A day for Joy!

Here are some photos of the day Joy came to our family! :)

We arrived at St. Lucy's Center a bit early. The hotel told us that it would take about 20 minutes to get there but actually made it in about 10.

I recorded the ride to St. Lucy's too, but have not watched it yet. It was an interesting ride, especially driving don the alley ways of Tainan.

It was very nice and mostly calm there.
St. Lucy's had a very nice court yard too.



We walked up the steps and waited on one of the benches. They told us that Monday was cleaning day so it would be a few minutes before they would be ready for us. We apologised for being a bit early but it was really no problem for them. It gave us time to relax, take a few photos and talk with the translator for awhile.

Here is Mommy and Happy Grace!



More photos of St. Lucy's.





This is the waiting room where they would be eventually be bringing Joy. They were giving her a bath at this time.



The room had a nice play area too. Grace had fun trying out the toys!







...and then she was...our Joy!



First family photo. Well, the nurse is not "really" family...but you understand.



Our Translator with Joy, Mommy and Grace.



Mommy Grace and Joy with the nurse.



Some of the care takers with Joy.



Mommy and daughter bonding perfectly!



Sweet little princess Joy!



Grace did some bonding with her new sister too.



Grace would try to feed her sister.



Joy's crib at St. Lucy's



Sometimes Daddy had his arms fool!



Our family circle!

Tainan Photos

Here are some photos from Tainan. We arrived a day before we were to get Joy to get some photos and see the city where Joy was born.

Here is Grace after we got off the high speed train...she was very excited!



The train station was not too big and easy to get around. Many people were taking the train.



This is our room in Tainan. The room was pretty big and we were on the 24th floor. Apparently this in the executive floor. That's Grace sleeping on the bed. She was so tired from the trip already.



These next 3 photos are views from our room in Tainan.







Here is the view from our floor looking down to the breakfast area. We had our own elevators used only for special floors. The room was not that expensive but we felt like VIPs :)



Photo opportunity with a huge kitty. We decided to walk around Tainan to take in the sites. We walked, and walked, and walked!



Another beautiful street in Tainan.



We happened upon a temple/old fort so we decided to take a self guided tour.





















No, Grace was not in a "time out." I told her to look through the door for a cute photo.



See..."Happy Grace!"



Some interesting driving in Taiwan!



We bought Joy some keep sake on this side street we found. We were son tired by this point from walking but it was worth it.



Another great photo in a Tainan alley.



Of the three hotels we stayed at in Taiwan, this hotel was the only one that had a Bible in the drawer...New Testament only. It was in English and Chinese.

Photos from our Journey to Joy!

Since I am up anyway...Joy still crying in her crib...I decided to start posting some photos that all have been waiting for.

Mom and Grace on the Flyaway bus to LAX. I was there too, just behind the camera. We were all so happy to be on our way.



14 hours later and we were in Taipei, Taiwan. Well, the international airport anyway. We landed around 10:30PM and were to call the hotel and a shuttle would pick us up. However, I tried calling the hotel several times and got a busy signal. After about 30 minutes, we then took a 5 minute taxi ride to the hotel which we realized later that we paid way too much for such a short ride.
The hotel was nice though and we would only be staying one night.

Here is Grace enjoying the big bed before we placed her into her crib.



The view from our airport hotel the next morning.



We were told to eat at this dumpling restaurant in Taipei. So after dropping our bags off at the hotel we headed there for lunch. It was good. Not much to look at form the out side but nice inside and the food was good.



Grace enjoying her "yummy" water.



Mommy, Grace and dumplings.



The dumplings...yummy!



Pork and rice...yummy too!



We took the high speed train to Tainan. We would stay there for two nights. The second day we would go and pick up joy. Here is Mommy and Grace on the high speed train to Tainan.



Here are some photos of the country side taken from the high speed train.