Questions answered

Hey everyone--
Guess what, we get to come home on Friday. We are more than ready to come home and get down to our new normal. Still need to do some government things tomorrow and Thursday. Tomorrow our guide will go to the consulate with all our paperwork. We need to stay in our rooms in case there are any questions. Pray that there are no questions. :) Thursday, we get to take the oath. We'll let you know what promises we end of making.

We've heard from many of you via e-mail, facebook, or the blog--we love it! We can in no way express our thanks for the prayers and encouragement that have been sent our way. This process has granted us a new look at our amazing God, and much of that has been how you have been used by Him. Thanks for being His hands in our lives.

We've also had questions thrown our way and though we can't answer all the questions (somethings we just don't have a clue!), we'll try to post some here.

1. Yes, we did get to watch the Steelers win--it was live here on Monday morning. The Chinese commentators may or may not have done a nice job. We don't have a clue.
2. Simon is doing remarkably well. We are not hiding anything from you. He did just finish crying because he didn't like the pajamas that we put on him for his nap (he refuses to sleep in his clothes--we'll just take one step at a time). He is attaching himself to us more than we had hoped. He has had two spells where he begins to cry and we. . . well, we lose him. He seems to just disengage and it takes a bit for him to get back to us--maybe five minutes or so. Both of these happened yesterday. Once, he dropped his egg on the floor and when we didn't give it back, but rather began to peel another. . . he fell apart. Perhaps he thought he has lost the food. . . no more food? We don't know. He couldn't even see that we had another egg for him even though it was a foot in front of him. He also lost it when we happened upon a cat yesterday afternoon. We've seen cats before--not a problem. He likes dogs from afar, but not up close. It will be interesting with Smokey in the house.
3. Yes, we are enjoying the food. We haven't found a great Chinese place here yet within walking distance, but we did buy some food last night out of a local's kitchen. It looked a bit sketchy, but hey, it was good and super cheap. We aren't sick today.
4. No, Diet Coke does not taste the same.
5. No, we don't know Chinese. We can't read or understand anything. . .at all. . ever. Even their writing goes in several directions (up and down, left to right, and right to left). It is quite the feeling to be so very lost when it comes to being self sufficient or going on an adventure.
6. Yes, there are traffic lines, but they are not recognized by drivers, walkers, bicyclists, or motorcyclists.
7. Yes, the weather is warm here in Guangzhou. It is a bit cooler today (upper 70's) but has been in the 80's. Gary is hot.
8. Yes, our hotel here is wonderful. We have a great room and wonderful service. The breakfast buffet is delicious. Big shift when we get home and Simon has one choice for breakfast. :)
9. Our schedule? Well, I get up a little after six and do my Beth Moore Bible Study in the bathroom so as not to wake the boys. Then, I'm off for a morning walk: lovely! Come back and Gary is usually awake. Simon is up around 8:00 and we mosey down to breakfast when we get dressed and feel like it. Back to the room: check e-mail (hopefully) and then off on a walking adventure. Where? Around the island, to the pearl market, to the fish market. . . who knows. Lunch in the room around noon, nap for Simon, another walking adventure before supper. . . then supper. . . playing in the room and bathtime and then bedtime around 8:30 for Simon. Gary and I lay in bed and watch CNN until I fall asleep around 9:30. Who knows when he falls asleep. The deviation to the schedule is when we have adoption stuff to do (see note at the beginning on this post).
10. Yes, God is so very good and we glorify Him many times a day.

Love and miss you.
shanda--who is coming home on Friday!

Gary will try to post pictures later.