We met with the head director (see pictures) of the Xining City Children's Welfare Institute (the woman in the white lab coat from yesterday
was her assistant). She was at a meeting Thursday when we visited the Institute, so she took the time to come to our hotel to meet with us. We went together to the tea house in our hotel. We ordered a pot of jasmine tea and had a very nice conversation about Grace, the Institute, and the city of Xining. She has been working in children's welfare for 21 years and has been with the Xining Children's Welfare Institute since its establishment in 1998. She is clearly a very loving and devoted caregiver.She told us that we were the 103rd adoptive family from the Institute. We also learned there were 52 families from America who had adopted from the Institute. She said she had been to the U.S. one time before and went to Ohio, Seattle, D.C. and New York. While she was in the States she visited 20 families who had adopted from Xining Children's Welfare Institute. We invited her
to visit us in Texas and she said she would love to come and stay with us. We suggested she come in the Winter and she laughed (it is VERY cold in Xining in the winter).The rest of the day was not very exciting. We went on two walkabouts and we talked to a group of school kids and a group of college boys who were all anxious to practice their English. Other than that, we laughed and played in the room (we bought more toys at the store today).
It was pretty uneventful until bedtime. Grace was wired. We were trying to read a bedtime story and she was jumping all over Joe and the bed. Before we knew it, both girls were jumping all over the bed. Grace is a maniac!! She has absolutely no fear. She will run, jump, dive and fall face first without a moments notice. She taught Katrina how to do a tumble! She has amazing gross motor skills and the strength of 20 babies. I'm totally blown away and totally freaked out because I'm such a worry wart and she's afraid of nothing. How will I ever keep her injury free?
Talk to you tomorrow from Guangzhou . . . after we've had a Starbucks or two.
P.S. Uncle Donald, you are going to love playing with Grace and she is going to love playing with you!!
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2 comments:
I look forward to playing with Grace and of course Katrina. We will see you early October. I know I will be her favorite uncle also.
Donald
As I read your posts every night, I am so moved by your love for your children, the experiences you are having and the new relationships you are building. The two of you have such a great capacity for love and a commitment to parenting, that no child could ever be luckier than to be a part of your family. I've shared your blog with a couple of people at work and they were amazed at the wonderful way you have chosen to share your journey with us. My love, thoughts and prayers are with you all daily as well as my prayers for the safety of your home and family back in Houston in the wake of the hurricane.
Love to you all,
caryn jo
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