BJ... check.... next SAM!!!!

Ok, so Beijing went a little like this: Saturday morning, early breakfurst [sic;], then off to Tienanmen Square (shhh... don't mention the "incident"), stand around a while, take a few [of the same] pictures, then under the road... which is a fantastic way to cross the street - especially in China traffic... to the Forbidden City. The Forbidden City is exactly the same as it was in 2002 and 2004, but Faith, Abby, Alex and Joshua hadn't seen it, and I'm sure Theresa didn't remember it. I'm also sure they all thought the same as we did... really cool for the first 2-3 courtyards, then each one starts to look exactly the same as the one before. After that, it's dodge thru the masses of folks trying to sell you something... anything... and if you dare pull out some money, all the rest flock to you to sell you something too. This was a true feat this time, with Theresa and Abby attached to me at the hip, wondering what in the world is going on.

 

From there to the pearl factory, where Faith guessed the number of pearls in the clam shell and "won" a pearl. She was so excited for about 3 minutes, then the "luster" wore off and she gave it to Theresa... who btw had guessed one number fewer than Faith had guessed. After that, it was the silk museum, which was a pretty cool demonstration, but I don't think anyone bought anything. Lunch came a bit early for most, but we dutifully ate what looked exactly like what we also had for dinner... which also seemed a bit early. In between, we went to the Summer Palace, which in the summer is a lovely park with lakes and walkways and beautiful architecture, etc... a place where the royal family went during the hot, hot summer. But in the winter, it's mostly a frozen lake, where silly people walk on it, right next to the signs that say don't go on the ice. The 2 coolest parts of the Summer Palace were under renovation, so I'm not real sure why we even went there. We did drive by the Olympic Bird's Nest and Water Cube and got a few pictures.

 

Sunday was a bit later start, appreciated by all. We went to the Beijing International Christian Fellowship church and it was a wonderful start to the day. Lunch was at the same friendship store as we'd been to on our first 2 trips, but it was the best meal and some fun shopping/looking afterwards, then off to the jade factory. We spent 90% of our time at the jade factory talking to the clerks about adoption and sign language, rather than buying a >$300 jade bracelet to hand down to my daughter(s) when they turn 16 - which would end up costing pretty big for our family. Oh and now, with so many boys being adopted, there's another tradition... the Dad is supposed to have a jade pendant to pass down to his sons when they turn 16 (Joshua said it really is a tradition). Alex was being a wild child (actually, for most of Saturday too), so he and Bill spent most of the time walking around and with that, I suppose he was spared the pendant schpeal. And finally, the event all were waiting for... the Great Wall (well, not THE Event). We all had a good time there, and Johnny, you'd be proud of your ol' Mom and how high I actually climbed. Joshua and Faith made it up to the 2nd tower, Theresa got pretty close. Alex just wanted to keep going... until he turned around and saw how hard it was to go back down... and Abby and Bill wanted to head for the bus after the prerequisite pictures. We did get some pretty cool shots and I'll upload them next. I'm not going to take the time tonight to weed out the bad ones, or the blurry ones, so just skip over them.

 

From there to dinner and back to the hotel to get packed!! Most had an early flight, so we're to be on the bus by 5:30am!!   ONE more day till SAMMMMM!!!  Thank You Father for the miracle of adoption!!!

 

Let's Roll!!