April 22nd started our quietly with a nice breakfast in the hotel cafe. Catherine is a very good eater. She loves scrambled eggs and her formula for sure. We think she weighs about 16-17 lbs as 9 months clothing barely fits her. After breakfast we headed on a local tour with our group to a park called the August 1st Park. The park is named after a date that is significant to the Communist Revolution in 1920's we think. At this park you could see people signing, children freely playing, people doing morning Tai Chi and older men playing cards and smoking Marlboros! Mark was encouraged by the group to go and speak with a group of young people. Lord knows he is the most outgoing of the men in the group. He was so impressed with the English speaking ability of the youth. They often come to this park to practice their English skills on Americans. Catherine enjoyed strolling and James played with 2 of the other kids in the group on the inflatable jumping thing they had. they also had a mini roller coaster, merry go round and paddle boats. It was so green, beautiful and peaceful that we hated to leave.
Thanks so much for visiting us during our journey, Mark, Donna, James and Catherine!
April 23 - Hanging out and visiting the hotel playroom!
Today was primarily a day on our own. We did a little bit of paperwork. We headed to the hotel playroom where you can see James AND Catherine had a great time in the ball pit. Catherine loved the little walker. She isn't crawling yet but loved to scoot in this walker. We'll need to get one for our house! We ventured out for a walk. Headed to the grocery store where we are the center of attention every time. They just love seeing us with these babies. People, both men and women, will come up and touch Catherine's head and smile. You just feel their warmth. We still haven't encountered the clothing police for Catherine although one older woman fussed at me for having shorts on today! It was like 80 degrees! We had a group lunch today which is always an excursion. The babies tend to be very well behaved at this time. Our guides continue to take the most excellent care of us all. They often will hold our children while we eat a meal. The babies seem to adore them.
We have been reading your emails and so appreciate hearing from everyone. We especially appreciate the prayers for us and our journey. We had 362 emails last night and weeded through the junk and on to the good stuff. We hope to answer them as quickly as possible. If anyone is reading this that hasn't traveled, TAKE A LAPTOP! We are borrowing this from our guide Mary as we don't have one. We have spent a small fortune on Internet service that we should have just bought one before leaving home.
Tomorrow, Monday, the 24th, we are going to the Social Welfare Institute. It is about 1.5 hours one way. We are all going as a group. I personally don't know what to expect. How I will feel or react. But God has gotten me through this entire journey thus far and I know He will carry me when I feel I can't go on. I hear it is quite an emotional experience. We hope to visit Catherine's finding site as well. Until next time..........
We are the Musselwhite's, Mark, Donna, big brother James and Miss Catherine Anne XiuJin
