Presley "Lan Lan" walked (or I should say strutted) into our lives on Sunday, September 18th. Her Gotcha Day turned out to be a day earlier than expected! We arrived in Changsha, Hunan, China on Saturday night after a long day of traveling! After 3 plane rides and 23 hours we stood waiting for our luggage . . . that never arrived.
Our bags were stuck in Beijing! You always hear that you should pack an extra change of clothes, etc. in the event that this should happen. However, we weren't worried about it! We tried to laugh and comforted ourselves with the fact that we had the whole next day to retrieve our suitcases and rest up for our expected Monday's Gotcha Day. Our sweet guide, Amy, helped us to make sure that our bags would be delivered the next day. And she also informed us that we would actually be meeting our little Presley on Sunday instead of Monday. Our hearts were overjoyed with the news that we would be wrapping our arms around our girl a day early . . . luggage or no luggage! Yet, we really hoped to take a shower and change clothes! We were set to meet our precious girl at 3:00, and our bags arrived at our room about 1:30 . . . just in time! Praise the Lord! We headed off to the Civil Affairs Office. Amy had informed us that she had met our daughter about 6 months ago when she was also a guide for another family adopting from Presley's orphanage. She told us that Lan Lan was such a happy girl and that she understood that her family was coming for her. During that visit she ran to her room and produced the photo album that we had sent her! It turns out that she had been clutching that picture book for the past 6 months waiting for us! Oh what joy filled our hearts!
We stepped inside the Civil Affairs Office . . . and there she was, waiting for us! She ran right to us and gave us hugs!
She was just so precious and happy and started showing us her book right away. She seemed so proud of her family, and she continued to show that book to everyone!
In one of the pictures the girls were holding a doll that we brought for her. She hugged it and started calling it "wa wa" (doll in Chinese)! She also loved her backpack engraved with her name on it and filled with goodies!
We noticed instantly that our little Presley is a fire cracker! She is spunky, spicy, happy, energetic, talkative and oh so sweet! We grabbed hands, and Presley walked right out of that building and into her new life and family!
On the van ride to the hotel, Presley grabbed mine and David's hands and said, "This is my mommy and daddy, and I'm going home with them." (interpreted by our guide, Amy) Be still our hearts! We arrived back at the hotel and ate our first meal together.
We then gave her a bath, which she loved, and the girls got dressed for bed in their matching nightgowns!
It was a joyous Gotcha Day! Oh how we love this girl, and we will never be the same since she entered our lives! Thank you dear Lord for your goodness and for pouring your sweet favor upon us this day!
