Trip to China
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Saturday, November 17, 2007 We came, we saw, we climbed…but Tony climbed all the way! Today we took a trip to the Great Wall. It is an amazing adventure filled with sore legs, burning lungs, and victorious cheers. The view and the history are simply amazing. The pictures just cannot do it justice. This ancient structure that was built to keep out imminent danger, now boasts views of mountains and lands one can only call breathtaking. We headed up with a few other families on the hardest and steepest side. The steps were of varying degrees of steepness. Some you could barely consider steps, the others, you nearly had to baby-climb up them. This made for a very challenging trek. I am proud to say that I made it to the first tower, but I’m even more proud to say that Tony made it ALL THE WAY TO THE TOP! He headed up that mountain with such determination I was impressed! Our guide said that it is a Chinese belief that if you make it to the top, you are considered a hero. And that, my friends, is exactly what Tony is…a hero. He climbed alongside some other crazy determined people who encouraged each other along the way and celebrated with a gold name plate with their goal engraved. What an exciting adventure! I’m SO proud of Tony!!!! From there we drove to another family style restaurant and store. They specialize in Cloisonné which is copper pots and vases painted and layered with intricate details. We purchased Laney and Abby two adorable bracelets here. It was our first experience where you find the item you want and the saleslady writes it all out on a ticket while standing right there. You then take the ticket to the register and pay for the item and they give you a receipt. You take the receipt back to the department your item is in and you get your item I guess this helps cut down on shoplifting! Following lunch we drove to the Summer Palace . This was a huge estate for the Emperor to complete his business affairs. There was also corridors and buildings built for his mother there. It was beautiful and steeped in history, however it was COLD! The wind coming off the lake helped us take the tour in record time! On our way back to the hotel, we drove by the Olympic village. They are refurbishing and building complex after complex dedicated to the 2008 Olympics. It is quite a site to behold. The "bubble building" photo is of the diving/swimming building. The "rubber band" building is the Olympic Stadium. They also have electronic countdowns posted throughout the city and according to those, um, China better get on the ball! They have adorable little animal/people symbols for the Olympics. These are on posters and billboards throughout the city. Can anyone tell me the little creatures’ names and what they represent? If not, I’ll be sure to show you pictures at some point and tell you their names. They are so cute! This is our last evening as a childless couple. We still cannot wrap our minds around that. We fly out to Jiangxi tomorrow at around 11:30. However, one family in our group is flying to their province at 10:30 so we need to leave early. We’re supposed to put our luggage in the hall by 8:00 a.m. and then be ready to leave at 9:00 a.m. Hopefully, I’ll sleep a full night tonight. I was up every hour and then finally up for good by 4:30 or 5:00 this morning. I just don’t even know what to type. I know that around 4:00 or 4:30 tomorrow afternoon, we will meet our children in a government office in a nearby city. Tonight is the last night our girls will sleep in the cribs they’re so used to. This is the last night they’ll fall asleep to the sounds they are accustomed to. Tomorrow will be the last morning they’ll wake up to the same smells and chatter going on in the room around them. Tomorrow afternoon, they’ll walk out the doors of their orphanage and into the arms of an entire family that welcomes them forever. They won’t understand the love we have for them already. It will only be clear over time and once they know we are there for them, and only them. We are mama and daddy…forever and always. I know our lives will change, and I appreciate your prayers about that. But when you’re thinking of us, please, please pray for our girls. Pray that their transition is seamless, their bonding so natural, and that they feel safe with us. Also, please pray for the other families in our groups that will become parents for the first time, or parents all over again either tomorrow or Monday.

Great Wall, stopping point... little structure on the very tip top on the left Great Wall Olympic Diving Building under construction Olympic Stadium Summer Palace Tony after reaching the top of the Great Wall

Well, kids, I’m going to wrap up this post. It’s a little after 8:00 p.m. here, and we are flat exhausted. Being outside in the bitter cold wears a body out! Never mind that Tony took quite the trek today! And tomorrow is a big day! We'll need all the energy we can get! I awoke to a to a song playing in my head and a scripture replaying in my heart. I wanted to remember it for the next few days, as it is so right…“This is the day…this is the day…that the Lord has made…that the Lord has made! I will rejoice! I will rejoice! And be glad in it!” ...and the scripture: “For this child I prayed, and the Lord granted me what I asked of him.” 1 Samuel 1:27 God is good!

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