Hello all! I did a couple of posts yesterday and found out today they haven't showed up so let me try again.
It been fast and furious since arriving in Shenyang on Sunday afternoon. We flew here from Beijing- about an hour flight so not bad.
Monday was the big day. We met Clare at 9:00 am at Civil Affairs Office here in Shenyang. The orphange director brought her. She was very shy and tentative at first but warmed up after a bit. She immediately took to Jack- calling him guh-guh which is big brother in Chinese. There was lots of paperwork signing and then we came back to the hotel and went to the play room. Jack was such an awesome help. We couldn't have done it without him.
On Tuesday morning we did all kinds of stops to sign furhter paperwork. We had to go to numerous official offices to get things notarized, etc. We were totally clueless as everything was in Chinese. Jack wore shorts and caused quite a stir among the Chines people- they were all stopping and pointing and asking our guide about his shorts. It is the custom here to bundle kids up- and I do mean bundle. When we got Clare back to the hotel yesterday and changed her clothes she had three layers on including a pair of very thick wool long underwear. The high yesterday was probably about 58 or 59 degrees. Seems like she would have been roasting! No wonder everyone was staring at Jack in his shorts.
I am attaching some pictures from yesterday and today. Keep us in your prayers. There is some stress involved in staying at a hotel with a 4 yr. old who does not speak English. Wow, we are quite busy. Thank goodness Jack is here.
We'll post again soon.
Love Lynda, John and Jack and his new little sister Clare.
