October 7 @ 10:51 p.m. - Beijing time and 10:51 a.m. - Wilkes County time

It is official, Samuel Ty is ours. We traveled to the Civil Affairs office via taxi ride. Words cannot explain or begin to express the taxi experience. We will share once we stop shaking and praying. We also journeyed out to the Golden Arches (McDonald's) Samuel Ty enjoyed the trip. Below you will find a picture of Toni and Samuel enjoying their chicken nuggets and fries.

We have tried to the rest this afternoon. I am in the withdrawal mode since I cannot locate at Mtn. Dew anywhere in China. They have no idea what they are missing. Toni has been working with Samuel Ty on learning our family names via the pictures that we brought. He is very smart and learning to identify and pronounce their names.

We are touring Chongqing tomorrow. Pray for us as we ride in a taxi once again. Going to bed to get some rest.

Steve

10-6-08 Chongqing time: 9:45pm NC time: 9:45

Hello Everyone!

So sorry we didn't blog yesterday! We had a very long day of touring in Beijing. First we went to an International Church to worship. The service was nice. It was nice to worship God with other fellow believers. We just really miss our church family :o)

After church, we went to a jade factory. It was very interesting! There is a tradition in China for the mothers to wear a jade bangle until their daughters turn sixteen. Then they will pass down the jade bracelet from generation to generation. Fathers do the same kind of thing. They wear a jade pendant around their necks and pass those to their sons from generation to generation. We were able to see a gentleman carving one solid piece of jade. He was carving a "Happiness Ball". This is traditionally a symbol of family unity or family reunion. The end result is a large ball with smaller ones inside (each one representing a member of the family). Each ball is free moving. This is carved from one piece of jade. It takes the carver 5 days working eight hours a day to complete. The picture doesn't really do it justice. While I was looking I found a picture from Saturday. We visited a pearl factory. The picture is a baby fresh water oyster. It had 18 pearls inside!

We ate Peking Duck for lunch! We have tried a few new things. Some have been very delicious while others have left us dreaming of The Outback!!

After lunch it was time for the Great Wall! AMAZING!!!! ABSOLUTELY BREATH-TAKING!!!

We are sending pictures, but honestly, they don't compare. I'll have to tell you details about The Wall later. Little fingers are all over the computer. I will tell you, Steve made it to the third tower!!

We went to dinner and then to an acrobatics show. Alex, you would have been amazed! We will tell you about it in detail at home. They would not allow us to take pictures.

OK. I know why you are really here. You want to know about Samuel Ty. He is doing well. We picked him up today around 3:00pm China time. He cried really hard for the first 30 min. He has come out of his shell. He is very active. He is exploring every inch of the room! He is repeating everything we say. He is tiny for a four year old, but can do everything for himself. He really enjoys playing in the tub and looking in the mirror. Now, everytime he sees himself in the mirror, he says, "I see Bin Bin!" I think his Chinese nickname will "stick" with him for a while. Now he is smiling a lot. He is up very late tonight, as you can tell. So pray for sleep to come soon! We love and miss you all!!!! Now on to the pictures........

Beijing Tour

Hello Everyone!

We have just finished a long but nice day of touring. Beijing time 8:45pm on Saturday, Oct 4. NC time 8:45am on Saturday, Oct 4.

Interesting Note: Steve has now made it 72 hours WITHOUT Mtn. Dew. Wow!! That is a record!! There is Pepsi in China, but no Mtn. Dew. I mentioned to him that maybe this is a good time to stop drinking Mtn. Dew. He responded by challenging me to stop drinking coffee. Well, I'm not sure about that! I understand his delima! Maybe this isn't the trip to give up caffeine totally. Our bodies still aren't sure of the time change. :o) I guess for now just pray that Steve can get used to Coke!

We have been "out and about" in Beijing today! This week is the National Holiday. There are many, many, many more people in Beijing than usual. Sherry (our guide) told us that yesterday alone there were hundreds of thousands of people who visited Tiananmen Square. To say it was packed today would be an understatement!! We toured Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace. These places are beautiful--very intricate and detailed.

I've been thinking today about the people here. As we toured these places, we learned alot about Chinese tradition. Bigger, better, more expensive, a definite order or ranking -- all of these things have been important as a way to represent a dynasty. I couldn't help but think about our lives. Aren't we the same way. Power, money, stuff. We've come to think about bigger, better, more as the fulfillment of the "American Way." Christ reminded me of how His grace is sufficient and in our weakness He is strong. Jesus Christ is all we need! Power, money, stuff -- it comes and goes. But the peace that passes all understanding--WOW! :0)

The couples in our group are very nice!! We are enjoying getting to know them.

By the way, caucasians are very curious to the chinese people. Especially those with blonde hair, blue eyes. Many people in our group were stopped by chinese people to have a picture taken with them. Steve had his picture made with several Chinese people. That was an experience, too!

Enjoy the pictures!

We love you all!!!

Steve and Toni

We're in Beijing!!

Hello everyone! It's 6:40 am on Saturday, Oct. 4 here in Beijing. That means it is 6:40 pm on Friday, Oct. 3 in North Carolina. We rested well last night. We were very tired! We had some time on our own last night after we checked into the hotel. Steve and I ate at Pizza Hut! We had a nice cheesy pizza. It tasted just like home! I have a feeling that by the end of our trip we may actually be tired of pizza. The only two American places to eat that we have seen are KFC and Pizza Hut. It was nice to have a "taste of home"!

Pizza Hut here was very nice! Everything has been very clean. We understand nothing in the Chinese language. The people here are very nice and some know a little English. Enough to try to understand what we are saying.

The "experience of the day" would be our trip to Carrfoure, otherwise known as the chinese Wal Mart. Oh my! Those of you who know about our excursions in the Wilkesboro Walmart may think I spend too long looking around, especially with three children in tow. If making our weekly trip to walmart at home is a challenge, then trips to walmart here would be compared to climbing Mt. Everest!! It is soooo crowded! People are waiting in line to checkout down every isle! To shop, you go around everyone in line. EVERY checkout always has a line. No express checkout. Trips here with the children would not be leisurly! So from now on, I will not sigh or roll my eyes (Ashley, that's for you :0) ) when its time for shopping in Walmart--not even during the Christmas rush!! :o)

Today begins our tour of Beijing. We will visit Tiananman Square, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace. We will take lots of pictures and tell you all about it!

We love you all!!! Keep praying!!

Steve and Toni

Getting Ready

Today we are creating our family blog! (For the third time!!!---That's another story for later!) We are excited about going to China!!! We hope you enjoy our trip as you follow along.