Goodbye to Beijing and an incredible week..

Thank you to everyone who made this amazing trip happen for me. Thank you to the wonderful people in Yangzhou who warmly welcomed us and made us feel so special and loved. We will never forget the love and friendships that were made. Thank you to BLAS for making the arrangements and taking good care of us. Thank you to the dignitaries who welcomed us with such beautiful banquets and touching speeches. Thank you to my nannies in the Orphanage who took good care of me until my Mom could bring me home. It was so nice to meet you all. To those children who are waiting for their families in the orphanage who I met I pray that soon you will have a family to call your own. I think of the babies and the kids I met..it makes me sad to have left them but hopefully they will be making their own trip home soon!

Thank you! Thank you!

Love Kennedy, Karen & James

Yangzhou Sisters...

Kennedy made some wonderful new friends...whom she felt were like sisters to her...Friends who had been in the orphanage the same time as she was. These five young ladies made such an incredible bond with one another during the week. Aspen, Keira, Bridget and Melanie...you will always be special. Thank you for sharing those wonderful Yangzhou memories with Kennedy.

Welcome Home Banquet and Hotel

Our visit to the CCAA...

Fun at the XiYuan hotel in Yangzhou

The visit to Slender West Lake and meeting the President of Yangzhou

This picture is of Kennedy and her friend Bridget - they will be getting together this summer..that is the plan.














This is a picture of Kennedy and her friend Aspen. They hit it off from the first day. She misses her a lot.

The Olympic Dream..Beijing 2008 but in March 2009

Here is Kennedy holding the Olympic Torch....Kennedy's friend Melanie is beside her.

A great dinner with a wonderful Yangzhou family..

Here is the family who so graciously hosted a dinner for Kennedy and James. They met their son David when they visisted the Language school. David lives at the school all week and than heads home on the weekend. He is not allowed to do anything but study and do homework during the week. No TV, toys etc. Those are for his weekends. David is 12 years old. They had chinese meatballs, Yangzhou fried rice, Dumplings in Duck Soup, Fried Bean and Crab Paste and Fruit for dessert. James said it was delicious. Thank you to the family for being so gracious.

Party in the Park-Puppets, Kites, Paper cutting, Lion Dances and Yangzhou Fried Rice

Here are some pictures of their fabulous day in the park

More pictures from the orphanage

Here are a few pictures of a little autistic boy in the orphanage. He wanted Kennedy to play with him..and that she did. He was very happy to meet her.



This is a picture of a poster the orphanage had made of all the children's baby pictures who had come to Yangzhou for the re-union. They had written their names in Chinese and had each girl write their names under their pictures. Kennedy's is above her head to the right and the picture with the ladies are some nannies who are still there after 13 years....they remembered Kennedy "Dongni".

Here are some pictures from the orphanage..WARNING...Kids are adorable!!

I know...don't you want to bring them all home! I know I do...

More pics to come,
Karen