Gotcha Day- more details!

We started the day with breakfast at 6:30 so that we could be at the 

civil affairs office by 8:00. At breakfast, we prayed again that Luke's 

transition would be easy for him and that he would not be afraid. The 

director had arranged for an early meeting time so that we could get 

Luke sooner, so we were there by 7:40. Unfortunately, the civil office 

doesn't open until 9:00. Sophie, our guide, called the director who 

told us that they were just around the corner at their hotel, 

finishing breakfast. We walked over to their hotel and stood in the

lobby as the elevator doors opened. Out came Luke. He headed straight 

for Kevin and was wrapped up in a daddy's embrace. 
 
His nanny gave us a photo album that she had made of pictures of Luke 

as he's grown in the orphanage. It will be an important and precious 

book for him for the rest of his life. 
 
We played with him in lobby for about an hour before heading over to 

the civil office. There, we spent about an hour filling out more 

paperwork. You'd think that with the hundreds of pages we've already 

submitted, they'd have all the answers, but still. 
 
Once done there, we drove back to our hotel, changed clothes and 

headed out for lunch at Luke's favorite restaurant, Kentucky Fried 

Chicken. That's right good old KFC right in the middle of Shenyang, 

China. We did all enjoy the hot fudge sundaes. 
 
After lunch, it was back to the hotel for nap time. We sent the big 

kids to the other room and laid down with Luke. In the calm and quiet, 

he began to cry and we could tell that he was trying to be brave, but 

some sadness was leaking through. He curled up with blanket and monkey 

and went to sleep. 
 
He woke up quietly and was clearly reserved for several minutes. We 

joined the rest of the family for an hour of monkey toss: a game in 

which Luke tossed his stuffed monkey to different family members. He 

laughed a cute giggle uncontrollably. 
 
Dinner was at a Chinese food court. Noodles, grilled vegetables and 

rice for everyone: total cost about $9. 
 
Now we're back in the room and the lights have dimmed. Bath, prayers, 

sleep. 
 
Thank God for such a special wonderful day. 

from Kevin via Elizabeth