A Day of Greats

So we had an easy start today, especially from being up a good part of the night. Don't get me wrong, we are getting some sleep it's just from 8 PM-2 AM. It just makes for a long day. The best part of my day was meeting Josh and Lily, the founders of our agency CCAI. They live in the states and were here holding a training session and meeting with other orphanages to want to partner with their agency and also their teenage daughter was doing some work as well. They have an amazing testimony-both Christians and started the agency out of their basement in California in 1992 (he was going to seminary there). Isn't that amazing?!?! In 2011,it was ranked the #1 adopted agency by the Chinese government. And I truly believe that! They believe this is their calling from God and want to help as many orphans as possible find families. The agency has been amazing and it was a huge surprise and honor to meet Josh and Lily! We ventured to the Great Wall today! Steve was determined to make it to the top to the 13th tower. And of course he made it! I went a little more than half way. I know I'm overweight however I'm in pretty good shape and it was rough. Another mom and I stood and waited while Steve, her husband, and her 8 year old daughter went all the way up.  The crazy thing is, there were people my parents age and probably older who kept going after we stopped, some of whom were wearing business suits. Regardless we both got the same metal(we had to buy them of course) to go with our small collection of running medals. So people have been very interested in our group, especially the kids with us. So when a man asked me at the Great Wall for a pic, I said sure happily and went over to pose with his parents. No, no he said. I want picture of my parents, not you! He simply wanted me to move so he could take a pic of the place I was standing. Oh well! Anyway, after we left there, we went to eat lunch at a restaraunt/souvenir shop. Lunch was delicious and I was able to make a few purchases. We actually bought another carry-on bag for our souvenirs (I wasn't going to share that) but we aren't even half way through the trip yet. We also drove by the area where the 2008 Olympics were held. We had plans to see a famous acrobatic show tonight but it was sold out. We ended up at a restaraunt near the hotel. Had a huge and yummy meal and two bottles of H20 for $7.50. Crazy! Steve has had lots of little girls smiling at him, saying 
"hello" to him, so he seems to think our little girl is going to be just as fascinated with him! We shall 

see. Our day will start at 5 AM tomorrow - which is Sunday here. Our plane leaves at 9 and we are flying to her province-Henan.   Yay! Only one more day. I feel sure I'm leaving things out. I really should wait to write when I wake up at 2 AM instead of now when I can't keep my eyes open. Thank you to everyone for the prayers and sweet notes! We definitely are feeling them! 

Today's breakfast included tiramisu. Yum

Cecilia, Lily, Josh, and Alice

So couples bring a lock and place it on the wall to symbolize love and commitment. Steve remembered he had a luggage lock in his bag so we placed it on the wall. I took pics so we would know where to find it again when we come back one day.

From the bottom

Funny translations

My view from where I stopped

Still a long way to go

Steve's view from where he stopped

He wore his medal all day. Are you kidding me?!?

This food was for our table of 8

They don't like #4 bc it's pronunciation sounds too much like the word death

Birds nest. The Olympic stadium