Whew What A Day!

Grace watches Hannah Grace and
Hannah Grace watches Ally. We have a little train going on the bus.

Yesterday we went to tour a Hutong in a rickshaw (TOO COOL) then to the Forbidden City (AMAZING) and then Tienammen Square (STILL CAN'T BELIEVE I STOOD THERE!). I guess I really liked the tour yesterday because I took over 500 pictures. LOL . Really. I can't believe I took that many. They are still on the camera, but I started going through them & I got some amazing shots.

The tour was incredible - really there aren't good enough words to describe the magnitude of what we saw. If you ever get the chance to come - DO IT!!!!! But make sure you bring your good shoes. Your feet will be killing you by the time you find your bus.

Speaking of feet: My tips for those of you coming (Hi new friends!!!) Make SURE your shoes have NEW EXCELLENT soles when you climb the great wall. There are inclines that are 70 degrees. Can you believe it? It was funny to watch some of the grown men in their nice shoes & some in suits actually slipping & sliding down the wall. (That's why I didn't take HG all the way to the top.)

We are able to do everything on the internet. We got Freedur for about $20. We have an IT guy with us & everything he tries they are blocking so I highly suggest using the proxy server. I can't tell you how much it's meant to be able to see all the comments from home on Facebook & the blog. It has really helped us. And of course we are able to see the boys with Skype (even if we can't hear them. haha - sorry grandma.)

Beijing is DRY. We are all having major problems with the dry air, but it does lend itself to washing clothes here in the room. Now, I won't have to send anything out until we get to GZ where it's less expensive.

Andy & HG have gone downstairs to exchange some money so Mama can go shopping. Today is our free day because Joy had to take the others to the airport so they can meet their daughters this afternoon. We are so excited for them. Please pray with us that their meetings will be wonderful. We won't get to see them until we get to GZ, but we have one of their blogs & some of their emails, so hopefully we'll be able to check in on them.

Oh gotta mention - after all the talk about how crazy the driving is Andy finally saw a wreck. They do happen!!!! He went to McDonalds to pick us up something & he said one of those big buses just plowed into this little car. He said there wasn't anything left of it. So, I guess we were wrong that they never have wrecks. ;0)

We are headed to the Pearl Market. BIG SMILES!!!!!! Hopefully tonight I'll get a chance to download some of the 500 pics to share. Talk to you soon.

Happy Mother's Day!!!

I haven't been up very long but it already has been an amazing day. I wake up to see an adorable little face all cuddled up next to me. Then when I get out of the shower those 3 sweet words were the first ones out of my dear husband's mouth. Then he calls me to the computer to see a video that my son's had sent me (THANK YOU CANDE!!!!) I am sure we will watch it many times today & the rest of the time here. Now, I just wait for the princess to wake up & give me a kiss. What a blessing these 4 are. Boys - I love you. THANK you for the video. I LOVE IT. You made me cry (in a good way). We'll be calling you in a little bit. Can't wait.

For those of you coming: 1. if you are with Bethany then your schedule will be like ours. So that is what I am going with. Your great wall day you will visit the Cloisonne (I know that's not correct spelling but you understand) factory. BRING YOUR OWN TOILET TISSUE. You will need it. They don't use it there (TMI I know) and you will want to go there before going to the wall because you will NOT want to go once you get to the wall. If you have allergies - bring some meds. There are blooming plants ALL over the place at the wall & around the factory. Don't forget a hat &/or sunscreen, any explanation needed? Be prepared for that gondala ride if you go to the Badaling portion. It looks like it's over 100 years old, but it seems to be in good (very loud) working condition. And yes, Andy has great footage of Mama not being so happy on that thing. UGH. Next, be prepared for your mouth to hurt like on your wedding day. We were constantly being asked to smile for a pic with people. The Americans are quite the celebs there. So don't be surprised when they want your pic. because the will.

HG's birth mom - I can't imagine what you are feeling today. Yes, I know you guys don't celebrate today like we Americans. But, I have to know that you think about her everyday. Who wouldn't. I don't know what forced you into the hardest decision of your life. I can't imagine not being able to know where & how this precious child is doing. I pray for you alot. I pray first that somehow someway someone will share with you Jesus Christ. I so pray that we will be able to meet in heaven & I can thank you for the blessing that you have given to me & my family. Words will never do this justice, but we appreciate (don't understand) all you have done to ensure that HG is safe & loved - which she is. I also pray for you peace. Please know that we love her very much & promise to take the best care of her. I see this bustling city & look into eyes of women & wonder if I am seeing you. I find myself actually looking for you. The women here look tired and worn out. It's rare that I see even a smile among the people walking by or sitting on a bus. You seem to have ard lives. I pray it will get easier for you. Please know that you will always be a part of our family whether you realize it or not. Blessings to you Ma Li Jun's first mom. It's time for me to take my shift. I promise to do my best like God asks us to do.

