A new day has truly dawn! Thanks to everyone for all the e-mails of love, support, and encouragement. They couldn't have come at a better time. We like how everyone is saying they can't wait to read our post for the day. We are the same way with your e-mails to us!
Ken and I had a really tough evening with Anna after a very long day. We were both very emotional before we went to bed and each had a few tearful moments. We awoke at 5:00 a.m. (5:00 p.m. your time) and Ken said "let's check to see if anyone sent us an e-mail!"
Especially thank you to Laura b., even though I know other couples have experienced what we are going through it helps to hear directly from moms who truly went through exactly what we are experiencing. Psalm 40: 1-3 was just what we needed to begin our day!
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the miry clay,
He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord! Psalm 40: 1-3
We rose with a new song and renewed our faith to trust in the Lord to get us through these difficult days. . . . . after all He is the One who sent us here in the first place. Surely He is going to work this all out!
Anna is not a morning girl at all. . . . . at least not right now. She awoke crying in her crib and when I picked her up would not let me hold her. Ken to the rescue again! We put her on the bed with us and Ken kept putting his arm around me and showing her that he liked me. She played real nice with both of us next to her. When it was Ken's turn for the shower . . . . . the screaming began! This time I was able to console her by singing my friend Andy Scheneman's song . . . . "She's my little Xiu Xiu girl . . . . and I like to kiss this girl . . . . she's a little cutie pie . . . . . and she smells like "cherry pie". Andy, she loves this song! I must have sang it 25 times, changing the smell of the pie every time. It got us through the shower. . . . we owe you one!
Breakfast also went well this morning . . . then off to our field trip to the Yellow Crane Tower.
The Yellow Crane Tower was originally built in the third century. Commemorated in many poems, it gets its name from the story of a Taoist priest, who alighted here on a yellow crane on his journey to become one of the Immortals. It is a tourist attraction of the Wuhan area so many local people were visiting along with our group. We are like the Amish over here . . . . everyone stops and stares at us when we walk by, some come up and play with the babies, others ask to have their picture taken with us! I bought Anna a beautiful hand painted silk fan with a scene of the tower and cherry blossoms. They inked her name in Chinese and American on it with the date of our visit. I hope to give it to her when she is older as a keepsake from the area she was born.
We also got to see a short concert at the Tea Room. The singers and musicians were dressed in colorful Chinese costumes and the babies really seemed to enjoy the music and the activity on stage. The last song was instrumental using all different sizes of old looking bells. We were happily suprised when we recognized the song. . . . . "Joyful, Joyful we adore thee. . . . . we were amazed that they were playing an old Christian Hymn.
It is soooooooooo hot here! It wasn't 5 minutes after we exited the bus that we were all literally melting. I have never experienced heat like this in all my life. Ken says Mississipi can get this hot in the summer. Everyone was dripping wet by the end of the trip and anxious to get back to our air-conditioned rooms. Anna was doing great, she took two naps, had a bottle, and quietly watched the show . . . . . . . thanks to the invention of the "Snuggly".
We came back to the room and took showers immediately! Anna played on the bed and ate her favorite snack, Lays potato chips! (Just like her mom) I know you are probably thinking "why is Sharon giving a 10 month old potato chips?" Well, I'll tell you why! On "Gotcha Day" we all recieved a bag of supplies from our orphange. It included Chinese baby formula, a box of cereal, and baby yogurt. In ours there also was a small bag of Lays potato chips. We laughed and thought they put them in the bag for the parents! Later, in Anna's updated report it said she liked "salty snacks". That explained the chips. Some of the baby reports said they liked "sweet snacks" and those babies got Snicker bars. . . . . just kidding, they got some kind of sweet Chinese snacks. The funny thing is they don't seem to have any type of Lays chips we are used to here (like plain, barbeque, salt & vinegar, or sour cream & onion). We were at the grocery store the other day and these were the choices for Lays chips . . . . . . . Crispy Drumsticks . . . . .Italian Red Meat . . . . . Char Grilled Ribs . . . . and the one packed in Anna's bag . . . . Mexican Tomato Chicken! Too funny! She loves them! Ken said we will have to order a case of them to be shipped home since we won't be able to pack them!
Well, Ken and Anna have now been asleep for two hours. . . . . giving me plenty of time to post our events for the day! It will be nice to not be doing this at 11:00 p.m. like I have the last three nights. So far the day has been really nice. Ken and I were talking earlier about the possibility of Anna still being very attached to him when it is time for him to return to work. I said "what am I going to do all day?" He said he would just get a life size picture done at Kinkos and I could move it around the house whereever we are! I thought that was a great idea and we should get one done regardless. I could use it when he is out of town for 2-3 nights. Me and Anna could sit it at the dinner table so we won't be lonely!
Tonight we are going to the park across from the hotel. They have music and dancing there and people doing Tai Chi. We are looking forward to an evening out. Keep the prayers flowing. . . . . they are being answered in God's perfect timing!
Trusting Him and Loving our Precious Gift,
Ken & Sharon ><>
The Happy Harps at Yellow Crane Pavillion
"Ummm . . . . Mexican Tomato Chicken chips!"
Daddy and Anna getting plenty of rest . . . . . while mom updates the webpage,
washes bottles and baby clothes, cleans the room, and re-packs the diaper bag!
