Our Final Days in Beijing..We're Going Home!

December 27 2008

Well, it's finally here, the day we were looking forward too..well at least after two weeks. Today was our last day in this incredible country of China. It has been an amazing experience every day that I will truly never forget for the rest of my life. Maybe one day I will be able to come back and visit again..when I finish learning Chinese of course! We started in Shanghai, a one night stay..moving to Taiyuan, hours away from the new addition's hometown of Datong. Then we made it through my favorite city Guangzhou. Now, we leave from the second biggest city in the World, Beijing. Everywhere we go it has been fun no doubt. We all loved every guide. I thank God wherever we went he kept us safe, and I pray and know he will do the same for us tomorrow. We all are looking forward to see our friends and family and to introduce them to Lia Faith. She is a cute wonderful blessing.

Well, to start off I'll summarize yesterday's events. We did let me think ummm.. Nothing, until that afternoon of course when we went and saw an Acrobatics show that was awesome and exciting. If you haven't been to one I strongly encourage you to go to one whenever you have the chance, it is amazing to see. This was my fourth, two in Beijing, the others in the states.





Today we woke up early and visited the silk factory. There, Mom and I went wild let's say. At the end we bought ourselves silk bedding for a great deal. Mine is blue with a Chinese crest and hers is gold with hand woven flowers and designs. We are both looking forward to using them with all the wonderful comments we heard on them, and they last up to twenty years.

After leaving there we made our way to a Hutong called Hoa Hoi. This was a Chinese village that had been there for thousands of years. We rode around in rickshaws seeing the best culture of China.







We visited a woman's home and she told us about life in the Hutong, showing us pictures of her when she was young. Then we made our way to a great Authentic Chinese restaurant. after that we dropped the girls off at the hotel for a nap, and Dad and I went to Tiananmen Square. We saw the Congress house and other buildings there, as well as the opening gate to the Forbidden City with the Picture of Chairman Mao. Then we left for the hotel.







That was our final day in Beijing. They were great! We won't ever forget this journey. Love you all. We will see you soon!

God Bless
Austin,Lily,and Lia Faith

Christmas in China...A Day in Beijing.

December 25 2008

Today was one hilarious and exciting day, and fun day. This morning we all woke up and had Christmas to the best we could like we always do. Lily and Lia walked in and we handed them their gifts and let them play I received all the gifts i had bought or seen. That's the funny part. Me and Dad got Mom a diamond and jade ring and she loved it. So the morning was good. We had a wonderful breakfast and we relaxed and watched movies.

Then Dad and I went to meet a guide that our previous guide set up for us named Helen. She was great and nice. She took us down to the one place I really wanted to g--the Olympic Green. Dad and I had so much fun. We arrived there and then went to the Bird's Nest first. This was the site of a ton of Olympic events, including the most important the Closing and Opening ceremonies. It was huge and amazing. Silver and metal crossed over and over with tons of seats, a athletes dream. Inside was neat too. We walked right over where amazing athletes ran and threw and jumped onto the field where tons of people did the ceremonies. It was an incredible adventure. Me and Dad even went to where the president sat next to the Chinese President. After that we visited the awesome gift shop where I purchased a gold replica of the stadium. (for my room of course)

Then we visited the water cube. The site where Michael Phelps won the single most medals in an Olympics ever, Eight! I even sat where his Mom sat during the games. We got plenty of pictures of course as you can see. It was a ton of fun to see where all these really talented athletes performed. After visiting the inside of course I went to the gift shop there too... why not? There I also purchased another replica of the cube.. once again for my room. Then we left for the hotel. We took plenty more picture of the all the stadiums.





Now we are eating M&M's before dinner of course, because Dad and I didn't get to eat lunch but it was one incredible fun day. Merry Christmas! Love You All!

God Bless,
Austin,Lily,and Lia Faith

The Last Day in Guangzhou.. Consulate and Toy Store

December 23 2008

Today was a long day. It was good for me though. Guangzhou is my favorite city in China. This time round I have made a lot more friends, I have used my Chinese a lot, now it seems natural too. Some times I mean to say English and it comes out Chinese. It has been a wonderful adventure here.. I will truly miss it.

