Under The Shadow of His Wings

Sunday, April 22, 2012

Guangzhou Day 1

We are here!!! Tomorrow is THE DAY!!! We met our guide this afternoon and got our cell phone, and asked her a dozen questions. Then she took us all around the hotel block to show us where to buy bottled water, and noodles, and snacks that the kids always like. We walked through narrow alleyways lined with little family run shops where most of the owners live behind the shop. The buildings were close enough that you could easily throw a ball across to your neighbor. There were lots of laundry hanging on lines above us, and a few right along the sidewalk.......they didn't seem to mind hanging their undies for all to see. There was a group of elderly couples sitting in chairs chatting, just like we would on our front porches, except their front porch is an alley, where lots of people walk by close enough to touch. We walked by a butcher shop where meat was lying in slabs on a table......it didn't look like a very sanitary place...FDA would not have approved!, but it didn't phase at all, the little boy(about 18 mos?) squatted on the floor playing in the dirt with a spoon...he didn't look too sanitary either....but he was darling! There is a park across the street with a play ground that we can get to by going under the highway by a tunnel walkway, and an outdoor pool at the hotel. It was 80 degrees here today.......and HUMID! It feels like Florida. One thing our guide in Beijing told us that was kind of surprising to us was that Chinese families are starting to want girls more and more because with a boy the parents have to provide him with an education, and he has to be able to provide for a wife, and buy and furnish an apartment. 3 generations of families share the cost of an apartment building, it takes that long to pay it off......and normally 2 generations (mom, dad, son, daughter-in-law, and child) live in a 250-300 square ft., 2 bedroom apartment..... that cost about 500 to 600 dollars a square ft. or 150,000. We are enjoying our experience so far, but I have to say.......I'm glad I was born in the good ol U S of A! Our guide was 32, and was waiting to get enough money to provide for a wife and child. Sorry this is rather random:) Have I mentioned all ready that there are SO many people??? WOW! But they are a gentle beautiful race! There is no road rage, or fights.........at least we haven't seen any:) and little crime.

We will meet the guide in the morning to go to the bank to exchange our US dollars for Chinese currency called Yuan. It takes 6.25 Yuan to equal a dollar. The guide warned us not to exchange it anywhere but at the bank, or hotel, as otherwise it could be counterfeit. Also not to ask the price of anything from the street vendors, or they will follow you and bug you to death..

The guide will pick us up at 2:15 to go to the Civil Affairs office where we join the other adoptive parents in the grand CHAOS, and JOY, and TEARS, that is adoption. Please pray hard for our little girls!! and for us:) Thank you all of our prayer warriors! We are so thankful for each one of you. May God be with each of you, and with us tomorrow. Love you all.

These aren't great pictures:( it was really cloudy while we were there. We are trying to get a flicker account set up where we can upload all our photos and you can go there and see them. This is SO slow! I will post the link soon.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

Harrison & Sherman

Just to let you know all is well on the home front! On Tuesday the Little boys and I took our walk, tossed the baseball around then ended up playing a game of ball with Kyn & Thatcher....We all got a work out that day!
Wednesday:
Another walk after school...Grandpa called and it was time to plant some garden....set out 3 rows of Onions! After dinner the boys went on their scavenger hunt to find their gift of the day! I think they had fun! Loved their new clothes!
Thursday:
No walk today....Grandpa was here waiting to plant corn....also to round up a few head of cattle to take down to his place....Oh my we will never get our gift today! Boys were very happy when they did! Peeps! Sugar Oh wonderful Sugar!
Friday:
Went to Hays with Kyn this morning....Did some grocery shopping then home....Pizza nite...All were very happy with this....Gift of the day went well...Did not make them work for it today....Once again very happy with their new outfits! I just Love these boys! I Love the time I have with them!
We all miss you! We are so excited that you are finally there and Gotcha Day is almost here!
Love & Prayers
Suz

