The Consulate, the Circus, and the Garden

We had our Consulate Appointment this morning. We met our guide, Miko, in the lobby at 7:45am and our driver took us over to the medical clinic for her to get our medical paperwork. From there we walked across the street to the US Consulate. 

It is in a new building since our last visit to China but the lines were no different. It is a surreal feeling to know that just because we carry a US Passport we are escorted to the front of the line.

The lines wrapped around the building. My guess is a couple hundred Chinese citizens wanting to get their visa to travel to the US. Absolutely no cameras allowed inside. So our sweet & wonderful guide, Miko, used my phone and took our photo. Then she held on to my phone so that it was not confiscated!

It was a brief visit. We probably spent only 30 minutes inside the building. We went up to the second floor, and we were the only ones in a rather large waiting room. Finally another family came. That was it! 

We handed over our documents once called up to the window. The super nice guy spoke in Mandarin to Selah and she offered her fingerprints as signature. For the first time she seemed excited to say yes in agreement to coming to the US. The man was so nice to her. Jeremy and I took an oath that everything we presented was true and accurate. We were given a few documents to keep then left the building.

The elevator is all glass and when we got on and began to go down, Selah let out a huge sigh. It is obvious that she is afraid of heights. We all laughed.

Today Jeremy took the girls down to the gardens surrounding our hotel and took their photos while I went to the Business Office to confirm our flights. The girls are not thrilled with so many photos! But.....too bad for them! 

It is rather chilly today. I am not complaining especially since many of our American friends have been dealing with the Polar Vortex. Selah brought it to our attention that the news here was showing the weather in the United States. Then she shivered!

Our Selah.

One of the hotel staff offered to take their photo. And I was not there!

More of the gardens.

It really is so pretty here.

The lobby is pretty spectacular as well.

We are longing for home at this point. I cannot wait to wrap my arms around our other four kids at home. A couple have been sick and when Mariah spoke with me via FaceTime the other night and said, "I want mommy!" I admit it hurt and I had tears in my eyes. She was sick and running a fever. It was the first time she told me that. 

We are trying to make lasting memories for Selah. Our guide suggested the circus for us since last year we took the boat ride/dinner cruise. It is a cross between the Cirque du Soleil and a traditional circus only on steroids!

We were not sure what to expect.

The acrobatics were phenomenal!

The animals were also terrific!

There was a diving show, a human cannonball, the Wheel of Death (motorcyles inside a steel cage), and animals. We saw elephants, a white tiger, a white lion, monkeys on bicycles, a hippo, giraffes, ducks, pigs, birds or many kind, horses, deer, flamingos, and probably a few I'm forgetting. 

Sometimes we forget what it must be like for Selah to suddenly join our family. Just the other night she was talking with us then asked, "What is your name?" It hit me like a ton of bricks. This poor child was taken from her school, foster home, and city. She was handed over to us an a very sterile civil affairs office and suddenly became our daughter. I never even thought of the fact that she doesn't know our first names. She knows her siblings but not ours. She has missed out on so much.

We are reminded daily how much of her childhood was stolen from her. She is very independent. She is not trying to disobey but her nature is to just go and do without thought of others. Just last night she wanted to cross the street alone. We were all walking down the sidewalk from dinner and she just hopped onto the street and began walking.

Jeremy quickly called to her and told her to come back with us. She did and even smiled. I think she just doesn't understand how families work. We care for her and it is our job to watch for her. She no longer has to have that burden. But she also has to learn that. It is just ingrained into her being.......for now!

We take such joy in the small things. She asked us the other day how to correctly pronounce her American name. She definitely is on her way to accepting us as her family. We noticed on her QQ account (Chinese Facebook) that she changed her screen name to Selah. We had no idea! That is a pretty huge deal!

She really is such a joy to have. We love hearing her broken English! It really is endearing to us. Because she is from southern China, Cantonese is her native tongue but Mandarin is the recognized language of China. There are two pronunciations of her name. If we say it just right she answers us in Cantonese and it sounds like "way". It is adorable! 

We have had quite a few laughs with the inconsistencies of the translators Jeremy has on his iPad. We asked her what the name of one of the programs on television was and she spoke into the translator. It translated,"I love you!" Obviously that was not correct and Selah knew it immediately and said, "No! No! No!" We all laughed. Jeremy now brags that she told him first that she loved him. 

But then last night Jeremy was speaking to her again with the translator and when Selah said something it translated, "You are stupid!" We all died laughing! Selah felt bad and knew it was really wrong but we laughed. Laughter really is great medicine!

Just this afternoon I take so much joy in the fact that while I was shopping online for clothes for her, she came over to my chair and sat on the arm. She leaned into me for a few minutes. We have to let her do this in her time. It is unbelievably hard.

We are definitely winding down our time here. She is aware that we leave soon and is fine with that. We are praying that her heart is ready for this. Only God can prepare that sweet heart of hers. I know she is afraid. She would never admit that though. 

Thank you all for your prayers as we are here. We have needed them and definitely felt God's hand in this through your prayers. Our daughter is loved by so many. One day I pray she understands how many lives she has touched. I cannot wait for you all to meet her. She will be very shy so please be patient. Keep in mind that we still have yet to hear her call us "Mama" and "Baba".  We are richly blessed as a result of this child. We needed her just as much as she needed us. We will never be the same and for that I am thankful.