Today was the first of many awesome days in China! My experiences today have definitely affected me greatly!!! We took a Hu Tong Tour this morning which consisted of visiting different, VERY COOL places in China. We got on a rickshaw......a bike with a buggy at the back that someone pedals you around town on, and Off we went. It was cool, Elijah loved this too!!! We went through alleys, and streets and saw the real China. The China I thought I had pictured in my head and in my dreams for so long now, but I was WAY off!!! Everything is so different than I had imagined. The giddiness has not worn off yet and I’m guessing it won’t for awhile!!
The Chinese are a very simple people and we could learn a few lessons from them. We were able to visit this wonderful, elderly ladies home. She welcomed us and was very happy to see us. She allows many people into her home to view a normal Chinese home. She had no central heat, no bathroom, she shares a toilet with 6-8 other families at a public toilet. She had a frig that was extremely small, yet she said every year her quality of life grows better. She had very little yet acted so blessed!!She was so grateful for what she has. She and her husband are retired and make about $300 per month and it takes about 1/2 of that to keep their home going every month. I was amazed. We took pictures with her and told her Thank You but, thank you was not enough for her kindness.
The next stop was truly, LIFE CHANGING!!!We stopped at a school to visit some children between the ages of 3 and 6 years old. They were all deaf and had received auditory devices e school to learn how to speak correctly after receiving their hearing devices. They actually lived there. We were told that their parents lived in other cities and could not travel. So, for about $100 a month, their parents pay for them to go there to learn to communicate better. When we entered the room, the children were reading books and sitting at a table. They did not say a word that we understood, yet they lit up the room with their presence alone. I would have loved to talk with them in words, but could not. So, we played and laughed because that seemed to be our universal language today. They were beautiful and I cannot describe the emotion thinking that Gracie could be there, alone, needing a hug, without me to tuck her in every night. It truly broke my heart. They need their Mommies. I wanted to bring them all home. They were so sweet and loving!
We then went to the Temple of Heaven. Elijah is definitely a cutie patootie here. They don’t seem to care much about us, but talk and smile at him all the time. We told him to Soak It Up but, h The Temple of Heaven was beautiful doesn’t seem to care much. He did have a Chinese lady ask if she could take a picture of him today. He was looking at her like, Lady, why do you want my picture? Do we know each other?? Have we met before??? He's too funny!!!
Then, later the event of a lifetime. We went shopping at a CAREFOUR grocery store!!!IT WAS AWESOME!!!!!People everywhere....EVERYWHERE MOVE IT OR LOSE IT BUDDY!!!This store was so neat. The parking lot looked like Walmart, the day after Thanksgiving sale, only with bicycles instead of cars. It was so cool. I did have one,,,,,lets say interesting event happen while there though. Yes, I will share. I’m walking through the store when I hear a noise like no other.....okay if you are a queasy one.....stop reading now and skip to the...I love you part at the bottom and we will meet again tomorrow...same bat time, same bat channel okay!!
Okay , for you iron stomachs, back to the NOISE!!!! I hear a kind of snort snort like a pig noise, you know that sound your grandpa makes when he has a booger lodged mid-nose. So, SNNNORRRRRRRRRRRRRT SNOOOOOOOOORT..I turn around to see this very attractive lady behind me,,,,yes, the Noise is coming from her and She SPITS THE..........THING ,,,,ON THE floor in the store!!!!!!!!!!It almost landed on me and I almost lost my rice!!!! When, that was a close one. But, there seem to be many snorters here and it seems to be the norm whether you are male or female to snort. VERY INTERESTING!!!
Everything was dirt cheap at this store too. Then, we went to a really fancy restaurant and ate lots and lots of really good food. At the end, we received a $4 bill. It s so cheap to eat here!!!CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???? I love this!!!!
Just to be here in China is awesome. We are making friends with other adoptive families and having lots of fun. I always wondered why people explain where they toured on their story of you page. I always thought,.,,,,,,,,who cares about the tours, GET TO THE BABY PART!! But, now I know that this country is AMAZING!!! The people, the city, the places, the architecture is all just amazing. I really never thought I would have fun here,,,,,just focus on day three, getting Gracie and thats it. But, lets just say that CHINA ROCKS!!!!! We are so blessed to visit here. COME TO CHINA, ADOPT A BABY!!!!!
Tomorrow we meet up with 22 other adoptive families at 8:30 in the morning to visit the Great Wall. It’s a 2 hour bus ride from Beijing. We will then have a Children’s Hope Int orientation and visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. Today went by so fast and tomorrow will too. Oh ya, GUESS WHAT.................TUESDAY , WE GET GRACIE!!!!!!!!!!AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
I CANT EVEN BELIVE IT!!!
I want just soak up all the China I can while I am here because it truly is awesome!!! Well, the bed is calling, it needs me!!!
Jacob and Chevy, I hope you are having fun!!!
Do you miss Elijah yet??? Ya, I didn’t think so!!!
But, I miss you like crazy cakes and can’t wait to see you!!!
Oh ya, we can get email here so feel free to email us,,,,anyone .......anyone.....????????. Just go to the first page of our journal, go to the bottom and click on EMAIL US. Our address will automatically pop up. We would love to hear from you English speaking folks!!!
Well, I must say hi to a few friends before I sign off.
