Lydia lives in Shaanxi province near where the terra-cotta warriors are. If you aren’t familiar with the terra-cotta warriors, they are funeral art that a farmer discovered in 1974. They date back to 210 B.C. and number over 9,000 soldiers, horses, and chariots, etc. The first Chinese emperor Qin had them made for him for his burial place because he expected to rule a world in his afterlife. We’ll get to visit this site with Lydia. Looking forward to seeing that.
I was able to connect with another adoptive family who visited Lydia’s city just this past summer. Although we don’t see her in their pictures, we can see her exact crib (we could figure it out from the updated pictures we just posted based on the window and the shelf behind her). And, we appreciated the pictures of the surrounding area so that we can get a sense of Lydia’s history.
This is outside of her orphanage. The gardens and the playground look really nice. I wonder if the flowers will be in bloom in April.
This is the orphanage building.
This is the isolation room where all newly admitted babies go first. It’s hard to imagine a little child in that incubator by himself or herself. The word isolation itself grieves me.
This is the babies’ playroom. It’s a cute little area. This is where one of Lydia’s original referral pictures were taken because it has the square flooring under her bouncy seat in the picture.
This is the baby room, through the window there is the isolation room. You can see where we figured out Lydia’s crib is, assuming she’s kept the same crib for the last 6 months. But, the crib is empty in this picture. I wonder where she was.
The orphanage looks nicer than what I’ve pictured. Those poor babies must learn to be content just sitting in their cribs. Hopefully Lydia will be a very content, easy baby. What a different life it will be for her to start getting so much love and attention! She has no idea! Again,I’m so excited for you!
Wow, Kelly. What a precious gift this is to know where Lydia is, but so very hard at the same time. I am so thrilled that you have your LOA, and are just awaiting the final approval before you can leave and have your precious daughter in your arms!!! I cannot wait to continue to follow your journey and I am so honored to be your friend. Because of you, I have made friends with some of the most amazing women in the world – and been touched in more ways than you know. I am sure you are dreaming of Lydia today in this crazy snowstorm….enough already! I am hoping Matthew will like it a little more today than on Saturday!!!
That last picture both breaks my heart and makes me furious…..WHY is the wait so long. Look at all those babies that need families. I am crying just THINKING about it.
What a precious gift for you to have these pictures- to know more about where Lydia is and her history! I hope you are able to see the Terra Cotta Warriors when you are in China! How cool!!!!!
Breanna had learned about the Terra Cotta Warriors in school and was hoping we’d get to see them when we travel. I’ll have to show her this picture on your post.
Her orphanage really does look nice and clean. I’m glad to see it’s colorful and cheery in so many of the spaces, too. The playground and gardens look nice. But like the others, it is hard to see all of those cribs packed together knowing how long the wait is and how many long to adopt. It won’t be long now and your precious Lydia will be home in her own crib sharing a room only with her JieJie. Love that thought!!
Blessings,
~ Tanya
Oh – how I want to pick up every one of those sweet babies! There’s a sense of peace in knowing what your child’s surroundings look like…we will hold our girls soon…but not soon enough!
These pictures are such a blessing! It makes me sad we did not have permission to visit Izabella’s orphanage. But I have seen some video of her orphanage and it helps me a lot to get a grip on where she was and how she was cared for during her time in the “pink castle”.
The terra cotta warriors are amazing. Fasinating fact–if I remember it correctly–emperors traditionally were buried with their wives (which they had thousands of wives) and their army when they died. But this emperor was the 1st emperor of China as it’s known today (he conquered 5 tribal leaders and untied China and connected the Great Wall–did you know it was in 5 parts prior to his reign) and he knew his people and successor would need the army to defend China. So, instead he had portrait statues made of each of his warriors. Which is why they all have are different–they depict each person in his army and it’s a full army of terra cotta soilders. The wives were buried alive with him in the tomb–he only opted to take a few of the thousands with him. Frightening! it’s an amazing place–you’ll love it! We felt so honored to have the opportunity to see it–and meet one and get an autograph from one of the farmers that discovered it. Interestingly enough–the farmers rec’d nothing from the discovery-they actually lost their farm land to the government. Then a photographer decided to do a book and asked the farmers to do an autograph signing event with him. They did and this has continued ever since. He gives a percentage of the proceeds from his book to the farmers–this is the only income they get from this ancient and historical finding. Our guide shared this story with us–thought it was worth sharing.
It’s an amazing city. The people characteristically are generous, kind, loving and compassionate. You’ll see that when you’re there. Xi’an was our favorite place in China.
Can’t wait to follow you back to Lydia and Izabella’s home province. It will be so amazing.
BTW–where is she? Perhaps out getting some one-on-one time with her nanny. I like to think so anyway.
I have a friend heading to Shaanxi too!! I think it will be amazing to see the terra cotta warriors! From what I can tell Xi’an looks like it has a lot of offer – rich in culture!
So sweet to see pictures of Lydia’s orphanage – in the way that it will be nice to piece together even more of her past – every little bit is a blessing..