Day 10- WARNING! Lots of pictures!Sightseeing, Shopping and Play

We started our day touring an outdoor museum in Guangzhou.  This museum was used in the 1880's as a temple for this people group to come and worship--their ancestors- the Qing Clan, I think:/  

This is a hand-stitched silk piece.

This artist used ink and paints only with his hands. He made a piece and surprised us by giving it to us with Perry's in English and Chinese! His work is beautiful and unique.

One of the areas of worship (no longer used for worship- museum only). 

Craig is trying to imitate the statues... overly impressed with museum☺️

Beautiful garden in the museum 

Beautiful walkways with red hanging lanterns 

This was built out of small bones...

To amuse himself, Craig decided to try and become apart of the sculpture.

Walking to our driver- Guess where the common place to park is....

WRONG!  Not a parking lot, the sidewalk.. Yes, in China you get front door service!

Outdoor play area at our hotel-

we met 12+ adoptive families here, each with such unique stories and amazingly strong children... It was very touching to look around and not only see a beautiful picture of family but to look and see each of these children who are no longer orphans, but sons and daughters... Who've been pursued, prayed for, and loved long before they ever knew it!

Luke's new favorite place

Have you ever seen such a cute boy?

My favorite picture of the day, father and son eye to eye enjoying each other's company❤️

Another breath-taking view in the hotel play area.

Today has been a day of progress.  Our son is starting to relax and call us by name... he played really well with the other children too.

We ran into one of the families in my mom's China fb group, support group we've been a part of since April.  Alison and son, Sam.  Our son's share the same heart condition.  It was such a blessing to see them and to discuss our children. They are from Georgia, and attend one of Andy Stanley's churches. 

No words needed😊 

Mesmerized by the waterfall

Day 9- continued- the Pearl River Dinner Cruise

The famous Pear River Tour tonight!  After a full day of his medical exam and gathering needed documents with Helen for consulate Tuesday, we did the Pearl River dinner cruise.  It's a 1-1/2hr dinner Chinese dinner with a juggler who did balls, knives, and a soccer ball.... When she got around to us she spun the ball on Luke's finger- I don't know who enjoyed it more Luke or "baba!" Th top deck was to sight-see the city... It was a gorgeous evening and the weather was similar to an early October- Tennessee evening.  We all enjoyed it!  The other AWAA family videoed Luke's debut but they haven't emailed it to us yet;)

Our guide said even though he's three and tonight was more enjoyable for us- the Pearl River is a spectacular sight for all Chinese people and that Luke would be proud of these pictures one day (maybe, but he's a boy... Craig says about as much as a man enjoys his own baby pics- notta) ☺️

Good night from Guangzhou!  Thanks for the prayers and posts for Luke's appt. Love you all❤️❤️

(Praise God FaceTime worked tonight and we were able to Chat with our girls and Mimi)!!! It's by far, one of our sweetest moments in 8 days- soaking up China- but loving that volunteer state!! I say "Go Vols" after this trip, but Craig says- Roll Tide Roll!

Day 9- Guangzhou/Medical Exam

The girls ask to see pictures of our hotel- see girlies, pretty similar to ones back home 😉. 

Our first western breakfast before medical exam- Craig and I were just as overwhelmed with all the food choices as Luke was.. we also met several other adoptive families last night and this morning. We went to the medical appt with another family with our agency, AWAA!  They are a sweet couple from Texas who adopted a 20 mo old little girl, who is darling!

US Medical Exam- one step closer to getting clearance and American citizenship.

First, they took his photo to go with his medical documents, I think ....

This doctor is the ENT- Luke did well in this exam room.

I have no idea what his info said- I'm so far from understanding Chinese #'s, but the nurse smiled and said good- so, good!

Pictures are out of order- sorry-! This room was for going over his medical file given by orphanage and us signing documents stating we understand the information and will get necessary medical care for him.

This doctor and the female physician sitting to his right were the ones who thoroughly examined him and discussed his heart condition with us. When they laid him down for the exam he cried quite a bit, they let us stand beside him and I put my face to his and started singing "You Are My Sunshine"☀️ and he stopped crying, the doctor smiled and I teared up- we are making progress, I was able to comfort him- praise God.

He had no fever, exam was good- a pediatrician, not pictured, met us in the hall (too quickly to get pic.) but was extremely helpful in getting us cough medicine.  After we contact our fantastic American pediatrician for the ok, we will start him on medicine.... Praising God today for great quality healthcare that we so often take for granted.  The doctors today were wonderful, but it's such a blessing to have doctors who you know, have a relationship with, and trust with your precious kiddos- thnx Doc!!!!

Monday we will hear from the tb skin test, if that's good we will proceed with scheduled Consulate Appt on Tuesday morning!

