Today is just a day for Praises. God is so awesome. First of all, I finally got my first full night of sleep. I woke around 6:00am feeling great. Jason and I got ready to go to breakfast. We finally woke Arisson up at 7:30am and she was actually a happy girl. She took her bottle well, and we headed to breakfast. When we got to the breakfast place, the first family I saw was Billy's. Billy came from Gansu. He is a big boy of 2. Everything seems to be going well for them. Then we saw Natalie's family. She is also from Gansu. She is a little sweetheart of about 2.5. Everything seems to be going well for them also. At breakfast Arisson seemed a bit cranky. I just think she is a Lodwig. The kids never let me eat without throwing a fit.
When we got to the room, the phone rang. It was Bill. He asked if we wanted to move our room up to the fourth floor. Everyone is on the fourth floor but us. We decided to make the move. It was kind of a trial run at getting packed. We can do it in about 10-15 minutes. Not bad, but also a little eye opening. How are we going to get this stuff all home? We sat around waiting for Bill to call us and let us know the room was ready. At 10:45 we needed to go. We were meeting some people in the lobby and we were walking to Church. It was a beautiful day for a walk. The sun is out and just gorgeous! I was actually a little warm in my jeans and short sleeved shirt.
Church was amazing. I actually got emotional (anymore this isn't too much of a surprise). It was so cool to see all of the local people, and adoptive parents unite in this building to Praise the Lord. I also thought it was cool that Arisson was attending her first service. The service was done in Chinese and English. First we sang songs. To hear "How Great Thou Art" in Chinese just hit me. It was beautiful. A young man sat next to me. He told me his name was Terry. He asked about our adoption and where Arisson was from. He was just a nice kid. After songs, there was a message, and then there was time for testimony. It was so neat to hear this girl's story. God speaks to us all in a different, personal way, and it was amazing how He started working on her just by locating her schools next to a Christian church. Her father was a Buddhist, so it was just cool to see how God worked in her life. The Benediction was done in Chinese, but I just felt God speaking to me through the prayer. After the service, Jason and I spoke more with Terry. He told us that his parents hang their head because he chose to be a Believer. Christianity is growing in China, but it still isn't accepted and many worship in secret. I am thankful for our freedom to outwardly worship Jesus, but I am also impressed with their faith, when persecution is possible.
After Church, Jason, Arisson, and I did a little shopping, and then returned to the hotel. Our bags were already moved to our new room. We are now neighbors to the Sobecki's, who also have their daughter's story (Angelina Hope) on this site. Arisson took another bottle like a champ. She was about to take a nap, but we had to get her up to go to the store. Arisson needs diapers. Up until now, Jason was the one who ran into the store, but today Arisson and I tagged along. Now let me tell you, this was an experience. At home, I complain about the size of Super Walmart, and Woodman's, mainly because I always forget something and realize that it is at the other end of the store. This store, called Carrefour. This place is incredible. I am glad Jason knew where he was going and what he was doing, because I would not know where to start. The store was 4 stories high (underground). I am sure they had everything, and then some. We browsed through the deli/meat section. The packaged meats of goose, pigeon, and other unknowns was fun to see. There was cooked things hanging, like pig with teeth, birds, etc. There was fresh fish, as in pick it out of the tank and take home fresh. I told Lisa that this is a field trip in itself. And similar to the outside traffic, you have to be aggressive with your cart. One thing that was fun was the escalators. The weren't steps, they were like conveyor belts so you can just take the carts to the other floors. Jason liked the carts because the back wheels turned so you could push the carts sideways. America, take note.
When we got back from the store, Arisson took another bottle well. I think the worst is over, or maybe I shouldn't talk about it! She is letting her Daddy do more with her. She has definitely been a Mommy's girl, and a little cool with Daddy. Today we have made a breakthrough. She is singing right now. I am so thankful, she is such a sweetheart. I have been getting a lot of emails saying that Arisson is a lucky girl to have us. Seriously, we are the ones that are truly blessed. I still can't believe she is finally here!
All of us, except for one family and Bill went and ate at Lucy's tonight. That is the place where they serve Westernized food. Both Jason and I had fish and chips. I know, you are all getting bored with the regular food. I have already decided I am going to eat some snake, or something else daring, so just be patient. After eating all that Chinese food without a break, we just needed something that brought home back to us. We got to eat our dinner outside. The evening was just perfect. Good food, good company. I just really feel blessed. After dinner we walked down by the river and watched the boats and looked at all the lights. It was so beautiful. When we were leaving the park there was music playing and so many Chinese people were doing some kind of dance or exercise. It was so cool. We walked into some of the shops and looked around. Arisson was getting tired and fussy so we came back to the room. She had a bottle, which some of it came up and then she had a gross diaper, which is actually being changed right now, and I am typing, so obviously someone else is doing the changing. How convenient. It's the medicine. Tomorrow is the last dose, so we should see things start to turn around here by Wednesday. She hadn't spit up since yesterday at the restaurant, and hadn't had a diaper explosion since her 2am catastrophe, so things are looking up. She is feeling so much better. She is tired right now, but very content to just lay on the bed with Daddy. She was in her crib, but she was peeking at me through the bars and she was much too cute to just leave in there.
Tomorrow we have some site seeing planned, and then she has her required doctor examination. They won't look at her too thoroughly, but I am interested in getting her height and weight. About a week or two before leaving for China, we received an update on her stats, and she was 18.7lbs, and 26inches tall. I am having a tough time thinking she is 18.7lbs. but we shall see. We got our itinerary for our last days here. The time has gone by fast, and I think I am going to have a tough time leaving. It is so beautiful here, and this is where our daughter was born. It is bittersweet to take her from here. The country, culture, people are beautiful, yet I am excited to introduce her to everything new in the States. Our final days are busy, and there is so much of the Island alone that we haven't seen. We will do the best we can to fit it all in!
Good night, all. Sweet dreams to my kids at home. Do you have a countdown started yet on our return? Enjoy your time now, because things will be getting back to the way I left them as soon as we walk through that door! Grandma, please tell me that you haven't let them win. |
