Not much to report today so, I thought I would tell you about the cool things we did yesterday.
Again, as every day we spend in China, it was Life Changing!!
First of all, we went to the countryside to tour. We wanted to see what true life in China was like. Not the jazzed up, cool stuff but the real awesome China. We saw many chickens and Wild Buffalo just walking along like they were dogs and cats in the USA. No fences or anything. We stopped on the roadside to watch one of the most awesome things I've ever seen. We saw many middle aged men and women working very hard to harvest and collect grass for fertilizer to sell. The would dig, roll it, place it on one end of a long piece of wood with a hook and then attach another piece of grass on the other side for balance. They would then place this across their shoulders and walk up a steep hill to place this in the pile with the other pieces. Each side weighed 88-120 pounds. I SAID EACH SIDE. So double the weight and that’s what they were packing, on their shoulders, up a steep hill. The workers weighed maybe 110 pounds each. We were amazed.
The picture of the workers below will amaze you too but the real life experience was phenomenal.
Then, we were welcomed inside of home that two families lived in. When we arrived , our guide asked if we could come in and see their house and they said yes. I would have said, well, let me straighten up the living room, unload the dishwasher, take out the trash, light a candle and then you are welcome, but not them. They were so warm and inviting. The Chinese are such a loving people. It was a family home with two sisters and their children. The one sister had one child and the other sister had three children. We asked why she had so many children with the one child policy and she told us that she had to pay a large fine to keep her children. Can you imagine??
When we first came in the house, they were just sitting in their living room, no TV no DISH network, they were just enjoying one another. No toys were seen but one boy did have a stick for entertainment. I was just in awe of their skills. They do what they have to to survive. I put a picture of their family below. They had so little yet seemed so blessed. Sometime the little things just seem to melt away while we're here!
We then step it up a notch in US standards and went shopping at a local mall. We were like the new freak show in town. Some people just stopped about 2 feet from us and starred at us for like 10 minutes! NO FOOLIN!! I think they thought we were nuts. Our guide told us that the clothes were very expensive there. But, they were the same price as a normal Osh Kosh or Old Navy Store, maybe even a little cheaper. We bought Gracie three outfits and our guide was in shock. But, she must have pink I said!!! SHE MUST!!!! They also loved Elijah. They watched him and touched him as if to say ya, he really is white. They even put clothes on him, so we would buy them. Quite interesting! Yes, we bought them!!! WE ARE SUCKERS!! CRAZY AMERICANS!!!!
They day was very busy yet we still had plenty of time to enjoy our lil China Doll. We are amazed at her progress in just a few short days.
Tomorrow will be a long and hard day for us. We will leave very early in the morning and travel 4 hours one way to see Gracie’s orphanage. She was in foster care and never actually spent time in the orphanage....Thank You God, but she was found at the gates so we want pictures. We also will be able to meet her foster parents. We have had a letter translated to tell them that we are indebted to them forever for caring for our daughter for the first 14 months of her life. We know that they had to sacrifice daily to care for her. She is such a beautiful, dainty flower and we know that God had a huge part in this as well as her foster parents. We know that when Gracie is old enough to understand, she will appreciate the pictures of the beautiful family that raised her before she came into our family. The photos we take while we are there will be priceless to us and to Gracie in the future. We are blessed to have this opportunity.
In case you are wondering, we are doing great. We are not tired of China and are not quite ready to come home yet. Don't get me wrong, we do miss everyone terribly especially Jacob and Chevy. But, China is awesome. I know that I keep saying this, but until you experience China, I just cant explain it in words. You will have to visit here or adopt a baby too see this awesome place.
Elijah loves his new sister and is a great helper. If he gets too close to her, she shoves him away as to say, "step back Jack," and then she giggles!! She's too cute!! She played with toys today for the first time.
This is a huge step. I’m guessing she didn't have any or many toys so doesn't understand the concept of playing. But, she's catching on and making leaps and bounds on a daily basis.
Bill is doing great and loves China just as much as me. He loves his new little beauty and she is finally warming up to him. Nikki is doing great too. I cant imagine coming to China without her. She's so much fun and such a blessing to know. It just would NOT be the same without her here!
Well, I better end this now. I must go and watch Gracie sleep. She's so amazing. We can't wait for you to meet her!!
We will be home before ya know it!
Love Ya,
Love, Bill, Bambi, Elijah, Nikki and Gracie Mei ....also known as Ya Ya (Chinese nickname)
