We’re coming home!!!
Our last day here in Guangzhou and we are so excited as it is almost time to leave!

The last two days have been full of more unforgettable experiences.

All of our paperwork was reviewed and approved on Thursday meaning all of the work on our dossier was correct etc. That was a big relief. We waited the required two hours in our room for any questions that might come up and watched as the clock ticked by then celebrated when the time was over. Then I ventured out to Shaiman Island with my new friend Robin to do some power shopping for a couple hours while Dave stayed with sleeping Sasha in the room. It was a wild little trip but we accomplished our goal and it was much easier this way since it is so unbearably hot out there and no place is air conditioned.

Thursday evening we ate dinner here in the hotel at The Veranda and it turned into a sort of farewell dinner as the majority of adoptive parents left yesterday morning and are now reunited with their loved ones. We once again enjoyed the music of the band as they serenaded our group. It was beautiful to watch parents dancing with their babies. It does seem to be true that Sasha loves music as was written in her referral. Before dinner we took her to the lobby of the hotel to hear the string quartet which plays each evening and she started dancing! And then at dinner when the band came to us she sat and swayed back and forth and seemed to love it. After that we said our goodbyes. Everything is so emotional at this point since we have shared this incredible journey with all these special people.

Yesterday morning we ventured out to Yuntai Gardens which are part of the Baiyun (White Cloud) Mountain Scenic Region. Full of ancient and modern culture and western and oriental style structures. And then the final appointment that we waited for at the consulate! Sasha is officially ours!!! We raised our right hands and were officially sworn in along with a room full of other adoptive parents.
The whole process took less than five minutes! But what an awesome feeling and once again a very emotional moment.

We are the only family left here since Sasha is from the Guangdong Province. For whatever reason we have to stay longer. We have had an incredible experience and are grateful for this mission that God has sent us on.

Sasha’s sores on her head and back are well on their way to being healed although she still has a large lump behind her ear that we are anxious to have looked at. I’m not sure how long it will take for all of the scars on her little legs to heal. All of the sickness around finally caught up with us, but Dave and I are feeling mostly better now. Unfortunately, Sasha definitely woke up with a croupy cough yesterday morning so we are praying for a healing for her.

We have a 15 hour flight from Guanghou to LAX. Then to Atlanta and then home. Basically we leave at 9 am Saturday Ohio time and get into Dayton at 10 am Sunday morning.

We give our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ all the glory for this great thing He has done. We praise Him for how He ordained every step of this process and worked every single detail out to the smallest little thing that we don't even know about. He has protected and watched over us and our precious family spread all over the world and we are blessed in ways beyond measure. We thank Him for opening one door after another for us and for giving us the faith to go beyond wht the eyes can see. We are blessed indeed!

Brady and Mikelle here we come!!! Safe travels to you Mikelle as you come home from Florida. Brady will be there for you! Sasha can’t wait to meet you both! xxoo until we see you!

"We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time and mile, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands." -anonymous

Our last dinner in China at the South Seas - another fine dining experience. I hope I didn't hear them say my food was possum!

They say these turtles are to eat, but I think it wanted to eat me!

Celebration time! I'm part of the family officially!!!

Mommy dressed me in red white and blue for the swearing in at the consulate!

This was my favorite part of dinner!

Mommy says "Give her books, teach her to read, and all she does is eat the covers off." But I think books taste good! She says the water at home in the bathtub will smell alot better too and I can even drink it there! I can't wait!

I'm a "button"! At least that's what Daddy calls me!

"Good Morning Guangzhou!"

I really have lost all sense of what day it is. I have to ask Dave every day. We feel so far away and it seems even further since there is a 12 hour time difference. So when we are getting up it is evening for all of you and vice versa. I do know that yesterday in China was Mid Autumn Festival which is celebrated by giving mooncakes. The more mooncakes you get the more important you are. We didn't get any! Two days ago one of the friendly girls at the store next door told us we needed to dress Sasha warmer in two days since it would turn cold here but it is still very hot. The chinese think babies need to be very bundled up. Our friends that visited their daughters' orphanage said they wore shorts and t-shirts and the sweat was dripping off them and still all the babies were bundled up in tons of clothes.

