Hello again! In the last journal entry, I mentioned not being sure what we were to do today. Since we have completed the mandatory meetings for today, perhaps my memory will serve me well enough to describe the day’s events.

Jada’s day began very early again. She was up by 4:30 and would not go back to sleep. We finally gave in and let her watch a video on her DVD player while Sheila read and answered email. Picture the room totally dark except for the glow of the laptop screen. Sheila snuck over with the camera and snapped a picture of Jada eating peanuts and watching her Barney video. It doesn’t get any better than that.

At 9:00, we loaded up on the bus and once again hit the road for the Civil Affairs Office. There, each family received the famed red adoption certificate. We were there for only a few minutes. After receiving the certificate (shown at left), we had to take it to the Police Station to apply for Ruby’s Chinese passport. Her Chinese passport is what allows her to exit China. Once she enters the United States, her Chinese passport will be null and void since she will then be an American citizen. To leave the US, we will have to apply and receive her US passport. This, we will gladly do.

After leaving the Police Station, we returned to the hotel and walked around the grounds a bit before heading back to the room to prepare Ruby for feeding and her nap. To the left are a few pictures taken around the White Swan Hotel. We then returned to the room and while Sheila fed Ruby and put her down for her nap, Jada and I spent a leisurely hour in the garden pool, one of the two outdoor pools at the hotel. It is right beside the Pearl River and it is so beautiful.

Sheila ordered pizza for delivery to the room for lunch, and after we ate, we went out to several of the small shops that line the roads beside the White Swan. She is certainly in her element while shopping, while I get so overwhelmed (some may translate that to bored to tears) that sometimes, I just have to leave to collect my thoughts. This happened today, as a matter of fact.

Ruby continues to get more and more comfortable with all of us. When the time comes for us to head back home, she will feel to us like she has always been a large part of our small family. I’m sure of it!

Sheila and Jada just went to bed, and Ruby has been down since before 8:00 (an hour ago). I’m going to get a few pictures posted for you and then head off to dreamy world with them. Before I go, Sheila wanted me to include a quote from one of her favorite people – Norman Vincent Peale:

Have great hopes and dare to go all out for them.
Have great dreams and dare to live them.
Have tremendous expectations and believe in them.

A great big THANK YOU to every one of you who are keeping us in your thoughts and prayers. You are performing miracles with each one.

The new and improved Lane family