Just a few of Hub's amazing pictures!

S-I-L's blogspot is: http://www.tianjintreasure.blogspot.com/

The Forbidden City - guarded by the lion.

These trees symbolize true love. They've grown together never to be seperate.

Did I mention that the Great Wall is way steep? S-I-L and Chelle

Chelle and Hubs smooching on the Great Wall. Beijing, China.

Chelle and Riah "leaning in to pretend like we like each other more"

Chelle and Hubs on the Great Wall

Lost in Translation

This moment needs it's own blog.

They coddled us in Beijing. Most staff new some English, and many signs were in English to guide people there for the Olympics. After riding on the super fast train, we arrived in Tianjin. Only 30 minutes aways, but miles away in how they cater towards Westerners. Let's just say that there is less English everywhere. (Which is what we expected in Beijing.)

Anyways - I had to lay that ground work for what happened next.

We we're wiped out from climbing the Great Wall, and didn't want to leave the hotel. Although M-I-L and Shu Shu Morgie are already sick of Chinese food, we opted for the Chinese restaurant on the third floor.

Llike something out of the twilight zone, when we stepped out of the elevator we were the only people around, which should have appeared as a flashing red signal. : ) The tables were fancy with red tablecloths.. The chairs wore red covers, and were trimmed with gold bows, (both very good colors in China). The entire ballroom was empty.

After several attempts to communicate with the staff, we realize that they do not speak ANY English. This makes us smile, because that means we have to order without knowing what we were to eat, (an initial fear of my texurely challenged self). To our surprise, the menus has English translations! When we started reading the menus we lost it! I'm talking four grow-ups bent over laughing like middle school girls (HCC knows what I mean!) The English translations were awful! One was like "Beef boiled and served with bacteria" "fish scales hibernating in herbed gravy" Hubs literally said, "what is this? Is this a some kind of joke?" We also saw the words Osteo and colonrectal used to describe the food. "Yummy! Can you please pass the colonrectal?" The poor lady had no idea what we were laughing about, and we could not tell her either. We found "fried rice" and ate that for dinner. (I have to get a copy of the menu so I can really tell you guys the descriptions)

M-I-L also ordered ribs. Shortly after they bring us a basket of steamed "meat" that looked like it belonged on fear factor. Hubs braved the look of it because it was covered in garlic, (Is'nt that why he ate the scallops that nearly killed him on our honeymoon?!) Needless to say, we didn't finish the bowl.

In the middle of our uncontrolable hysterics, S-I-L pulled out her Mandrian phrase book to help us out. That accomplished nothing. She opened to a page that gave the phrases "I feel that you are just using me for sex", "Touch me here," an "Easy Tiger." At this point, we gave up on not laughing. I have NEVER laughed that hard. What kind of phrase book is that?

Then, when we were getting ready to leave, the lady walked around the corner with another steamer basket filled with "ribs." Yummy - yummy ribs.

All I can say is that it's a good thing that M-I-L knows the Mandrian word for beer.

Teaser Pictures

We're here!

Saturday August, 30 2007
Hi everyone! Although I’ve failed to absorb it, we are in China.

I was going to blog about the plane trip, but it was so long ago, that I’ve forgotten the majority of the details. It was long, and they fed us 3 times, and played 4 movies. We were so sleepy at 4:30pm when we arrived at the hotel. Our 30 minute nap turned into a 15 hour nap! It was so easy to wake up at 6:00 am for breakfast.

And what a breakfast! I may have been skeptical about eating Chinese food for breakfast, but it was so yummy! Our plates were piled high with steamed buns, fried rice, hashbrowns, orange juice and spring rolls. It’s a very good thing we walked all day long. I ate a banana to soothe my nutritional conscience, (and it wasn’t near as good as everything else).

Our afternoon was filled with tours which taught us about the ancient and culturally rich history of Beijing. We visited Tiananmen Square, The Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace, and briefly stopped on the side of the road to view the Olympic buildings. In-between these breathtaking tours, we ate a mouth watering lunch. Our tour guide, Sean, ordered us five different dishes: Beef with onions, Kung po chicken, Fried fish with veggies, steamed veggies, and duck with celery. It was served on a turntable that we turned and filled our mini-sized plates. (No wonder their waistlines are smaller than ours! – they could eat off an “American-sized” serving of pasta for several meals!)

