Day #10: Hats Off To Holt International

Autumn had another rough morning and was very withdrawn. She is obviously mourning. However, our Holt escort arranged for a group foot massage which changed things entirely. (By the way, the foot massage included our backs, shoulders heads and spinal column alignment. PLUS hot salt packs on our backs while they worked on our feet, a little plate of water melon and green tea. It was seventy minutes of bliss. All for $6.00!)


Anyway, when we met up with our group for the massages Autumn got to be with Mei again and she just blossomed. She loves mothering her and it gives Barb & Ed a break. I think it's probably good for Mei, too, as she is leaving an older foster sister behind. They both seem to be comforted by being with each other.


After some time to play with Mei, which we have dubbed Mei-therapy, Autumn opened up to us again. She came back to our room and giggled and laughed with Lexi while they did each other's hair, painted finger nails and Autumn tried lip gloss for the first time. She loved it! (And looked adorable.)


It was her most verbose afternoon. She really communicated with us in good sentences even walking right up to Bob and saying, "I'm hungry. I want noodles!" Noodles she got. Two bowls!

We ended the night as five of the 10,000 daily viewers of Chime Long International Circus where we saw some amazing things including trained hippos, dancing bears, and the most talented divers on the planet.



The evening ended with fireworks which made Lexi miss her Grampy. Autumn has seen a lot of fireworks as she grew up in China's "fireworks" province. There are many fireworks factories near where she lives.


I just have to say that Holt International is a top notch organization. They leave no detail forgotten. We have breezed through this process with their love and support. Anyone who has the chance to adopt internationally should consider them. The work they are doing is weighty, but they do it flawlessly.