Our Week in Guangzhou...

I am sorry I have not posted this week, maybe because we have been more active here in Guangzhou and have been on the go every morning and exausted at night! 

Monday morning started off back at the medical examination to check the TB test...thankfully, all was ok!  We then headed to the Guangzhou zoo and made it through just in time before it started raining.  We spent the afternoon relaxing in Mom-Mom & Pop's room watching Soul Surfer. 

Danielle Trimbur this is from Madison! :)

Tuesday we met up with Ann from Red Thread China to take us around to different shopping areas in Guangzhou.  We added another 1st for Paityn by taking the subway all around town.  We were able to get a few great deals! 

Waiting for the subway with Ann





Wednesday was our final step in the adoption process.  We had an 8:30am appointment at the U.S. Consulate.  We waited until 9:45 until it was our turn.  It only took about 10 minutes and our process was complete...or so we thought!  On our way back to the hotel our guide received a call saying there was a problem with our paperwork (not our fault, but an error made here in China), and they would not be able to issue Paityn's visa until it was corrected.  After a couple hours on the phone, our guide Helen was able to get the correct paper, have it translated, and turned in to the Consulate by the end of the day...again, another answer to prayer!  They said there should not be a problem and we should receive the visa by Thursday afternoon.  Unfortunately, we were not able to take any photos inside the Consulate, so I do not have any to post for the Visa appointment.  Once again it was off and on with Paityn.

Today (Thursday) was a free day.  It stormed really hard at breakfast.  After breakfast the rain let up for a little so we quickly changed the girls into their Chinese traditional clothes and took them to the garden at the hotel to take some photos.  We managed to get a couple before the rain started again.  All us "girls" (Mom-Mom, Madison, Paityn & Heather) decided to take a taxi to Shamian Island to walk around and do a little shopping.  When we got back, it was time to pack up because we are leaving tomorrow morning for Hong Kong, the last leg of our trip!   Praise the Lord...Helen called and we received Paityn's visa!  We went to dinner at Pizza Hut...AGAIN!!!  (I will not be eating there or McDonald's for a LONG time!)  The hotel buffet is $60 per person and the other hotel resturants are also very expensive.  Maybe the prices are higher because of the trade fair going on?  Took one last trip to Starbuck's and came back to finish last minute packing before we head out early tomorrow morning. 

We have had several good days this week with Paityn opening up more, and a couple not so good.  Continue to pray that every day gets a little better and she will feel more and more comfortable with us as her family!  Today she repeated several words in English to us so we know she can speak!! :)Will probably post one more time from Hong Kong before we leave for Pennsylvania...we cannot wait!!!  Thank you all again for your support and prayers over the past several weeks.  We would not have been able to get though some of these tough times without the Lord seeing us through.

In the garden at The Garden Hotel

Our BEAUTIFUL daughters...Madison

and Paityn!!

Posing with one of the statues on Shamian Island

One last Starbuck's treat!