So today we woke up, ate breakfast, and we took our group picture and red couch picture. After that we left for the Toy store. From there we bought a few items. Then we left for some rest before going to the U.S Consulate.





We had Papa Johns for lunch and bartered around some more. Then at two we left. It was a long ride there the girls took short naps and we arrived. They checked Lia's passport to make sure she was the right girl according to Rebbecca. After that the Adoption Director swore Lia and the other family's' adopted children in. Then we left there we came back to the hotel and then left for an Italian restaurant for dinner. In case you didn't know, me and my Dad love Italian food so this was great for us. The food was delicious. We had Ge late (Italian Ice Cream) and Mom had cheese cake for desert. After that we all went and bartered a little more. I said goodbye to all the friends I made.





Now we are off to packing once again for the last stop on the wonderful adventure we have had this far, Beijing. Unfortunately we are hoping to get to see the stuff we want to see and get back home soon. We miss you all so very much and our home.

I praise God for city's like the one we have visited. Everyone has just been so friendly. Love You All, and can't wait to see you.

God Bless,
Austin,Lily,and Lia Faith

P.S I have officially decided to make my room Chinese. Mom has done Lily and Lia's playroom and bedroom, and she said we could finally do mine. Ha ha.. So if any of you have suggestions please comment(seriously). I do know Mom said she would get me Silk bedding and I have great furniture that would go with the color I want. I also have plenty of stuff to use now so we are totally ready.

More from Guangzhou

December 23 20008

Well once again I have let you all down. I am extremely sorry for not posting in a while. Everyday here is a cram packed itinerary. We are always really busy. However, everyday has been extremely fun.

Yesterday we visited the Botanical Gardens and I walked three-hundred and eighteen steps and more I didn't count up a mountain to see the most amazing view of Guangzhou there was. It was no easy trip, however after getting up there the view was stunning. We also looked at beautiful lakes, rivers, waterfalls, roses and trees. It was a wonderful adventure, making you love God's great creations.

After that we took the night off staying in the Hotel and shooting billiards down at the arcade.

It is hard to imagine we leave in 5 days. This long exciting journey is finally almost coming to a end. We all are excited though to visit Beijing. It may not be the best shopping, but it is the best sightseeing in the world. We plan to see the Forbidden City, Olympic Grounds, And the Jade and Silk Factory's. We will see the Great Wall, but we won't go up there it is too cold for the girls and we have already been there before. Then we will be coming back home.

I look forward to seeing you all, I truly miss you. Thanks for reading and please do continue. Sorry for the delays. More to come today after the consolate.
Plus pictures to come! Love You All!

God Bless,
Austin,Lily,and Lia Faith

Three Days in Guangzhou

December 20 2008

Guangzhou has just been so exciting. We all have had so much fun. As Dad may have mentioned in his post I have made me some friends here using my Chinese which they love to hear. It's real fun to speak it too, I have gotten to be really good at it. I am really happy we took Chinese classes before we went.

So summing each of the Day's up..

The first day we arrived in the afternoon and met our guide Rebecca who we love because we have had her before, the first time we came. She is real funny and sweet. We arrived at the White Swan hotel forty minutes later. Which is the most amazing hotel I have ever had the privilage to stay at. It has a waterfall inside, a wonderful breakfast, Pools, and Billards, an Arcade, and much much more. That night we ordered Papa John's Pizza, which was delicious.

The second day we got up ate our breakfast and met Rebecca in the lobby to go to the hospital for Lia's medical check up. After that I spent the rest of the afternoon bartering for things that i saw and liked. Which was fun because like I said before it gave me an oppurtunity to use my Chinese, which was really fun. That night we had Lucy's an American style restraunt.







