Today was a busy day! Joe woke up and went across the street to a park and played basketball with a bunch of the locals. He had a great time! He told some of the guys in our group about it and they are going to go tomorrow!
We went to Tian'anmen Square, Forbidden City, Pearl Factory, Silk factory, and Summer Palace today, then we went and ate a Peking Duck dinner last night! We actually had a fish head on our table! I can't believe we are finally here and able to go to the places that I have seen on other people's websites for the last 2 years!
We have met the rest of our travel group! We have a wonderful group to spend these next 2 weeks with! I feel like I know them already, since we have talked for over 2 years via the internet! The girls have both made new friends in our group! They are the same ages! God is so good to us!
We are going to the International Christian church , the Jade Factory and the Great Wall tomorrow! Joe said the Chinese people say you are not a man until you climb the Great Wall. He said tomorrow he will become a real man!
ha!
Love from China,
Joe, Julie, Karlee and Kassidy
Our family at Tian'anamen Square
Chinese Lunch
Karlee & Kassidy with new friends, Hannah and Keara
Our family at the Great Wall
Julie and Karlee climbing the Wall
Kassidy and Hannah strike a pose on the Great Wall
September 3 -- Communion, surprises and excitement!
Today was another wonderful day! We went to the International Christian church here in Beijing! We had to show our passports to get in! It was a wonderful service. I was moved to tears during the worship! It was so overwhelming to be in a Christian church here in China and then take communion with so many other believers in a whole new world! We are truly one big family of God!
After church, we got on the bus to go to the Jade factory. When we started on our way, Amy (our guide) surprised us with updated information on our daughters! We were all in shock! We were so excited! This is not something that always happens! We found out that Klaire is now 18 lbs. and has two teeth! She is sitting up on her own and crawling by herself! It says she moves very fast! She sucks her fingers before going to bed and claps and waves bye, bye! We were thrilled to learn some new information about our daughter before we get her! It sounds like she is right on track for her age! We will find out tomorrow!
We went to the Great Wall later in the afternoon! It is truly amazing!!!! The pictures that people send do not do it justice! It is something you have to see to believe! It is so much harder than I had imagined to climb! I made it to the first tower, but Joe became "a real man" ! He climbed all the way to the top!!!! He has his plaque to prove it!
Tonight , we went to the acrobatic show ! It was amazing! We are anxiously awaiting tomorrow! We will leave Beijing and fly to Guangzhou. We will have about an hour to get ready and then go get Klaire around 3:30!!! I can't believe in less than 24 hours, we will be holding Klaire in our arms! The excitement is mounting in our group! It is still so surreal!
Thanks so much for all the e-mails from home! We love reading them! I am not sure that we will be able to answer many of them after we get Klaire, but please know that we are reading them and love hearing from home! Thank you for all your prayers, as well, we can feel them half way across the world!
Until tomorrow with Klaire- we love you!
Joe, Julie , Karlee and Kassidy
