Preparing for Danielle

I am sorry that I haven't posted anything new in a few days, but things have been crazy!! Getting shots, ordering money (China wants crisp US money), making lists, writing down schedules for grandparents, shopping for travel essentials, and taking care of little ones - all things that take up so much time! Another important thing that we have been doing is getting ready to help Danielle transition into our family. We have been trying to prepare Steffi and Liz for Danielle's arrival. Liz often says that she misses Danielle and wants her to come home. In fact every time that we pray (even at meals), this precious 2 yr old reminds us to pray for Danielle. Stephanie (4) makes up words and says that she is speaking Chinese. In fact, she came up with some Chinese nicknames for her and Liz: NiNi and NuNu. They are very excited about their new little sister. We have been trying to explain to them that Mommy and Daddy will be sleeping in China for many nights, but that Nana, Momma and Bumpa will be with them. We are going to take along our laptop that has a webcam, and hopefully that will help all of us - being able to see each other! I sure am going to hate leaving them!! We also have been reading about attachment issues with adopted children and talking with adoptive parents. Our hearts break thinking that Danielle has had to and will have to deal with grief at such a young age. The illustration in the previous post, truly brings me to tears, thinking that Danielle at 15 months old has already experienced tremendous loss. We pray daily for her and that we will be able to provide a secure environment where she can express herself. Please help us and pray for that as well. Please pray for Steffi and Liz to do well while we are gone, please pray for our parents to have an easy time with our girls, please pray that we will have safe and healthy travels, please pray that Danielle grieves and then bonds quickly with us as her forever family, please pray for her foster family and their loss, please pray for her birth parents for their loss.