Having fun in Guangzhou

These passages of Scripture describes the way I've been feeling on the trip, and I'd like to share them with you. We have found tremendous comfort and security on our journey. And we especially appreciate the special words of encouragement and inspiration you all have provided us. Thank you!

Psalm 4:6-8

Many are asking, "Who can show us any good?"

Let the light of your face shine upon us, O Lord.

You have filled my heart with greater joy

than when their grain and new wine abound.

I will lie down and sleep in peace,

for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Psalm 12:5-7

"Beacuse of the oppression of the weak

and the groaning of the needy,

I will now arise," says the Lord.

"I will protect them from those who mailign them."

And the words of the Lord are flawless,

like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.

O Lord, you will keep us safe and protect us from such people forever.

We arrived in Guangzhou very late on Friday night. The plane ride from Zhengzhou was lousy, as we were significantly delayed by thunderstorms in Guangzhou. We arrived to the airport very early on Friday afternoon, only to encounter a two hour delay in the terminal. We then boarded the plane and sat on the tarmac for about two more hours before liftoff. Some of the Chinese passengers started a mutiny with the airline stewards and pilots (they were screaming at one another in Chinese). It's a good thing we're not fluent in Mandarin, as I'm sure they were using some choice words. Anyway, we arrived in one piece with all of our luggage accounted for!

This is a view of Guangzhou from the top of our hotel, where the swimming pool is located. We are in a part of the city called Shamian Island, as it is surrounded by rivers on all sides. There was severe flooding in this region last month - the worst in 100 years. However, we haven't seen any ill effects or remnants from the flooding.

Our paperwork is on file with the US Consulate, in preparation for an oath and swearing in ceremony on Tuesday morning. We are enjoying the sights here in Guangzhou while waiting for Consulate appointment. There are many shops and restaurants right near the hotel. There is a local cottage industry that supports all of the foreign families that are in process of adopting. The shops cater to the families with clothing, laundry service, souveniers, artwork, etc. Gracie really seems to love shopping for dresses with Mama.

There are also many parks and statues that are friendly for kids to play on them.

Superstar in the making??!! I love how she wears her sunglasses upside down. :-)

Andrew discovered a tree that looks a lot like the 'whomping willow' in the Harry Potter books.

We also made a visit to the local Starbucks on Shamian Island. Yum!

Tonight we had a wonderful Cantonese dinner with all three families who are adopting as part of HOPE for Children. We have especially enjoyed spending time with the Sanders family (Laura, Ray, Ray's mom Joanne, Eliot, Colin, and their new little girl Zoe). Zoe is a happy, spunky little two year old girl. Eliot Sanders is quite an adventurous eater, and tonight he challenged us to eat fried eel. They keep all of the seafood fresh on the doorstep outside the restaurant. The eel looked disgusting, but I tried it anyway. The texture was light and a bit flaky, but it left an aftertaste that reminded me of mud (or whatever sediments are found at the bottom of the ocean). See a picture of Eliot's eels below!

Happily, the boys have started to use chopsticks on the journey. We were delighted to see Gracie use them too. We are learning her discerning tastes (no beef or green vegetables, lots of rice, carrots and fruits). Quentin and Andrew are also trying many new foods, although they took a pass on the eel. Here's a little video clip of their culinary skills. Gracie seems to be a messier eater than Quentin (I didn't think that was possible!).

Saturday night we enjoyed a riverfront dining experience at the Rose Garden Cafe. All three children enjoyed the waterfront spectacle which included a light and music show. Throughout the night dinner cruise ships passed by. All of them were decorated in fancy lights. We treated the kids to fresh ice cream desert. The mango ice cream was especially tasty.

Quentin and Andrew pass much of the time by swimming in the pool. They absolutely love it (it's the highlight of the day for them). I usually take them to the pool during Gracies nap time. Here are some fun pictures of them enjoying the water!

Sunday afternoon we also made a trek to the local pagoda / Buddhist temple. The current structure is about 300 years old, although there have been a series of temples on this site since ~600 A.D. See a view from the bottom and the top (about 17 flights of stairs). I carried Gracie all the way up and back -- we were soaked with sweat by the end of the journey!!