I wanna start by wishing my first little man a VERY happy 10th BIRTHDAY! It makes my heart so sad to miss his birthday. Austin was so gracious about me having to miss it. Let it be known that we did celebrate before I left - complete with presents, birthday donut (tradition) and family dinner! I pray that my newest little guy has the same sensitive, tender heart that Austin has - as well as the same sense of adventure and love of life! I love you, Austin!
I am still not quite sure what happened with yesterday's journal entry - but if you didn't see it yet - it was updated late yesterday. Great stories to share about the day!
We said "good-bye" to Gail today. It's hard for me to believe that this trip is half done already! I don't want that to sound trite - because this is surely one of the hardest things I have ever done. But - with a healthy perspective (that says that this separation will not matter on Friday night at 6 pm) I know that this is brief and momentary. I can't imagine flying home for 13 hours alone... I can't even put into words how blessed I am and how grateful I am for the sacrifice that my two friends have made to make this trip with me! The last few days have been a blessing to me. I think it was a welcome break in this trip to laugh and be silly. I told Connie today that I think she got the bum end of the trip. My heart is heavier today as I have subconsciously started counting down days until I am home again.
We visited the Great Wall this morning! It was amazing! It was a beautiful, clear, sunny day here in Beijing and we couldn't have asked for a better opportunity to see this amazing Wonder of the World. I didn't go terribly high on the Wall - because Abraham in the backpack made me a little less stable AND I just don't have a great history with stairs. (Ok - gotta share the side story here... I have fallen on the state capitol stairs in Topeka and Des Moines - and bled on the marble! AND I fell on the marble stairs leading up to the Capitol in Washington DC - and bled on them, too!) We ventured up high enough to be - in the words of Mao "real men" - and it's funny, because I really don't think it was that high!!! I think the best part of going to the wall was getting out into the countryside a little bit and seeing the trees with their leaves changing colors with the season. Beautiful golds, oranges, reds and browns. Abe loved the backpack and it was a welcome relief to my back (since the backpack distributes the weight a little differently).
I think we have determined that Abe hates the car. I am unsure why, but whenever we get in the van, he starts to whimper and he get very fidgety. It makes me nervous to think of the flights we have to make in the days ahead - the one to Guangzhou on Tuesday and the ones from Guangzhou to Hong Kong, Hong Kong to Chicago and then Chicago to home. As I was about to literally fall into complete meltdown mode, my friend Connie said "well, it's a good thing we still have time to pray about it!" THAT is why Connie is here! So. We are praying that he will relax and/or that I will get some super-human patience to help him cope.
All in all, I am very blessed to have this trip be going so smoothly. Abraham is very laid back and such a funny little boy! He has brought many more smiles than tears - and the tears are mostly out of compassion for what this little boy has gone thru. I think the little "hiccups" to his progress are a little "harder" for me to handle, though, because he is overall such a content little guy. When he is sad or whimpering - it just seems that the whole world is sad.
I have a lot I really want to say, but I am struggling with how to articulate it best for "the record" that Abraham will read some day. I want to choose my words wisely. Here's hoping a good night's rest and a very laid back day tomorrow provide the clarity I would like to have.
Thank you again for all the notes of encouragement. I am trying to answer a few when I can, but I am not going to get them all replied to here in China. I really enjoy re-reading them at 2 am - while I am suffering jet lag - at home and replying then...
