Amazing day!!!

Hey,

We just finished a very busy day of site seeing, shopping and a travel group dinner.

Everyone is in bed, and I am headed there soon. But I had to sit down and post about how AWESOME God is. We have been praying, and I know so have many of you, that Logan can feel our love and feel that we are his forever family. I think today was the beginning of an answer to those prayers.

I woke up and just felt like today was a new day, everything just felt right. I headed off to correct some paperwork at the American Consulate, and had to actually have Bart come and get Logan so I could go. He followed me out of the door! I know this sounds silly, but it is huge.

After I got back, we went for lunch then on a group outing. There was some hand holding, a few hugs and lots of smiles.

Towards the end of our group shopping trip, God put these 2 angels in our path. We were walking past a small shop, and Logan began talking with the two shop ladies there. He usually says hi and a few other things, then keeps going. But this time he was having what looked like a deeper conversation. I headed over, and couldn't imagine what the next 1/2 hour would hold.

The shop owners in this part of town speak excellent English, so one of the women began to tell me what they were talking about. She said that she asked him his name, where he was from and other questions.

Well, it seems that it was never really explained to him that we were his mom and dad. That he was a part of our family, our son. She said that since he grew up in an orphanage, he knew the names for mom and dad, but really had no idea what they meant. That he was ours and we were his. He thought we were just watching him and we lived in a hotel.

She spent a long time explaining all of this to him. She then told him, as we told her, all about his new home, his room, his dogs and that he would be leaving China in 5 days to go and live as a family. He was very quiet while she talked, but smiled a few times.

I am in tears by now, and Bart is just firing away with things we would like for the lady to talk with him about.

Logan was also asking questions. He was most concerned with why we were calling him Logan. So we listened as she told him that we knew his real name, but that when you go to America, your parents give you an American name. We asked if he wanted us to use his Chinese name Li Ghu, instead, and he said no...he liked Logan, just didn't know where it came from.

She then talked with him for a few more minutes, and then told us that she had asked him if he liked us and wanted to stay with us or the orphanage. She said that he said he wanted to be with us and did not want to go back to the orphanage.

We asked if he had any other questions, and he asked about his room again, and the dogs. He also asked the lady to ask if we could buy some ice cream. He likes eating ice cream with us.

After some of the most heart felt thank yous I have ever had, we headed next door to the 7-11 and got whatever ice cream Logan wanted. One of the other families was there, and had heard most of the conversation. They were choked up also.

I know that most of you are wondering why no one really explained to Logan what was going on and who we were. We asked our guide many times if he really knew what was happening, if she could talk with him and ask if he had any questions, what did he want us to call him.... and after some hesitation.... she would say a few things to him then tell us that he was fine. Our mommy/daddy radar was right, he wasn't understanding what was going on.

I'm not saying that this has now turned mine and Logan's relationship into a fairy tale mother-son thing, but he does seem more open to me tonight.

We spent awhile before bed looking at pictures on the computer of things at home. He loved seeing his room and would pet the screen when Oscar and Gabby's pictures came up. He was really excited about his bike too.

Just awesome. Thank you God. He is a precious little boy who has some healing to do, but he is ours. And hopefully after today, he understands that a little better.

Hope all is well at home. We miss ya'll, but all is good here.

Love,

Claire