Maiah Nandin is officially ours!!!!!

Hello everyone, let me start by saying thank you for praying. When Derek and I both woke up this morning, neither of us had peace about having the ceremony/party at the Children's Place. We called one of the ladies in charge and told her how we felt and why. We explained that we thought emotionally she was not ready to go back and then leave again. We knew we would be the bad guys carrying her away screaming again and we have come leaps and bounds from that on Tuesday. The response initially was not what we had hoped. Thinking they know better than us, we reluctantly agreed to have it there. Well, shortly after we hung up we got a call back and the party was now going to be at our hotel room at 1100. God really spoke to the hearts of a few of the women in charge and come to find out it was not unusual for it not to be back at the Childrens Place. Another family had had it at their hotel lobby, so this made us feel better. Well at our hotel room it was, thank God we have a large suite. All 21 caretakers, along with 7 or 8 children(Maiahs closest friends),the director, Margie, Rita,and Carol and even a few volunteers came loaded up with treats, candy and an incredible cake. They gave Maiah a bag full of beautiful presents including a traditional Mongolian del (outfit/dress)not sure if I spelled it right. Maiah stayed very close to Nathan the whole time until the snacks broke out at which time she went around the room and shared her drink with all of her little friends. They said this is part of her way of saying goodbye. You could tell she was torn, sad but happy. I cried the second her friends walked in the door and the drink sharing did me in. If I was feeling the way I was, I can only imagine what was going on in her mind. I gave out gifts and we said some thank yous to all the woman who have loved and cared for her. Then, our social worker showed up at the door and said that she had just got a call from the government and we had to be downtown at 1200 to sign our official adoption contract. So, in the middle of the party, off Derek and I went to make it all official!! Maiah Nandin Erdene is now a Petrin!!! We have paperwork to prove it. After 22 months of waiting, God had mercy today. The process took 4 minutes, a smile and a handshake with the government officials. Thank you God!!! Back at the hotel, Carol, Nathan and Kaytlin had to deal with the final goodbyes and it was not easy for Maiah but she just loves her brother and sister and so I really believe that God allowed them this opportunity to be there for her. She is really bonding with both of them now. Nathan and Kaytlin have been so amazing and patient with us and her. I think Nathan now knows why God wanted him on this trip. We have watched them physically and emotionally exhausted press through to breakthrough with Maiah. We knew they would have a tremendous impact on her and we have been so blessed by both of them, they are both amazing kids. For Derek and I, it is going to take some time for her to grieve all the Mama's she has lost at the Children's Place and time we have plenty of .........again thank you so much for praying. We can't wait to be home as a family and introduce our precious treasure to you all......this blog in itself is going to speak volumes to Maiah when she is old enough to understand. It will blow her mind how many people loved her before they ever even knew her. Much love, Stacy