"Hey...these straps are holding me back!" Amie rode for a little while leaning forward against the straps. She actually did really well for being confined...only fussed a little till she fell asleep...course she had to have been dead tired!



After showers and rest, we ventured out to visit my cousins, Joy, Janine, Jodi, and families! With 11 kids, it was a hopping place! I didn't count baby Vaughn, he was sleeping in the car! Thanks so much, JJ and Janine, for letting us come to your place!
OK...Amie has to learn to share! Sorry Noah!

AND...not take toys from others! Sorry Oliver!

Cooking up something with Simeon!

Luci just woke up...not sure she wants down there just yet!

Diaper bag alley


After another small nap, Amie was awake to meet more family. Thanks Curt and Mom for having the family down! They showered Amie (and Sophie) with more gifts....blankets and toys.





Cousin Drake just took Amie's hand and led her around.

Cousin MacKenzie...Amie liked her cell phone! Go figure!

Cousin Joah could care less about the new girl, but the computer was cool! =)

Gma Charlotte, and checking out Gpa Stann!

Flight back to America

Well, the time has come to go home. We enjoyed our visit in China for the most part (excluding the hospital), gained some valuable things there, not in the least being A DAUGHTER, and spending TIME WITH JORDAN!

I know Paul thanked everyone for praying while he was sick. I would also like to say a huge thanks! It was a rough way to start a trip. As I rode the taxi back to the hotel at 3 am, leaving Paul at the hospital, I had a few words with God about what was next...did we come all this way NOT to pick up our little girl? I had a good cry once I was back in the hotel room (as Jordan can attest to), committed Paul and Amie, and ALL the uncertainty the next day held, to the Lord, and went to bed! Now, I don't really think prayer changes God's mind about tomorrow...no matter how much we cry or plead, or give him advice and why fors. But, in the talking and the pleading, I AM CHANGED! to not my will, but thine be done! for HIS GLORY!

The other valuable thing we got was a glimpse of what it feels like to be upheld in prayer by hundreds of people, we don't even know! What an encouragement! My faith is strengthened knowing we are connected to believers all over this world....and hopefully all those who prayed give all thanks and glory to God for the answers He gave.

Lastly, just as our trip to China was temporary...we could get comfortable in the hotel for a little, but soon long for home! this world is temporary! I can get comfortable in my house in Klamath Falls, but my life here is short and I long for the days ahead in Heaven!

With that said...here we go...home with a precious gift...praying she grows up to love the Lord and serve Him with her life!

Is this my play space?

Calling anyone...

Watching "Finding Nemo"

A tired girl...filling the time by eating!

Trying every which way to get comfortable!

Finally...asleep for an hour!


Closing in on home!

Familiar faces...never looked so good!

Auntie Rachel

Auntie Faith

Cousin Erin

Huh...a bus that's EMPTY! That's different!

Last day at China Marriot

We took a few pictures out in the courtyard at the hotel, same place we took some of Sophie.



There's MY brother!


Sleep well little one...tomorrow, we fly!

Group pictures

This is about as organized as our Red couch, I mean Mauve couch picture got!

"If I am in the back, I can make a quick get-away, if it gets too crowded"

The 2 big brothers and little sisters! She loves you, Dominic...really she does! She just doesn't know it yet! =)

12 Families, with several sets of grandparents included!

Amie with Amy (our guide)

Cantonese cooking.. something we did not try, our final dinner in Guangzhou and a final treat...AMAZING FIND in the end!

I must warn you my readers... the first photo sequence may not sit well with you, but it was amazing to see here in Guangzhou. The second photo is our final dinner in Guangzhou, and a delectable treat is found at the end! ~ paul

This first set is a photo sequence from one of the store fronts. This crocodile was missing his tail by the time we saw him, but was none the less alive as the butcher went to work. I lost my appetite.










So basically you need to ask yourself, how authentic do you really want your Chinese food? I think Sunny's food at Dynasty Restaurant in Klamath Falls is just fine for me!


