Hello everybody!  I am assuming you are all snoozing away there in the States..  We've just finished a quick lunch here in the hotel room.  We've pretty much either had Chinese, pizza or McDonalds while we've been here.  I will definitely have to go back on a diet when we get home!

The hotel we are in now is a little city in and of itself.  Many stores and places to shop right here in the hotel.  There is a Starbucks, which I plan to visit one time while I'm here.  There is a McDonalds across the street, but if I have to eat another McD burger I'm going to puke.  So for lunch, I went to the 7-11 which is right outside the hotel and bought some Skippy peanut butter.  The label is in Chinese, so I couldn't read it and accidentally bought crunchy, which Matthew doesn't like. I can eat crunchy or creamy, but prefer creamy. So I went back down to the little market in the lobby and found some creamy, got bread from the bakery, so now we are all happy!

I know I'm a couple of days behind on the updates, so I will fill you in on the last few days.  I told you in the last post about the visit to the Shaolin Temple last Thursday.  We got back around 5:30ish, so a few of us took the 15-20 minute walk down to Pizza Hut for supper.  One guy came to take our order and when he heard us speaking English, he just walked off and found someone else that could speak it a little.  We asked for bottled water to drink, and they brought us 4 glasses of boiling hot water!  They didn't have bottled water, so we had to settle for Coke. It is hard to find cold drinks, they're chilled - but not cold.  And napkins, I tell you, if I ever come back to China I will be sure throw a pack of napkins in the suitcase!  Then we decided to go to a store that is kind of like WalMart, but supposedly nicer - 2 blocks farther down than Pizza Hut.  It was ok, but it was hard to find what we needed.  Then we had to make the journey back, after walking all day, in the heat and humidity, dodging mopeds, motor bikes and bicycles.  It was close to 10 when we got back to the hotel.  Needless to say, that's why I didn't blog that evening, we all crashed!

Friday we were able to sleep in a little.  We had to begin repacking and getting our stuff ready for the flight out Saturday.  And Friday was a special day - my BIG boy Matthew turned 8!  I can hardly believe my now middle child is 8 years old.  So glad we got to celebrate it in China!  His request was to go to McDonalds for lunch to get ice cream.  So us and Stephen, Jennifer and Jack went down to McD for lunch.  As we were walking back, we stopped at the park and took a few pictures.  Our agency rep had found out that it was Matthew's birthday, so she had the hotel prepare a cake for him.  Several from our travel group came up to our room to help us celebrate.  We had a good time together and enjoyed the yummy cake!  We are so thankful for Matthew - he fills our home with singing and laughter! 

Saturday was the flight out.  It was supposed to depart Zhengzhou at 10:30, but was delayed and we didn't even board until after 11. We arrived safely in Guangzhou and will be here until Friday.  We had an appointment this morning - Joshua's visa photo and physical.  He also had to have a TB test, which we will have to go back for the results in a couple of days.  At 27 months old, he is a whopping 14.8 pounds.  He is so small, but he is so sweet!  He is proving to be quite a goofball and has the cutest personality!  He had his first restless night last night, so he is napping away right now.

We are having a good time, but are looking forward to the familiarity and comfort of Stillbrook Court!  Pastor Brandon says that every physical circumstance can have a heavenly application and lesson.  The thought just occurred to me that I'm longing for home.  But Stillbrook Court, as pleasant and comfortable as it is, is not my ultimate home. I long for my heavenly home, made possible for me by the shed blood of Christ so that I could be adopted into His family.  At this hotel, I have seen so many nationalities and so many different people.  Makes me think of what heaven will be like -people from every nation, tribe and tongue, joined together in worship of one great, amazing God! 



Our tour guide Timothy - pray he believes what he reads in the Bible!

I think he has anger issues!

He needs a shirt on!

One of the monks burning incense

Pagoda Forest

Entrance to the temple

Bikes and mopeds everywhere!

My sweet boys! Joshua has quite a cowlick!

The birthday boy!

He wasn't sure what to think of the puddle.

I am so blessed!

Stephen, Jennifer, and Jack

Photo taken from the plane - what an awesome Creator!