This evening we are all tired. We set out to take a cab to eat at a local favorite. Then we sat down – this reminded us that we walked from 8am to 6pm. Something closer seemed more reasonable. We passed a pizza hut type place, KFC, and McDonalds. No one wanted the typical American fast-food. We changed our minds and again decided to take a cab. (Sidenote: Traffic is SO scary here. As we were crossing a street, we ended up having to sun to avoid the incoming traffic. Sean says red lights are more of a suggestion. VERY important to know!) Ok, so just as we were about to grab a cab, it started pouring. We settled for a nearby “sizzler” steak house. Not exactly the experience we were looking for. The food was ok, but nothing compared to the first two meals of the day.

Now it’s time to go to bed. I am sleepy, and can not wait for tomorrow!

PS: To the Blundels: You guys are too amazing!!!

PSS: Just can't seem to get the pictures up. Will ask S-I-L tommorrow.

Settling In

Last pre-China post! Although my nerves are jittery, I am finally settling in to the concept of change. Everything is changing, and that's ok.

Onward to China we go. In less than 24 hrs. I will be on a flight hovering over the ocean. I wonder what my nephew is doing at the moment. Hopefully sleeping seeing that it is 10:46 PM in China. Resting, not even aware that he is about to be scooped up by a loving mommy and family. : )

I'm so excited! My to-do list is huge today. That means I should cut my blog short, and get to work.

Just wanted to let everyone take a small peek into what's going on. We are super excited and almost ready. One last thing: An amazing part of this journey is the extent to which I have seen God's hand of provision. From opening doors for side jobs to people giving from their hearts, slowly but surely our leap of faith is working out. My faith is strengthening daily. God's provision is perfect... even for the "Type-A" people like me. : )

Bunny Trail # 1

*off-topic from the adoption*

I'm just up too early compared to how late I stayed up last night. At this point, almost everything fits into its comfy home in my suitcase. One more load of laundry, and all my favorite clothes will be clean. Everything needed for China is purchased. Now the wait begins.

In the meantime...
I'm up early contemplating my day. This is the first time I've slowed down enough to realize that I'm deeply grieved about leaving St. A . Over the past four years, my weekday life continually revolved around my group of kids. A few days ago I had a quiet moment in the classroom; looking at all the walls, and just soaking in the memories, (Of course I cried). Today, when I walk out that familiar swinging door, it won't be home anymore. I hate leaving home. It hurts.

Is it strange that I'm grieving leaving my job? I'm not even darting off to a new job. I'm going to be a full-time student... which is what I claimed to have wanted for years. After operating in the work force since I was 15, not working feels wrong. *This is the part where Hubs rolls his eyes* It's not "wrong," it simply feels very different. Indeed!

I will greatly miss my kids at work. The hugs and smiles are the best. Most of my work friends have already moved on, (and come back - only to leave again). This is an amazing stage in my life. Don't misunderstand my grief for ungratefulness. All these changes mean it's not an easy season. I know God is using all these changes to draw us closer to him. Well, it's working. Nothing else in our lives is stable.

"Rejoice in the Lord always - and again I say rejoice"

Okay Lord, I'm trying.

No really, when do we leave?

In less than one week, and I mean really less than one week, we will be so close to holding Baby J. There will be no sleeping! My S-I-L will be beside herself with excitement and nerves, and Capn' Hubs will be distracted by all the shiny things in China. (That is, if his ADD self makes it through the 12 hr. flight.) Where will I be? No clue - I could be crying, peaceful, or anxious. For those of you who know me well, you know what it will be. Yes, I will be tearful.

I'm in a weird sort of shock. My clothes are folded, but I can't put them into the suitcase. Why? - I have no idea. I cannot express what is running through my mind. We are going to China, I'm becoming an auntie, Tuesday is my last day at St. A, it's all so much to think about. We'll see where this takes us. Not sure where we'll be in three weeks. All I know is that Baby J will be in his mommy's arms, and our hearts will be enlarged.

That's all for now - Chelle