Day 5

First a Note: A Typhoon is headed towards Hong Kong and we are flying to Guangzhou, very close to Hong Kong at 8pm (7am Dallas time). Please be praying it will not affect our flight or the flights of the other people on our team.

Day 5:

"“How do you communicate with your parents?” asked the store clerk in Chinese.
“We just us body language!” answered the boys!!!!!

Having a blast, but beginning to long for home and the established family routine.
And longing to see our other kids.

Today was a free day for us to do whatever we wanted. So we slept in and skyped
the kids in Texas. We had a late breakfast, then took a 2 hour walk around the
neighborhood. Handsome Man tired out after a bit, so we purchased an ice cream
for each of them. The vendor was so sweet. She had two stools next to the wall that
we asked to use. She nodded her head yes, then went and retrieved two more so
we all could sit down. The kindness of people is so genuine, especially since we are
foreigners. Our friends told us there are only about 500 foreigners in a city of 8
million, so they don’t see westerners a lot.

Walked through the Walmart. Not quite like a Texas Walmart. Bought some water
bottles and those instant noodles in a bowl, like Ramen noodles. The boys had a
blast choosing one and then we made them a table back in our room and they had
their feast.
Next was reading time, then a video, then trucks and warriors. They wrestled
with daddy for a long while. Now they are playing with play dough. Such fun. They
are really active!
Precious Bundle is clearly the leader. It is interesting to watch the dynamics
of their interactions. Both are respectful of what we say. They do test the limits,
though, sometimes. Handsome Man is the reader of the two. PB can read, but HM
does most of the reading out loud. He has a sort of singsong voice when reading. It
reminds me of how Creative One used to read aloud when he was about their age. It
makes me miss our Texas darlings.
Walked down the road to a Chinese restaurant for dinner. We are limited in
what we can eat, because we have to have a picture to see to choose. The streets are
alive with people, cars, and buses at the dinner hour. The sweet potato lady was out
along with various other vendors, but the boys didn’t want that fare for dinner. So
we found a Chinese restaurant with pictures. I had mushroom chicken, Gerald
shredded beef and the boys had their favorite: fried chicken. Man I wish we owned
stock in KFC. Even though this wasn’t KFC, it’s here and everywhere, and fried
chicken is a meal in demand.
As we were heading to the mall after dinner to ride the escalators and glass
elevator, there was a man on a soapbox with a microphone giving a speech to the
people. Every once in a while he would throw out something to the crowd. It looked
like toothbrushes or toothpaste. Well the boys wanted to see and when the man
noticed us, he threw Gerald a toothpaste for the boys. Kindnesses continue. I think
he was the Amway man.
Getting stares from all the people has become quite normal for us now. They

wonder why we have two Chinese boys. If/when they see their limb differences, we
get many smiles. Today an elderly silver haired woman noticed us and smiled so
greatly toward us. It really encouraged me.
Rode the elevator/escalators for a long time, then came back to the hotel for a
little Air Bud Volleyball video. They laughed and laughed and laughed at that.
I’m writing this on Friday morning. We leave today on a flight for Guangzhou,
if the typhoon doesn’t cancel our flight. We told the boys this morning we would be
flying out and Handsome Man became quite a bit sad and teary-eyed. Please
continue to pray for their hearts. They have received us so well, but reality will
begin to set in as we distance ourselves from Xi’an and this province.
Thanks for caring and lifting us up in prayer.
Karen"