Sunday, June 4, 2006

We started our morning at the International Church here in Guangzhou. The stage was filled with children who began the service by singing “Jesus Loves Me” in Chinese. Then the adults were asked to stand for the first worship song. Together the congregation sang the beautiful song… “He Knows My Name”. What an appropriate song to sing, while looking at my two beautiful daughters on the pew next to me. Surely God knew them before time even began and had wonderful plans for their lives. I praise Him that part of that plan included their becoming a part of our family!

After church we “released” Doug from his duties as full time “Ellie holder” and Sarah and I took the girls to the pool by ourselves. Kate absolutely loves the water and has no fear in swimming whatsoever, but we wondered what Ellie might think, as this is surely the first time she has experienced a swimming pool in her short life. She absolutely loved it! After a few minutes she was actually taking her hand and splashing the water onto herself and over her own head. She clapped for Kate every time she jumped in and even squealed with delight when Sarah played with her in her own tube. We have decided to make swimming a part of our daily routine while here in Guangzhou, since it was obviously such a big hit!

We are slowly figuring out that in order to get Ellie to open up to us and enjoy some “girl” time, we have to remove daddy from the picture. Otherwise, she will still have very little, to nothing, to do with any of us except him. So tonight, we sent Doug off again and we took Kate and Ellie to the play room here at the hotel. We had such a blast! Ellie would “collect” toys from Sarah and then put them into a stack across the room. Then she would turn around, with a gleam in her eye, and literally come running back into Sarah’s arms. This delightful game between the two of them had to be as wonderful for me to watch as a mother, as it was for them! This, too, was such a hit that it will also likely become a part of our daily routine until we leave for home on Thursday.

It is really hard to believe that we have only a few days remaining here in China before heading home. It seems we planned for these two weeks for so long and now to have them draw to a close is almost unbelievable. Tomorrow will include photos for Ellie’s visa and a medical exam and then we have only to wait for her visa appointment to finally be cleared to take her home…

“He Knows My Name”
I have a maker
He formed my heart
Before even time began
My life was in His hands
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
I have a Father
He calls me His own
He’ll never leave me
No matter where I go
He knows my name
He knows my every thought
He sees each tear that falls
And hears me when I call
 

Sarah’s Tip of the Day- Beware before considering the purchase of a used bicycle in China...You just never know what it’s been through!..   I think this one is self explanatory…