What day is it?

Hola from Panama City! We haven't had internet access for a few day. Maria is adjusting wonderfully! She has picked out gift for her sisters, and has been bonding to us well! Things went really well in Santiago (atleast we think they did)! We went to the court again on Wednesday morning and met with the social worker and psychologist. They are really nice ladies (and quite funny - we have a few stories to tell!) They told us through an interpreter (Jessica, a young woman who just happened to be in Santiago to take her driver's license test) all about Maria's family history. They know her mother well. She started having children VERY young and has either given them up or had them all taken away. It was very sad to hear about her life and how Maria's got started. They asked us if we still wanted to adopt her, knowing her history. We said absolutely, none of that matters to us. They spent some time at the park with us, then we went back to the court buiding. They said that things had gone well and they didn't need us anymore until our adoption hearing on Tuesday May 27! So on Wednesday, we packed up and went to the beach! We stayed at a resort on the Pacific coast (actually looking east - yes the sun rises over the Pacific and sets over the Atlantic in Panama). It was nice, but no internet. Maria was aftaid of the ocean at first. She didn't want to go to the beach at all. Finally we got her to go, but she wouldn't go near the water. The next morning(Thursday), we went to the pool. Once again she was timid, but once she got in she had a blast! When we went back to the beach that afternoon, she took off her shoes and looked for shells. There were lots of shells and she wanted them all! Finally she got out into the surf, and loved it! We had to keep her from just running out into the ocean! She found crabs and wrote in the sand. On Friday we had to head back to Panama city, and she didn't want to leave! Maria is blooming into such a bright, and playful little girl! She loves to play tricks on Daddy, and picks me flowers. We can't wait until we have all our girls together! We miss Hannah, Adele, and Lilly so much!!!!!!!! When we left the beach on Friday, we went to El Valle de Anton. It is a small town in a valley on the top of a hopefully, extinct volcano. Oh my, it is so beautiful!!!!!!! Pictures do no justice. It was cool, 70's but still humid. We had lunch at a beautiful little hotel, then visited the local zoo, then went to the public market (local artisans and vendors). We met a girl from Louisiana there, and did a little shopping around. I wanted to stay there till time to come home! The bad part of El Valle, is the drive up then back down the mountain - major motion sickness, me and Maria! We got back to Panama City Friday evening and checked into our Hotel. We could not get the internet working, and the pool looked like a big bath tub! For the first time since we got to Panama, one week, or what seems like one year ago, we found unfriendly and unhelpful staff. We checked out on Saturday (today) and headed to another (much better) hotel. We are at a new Holiday Inn by the canal. Last night we went to the mall (Albrook Mall) - it is huge! We got a taxi back and the driver spoke English. He said he was from the States. I asked, which one, and he said "Puerto Rico"! I guess I'll have to start calling it the 51 States, because he seems proud to be from "The States". He served in the military (US Army) and was stationed here, then married a Panamian woman, so he stayed. He was a big help today with switching hotels. He even took us to a market to get drinks and snacks for the refrigerator in our room - he told us we'd have one, and he was right. The people in Panama are warm and friendly and almost always helpful (sometimes too helpful - especially with directions!) They have been very patient with our poor Spanish, thank goodness! Tomorrow, we are going back to the children's home for church services and to visit. I'm a little nervous about taking her back over there, but we promised we would come back on Sunday. We love our new little princess and can't imagine life without her. She loves coca-cola and mangos, and is not a morning person. She'll fit right in! Thanks for all the prayers, they are working! We'll post some pictures later tonight. We love you all for your support and prayers! Sena