Anyway today we went to the Pearl Market and that was quite an experience. Outside of it was a really cool area that felt like a chinese Times Square. They even had a huge tv screen. We were the only caucasians there since we ventured out on our own there, and so we received quite a few stares. I saw one two many boys in split pants and we were saddened once again to see that all of the little ones we saw were boys.

Sasha talked up a storm today and especially when we dressed in our traditional chinese clothing. She chattered on and on. We couldn't understand a word so she must be speaking in chinese!!! She thinks Dave is really funny when he stacks all the little plastic things up and then she knocks them over. She has decided she likes the high chair again and eats and eats and eats! She loves the bathtub and flops herself down on her belly and just giggles away! And she has decided that she prefers to wear no clothes!

Everything worked out with our fingerprints so praise the Lord for that! Tomorrow is an important meeting as they review our documents. We're getting close! I called this place home today since we've been here so long! Well that's all for today. I can't thank you all enough for your continued prayers!

This is Angela my friend who visits me in the evening. She is always so happy and loves to talk to me!

Daddy bought us some beautiful pearls at the Pearl Market. I think they look like fun to play with and maybe even chew on, but Mommy wouldn't let me have them!

Squid on a stick anyone?

We walked past these little shops several times going to the Civil Affairs Office and couldn't figure our how would buy all of the little chains and metal pieces - one shop after another. Today we decided they must be selling bicycle parts!

Daddy said Mommy and I look pretty in our fancy clothes! I like that since I'm a "fancy girl".

Some of my new friends! Maddi is from Springfield and Daddy and Mommy are becoming friends with her parents. They say we can play together again!

I love it when Mommy takes my clothes off. Why do I have to wear those things anyway?

It's bedtime and I'm tired! It's been a busy day but I've had lots of fun! Nighty Night!

Ni hao! (That is hello in Chinese). What day is it? I always seem to be wondering as the days go by one by one. Today we visited the physical examination and immunization clinic. It was totally chaotic. A building full of adoptive parents with their children all waiting to be checked over as required. Everytime we touched something we had to wipe our hands or Sasha’s hands with antibacterial wipes. So many of the babies are sick and we just want to keep her healthy. It was wall to wall people and we had to visit three separate physicians and nurses – one for the ear nose and throat, one to measure her head and check her out and the other for weight and height. I don’t know why they could not have all been done by the same person – I wonder who figures these things out!

The clinic was on Shamian Island so when we were finished we had a couple of hours to try to do some shopping. I actually saw two photo shoots going on and had to try to snap a couple of shots: one of a wedding and the other of a girl wearing the traditional Chinese dress. That was really fun to watch. After a little shopping we decided to check out the famous “Lucy’s” café for lunch. A lot of western type food on the menu. Then we were off to shop some more but it started raining and Sasha was fussy so we decided to catch a cab and come back to the hotel.

It amazes me the stark contrasts here. Across from our hotel is a Ferrari and a mazaradi (I’m sure I’m spelling that incorrectly) dealer and yet right behind us are buildings that are so run down that I can’t imagine what the inside looks like. That is what the majority of the apartments look like. There is such poverty and yet someone must buy these expensive cars too. I have always loved the USA and am now even more grateful for the blessing of living in such a wonderful country.

We have had Sasha in our arms for a week now and I can’t imagine life without her. Today she said Mama several times which was so precious to us. She is such a joy. Her head is getting better every day. The doctor said she weighs 20 pounds. Dave and I both thought we could see the difference in her face. She ate and ate and ate today! They tell us that at the orphanages they feed the boys first because they feel they are more important. Also if the babies cry when they are waiting on their food, they just put them back in their cribs so they learn not to cry when they are hungry. Can you even imagine?!?

We do have a prayer request. Our Chinese guide is concerned about our fingerprint renewal because they have not received anything on it yet. We have contacted our agency and they are working on it, but we need the updated fingerprints information to be in the hands of the consulate here before we can leave. Please pray that everything comes together for that.
Once again thank you all for your loving support and prayers.

Daddy makes me giggle!!!

I love shoes. My closed toe shoes were so hot so I wanted to try on sandels. I didn't want the boring white sandles though. I only like the fancy colors. Mommy says I'm just like my big sister!