Day 8- flying to Guangzhou

We left Lanzhou at 9:00 am for a 12:15 flight to Guangzhou.  Not many pictures today, but I still wanted to post because it's just getting down right comical these days.  Lanzhou has a population of approximately 3 million, and is considered a smaller city- as we waited 1-1/2hrs for flight we realized the entire population was in the airport with us- we were shoulder to shoulder... Luke did great the first 30 minutes and then we realized he wanted to become a human mop!! Yes- mop!  He cried.. older ladies looked at me like I was hurting him, but he would only stop crying if he hung upside down with me holding him at his lower back.  We then began to board- oh no, not the plane (like we thought) but a very full bus that drove us to the center of the runway parking plane area thing😆 and we were confused... then we all of a sudden approached the plane- and the steps were let down for us to board- I told Craig I was feeling a bit like royalty for about 1 minute, until we boarded.  

Craig was absolutely amazing today on the 3+ hr flight with Luke. I was so traumatized by our flight Sunday that I instantly went into shutdown mode.. Craig said I was really pale and I told him- inspite of thinking we shouldn't pray for safety (prior to trip) because God is Sovreign and it seems silly- I totally prayed 🙏BeGgInG🙏 God for a good, uneventful flight today- He already knows my thoughts anyways, right!? Hallelujah, it was fine!

We landed in Guangzhou around 4:00 pm and were met by a delightful lady named Helen!  We fell in love with her instantly. She's about the age of my mom Helen- and she is such a tender, sweet-spirited lady.  She thanked us for adopting Luke and told us because of this we were changing the course of his entire life.  I don't know about her salvation- but she couldn't be more right about the course of his life- his province is heavily a Budda and Muslim area and he's coming to the south to the Bible Belt where,  praise God- His word is taught, revered, and magnified!! 

Once we checked in tonight we sent our laundry out to be cleaned and then Craig went out for McDonalds!! Yes- McD's sounded magnificent! We've lost quite a bit of weight this week- more than we realized, but Guangzhou has many western, English-speaking places.  We've enjoyed trying new foods this past week- we just had difficulty ordering- so we wouldn't be able to eat what we ordered much of the time (but it's all ok)!  Luke had his first Happy Meal tonight- and really enjoyed it. 

Tomorrow is Luke's medical exam- 9:00 am.  Please pray for his health- he still has a bad cough and cold.  Helen told us if he had fever it could interfere with exam results- praying no fever!!

Good night from Guangzhou!!

Much love to you all❤️

Day 7- our last day in Lanzhou

Needing lots of coffee these days....

Walking to the local square 

They have lots of cactus at the local square 

Eating lunch at our local place here- Pizza Hut ;)  Luke drew a crowd of older ladies that kept waving and blowing kisses at him. 

The moment we've waited here for all week- we just received Luke's passport to leave China (this must originate from his province). Luke is a little closer to becoming an American citizen- receiving full rights from his father- just as followers of Jesus receive- Romans 8 is an incredible chapter in the New Testament- we encourage all to read it- it speaks do much to our journey, emotions, and the eternal hope and glory of our inheritance through our Heavenly Father!!

Praise God for this blessing- Love to you all- we are halfway home everyone!!!!!

Day 6- playing in a children's indoor play area

Luke and Craig had a fun time at this play area.  We were suppose to do a zoo and outdoor tour this morning- but it was extremely cold and Luke needs to somewhere to run and play, we opted for a children's indoor play area at a local mall.

He was a bit overwhelmed and didn't know what to do first- "baba" daddy was eager to show him. 

The animals that Luke, and our guide Melody, are sitting on turn on if you pay- and children can ride them around this floor of the mall.... Of course, he sat on it with her, and enjoyed it just as much!  She's a lovely young lady with lots of spunk and energy. Yesterday at the museum Craig taught her how to two-step....  She loves Craig and his spunk.  Today has been a better day, getting Luke out to play and having sunshine has helped.  

Luke was introduced to the yummy Oreo... He preferred having it in his little tub the hotel provided for adoptive families!

We have laughed quite a bit today about how desperate we've become to entertain our little kiddo- Craig is trying to engage him with Chinese cartoons.. Desperate measures=desperate actions- T.V.!!!!!

While they enjoyed cartoons I completed reviewing all necessary documents to leave Luke's province Friday morning.  Tomorrow afternoon we will receive Luke's Chinese passport (which is what we've had to be here for all week) and we leave for airport Friday am at 9:00- and should arrive in Guangzhou late Friday afternoon!

Please be praying for our flights- they were rough from Beijing here, and Luke is going to have so much going on that's so unfamiliar...  

My verse for today- I CAN do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me.. Trusting Him today 😊

Love to you all!!