This is a bonus blog!  I woke up at 4:30 this morning and could not sleep.  I could probably write a book with all that has gone through my head in the last couple of hours, but I wanted to add a few things to the blog.  Plus, I realized last night that for some devices, and maybe more specifically Apple devices, my blog  pictures were being reformatted.  So, I have changed the page a little to keep that from happening.  If it still is, please let me know.  It isn’t worth the time that has to be put into these blogs for the pictures to be all jacked up!

First, I already commented on the City of Harbin and their attitude towards adoption.  But what I neglected to mention was something that happened with the Director of the Adoption Center yesterday.  One aspect of this process that we have hated is the open transfer of money during the adoption process.  Maybe others have had different experiences, but in every adoption we have done money has changed hands in full view of the child you are adopting.  This changing of money is necessary; it represents the administrative costs required for the paperwork to be processed and the donation to the orphanage.  But Kelly and I have always hated the “transactional” aspect it portrays to your new son or daughter when it is done right in front of them.

When we finished the paperwork yesterday, the administrator, who is the lady in this picture (not a great picture of her.  I know …):

She told the children to stay in the room and she lead us out into her own office.  She shut the door and then proceeded to provide us with the financial requirements.  This meant so very much to us and I made sure that the guide told her so.  It was the first time, in our experience, that the officials had such a heart for the orphans that were being adopted.

Second, it has been so nice to see the nurturing and caring part of Katelyn.  She has taken to Caleb like a mother hen and anyone who knows Caleb knows that the more people looking our for him the better.  He tends to be a little distracted by shiny objects, not unlike most 10-year old boys.  But Katelyn takes him by the hand, she directs him, and she hovers over him constantly.

Kelly made an interesting observation yesterday.  While I certainly don’t want to get into a long discussion on the topic of adopting out of birth order (and if you have not adopted, this can be a hotly debated topic!), but one of the benefits of adopting an older child internationally is that in many if not most cases that older child has already been a care giver for the younger children in their orphanage.  When you bring them into your family and they have younger siblings, it allows them the opportunity to feel like they are contributing to the family immediately and provides them a sense of value in the family structure.  Katelyn certainly has jumped at the opportunity!

Finally, as we walked back to the hotel last night after dinner, Kelly and I talked about how much we feel the prayer covering over us on this trip.  That isn’t to say that it was not there in prior trips, but it is very strong this time.  We both sensed such a feeling of peace and a lack of any anxiety when we left on Tuesday morning to pick Katelyn up.  There have been so many people praying for us daily and we wanted you to know that we feel that very strongly.  So don’t stop now!  The quest is only partially complete!

Today we are heading to the Tiger Park.  Apparently you ride through the park in a jeep that has an open cage and tigers roam around, sometimes climbing on top of your vehicle.  Kelly read a review that suggested that, if you are bringing small children, don’t opt for the “live bate” option.  Who knows what kind of trauma we will inflict on our children today.  Grace, grace …

Cameron