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

The Twilight Zone

Cue the music! I still feel as if I'm having an out of body experience. Maybe it's bc we are in a different country half way around the world, or bc we look nothing like anyone else here, or bc we are still living in our US time zone, or bc of the reason we are here! Regardless, it's crazy. It's all crazy but in the most amazing way!
Today we met all but 3 of our adoptive families -they are scheduled to arrive tomorrow- A lot of times couples who have adopted before skip all the sightseeing so I'm assuming that is the case. Half of the families brought at least one or more of their children. It made me sad at first but as tired as Steve and I were this afternoon, I was glad we came alone. We've talked with my mom and dad and Luke. Luke has called us and sent videos. Will on the other hand...I received a text this morning "hey". Ha! Ok I guess I'll take it! We haven't been gone long enough to really be homesick but I know in a few days I will be ready to go home!
Today we toured Tian'anmen Square and the Forbidden City. We also took a Hutong tour via rickshaw and had lunch at a local family home. Hutong is like an alley. Did I say how bad traffic is here? No one stops or even slows down for pedestrians. We have had some delicious food and have seen some really cool things. Tomorrow will be just as great but my sights are continuously set on Monday! 

                     

Love some of the translations

Like a funnel cake

More bugs on a stick!

Coconut

Noodle shop next to the hotel

Food was delicious

Huh?

Our guides Cecilia and Alice in front of Forbidden City

Tian 'anmen Sqaure

I actually used it today. Got a good quads workout

The kids grew tired of paparazzi. The Chinese don't see many white people

All important entrances have steps. They believe evil spirits are tiny and cannot jump over these to enter

Stepping on the bat will allow you to take luck and happiness back to your house

Hutong tour via rickshaw

More translation funnies

Our lunch at the local family home. Yum

The kitchen/chef/owner of the house

Interesting selection of fruit

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore!

As much as I am writing this for everyone else, my target audience is my daughter and this permanent record she will be able to read when she's interested- so pardon if I ramble on sometimes. Also excuse the typos as I'm writing under extreme jet lag. I'll try to upload the pics in order but I can't make any promises. The 15 hour plane ride will definitely be my least favorite part of this journey, HOWEVER, I felt completely covered in prayer- I did have alternating moments of peace in between my moments of panic. For most of my waking moments (and even some of my "in and out of sleepy" moments) I was either reciting scripture or singing worship songs. I was bummed bc I couldn't get wifi and therefore catch up on my reading through the bible during the flight. Regardless, the flight was uneventful and we made it safely to our hotel and to the breakfast buffet by 6:00 AM. We are 13 hours ahead of everyone back home so it's actually Thursday here! Smog is crazy-just like the pic Dr. Chuck showed several weeks back. It looks foggy but it's pollution. I'd say about 10% of people wear face masks. It may be more but there are so many people and everyone is in a hurry! It made me feel like my home life is on island time as fast as these guys move! One of the reps from our adoption agency (CCAI) picked us up at the airport. After she helped us check in the hotel, we were given the rest of the day to have some free time. We probably should have slept but we were too excited! We actually were able to navigate around via the subway so we saw a lot of the city. That is why it's 5 PM here, which is actually 4 AM there and I feel as if I just worked a night shift at the hospital. Of course we rode all over town looking for a restaurant recommended by someone and it was worth the search (Anthony Bourdain and Eric would be proud)! Anyway, here are some pics from today! BTW, I don't believe there was a moment people weren't staring at us. Not sure if it was our blond hair or our giant feet, either way we noticed it for sure. We asked for assistance with directions a few times. Several people actually kept walking or would shake their head as if to say no speak English. Others were extremely helpful and enjoyed practicing their English on us!

Last pic as a family of four

The scorpions and beetles are still moving

Candied strawberries on a stick

I can not believe we are here! So surreal

Couldn't find Starbucks but McDonalds was just as good

Jasmine and fruit tea 

Thought the boys would like this. Took this pic at a 7/11

Our hotel

GL cafe

It truly is the Real Thing!

Yes! That is the girl's potty

The alley of street vendors goes on forever

A Catholic Church across from our hotel. Loved the tree as well