Monday, April 4 - The last of the hoops in China has been jumped through!

Ok, we are officially home free!  We had our Consulate appointment this morning at 8:30 and that is the last of the China hoops to jump through.  That was where we submitted the final paperwork for Lydia to be a US citizen and took an oath on her behalf to make her a citizen when we land in the United States!  Only two days left in China, and then Thursday morning we fly for home!  Tomorrow is some sightseeing in the morning and then hopefully Rachel shopping some in the afternoon.  Wednesday we pack everything for the flight home and get Lydia's visa at around 3pm.  We then catch an evening flight from Guangzhou to Shanghai.  We will barely be in Shanghai long enough to sleep, and then we will fly out Thursday morning.

We are very ready to be coming home.  It has been a really great trip in a lot of ways, especially of course how things have gone with Lydia.  I still can't believe we actually did this - what an experience.  When I think back to the beginning of the trip when I cried as our plane took off from Detroit, it's hard to believe how much can happen in three weeks.  I was so terrified, really, of all the unknowns, and yet trying so hard to have faith in God's plan.  And now, talk about looking back and seeing God's complete faithfulness!  Wow!  He has done mighty things for us in matching us with this little girl around the world and bringing us all the way to her.  He has done mighty things in preparing her for us, and I suppose also us for her.  And He has done mighty things for us during our travel as we get to know each other and figure out how to connect across cultures and languages.  Now we have to continue to trust that He will again do mighty things for us as we travel home on that very long flight.   And also as we return home and settle back into what is our normal life, but what to Lydia will be a very different environment from anything she has ever known.  God is faithful and we will continue to think on His truths.

The fact that we are ready to come home is evidenced today in the lack of pictures that we took!  I really don't have many to post, certainly not many that are very exciting.  A couple from the Consulate - although they are only of the building that it's in and the sign just inside since they don't allow any cameras inside.  After the conulate we did some shopping but didn't take pictures.  We also were on Shamian island again and we do have a couple pictures of that beautiful area.  Also, we have a couple funny ones of our room service tonight.  We didn't want to go anywhere and weren't that hungry, so we ordered a couple of small things from room service - and paid of course way too much for them.

This is the fanciest it gets for the consulate sign!  It's in an office building with a bunch of other things - yet this appointment is what our entire trip was scheduled around!

She must really wonder why on earth we smile for pictures in front of boring things like a sign with words on it.  She has no idea this is a big deal!

Waiting in line with other families who also had a consulate appointment this morning

Outside the office building.  Plain old office building - nothing special.

This and the following pictures are of the area on Shamian island.  Quaint environment, manicured landscaping, and lots of little shops.

We thought these statues were funny.  They are like old west fiddlers - one is even on a barrel.  In China? Really?

Our room service table

We laughed at the things we ordered and what came.  We got Lydia noodles - they did ok with that one of course.  And it was the cheapest things we ordered - a huge plate of stir fried noodles.

Jim ordered buttermilk pancakes and got unleavened pancakes.

I ordered a bagel sandwich with scrambled eggs and sliced cheese.  I got this.  Scrambled eggs with a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese and some sort of sugared roll with who knows what inside.  That is definitely NOT a bagel.

 As I get ready to finish up for tonight, I do have a couple of specific prayer requests for those of you nice enough to keep us in your prayers.  First, Jim is not feeling good tonight and went to bed early to try to sleep off whatever he has.  I would really love to not have to do the last two days here alone, so please pray for him to fight off whatever he has.  Also, our flight schedule is very crazy leaving here Wednesday night and leaving Shanghai Thursday morning.  We are certain it will be hard on Lydia since we will be getting in Wednesday later than she would normally be in bed, and leaving Thursday before she would normally be up.  It will make for a short night and a questionable start to a 14 hour flight.  Prayers and more prayers!  That would be Wednesday morning and Wednesday night for you.  When you all wake up Thursday morning, we will have been flying for many hours and will be on the final stretch of that flight into Detroit.  Thank you for your prayers!


Three things we are thankful for today...


1.  That we finally found a giant suitcase for very cheap to replace one we brought that is badly falling apart.

2.  That at home we will be able to drink the tap water again.  No more brushing our teeth with bottled water!

3.  That we will be home in 3 days!



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