Please Pray for my Friend Linny!!

A while back I posted about my blogging friend Linny Saunders who lives in Colorado. Her husband and her are adopting a little girl from China through the same agency as us. I had asked you to pray for her while she was in Uganda adopting 2 more little ones. She has 7 kids at home and Jubilee waiting for her in China. Well yesterday I received an email that they had lost their house in a fire on Wednesday. Only hours before she had left a post on my blog welcoming Sierra(Mom of Many) She lived in a log cabin that she loved. LUCKILY everyone got out OK. I went on her blog this am to see how things were going and they are at the hopspital because her son is having emergency surgery to remove his appendix!!! So please keep this family in your thoughts, they are going through so much. You can follow her blog at www.aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com
They are a wonderful family going through a very tough time.
I will post more later!

Sight Seeing Today!!

Today we visited the Family Chen's Temple and the Yuntai Botanical Gardens. Both places were beautiful. The porclain at the temple was gorgeous. The buildings were beautiful. The gardens were also so beautiful ,quiet and serene. What a great place to walk around with Sierra. Even thought Sierra has a hat on, it was not that cold. The local older women get mad if you don't have them dressed warm enough. We ate at a Cantonese restaurant that was wonderful, even Scott and David ate alot!!! Sierra is doing well. We love to hear her laugh and giggle. She is alot of fun to be with!!! Here's a little clip of her playing with David. Sorry its so dark but listen to the giggle!!!

Our Third Day with Sierra!!!

We are getting more smiles and even some giggles today. She is still reserved but is warming up every day!!! I know she is seeing so many things she has never seen before!!!!

Here are a few pictures of Shamian Island. It is quite beautiful. Its streets are lined with big old trees. There are pointsettas everywhere.

You have to be careful when walking though, because if a car can't get through on the street it jumps onto the sidewalk. Insane, I'm telling you!!!

Joy and the others: You will be happy to know that we ate lunch at the Dolce Vita today. It was delicious!!! We will have to go back for dessert!!


Will post more tomorrow. It is soooo fun to be able to share all of this with all of you. I love reading all your comments!!!

More paperwork.

David and Sierra walking the track at the playground.

She is so independent!

David and our new friend John playing Chinese hackysack in front of one of the shops! Notice the pink backpack on David's back!!!

Brides in Guangzhou always come to Shamian Island for their wedding pictures. With their beautiful skin, they all look gorgeous

We walked along the river tonight after dinner. The lights are incredible.

YES!!!! She is smiling, actually she was laughing!! She doesn't give them out too often yet but when she does it is priceless!!! We are so in love!!

Today we had to go back to the Civil Affairs office to fianalize the adoption. This was much more emotional for me, when they said OK she is yours. We now have her adoption certificate!!!

Of course I was nervous about bringing her back there, I was afraid she would be looking for her nanny. She did cry for a little while but then stopped right before her interview. (the lollypop helped) While we were waiting or the others to finish who should walk in but her nanny.She did hear her voice and turned around but I quickly walked into another area and all was fine. Poor Scott and some others had to wait on line at the bank for over an hour to exchange the money needed. He has quite the stories to tell about that experience!!! He is such a great Dad and is doing so many things that are so out of his comfort zone!!!! Here are some pictures from today. I was a little disappointed that it was only about 60 today until I heard what it is at home!! By Friday its supposed to be in the 70's. Tomorrow we have to apply for her passport and visa(more paperwork) but not until the late afternoon. Thanks for all the comments, I love to read them and so do Scott and David!!! We miss you all and can't wait to come home. I hope the next 10 days pass quickly!!! They keep us busy so they will!!

Gotcha Day!

Don't you just love this picture!!!!

Sierra is sound asleep and I have a few minutes to write. We arrived at the Civil Affairs office at 2:30. There were many families waiting, not just from our group. The orphanage people were arrivving with babies and hurried into a different room. One by one the people in our group were brought out their babies. But we just waited, and took pictures for everyone else. Funally, David and Scott saw Sierra get off the elevator with her Nanny. After a few minutes they brought her back out for us. She was wary at first but then we brought out the cheerios! All was fine for about 15 minutes until she saw her nanny walking around. Then she started screaming. It broke your heart. She wanted her ayi and that was it!!! Then they wanted us to come in and do the paper work, in the room with the nanny!!! We knew we couldn't bring her back in there so I handed her to David, screaming and all!! A few minutes later Scott checked on them and she was sitting with her head on his chest and was not even crying. They sat like that for almost an hour. We finally finished the paperwork and left. Sierrra sat on David's lap on the bus and looked out the window.

She remained quiet but not upset. We did get our first smile when David was playing peek a boo.

We went out to a group dinner. She had a ball and ate everything we gave her. When we got back I gave her a bath and she loved it. She can fold the wash cloth in quarters and tried to wash her own hair!!! She then had a little play date with her first out of the orphanage friend Julia!!!

Scott and I had to do more paperwork and David babysat. When we got back she was sound asleep on David's lap. Tim and Paul, you taught David how to be a great big brother!!!!

Will post more tomorrow. I am exhausted!!!!

HERE SHE IS!!!!

I know you just want to see pictures ans I will post more later!!!

Today is the day!!!

Today's the day!!! I can't believe it!! We all slept great last night. I will never be able to go back to our little full size bed after sleeping in these really nice king size beds!!!And contrary to what we have heard our bed is very comfortable!!! It's 7:00 am and we have 7hours to wait before we leave. We will walk around, visit some shops,and bring our laundry somewhere to be done. I will post later when we get a chance!!! Hugs to you all.