Hey Margaret, Hey Jen, did ya bake Gracie those brownies yet?? Ya know, she has a thing for chocolate right!?!? I swear, doctors orders!!!!!
Is my dog alive still??
Oh ya, I did get your email.....keep em coming girl!! He said, "Child born with 2 thumbs, must have lots of chocolate!!!!
Hi Lisa, hope you're surviving the TWINS.
Is my vehicle intact ?? Oh, never mind, I think I have GAP insurance.
Shawna, are you enjoying my page? I hope so!! I know you are addicted!!
Just wait till Tuesdays page Honey Bunches Of Oats!!!
WHEH WHEH!!!!Gracie will be in our arms????
I can’t even believe it!!!!
ENJOY THE PICTURES!!! CHINA IS SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU CAN EVER IMAGINE!!! I’m coming back by golly!!!!
Thanks so much for visiting us during our journey, Bill, Bambi, Jacob, Chevy, Elijah and Gracie!
Please email us.........
Forbidden City
My new friend Sarah. She is adopting twins!
Our travel group
On the Great Wall
Elijah proves he climbed the wall!
November 21 --
THIS IS THE DAY THAT THE LORD HATH MADE, I WILL REJOICE AND
BE GLAD IN IT!!!
Hello everyone,
China, again today is still a wonderful place to be. We had French Fries for dinner, HOORAY!!!! Yes, sometimes it’s the little things that keep us afloat!!
Today, we and the rest of the families are just plain pooped. After the excitement of being here yesterday for our first entire day, we are now, oh so tired.
Today didn’t seem as grand. We visited Tiananmen Square, The Forbidden City and The Ever So Awesome Great Wall of China. Its amazing how hard the Chinese people work and how detailed they are. The buildings were amazing.
Everyday here seems to be life changing for us!!
There’s only one thing that sticks in my mind today, one thing that I cannot forget.
We were leaving The Forbidden City and on our way out, we came upon many many people. There were many normal Chinese people and then we started to see some disabled people. They were begging for money for food……BEGGING!!!!
There was a woman with her blind father, a man with no hands, a teenage boy with deformed hands and feet on a skateboard, (he used this to get around because he could not walk) a mother with her son, this I could not bare. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I just started to cry. My son, Elijah was strolling down the street with his father, carrying skittles and sporting a fake Rolex we had purchased, and these people were begging for money for food. No one could have ever prepared me for this moment. I would have skipped the entire tour today had I known that this was going to happen. I thought about the children especially with their mothers begging for money. All I could think is that this could be Gracie s life. She could be begging for money and have nothing. She could be on the street,
dirty and cold. But, God has shown her his love and grace and allowed us to come to China on a RESCUE MISSION. He has rescued us and is now allowing us to spread his love.
Our bus was silent as the families traveled back to the hotel. We were all immensely affected by this event. When people told me that they came to China and wanted to take all the children home, I thought. Ya right. They said they would have taken 2 or 3 orphans and I thought….You are NUTS!! But, now, I understand. If they offered I would bring home all the children I could fit on a 747. I realize that we cant…save them all….but, if we can each save one orphan ……it can make such a difference!!!
I just have to pray and know that God will take care of them. He knows their needs.
We climbed the Great Wall today. WoW….That’s was a kick in the pants!!! Its so steep and so high…….an awesome place. Elijah climbed high and even earned a gold plaque. He was so proud of himself.
Tonight we had American food which was a nice change of pace. We are all so tired and are so overwhelmed at the thought that tomorrow, we are adding a new family member. I can’t even wrap my mind around that thought!!
Well guys and gals, Tomorrow is the big day, I can hardly wait!!! We leave the hotel at 9:20 am for the airport. We fly to Nanchang at 11:30 and arrive there at 1:50pm.
Sometime in the afternoon after we get there, Gracie will be placed in our arms. She will no longer be a picture. She will no longer be a dream. She will no longer be an orphan. Thank you Jesus, she will never have to beg for food on the street like the children we saw today!! We already know that she is absolutely beautiful but, to touch her will be amazing. We can’t wait to post the pictures of her. I’m sure she has changed so much since the last picture we received. Oh ya, I prerequisite hair, and I know God heard me so, she will have tons. Okay, if not, it will grow, I am optimistic!!!
I miss my boys like crazy and hate being away from them. Yet, this is what we have to do to bring them their adorable baby sister!!
Maybe someday they will come to China to adopt!!!
I love you all and I know you, as I, are antsy to see GRACIE MEI YAO!!!
Please pray for Gracie’s transition into our family and also for comfort for her foster mother. I’m sure this is so hard for her and I pray that God will help her through this time. She has raised our daughter since she was 7 days old. Gracie is now almost 15 months. We know she had to make sacrifices daily to care for Gracie Mei. For this, we are eternally grateful. She will always hold a special place our hearts.
So, tomorrow is the BIG DAY!!!
ARE YOU READY Margaret, Lisa, Jen, Shawna, Aunt Tammy, Grandma Sandy,
Grandma Mary and anyone else who’s following our journey????HERE IT COMES!!!
I Love you Jacob and Chevy!!!
I have PRESENTS for you!!!YIPPEEEE!!!!
I have Tylenol PM for me…….YIPPEEE!!
Goodnight all,
Love, Bill, Bambi, Elijah, Nikki and tomorrow Gracie Mei