Today, we ate breakfast again and visited a local Christian Chinese church,then we went to the Shopping mall. There we bought lots of great DVD's, and Mom bought Lily and Lia jade necklaces and pearl jewelry. Then Lily and Lia went and got their nails done which they loved. This afternoon we got pictures of us for oil paintings and Mom bought us all traditional Chinese clothes. Then me and Dad went and played billiards for the night and ate dinner. Tonight we have just been watching movies and relaxing while the girls run wild laughing.







Tomorrow we will leave for the botanical gardens and our boat cruise. I will post afterwards. We are all having so much fun. Love You All!

God Bless,
Austin,Lily, and Lia Faith

Lunch with friends and Lia's Orphanage in Datong

December 19 2008

Today was a long, but exciting day. we all got up extremely early at least for us and left for Lia's orphange. We are staying in Taiyuan and Datong is about four hours away so it was a long journey. However we did well.



We arrived at Lia's orphanage at twelve. When we got there we took as many pictures as possible. We went and met the owner and he lead us around. We got to see one of our friend's future son Bing Bing. He was absolutely adorable. We took plenty of pictures of him. Then we went and saw Lia's bed. Then finally we talked some more to the owner took some quick pictures and left. We all wish we could have stayed loonger but they had to eat lunch.





After leaving there we went and met some of our friends that Mom met online. Jessica and Stephen live in Datong, and visit the orphanage every Sunday. They were our angels in China. They would alway's bless us with plenty of pictures of Rong Rong (Lia). We ate lunch with them at their favorite Chinese restaurant. It was good too, considering the fact that besides Lily and Lia my family isn't really a big fan of Chinese food. After eating we took some pictures talked a little while and made our journey back home.



On the way back me and Dad practiced some of our Chinese with Emily and she said we were very good. She taught us some quick easy words, that are used often in China. Which has proven to help.

We all had a great time. Lia would babble in Chinese all the time. She was just a cackling with Lily, they couldn't be happier. God has blessed us so much. We leave for Guangzhou today at twelve thirty and arrive at three. I will post again when we arrive there. Love You All!

God Bless,
Austin,Lily,and Lia Faith

Morning at the Coal Mueseum Afternoon at Jinci Temple

December 17 2008

Today was a day of both ups and downs. It was a good day however. We all woke up about seven got dressed and went and ate breakfast. Then we left at ten thirty to go to the Shanxi Province Coal Museum. It was the largest coal museum in Asia.

When we arrived we met our English tour guide who was very thrilled to have some American people to show around. After seeing some cool coal carvings, we went and watched a 4D movie in Chinese on the process of coal. Now this was a very hilarious intensifying little thrill ride, but not to Lily and Lia who got scared. It did almost everything. The seats would move, air blown into your face, and your feet. It would rain, and snow and had almost live dinosaurs, which Lily claims were going to get her... poor sweet baby girl. After that fun/scary adventure we walked some more around the museum and purchased some coal carvings of the years we were born in. Then Mom and Dad went down into an actual mine that dated back from early prehistoric all the way till modern. I was in charge to help our guide Emily watch Lily and Lia. There I got to practice my Chinese with some people who would ask questions. After that we made our way into the gift shop. There We bought some of the province's main export vinegar, as well as some other items.



Then we left for the hotel for some rest before spending the afternoon at Jinci Temple. We left the hotel at about two, for a forty minute ride down back roads along beautiful mountains. Lily and Lia were so tired and fell asleep on the way. There we all had a fun time. We visited different family temples and visited a Chinese art gallery. Lily and Lia had a blast, running wild all over. I myself had fun too though. I explored around a lot getting pictures.








That was basically our journey for the day. At night me and Dad went and played ping pong. Little did we know who was going to play around us. There was a little chinese six year old Chinese girl that wacked back and forth so fast you couldn't even see her hands. Me and Dad figured out they were probably going to laugh as soon as we got out the door. Then ventured into Taiyuan for some Pizza Hut. There we actually met a man that spoke very good English.
The pizza was great, we all watched movies and the three girls had a blast.

Lia is getting just closer and closer to her family. She continues to love us everyday. I thank God for this wonderful blessing. That's all for now. Love You All!

God Bless
Austin,Lily,and Lia Faith