Forbidden City and Great Wall tour

We started our day at 6:30 this morning ate breakfast at about 7:30, which we are NOT allowed to photograph??? I was scolded when I tried 0-: I guess they think we might run off to America and copy their room design, and options?? We then met the group at 8:30 in the Lobby and took a bus across town to the Forbidden City, and Tienanmen Square. The crowds there were INSANE!! Our guide estimated around 60,000 people were touring there today. Many were there to go inside the memorial place where Chairman Mao's body was kept to worship:( We skipped! This place is HUGE! We walked about 3-1/2 miles inside of it! then ate lunch and toured a Jade factory. Jade is expensive! We didn't buy any. There was a ship carved out of it that cost about60,000 dollars! The cheapest thing was a small animal, or a pendant for a necklace......no chain...... for 28.00. Then we drove an hour to the Great Wall........at risk to life and limb! We were on a 16 passenger, small bus......we got in a traffic jam, and the driver did a 3 point turn........well maybe a 9 point turn, in the middle of a narrow...PACKED street! CRAZY!! But he made it, and we lived to tell. The Great Wall was amazing, and we hiked up STEEP, steps that were all different heights. Approximately 75 stories total that were hiked. Our legs were like jelly when we got down. We drove by where the Beijing Olympics were held and saw the birds nest. Then we went back to the motel.......and our guide service was done for the day.........so we and and another couple from our group attempted to find a place to eat. Crossing the streets here reminds you of playing the game frogger!! Jumping from log to lily pad, and avoiding getting hit. After walking in to 2 different nicer restaurants and being ignored.....no one wanted to make eye contact......we went back to the little hole in the wall, back street joint we ate at last night. It was GOOD:) We were first escorted to an upstairs dining area that was THICK with smoke....we were trying to ask if there was a non smoking area.......it was hilarious, the poor girl couldn't figure out what we wanted so she called over another boy, who assured us through much head nodding and gestures that it was OK for us to smoke.....ummmm not what we wanted! We finally got him to understand that we DIDN'T want to smoke! Whew! Then we proceeded to attempt to order. I don't think one person in the place spoke English! And none of us spoke Chinese. We would point to something.........asking each other if that's what we wanted....meanwhile the Waitress would write it down. We would have to point again and tell her NO we don't want it.......we were VERY thankful that the menu had pictures of the food, otherwise we would have been in SERIOUS trouble with the ordering! We probably would have ended up with chicken feet or ducks head.......and YES they were both on the menu!

There are 4 couples in our GWCA group. 1 from Spokane Washington, 1 from Ashville, NC, 1 from Detroit area, and the other I can't remember?? She's originally from Australia, and has a delicious accent! The lady from Detroit area is originally from New Zealand, we love listening to her too! So far we've really enjoyed all the people and group. We also saw a LOT more kids today as it was a Saturday. They must have all been in school or daycare yesterday. I had fun looking at all the 5 year olds:) I will try to get some pictures posted tomorrow eve. They take forever to load, and I have to get up at 5:00 to get ready to head to the airport. So Goodnight all! Thanks for your encouraging words and prayers, we love hearing from you all! Love you!

Friday, April 20, 2012

China day 1&2

A bike type taxi.

A street vendor making a sandwich wrap thingy, she put in lettuce, onions, cilantro seasonings ??? not sure what all. We didn't try it;)

We didn't try this either, but at least we know we won't starve:)

This is at the train station in Beijing. We took the "bullet" train to TianJin. It took about 30min. to get there. We were going close to 200mph most of the way.

We walked/taxied........to the Antique Culture Market Street. The taxi rides are.......exciting! Whew! I had to bite my tongue several times so I wouldn't back seat drive....It certainly looked like he might need my help?? The traffic is NUTS here! There seems to be no rules at all, bikes, scooters, buses, people...........all share the roadways. I would be scared to death to ride a bike on these roads......it's bad enough in a car!

Just some street scenes from the Antique Culture Market Square.

One thing we noticed was that in the masses of people we saw, there were very few children. Some would have been in school........but where are all the babies? The ones we saw were SO darling though:) 2-1/2 days till I get my China dollies;)

A side street with bikes lined up.

This was a model shoe out side of a shoe store.

This lady was selling roasted corn on the cob and sweet potatoes. She roasted them right there in the barrel. Not bad....but needed some butter and salt! The little girl in the next picture was impatiently waiting for Ralph and Troy to get done buying theirs so she could get hers. I don't think she missed the butter and salt at all:) She was happily munching hers soon after this pic.

We saw several shops where the owners had their pet birds, in cages, hanging on a pole, or behind their chairs, or along the street. These were not for sale. The owners most likely lived above the shops, and had brought them out for air.

These were sort of like a crunchy version of funnel cakes. I liked them....Troy wasn't so sure.

LOTS of bikes everywhere!

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

San Francisco

We could only get pics up before our lane left for Beijing. Will post more later.

We made it to San Francisco, and are waiting to leave for Beijing.

Saturday, April 14, 2012

New Camera!

I got a new camera, and have 4 days to learn to use it so anyone who comes by is going to get their picture taken! Be warned! Here are some pictures of the cousins who came over. Ok, so these don't look so hot:( I'll keep trying!

This is a boat.