We have our girl!

We picked up Hayley (right now we are calling her Yi Qing) less than 24 hours ago at the Civil Affairs office in Xian.  She scream, kicked, and punched us while we were there, and by the time we got to the car, I think she just gave up.  Poor baby - it was so difficult on her, and on her Nanny that appeared to be very attatched to her.  Once we came back to the hotel, we were able to get her to smile and even got some kisses!  She is a sweatheart. 

We found out that she was actually placed in an orphanage through Hope Haven, which is a mission-focused, Christian organization.  They took so much time in making a photo album of pictures from when she was a tiny baby.  This was such a special gift for her to have and for us!  It seems that they took very good care of her.  She seems overall healthy, and she smiles easily.  She even knew the sign for I love you...precious!  They celebrated her first and second birthdays with birthday cakes and party hats, and they celebrated Christmas too!

We are just so in love with this little girl already.  God has had His hand on her for the last 2 years of her life. On her schedule we were given, they told us that every night is "prayer and praise" time before bed, and her album has the verse Psalms 68:5-6 "A father to the fatherless, a defender of the widows, is God in His holy dwelling.  God sets the lonely in families..."  We are so blessed. She really is precious-this beautiful chiild of God.  I know the work is not over, and I am sure there will be difficult times and adjustments.  But I know that God will give us the grace to get through it.  She was given to our family for a reason. 

Believe it or not, she laid down next to me last night at 8:45, and she is still sleeping (it is 6:00am).  Nate and I are sitting here, anxiously waiting for her to wake up.:-)  I would love to post some pictures, but right now the internet is running slow!  So I will try to have pictures up, later today (tomorrow morning for you).  Keep the prayers coming!