Gotcha Day

"For this child I prayed and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him." 1 Samuel 1:27

It is really real! The day I have longed for and prayed for has arrived! Jade Mingcong Rittenhouse is no longer an orphan. She is my daughter! She has been in my arms since around 10:30 am. I can’t even begin to tell you the size of the smile that brings to my face as I write this to you.

We left Beijing and headed out on the fast train. We got to Tianjin in 30 minutes when it usually takes a taxi at least 2-2.5 hours to get there. We immediately went to the orphanage. I am still trying to figure out how to download my videos to my laptop so please be patient. My friend Sara from SFCV came and joined us.

Two women brought Jade in. The woman carrying her was her jie jie, or older sister. This woman’s mother was Jade’s foster mom. Jade has been crying out for her most of the day. She has been asking for her jie jie, mama and baba most of the day. Please pray for her as this is very hard on her. I know she has been in a very loving home. They sent Jade to me with a bag of clothes, many of them new, as well as food, a little potty, a second pair of shoes, a toy, her own real pearl necklace and a real jade bracelet. I think my favorite was the note the mother included inside the bag. She was able to have someone translate it for her. Please pray for her as she truly loved my daughter as her own until she was placed in my arms.

Our guide, Helen, has been a gift. She is well aware of typical behaviors of adoptive children and has told me that Jade (they call her Congcong) has obvious bonded with her foster family so she will bond to me. She retold me all the things I already knew but it was good for my mom to hear it from someone beside myself. Jade is in mourning over her loss and because she was able to create such a bond with them, in time, it is likely that she will do that with me as well. The hard part is many times she is seeking out my mother when she wants comfort. I believe this may be due to the fact that my mom may be similar in age to her foster mom. This is also hard for my mother as she desires to comfort her but has honored my requests. It is so critical right now that Jade knows I am the one to give her all that she needs.

She is so thin. When they said she only weighed 24 lbs, they were accurate. I am not sure she even weighs that! She seems to be fitting the 24 mo/2T clothes I brought. Thank you to those of you who ran out and got us some smaller clothes to bring on this trip! Her skin is very pale. Her hair is more white than blond. Her lashes are very long and she has very few Chinese traits other than her Tianjin hua (dialect) and the fact that she speaks Chinese. My friend Sara says she looks more European than Asian. Her eyes are a very pale blue and when the light hits it just right, you can see the pink in them. She is just beautiful.

She is a very bright young child! I do believe when she was given the name Mingcong, it was a good match. It means “bright” and “clever”. I had used the top of the cheerios bowl as a plate for the apple I had cut up for her. She never saw the lid on the bowl yet picked it up, sought out the bowl and put the two pieces together. I am able to understand many of the things she is talking about. Her voice is the sweetest thing I think my ears have ever heard. God is so good! Had I not worked this past year in China, I never would have taken Chinese classes and would not have this knowledge to use with her.

I have sat here and watched her throughout the day and chuckle at the traits she has that are similar to mine! I love how God works! She knows what she wants and has no trouble telling people, even in a different language, what she wants. She loves structure. She loves praise. She loves to snuggle. In time, we will be ok. Thank you Lord for loving us so much that you have brought us together to be a family.

I have said over the past few days that I can’t believe that it is finally here! A friend shared with me the day before I left for China that this is how we will feel when we finally stand before Christ. All that we have endured will be worth it. We have waited for that amazing moment and when it finally happens, everything else fades away. It is true. I think I caught a glimpse of what is will be like when I am finally able to stand face to face with Christ as I saw Him in my daughter as they handed her to me.

I could write so much more but since I don’t have to type this into my blog, I probably should stop here. I will tell you more about her tomorrow. All I have to say is…she is perfect and she is mine!