I pledge to never abandon...

As far as China is concerned, it's official. We are stuck with each other. Olivia had a bit of anxiety as we pulled up to the same Civil Affairs office as Monday. In China, you have 24 hours from when they give you temporary custody to decide if you want to keep your child...I didn't have to think too hard about that. I had to declare that I would care for and never abandon her. Again, didn't have to think too hard on that one, either.

Then a 3 hour trip to Anyang. This is where Olivia's orphanage is (she only lived there 10 days before being transferred to Agape, but they still were her "official" guardian) so that we could go to the Police Station to have her passport picture taken and complete that paperwork.

Yummy jaiozi (dumplings) for lunch!



Passing time at the Police Station...


Paperwork complete...last photo with Ms. Lee, orphanage director...



This is where Olivia would have lived had she not been blessed to go to Agape...






Please pray for the children who live their whole lives in orphanages. Some are better than others, but in all cases, none is as good as a family. And those like Olivia who are given the opportunity to spend time in a foster situation, while the initial transition can be rough because of their grieving the loss of relationships, they have learned to give and receive love and so much more. If you are in a position to support - prayers or financially - these amazing places who create an eternal impact on children, please do so. If you want to know how, let me know. I would be more than happy to help get you connected!

We all crashed on the 3 hour ride back to Zhengzhou...



After being gone for 11 hours, we enjoyed peanut butter sandwiches in the room for dinner, had an extended bubble bath (girls of every age love their bubbles), a quick FaceTime convo with cousins (sadly the 2nd set never answers when we call :( ) and then some bedtime cuteness...






Thankfully I got 3/4 of the bed for sleeping, and we both were out cold all night long! She definitely was much more relaxed and at peace. She is precious beyond words. I am blessed.

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