safari park

today was our first FUN day. we met in the hotel lobby at 10 AM to go to the XiangJiang Safari Park  http://xjzoo.com.cn/

after sitting in a bit of traffic, we arrived and got on a train that took us through an open enclosure animal safari...

 amazing banyan trees

 tim and our girls

 signs crack me up

 black swans

something furry

it was feeding time for most of the animals, so we got some great tongue shots

S was a celebrity. locals were amazed at his colorful shirt and goatee. many people posed with him throughout the day. with others in our group too. i am not sure if they were more excited seeing the animals or the Americans.

feeding a white baby tiger...so cute. the girls would not do it. bummer.

but they did feed the giraffes

basha and pandas

basha

shianna

it was a really fun time. i am glad we didn't skip going. the weather was warm, humid, and very hazy. the pollution and smog here makes all my pictures look hazy. at least we didn't get sunburned. the girls threw a few fits, but did not ignore us like they have in days past when they don't get their way.

after the zoo, we went to dinner with two brother-in-laws and an adopted little boy. they leave for home in the morning. please throw up a few prayers for their safe return. then jon took us into "real" China...a back alley shopping area. it was like something out of the movies. we will have to go back again. then jon and patrick bought the girls ice cream and we walked back to the hotel. it was a really great day spent with fellow Christians.

we are learning more signs everyday so we can communicate better with the girls. i also am learning to say parenting phrases in Mandarin such as i love you, don't do that, and forgive us. the girls understand more than they speak, but at least there were fewer tears.

they are learning i am not a push over and it is useless to try to reject me. it doesn't phase me. i am mommy and what i say goes. one strategy i learned from my friend jessemyn. i pantomime their tantrums and they see how silly they looked and say they are sorry.

getting there. learning everyday. beginning the graft. counting our blessings.

THANK YOU LORD, FOR REDEEMING MY LIFE THROUGH YOUR MISSION CALL. I RELY ON YOU FOR EVERYTHING AND EVERY MOMENT. THANKS FOR MAKING ME NEW OVER AND OVER. I LOVE YOU LORD. PLEASE BE WITH THE FAMILIES TRAVELING HOME TODAY AND TOMORROW. BLESS THEM AND BE WITH THEM AS THEY EMBARK ON THE NEXT LEG OF THIS ROLLER COASTER ADVENTURE CALLED ADOPTION. AMEN.