What China Needs

I have to say that I really love Beijing. It is an amazing city full of all the history and heritage that anyone could want, but yet modern at the same time. I don't know if it is the bumper to bumper traffic all the time or the lull of the blaring car horns that draw me in, but being a southern boy, I can only think that Beijing is primed and ready for one major thing it is lacking. What am I talking about. Well, of course, it is NASCAR. On any given day thousands of ready drivers await their yearnings to drive outrageously fast while trying not to hit each other. I can see the related industries that would flourish under this new venture. Chewing tobacco, Country music (while I am not sure if they are ready for Asian singers yet) and of the unfortunate consumption of alcohol (of course I do not approve). While I have never been to a NASCAR race myself, I do know that there is a lot of money to be made. Ask any good publicity manager for a racing team (you know who you are), NASCAR is here to stay in America and it is fine time that America shared something with China. Of course they will just improve it and sell it back to us in about 10 years. One thing that would have to be different about NASCAR in China is that there would have to be bicycles and pedestrians scatter all over the racetrack that these skilled drivers would have to dodge throughout the race, but trust me, these drivers can handle it. So, please NASCAR look into expanding across the ocean. There is a group of Chinese waiting to drawn into the roar of the engines.

Andy

we have a ton of pics - The Great Wall Is INCREDIBLE.

words can't do it justice.

more info later when I come back after being home probably

HG's new friend Ally. HG literally watches her every move. Now they are playing like they've been BFFs. Ally will become a big sis on Monday!!!!!

HG & Grace popping bubbles on the ride.

Our only pic with all 3 in front of the wall. It was quite windy today as you can see (sigh)

Diva!

She can't go ANYWHERE without glasses, hair accessories, etc.

Seriously. The girl gets upset if she doesn't have it together. LOL

Amelia with Shannon

Grace with Tammy - friends from PA

We see a long friendship ahead. Can't wait to go up to DC to see them & the rest of their clan.

Kimmi with Michael & Lorie - friends from GA (using TN office!!!!)

We are already planning our reunions with the girls.

I am a rock star (at least I was)

We left the glasses at lunch today. OOPS.

Guess it's time to get our act together & count ALL accessories before leaving.

What do you watch on TV while in China?

Well, I have to admit that Jet Lag must now be setting in. The group of us that came into Beijing early are WAY to giddy about everything. Do you how it is when you get so tired that everything becomes funny. Well we are there. Hannah Grace has been sleeping extremely well, but even so, we are still tired.

Yesterday, we needed a diversion from what was going on and I thought it would be interesting to see what was on TV. Maybe find a channel that had children's shows or cartoons, so I let HG control the remote. She skipped through most of the channels quickly like a well seasoned remote control user and finally stopped on what? Soap Operas. What!! Yes, apparently she has seen them before, because she began to point to the screen and began a lengthy explanation in Chinese of what was going on. While I didn't understand it, I imagined it went something like this:

"Well you see, BaBa, that is Joe and he is married to Sue but she is secretly seeing Bob who works at the store down the street. Kevin is their next door neighbor and he is running from the law for stealing money from his ex-girlfriend's father in law and his real name is Sam."

I know that is not what she said, but sometimes you just wonder. She is a delight beyond imagination. Today we went to the Great Wall and it was amazing. It was a long trip so we entertained ourselves with stickers. I never knew that taking paper and putting a little sticky glue on the back of it could be so much fun. While most people would put stickers on paper or some other surface, I have quickly learned that it is far more fun to cover yourself or someone else from head to toe with them. Hannah Grace has not yet been introduced to Facebook, so she has her own system of "friending" someone by stickering them with stickers of butterflies and flowers. It started with MaMa and BaBa and she quickly made her way throughout the bus sharing this great gift with everyone. When we arrived at the Great Wall, I was no longer sure if the stares that I was getting was for being a way to white boy from the South with a beautiful Chinese daughter or if it was the flower sticker that was hanging from my nose or the heart that was now on my ear. I am sure that all the stickers will not be found until my shower tonight.

I am having way too much fun and loving spending time with Charity and HG, but I miss the boys and the rest of my family. Just seeing them via Skype every day or two is not enough, but I know it is all part of the process. I love the fact that HG comes to the computer and says "Gie Gie" which means big brother. She loves seeing and talking to them and pulling out the pictures and calling them by name. It is amazing how quickly it seems as if she has always been part of our family. And in our heart she has. HG was born the time that we began this process. God had a perfect plan from the beginning and it is great to see it come full circle. Thank you God for making what seemed an impossible task at the beginning, possible through the power of prayer and faithfullness.

Andy