Off to Hafei

Well, here we are, waiting in the Beijing airport to fly to Hefei in the Anhui Province, where Emma lives.
This is the day we have been waiting and praying for for more than two years now, and it’s finally here. I’ve felt for a couple of weeks like we were having our own baby and just waiting for the delivery. The past two weeks have been like the labor pains and contractions, only we have both felt them together.
Sitting here is like sitting in a hospital room, waiting for the moment of delivery. I guess the biggest difference is that she will be delivered by the director of a Chinese orphanage instead of a doctor. And, of course, she is already two years old, which means no diapers. Hallelujah.
It also somewhat strange being alone. Out of the 14 families and 30-plus people in our group, we are the only ones traveling to Anhui Province. With a couple of exceptions, we are all traveling to different areas of the country to get our children. Of the 14 families, we are traveling to about eight or nine different provinces.
We have gotten to know everyone in our group and have become good friends with some. Two families have little Chinese girls with them from a previous adoption and a previous trip to China. They, of course, have been the hit of the trip so far. Everyone can’t help but look at them and hope that their children will be just as beautiful and sweet.
This morning was interesting. We had to meet in the lobby to check out and leave for the airport at 5 a.m. But despite the early morning and some lingering jet lag, everyone had a bounce in their step and was more than a little wired. There were a lot of well-wishes and a few hugs as everyone went on their own separate journeys. We will all meet together as a group again in about a week in Guangzhou. That will be really interesting, because by then, all the new families and friends we have met will have additions to their families.
We have all been anxious and curious to see what it will be like when we finally meet our new children. It’s like stepping into the great unknown. You have your own ideas and hopes and wishes for what it will be like, but you don’t really know. We know it will be an emotional and joyous occasion for us, but what about for her?
What will she feel and how will she react? Will she be scared to death and angry, or will she know that we are her new parents and come to us willingly? We have prayed for months for God to prepare us and her for this moment.
We are just a few hours away from receiving the blessing he has prepared for us.