This was the first time I felt rain. I thought it was really fascinating. I especially liked it when Daddy held me under the umbrella. That was fun!

Dave negotiating prices

Dinner anyone?!?

We waited 45 minutes in the checkout line at the Park and Save Grocery store.

This is what I look like when I get mad!

This building consists of many apartments. There is one building after another such as this.

More typical living conditions.

One of the buildings close to our hotel.

I liked the visit to the Tea House but all these bonsai trees are really more interesting to me. Plus there is more grass and I could run around in my squeaky shoes!

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift."
2 Corinthians 9:15

"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet, regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but will never break." Ancient Chinese Proverb

It certainly is amazing how God has ordained our entire journey to bring us to this point. From the very beginning I can look back on the many seemingly small things that have happened along the way and see God's Almighty Hand working in even the smallest detail. From the very beginning our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in his incredible ways had chosen Sasha for us. I am so thankful that we can always sit back and lean on His ever present wisdom and allow him to direct our paths. It is when we step out of the way and obey Him that we can see even more how amazing our God is! "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways", declares the Lord. "As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are MY ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." -Isaiah 55:8-9

I am humbled and grateful and thankful that He has brought us on this unbelievable journey. Last night we came together with the entire group that started out together in Beijing (we had to go to different provinces to meet our children). It was an emotional reunion
of sorts as now we had all become new families with our children. I have never seen so many beautiful children and I weep as I write this thinking of how many more precious little children of God are abandoned here because of a physical challenge or because they are baby girls. If only we could bring them all home to loving families.

We spent the morning at a chinese folk museum which was really beautiful. This was an outdoor museum and it was very unique - we truly enjoyed it. Then we travelled to an upscale chinese department store for some shopping before boarding the bus and travelling back to the hotel. Now we are working on more paperwork and then to dinner with the group tonight. Last night at dinner we were serenaded at our table with a trio of chinese musicians singing the music of Simon & Garfunkle and other great 70's artists. I think it calmed the babies and we had a great time! It's too bad our group is comprised of people from all over the U.S. We are making some really great friends.

Sasha is doing better today - the sores seem to be getting smaller and I haven't seen too much tugging on the ear. Keep praying. She is such a joy and we love her soooo much! We have loved her since before she was born as God put a very special love for her in our hearts. She has the cutest little personality already and she just makes us smile! It's a good thing because we have only been here a little over a week and we still have another week to go. Never in my life been so anxious to get home!

Daddy says this is a leaf, but he wouldn't let me eat it! I still had fun playing with it though!

Here I am in my chinese jammies! They have lady bugs on them which has become the symbol of hope for adopting families. Mommy thinks I am just adorable!

"We find delight in the beauty and happiness of children that makes the heart too big for the body." Ralph Waldo Emerson

I do like other things besides my toes! Brady, I love fried rice and I eat it every day. And last night Daddy and Mommy took me to Starbucks and they had tiramisu! It was the first time I've ever had it, but it was real yummy. Mommy says she'll take me to Bravo to have some with you when I get home, Mikelle!

...the girl hesitantly started to read, "I think the seven wonders of the world are to touch, to taste, to see, to hear, to run, to laugh, and to love." -Seven Wonders

Here we are another day in Guangzhou! We decided to go to the park across from our hotel early before it got to hot. We really enjoyed it once we made it there through the tunnels under the street! It doesn't look like we'll be going to Yangchun City (where Sasha's orphanage is), because we think the 4 hour ride would be too hard on her. We would love to see it and photograph it all and see the countryside and a more remote city, but think we are better off not attempting it. She does seem to be feeling better so far today. We are really enjoying her little personality! It is so cute to watch some of the chinese traditions she has already picked up. When she gives us something and we say thank you she bows!!! It is so adorable. And she is very ticklish and so fun to hear her giggle!

Today we will go to get her Visa and hopefully venture out again after her nap. A very special thank you to Kathy for all of your help in getting ready to go in such a short time. Thanks for giving up a day and a half to help us out! And Jill thank you for running all over and doing my shopping and errands for me. I really don't know how we would have managed it all without all your help!

Here are a few pictures of the chinese people as seen through a photographer's eyes this morning! I hope to get more pictures of the actual city without looking at it through a cab window!