Dec 5, Tuesday pm - day of just waiting

Today was just a waiting day - free to do whatever. This morning Mary got Jing dressed, giving her choices of what to wear - she was all smiles at the new jeans and shirts. Then I did her hair and after a few adjustments, she was out of the bathroom to show Baba her new "doo". She couldn't wait to get out the door for breakfast and "strut her stuff". She continues to eat well and is having no swallowing issues ... thank the Lord.

We were going to go to an amusement park, but decided against it - windy, cool and a bit rainy. Instead, John found Monday night football to be on this morning - live of course - and decided to stay in the hotel. Mary, Jing and Cindy (guide) hit the streets walking to do a bit of shopping. Jing mostly kept saying, "buy toys" - whenever we stopped at another clothing shop. We walked and walked. Jing jabbers away in chinese with Cindy translating. She is quiet as a mouse with us - just wait till she picks up english!! We finally reached the "wholesale market" - wall to wall vendors of every kind. Cobblestone floors with very old steps. Nothing like it in America! We bought several items - playdoh, pens, math book, sticker dress up book ..... but we still didn't hit the "toys" as far as Jing was concerned. She had obviously been to this market before - wanting to head off in front of us. She wanted large items that had lots of little parts - not good for packing and such. Finally she settled on a sand art picture and two small phones - battery operated kind. I thought they were nice and small and never gave a thought to the sound they would make! Well after 30min of way too loud chinese chatter and singing and bleeps, I bandaided up the small speaker on the toy cell phone!! It is much more tolerable now.

After a bit of rest in the room, we headed down for lunch - John wouldn't get to finish his game, but oh, well!! Jing now asks for "coca cola" after watching John drink it at every meal. She ate several veggies, loved the potatoes and said the meat was "yummy" - so glad we didn't force her to eat the formula/rice cereal gruel she has been eating 3 times a day for all of her life. She asks for and tries new things at every meal and hasn't had a gagging problem yet!!! We are very, very happy about this! Her foster parents would be quite upset, but I can plainly see that she is having no trouble and is now enjoying her meals.

We had quite an enjoyable time back in the room in the afternoon - playing volleyball with a punch balloon or tickle monster with Daddy - she gave us lots of laughs and showed how a 6 yr old can easily get the giggles! When John and I rest or are busy on the computer/with a book in the room, Jing occupies herself very well - with small toys or writing/drawing - not constantly in need of attention. How nice!!

For dinner we ventured to Pizza Hut and Jing ate spaghetti with tiny meat chunks/balls. She said it was "yummy" and ate a good helping. After arriving back to the room, we put on Mulan for her. Fortunately John remembered it had a language option and she was zoned to the screen as Mulan played on in Mandarin. A shift in the story from Mulan to Mushu made her think the movie was over and she popped it out of the laptop - she learns things quickly. She seemed tired so I didn't try to have her watch it anymore. Instead I drew her up a warm bubble bath. Jing has only had shower baths at her foster home and she was not so certain about climbing into all that white foam! I brushed away the bubbles to show her the water and helped her in. We blew bubbles up in the air to her amusement and then she used empty water bottles and small shampoo tubes to play with. I went out of the bathroom and we could hear her giggling as she mastered getting water in the tubes and squirting it up on the tile. How sweet to hear my first, "mama" as she showed me how she had learned to squirt! Ahhh, the simple things of life!

She is now asleep - a sleeping beauty. Gazing at her today, my heart is slowing taking her in as "my daughter" - adopters know what I mean. She is 'really my daughter' and my heart is filling over with yet another child the Lord has given me - my 6th - my quiver is truly full! Thank you Lord for yet another life to raise for You - may she one day come to a full understanding of Your love and grace towards her!!

Good night - "wan an" until tomorrow!

Mary (and John and Jing)