New Friends...

Monday morning arrived and we met with our driver and made our way to Dongguang to visit True Children's Home, a private run American facility that provides care for children with special needs. This facility is also where Storie spent 9 months of her young life after she was diagnosed with a congenital heart defect. We had a chance to meet with the director and staff of the facility while Storie played with the children still living in the home.

After receiving a tour of the grounds we walked next door to a hotel where we met the foster mother and father who had taken care of Storie from the time she left True Children's until she was adopted by us (approx. 8 months). Although the language barrier was obvious, we felt a connection to these new friends as their dedication to Storie could be sensed in the sounds of their words. It was very evident that they loved and adored Storie, who was their first foster child they had ever cared for.

We exchanged several nods and smiles with one other while seated at that hotel and by the time we left it was understood that the foster parents were saddened to see Storie leave their home, yet happy that we were dedicated to providing her with a bright life. We had the privilege of having our photograph taken with them as a lasting reminder of our new friends.

As far as the other pics go...

Julie insisted that I snap a photo of Storie with her finger up her nose. Why? Because she's a sicko, plain and simple.

Storie also satisfied the "potty buddha" by peeing in the toilet for the first time this evening. We, of course, proceeded to make the whizzing a huge deal (what parent wouldn't?) and clapped, hollered, and jumped up and down like a bunch of idiots. Storie must have found this highly entertaining for she peed 3 more times on the potty within a 15 minute period. I'm afraid of her expectations of us when she takes her first poo-poo in the pot!

See you all soon...................