We are reading each and every one, and last night during the night I sat and read them all again. I just needed the support right then and there. Thanks to each and every one of you SO much. Please keep praying with us! We still have one more week here and are getting homesick already.

“With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Today, Tuesday, we headed back to the Civil Affairs office to do our adoption and notary interviews. The air conditioner was not on in that building today, and our interviews took quite awhile. Eliza was “done” long before the group was done with their interviews, and she pitched quite the fit about that fact. She does not like me to set her down at all, and will look at Blake and Addie and smile at them but does not want them near her or helping her. Did I mention is was HOT? Needless to say, I was very happy to get on that bus to head back to the hotel!

Blake got dropped off with the shopping group, while us girls came back to the hotel. Blake brought back rice noodles, ham and broccoli for Eliza’s lunch with a fried egg on top. She was in noodle heaven! She sure loves to eat! We have enjoyed times of playing this afternoon, but have had many times of tears as well. I laid with her for her nap, and she kept a tight grip on me the whole time. She also lets us know that she is ready to go somewhere by pointing to her feet and her shoes. She LOVES the words “let’s go bye-bye.” It gets the biggest giggles and grins of anything else we have done! I think we will be cramping this girl’s style bringing her home to a homeschool family who lives on a farm and never goes anywhere!

She sat on Addie’s bed alone and played with some pom poms and stacking cups while Blake and Addie were out to lunch. She was jabbering away at me the whole time – either in Chinese or baby talk, I am not sure which!

After her bath this morning, which she would not sit down in so it was more like a shower, she played nicely on the couch before we left!

Our appointments included paperwork and questions we had to answer.

Oh, yes, and lots of signatures!

There’s that thumb!

I believe this photo is for Eliza’s adoption certificate. She is now officially Eliza Claire Moschel!!

Please pray for sweet little Miss Eliza, as she is struggling with a deep chest cold and a tight cough. We are probably going to need to seek some help for her if we do not start to see some improvement. Please also pray that the rest of us will stay healthy!

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

(This is being written at 6:30 a.m. Tuesday, July 15)

I want to etch every detail of yesterday into my memory forever! It was such an amazing experience. The photos tell the story……. (thanks Addie Mae!!!)

We saw a glimpse of Eliza right away as we came into the big room!

And then we saw some friends from back home, who are not with our agency, who had just gotten their little boy!!!!

There was paperwork to check….

And suddenly it was time.

This was when Eliza really turned the corner – when we started looking at a photo book of her orphanage which included photos of her!!!

We were able to ask questions of her caretaker.

And just like that, it was time to go!!

We captured a photo with Eliza’s best friend from the orphanage….and made a pledge with this family (I have mentioned them before!) to stay friends as well!

When we got back to the hotel it was time for more paperwork!

Eliza even had to sign some paperwork!!

Our first diaper change….and she is still amazingly calm!

I wonder if this is her name written on her clothes?

We played in the room and tried to use a beach ball to get her to walk around, but she was happy standing still.

Time to change out of her sweaty clothes and get ready for dinner!

This girl can eat! And by herself! And she was so good for us in the restaurant downstairs.

Our last thing before pj’s and bed was to meet big sissy and three brothers over skype. Eliza was a HOOT! The kids at home just laughed and laughed at her!

We had an answer to my specific prayers at bedtime….Eliza sucks her thumb. I had prayed, for weeks before we arrived here, that God would give her a way to soothe herself when she is scared. And he answered!!!

Eliza and I laid side by side in the big hard bed, making eye contact while I sang to her, and she sucked her thumb and fell asleep. She is still sleeping as I type! I cannot say that I slept all night, as I spent time awake listening to that thumb, praying for our brown-eyed girl, and just in awe of what the Lord has done for us.

Praise Jesus! Our wait for Eliza is over!!!