Our final night here was busy packing and getting ready to leave early in the morning. Room service provided a fantastic meal. Bacon Cheeseburgers, Fries, and Pepsi. We all enjoyed it and didn't have to bother leaving the room!



Great last meal and no pressure, or people staring at us!


BUT..... BEFORE YOU THINK I HAVE NOT HAD AN ENJOYABLE FOOD EXPERIENCE, I MUST SHARE WITH YOU THE DELICACY THAT WE DID FIND.

Being in the Air Force for the past 26 years, I had the joy of being stationed in Biloxi, where I met the Real Deal, the Desert of Champions.... MOON PIES! Not the dolly madison junk we get at home, or the walmart marshmallow pie, or jr. pies, what ever the imitators make and try to pass off as MOON PIES. But it did create a quandary in my mind. I love moon pies, and in a moment of weakness, I bought a box of chinese moon pies... and.... UNBELIEVABLE. I have to tell you, the southerners on our trip from Georgia and Florida agreed, these were MOON PIE works of art. Let me tell about it.

Make sure your comfortable and that you have a drool rag... these are unbelievable!

Ok, sure the package looks different... but you know what... they are FRESH


Now look at this , I mean seriously, click on the picture and make it bigger. Doesn't this have a great presentation... Oh, and the fresh chocolate smell, Hmmmm!

Delicate chocolate with a fresh cookie and an oohhhh sooo soft marshmellow core, like a sweet delicate cloud.... I can not tell a lie, I love to eat this moon pie!

Final Food Frontiers... 20/21 January

Jan 20
Lunch- Getting back from a 3 hour and four mile hike with two other families and there strollers, all I wanted was to sit in the sauna. And build myself a formidable pb&j thick on the peanut butter, which I promptly did and washed it down with some warm water from the teapot.
Meal rating
Food: 8
Service: 10
Overall: Great food all served by tall goofy looking guy with a dry sense of humor, we had quite the enjoyable conversation (although he did seem to stare a lot).Poor dimwitted fool.

Dinner- I know that you don’t hear it much from me (though it’s a rather common event), so relish the moment as I say that I made a mistake. I had another McDs burger that tasted nasty, but it was late and my patience was thin. So I compensated myself by eating it on the beautiful pool deck.
Meal rating
Food: 3
Service: 5
Overall: Someday I’ll learn


Jan 21
Lunch- Options: Mcds or pb&j. Peanut butter jelly time.
Meal rating
Food: 8
Service: 10
Overall: Same great food, same great service, same goofy guy

Dinner- After being suggested that we dine at an Italian restaurant to eat buffet style. So we did and because I ate so many dishes I am just going to list them and make BOLD the ones that tasted especially good.
Grilled chicken
Mashed potatoes
A roll
Grouper fillet
Huge French fries
Minestrone soup
Salami
Gouda cheese
Another delicate cheese of some sort

Prosciutto and melon
More chicken cooked in some other form
Ox-tail soup
Pepper steak
Beef lasagna
Stuffed tomato w/ shrimp
Veal picatta
Funghi Ripieni

Grilled mussels
White cake w/ an amaretto whipped cream filling and strawberries on top
Flan
Mandarin Oranges

Meal rating
Food: 9
Service: 10 it was buffet style and my plate wasn’t empty until I was full
Overall: definitely the best western food I’ve had here and I am recommending it to the Lonely Planet travel guide


Jan 22

Lunch- The nice thing about have to boil the water to be able to drink it is that you always have hot water available to fill the noodle bowls. So I had that.
Meal rating
Food: 5
Service: 10
Overall: this guy is amazing

Dinner- We went back to the Italian place this time with friends from the travel group. Most dishes were the same but those that changed I tried. They consisted of cheese fritters, calamari fritti, sole fillet, grilled short rib, and whole steamed shrimp.
Meal rating
Food: 9
Service: 10
Overall: It was great to sit and talk with the other families and the restaurant turned out to be a great place to try new things