Shamain Island

 We took a taxi to Shamain Island, played on the exercise equipment, visited the statues, ate at Lucy's and did a little shopping.  I love it there!  It is sad that the White Swam is closed.  It is so beautiful and peaceful there, but I do like the China Hotel...it's just in the business of the city.  Good family times!

 I served my mission in Pennsylvania during 1990-1992, and my maiden name starts with a D, so I love this license plate that they put up in my honor :-)  So glad it is still there!

Medical Exam Appointment Completed

Today we had our medical exam appointment which is required by the US Government.  Basically we tell them what their medical condition is (i.e. Ellie had hydrocephalus) and then show them the original and most updated medical reports from the orphanage.  She then has her temperature taken, ears-nose-throat briefly checked, weight taken, a doctor looks at her and makes any notes about scars/marks on her body, and then because she is 2 she had to have a TB test, which is horrible.  They take them from you and into a room with the doors closed and then you hear them screaming as they take their blood.  She hated the whole medical exam experience.

The best news of the entire day was that I took her to the medical exam alone and so she had to be with me, and she let me comfort her and hold her.  It wasn't much, she still didn't want to hold my hand, but she did let me comfort her.  As soon as we were back she turned to Grandma and Baba again, but it was so nice to know that when they aren't around, she will turn to me.  It was a start.  That was a tender mercy from God and helped heal my heart.  We will be ok!

Church in Guangzhou

Instead of taking the city tour, we decided to attend the local LDS International Ward in Guangzhou.  I am so glad we did.  We met a couple other families that are LDS at breakfast in the morning (1 family from Houston who has adopted a 13 year old girl and an 8 year old with Cerebral Palsy).  Sherry (the mom) is travelling with her 14 year old biological daughter.  This is their 2nd & 3rd adoption.  We also met someone from SLC, Utah who is here doing some training for a company she works for.  She is here for 3 weeks, so she went to church last week and was our guide.  We ventured onto the subway, even changed lines, and then onto the Ramada Inn for church.  We made it in time for part of Sunday School and all of Sacrament Meeting.  It was so great to be a part of it!  So many great people, many of them retired and teaching English.  All so kind!

There was a member of our church who had brought their girlfriend to church who was a Chinese National.  Because of this, they had to ask her to leave but were able to give them the information of one of the Chinese branches that they knew of.  China lets the international members meet together, but not a Chinese passport holder.  LDS is not an officially recognized religion.  We cannot talk about it to Chinese nationals or invite them to church.  However, there are members of our church who are Chinese nationals who meet separately.  The church even has a website dedicated to the Chinese people.  When you ask the church how many branches/wards are in China, they won't tell you.  We believe in obeying the laws of the land, so it all has to remain separate.

While at church, we met a former Utah Attorney General, one of my mother-in-laws best friends from high school, and someone who had been in the same ward as Jake's uncle.  What a small world!  I am glad we ventured out!

Heading to Guangzhou

Ellie had her first plane ride today from Zhengzhou to Guangzhou, our last stop before heading home on Friday.  It was so foggy that our flight was supposed to be delayed, but they were able to get u on the earlier flight, which had been delayed and left when we were originally scheduled.  The bus driver took us the back way because you could hardly see in front of you 20 feet and he wanted to be safe.  It took a little longer, but the wait at the airport was short.  Money Boy & Ellie took a nap on the way.

We had to say goodbye to Yisha and Vivian.  Oh, I will miss them!  Yisha had been our CCAI Rep during our adoption trip 2 years ago as well, and it was so good to see her.  She visited with me several times to encourage me and give me advice and support, seeing how difficult it has been to be so rejected by this precious girl whom I love so much.  I will be forever grateful for her wisdom and belief in my abilities.  This has been so much more difficult than our first trip, but I know it is the right thing and I know we have a little girl who is hurting more than I am.  I pray for her constantly.

Ellie hated the seat belt and figured out how to undo it before we even pulled onto the runway. She did well on the flight and Jake just held her during the landing so we didn't have to fight her.  She liked looking out the window, but really struggled once we came into our hotel room. Another big change with people she still isn’t sure about.  She fell asleep crying tonight.  She talks in her sleep, so I keep listening to her.  Hopefully this week she’ll be able to relax a little more and begin to bond better with me and the family as a whole.  She likes Monkey Boy, he plays with her and she responds well to him most of the time.  Grandma is next in line.  She is at least acknowledging Princess and me.  She knows I am the source of food, bottle, and drink and will call for Mama when she wants those, but baba still owns her heart.

  

Shaolin Temple & Birthplace of Gung Fu

We went on the tour of the Shaolin Buddhist Temple and Gung Fu (Kung Fu-they say Gung Fu here in Zhengzhou) Training School.  It was very foggy and we couldn't see the mountain, but it was mystical and beautiful and educational for the kids.  They can start as early as 5 years old.  It is a year-round school where they live on campus and visit home twice a year.  Many children are raised in the province and city as the mothers parents so are not with their parents most of the year, so sending them away to school like this is not much different.  The pagoda garden has many small and large burial pagoda's, some very ancient and some very new.  The size and location are based on the financial contributions given to the Shaolin Temple and Gung Fu Training School.  The leaves were all changing colors, the air was crisp, and there were very few people there.  A unique experience that I'm glad we were able to have.