From God's Arms To My Arms To Yours

There is a Michael McLean Song "From God's Arms to My Arms to Yours". It's a song about a mother whose baby is being adopted to another family. Here are some words from the song: "And maybe you can tell your baby when you love him that he's been loved before... by someone who delivered your son from God's arms to my arms to yours". The interesting thing about all of this is to learn of Anna's background, the people who loved her before we ever did. Yes, she'll comes with her papers, but through this Baobei process, she comes with a story too. Usually in the adoption world, these two never come together. However, in these photos of the car ride to the train station, I got to interview Anna's care giver, and get all the details. It made me feel that much more accountable, to God and his angels, that this baby is loved and cared for as Niu Ayi would dream it to be. Read on... Here is Anna waiting in the car while Niu Ayi got her luggage. Babies and Kids are so adaptable, she has no idea what kind of a transition she is in for! Niu Ayi would wipe Anna's face at the slightest amount of drool. She was very protective of her and even the first time when I held Anna, Niu Ayi said boldly "she doesn't know you, so she's not used to you". Such a comment can only be made when there was a bond formed previously. In the moments of these tender photos, I learned just how deep that bond was. While Anna's orphanage had over 390 kids, and Niu Ayi had 14 of them, Anna was loved. Scratch that, Anna was not only loved, but cherished. She was unusually affectionate with Anna. Niu Ayi and I had became quick friends, and we shared so much (I wont go into detail, as this is not my story here), only after I'd proven myself. But at this point, Niu Ayi couldn't continue the conversation. Then, as we pulled further away from the healing home, she lost it. Unlike her culture, she broke into open sobs. She loved Anna so deeply, you'd think she was Anna's birth mother. Here she is with swollen eyes telling Anna's story. Anna was found by "119" (Chinese phone number for the police). It was a hot Summer day, Anna was just over one month old. She wasn't wearing al ot of clothes for that reason. Her mother had carefully placed her in an open box next to a busy street so she would be noticed and taken immediately. Niu Ayi loved her from the start, and researched a Chinese name on the Internet. I am still not sure of it's translation, but twice my driver said it was a name with strong meaning. When the orphanage finds babies, they look at the babies length and current day of the month to determine the birth date. Anna was one of 14 under Niu Ayi's care at this HeNan orphanage. I asked if there were any other children there that were close to Anna. Niu Ayi flashed a quick smile, and her eyes sparkled at the question. She said there was a 12 year old boy that adored Anna, with the last name Guo. He would hold her and talk to her. This must be true. This little Anna was obviously used to being held, and I'm sure this was the culture in Niu Ayi's little family she'd established, of 14 kids and one very influential mom. Niu Ayi works from 8-4 PM every day, and gets paid a little over $150 US a month. She has a son at home. The Baobei team referred to her many times as 'A Mother Ayi'. She was truly a mother at heart. I asked her if she cried with each child that gets adopted, and she smiled weakly and replied "just about". She told me she even tried to adopt a 3 year old that she fell for. I asked her more questions, and she said ''she got adopted by another family, because I already have a child at home''. Oh how blessed Anna was to have been loved in the arms of sweet Niu Ayi.

And how blessed I was to sit in the back seat and see this bond. My view on Orphanage Ayis will forever be changed after meeting this "Mother-Hearted" Niu Ayi.