What A Christmas Day to Remember!

Merry Christmas!

Finally, it's here! We can hardly wait to be home, but our excitement pales in comparison to a little girl's! Joy told everyone at the Executive Lounge today that she was getting on a plane and going to America today. And staying in another hotel tonight and then going HOME!! And that she had new shoes, would they like to see them?

She has been so excited all day, I'm sure she's going to collapse once we finally get in the air. Chung Yi called us this morning to ask how things were. They also talked to her and reminded her that today was the day she was traveling. She already knew though! They were great - telling her that if she felt lonely and missed the kids at school to look at her book and see how happy they were that she was going to America. She has her necklace on that the staff gave her as well. She asked them if she could come back and visit Chung Yi someday. Of course!

We didn't bring a Christmas present with us, as all of this has seemed like a big present to her. But the staff gave her one, so we opened that this morning. It's an adorable doll that has a music box. The staff at the executive lounge has been especially generous! They gave her another gift today (Hello Kitty candy). The front desk clerks gave her a stuffed bear ornament. And one sweet lady upstairs gave her a book about a little girl being adopted. And a very sweet note telling her how brave and good she was!

We went for a walk, in the drizzle and the azaleas were blooming. Couldn't resist a picture for my mother! Santa came to the dining room this evening as well, and handed out balloon baskets with balloon apples in them. Joy squealed with delight and also screamed "apple!" when she was handed one!

Her language skills today are just amazing! She repeated things all day, including the parts in French in the Tom and Jerry cartoon we had running! We've learned UP and DOWN by pushing the buttons for the elevator. We've learned the BOTH means 2 hands. Take my hand and Stay with Daddy are completely understood (which I was somewhat worried about before we met her). And colors and also the days of the week just spurted out of her today, complete with a song about each.

We've also been hearing a lot of Mandarin today! She sat for about 30 minutes and told me a long elaborate story, complete with laughter and hand motions! It didn't seem to bother her that I didn't understand, as long as I laughed at the right moments. She was totally amused by herself!

She also LOVES to ask WHY in Chinese! She has asked the waiter why he wore black. Why did that person have bottles in their hand? Why did that woman in the bathroom put those things in her eyes (contacts)? Why was she wearing that dress? Why did they work there? and on and on....Tim said he wondered if she was trying to hear as much Mandarin as she could before she was totally in an English world. Maybe! In any case, she does have a talent for making people laugh!

The airport is beautiful, and big. We are here early, but that's fine. Joy slept in the car ride once we left the lights of Taipei. We passed a Hello Kitty playland, but she wasn't all that interested in playing. Right now, we're interested in animal crackers!

So it's been a day full of anticipation and excitement. As ready as we are to be home in Colorado, I am hoping that our stay in Seattle for one night will help her be more rested. We want her to enjoy her homecoming and hopefully remember it! We want to remember it too ----- so maybe it's that WE need the rest! :)

love to all!
Margaret