Today James and Kennedy had yet again a very emotional fun filled day. They started their morning bright and early and headed to visit the beautiful Slender West Lake.
This place I remember when I was in Yangzhou for almost a week getting Kennedy. The bridges and water and the surrounding areas are just georgous. James said it was amazing. They than headed for lunch to eat the famous Yangzhou dumplings...they said they were great. James was saying that indeed the Yangzhou area has great cuisine.
James and Kennedy than headed out to buy some things for the orphanage with the rest of the money that we had raised. They bought an industrial sized rice cooker- James said it was HUGE and they also purchased an industrial microwave.
They continued with their shopping and Kennedy bought a few special things for herself. A jade bracelet and some other small trinkets. I had told her that she should get something special from Yangzhou as indeed it is a special place for her.
Once shopping was done and all our money was spent they visisted the Ge Gardens. The President of Yangzhou wanted to meet the group of girls so they arranged to meet him at the park. They met and took pictures and he spoke to the girls telling them to be proud of where they came from and to grow up to be good, respectful adults and to make their parents proud. The President is the boss of the Mayor of Yangzhou whom Kennedy had met at an earlier banquet.
They than headed back to the hotel and got ready for the Farewell dinner which they were going to have with the staff of the orphanage.
James told me that many of the staff etc have been staying at the hotel with them during the week and had come along on their many outings.
At the dinner many people came up and spoke to the girls and the families. Zhou Yi, the lady who had admitted Kennedy into the orphanage and who had given her her medical on her arrival spoke to all the families and broke down into tears many times. She was so taken with all the children and so proud at the young ladies they had become. She too said they were proud of them and how wonderful it was to have them come home to visit them in Yangzhou. That they were all part of the Yangzhou family and that they had missed them all. James said the love that was felt for the girls was something else. He said there is no doubt in his mind how much they love the kids and how much they truly miss them when they are adopted.
Once Zhou Yi was finished talking all the kids ran to her and hugged her. Kennedy said it was so touching. They were all crying. She hugged Kennedy tightly at one point and didn't want to let her go.
Kennedy than presented the gifts she had bought for the orphanage and they were very appreciative. They indicated they needed these very much and would be of great use.
Others many some speeches and they than all ate dinner.
It was quite a dinner filled with happiness and many tears. The goodbye's James said were very hard. James said the amount of time and effort and organization that everyone in Yangzhou had put in to make this happen is so greatly appreciated by all the families that attended. This trip has just been incredible he said. Everyone did everything in their power to welcome the girls and to teach them about China and their roots and to show them how much they were and are loved.
They are now preparing for tomorrow as they leave Yangzhou and head back to Beijing. Many of the families are leaving tomorrow so that too is sad as many freindships were made on this trip. Families from all over the world were there..and the kids are sad to say goodbye to one another. I am so happy they had this opportunity to meet one another and make friends and share in something that will be special to them for the rest of their lives. Yangzhou was their home and the people that loved them and cared for them will now have faces and feelings for them to always remember.
Tomorrow is the last day in China for Kennedy and James...they will rest in Beijing and enjoy the day..swimming in the pool is on the agenda..dinner with a few families and perhaps some shopping.
They leave on Sunday at 4pm and will arrive home Sunday night at 10pm where all our of kids and me will be impatiently waiting for their Daddy and big sister who the have missed very much this week.
Hugs,
Karen
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My gosh, that trip has gone by so fast! I can't believe it is over! My heart is so full for Kennedy and the other girls and families, and all the people in Yangzhou who gave them up for them to join their forever families. It must be so bittersweet. But how wonderful to have this opportunity to cement old ties, roots, love and caring. Hopefully more contact can be kept in the future, both with the orphanage and also with the other girls who got to know one another. How amazing to have a worldwide network of "sisters". I'm sorry it is over so fast. Thanks so much for letting us come along on the trip! We look forward to more photos and stories in the future!
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