Each new day is a step closer to home. We met the other families in our group (from the same agency) at breakfast this morning. One from Oregon and one from Georgia. We've been saying all week that there wasn't anything John-Nathan didn't like to eat--well, today at breakfast we found something! Actually, the discovery began yesterday at lunch when we tried offering him a piece of pineapple and later a piece of chicken from the sweet and sour chicken dish. In they went and out they came. Well, the same thing happened with the orange slice today at breakfast. Our deductive skills lead us to believe that the child does not go for citrus fruit/flavor at this point!
After breakfast, we all headed out together for a short walk to a little photo shop where we had visa pictures taken for our children. From there we went almost next door to a clinic for their medical check-up. I just realized that we only have video footage from there, no shapshots...In any case, we had to chuckle at the sign in the waiting room: Quiet Please. Children were anything but. Forgive us for sounding like proud parents, but John-Nathan did SOOO well! He laid down on the examining table and let the lady doc poke around. At the next station he got weighed and measured without a fuss, and at the last station he got his ears and mouth checked out without complaint. That last doctor couldn't stop smiling and saying he was so smart!
Afterwards, we strolled around the island some, picked up a few souvenirs--and our packaged laundry.
Two groups of young school children stopped us at different points to practice their English. They were having an Outdoor Lesson. Back at the ranch (hotel), we had lunch in our room before J-N went down for a nap (and Mommy, too).
Later this afternoon we filled out all the US paperwork. Good to get all the last paperwork done and fees paid! Our coordinator will take it all to the Consulate on Monday.
Giggle times on the bed after naptime.
Each new day is a step closer to home. We met the other families in our group (from the same agency) at breakfast this morning. One from Oregon and one from Georgia. We've been saying all week that there wasn't anything John-Nathan didn't like to eat--well, today at breakfast we found something! Actually, the discovery began yesterday at lunch when we tried offering him a piece of pineapple and later a piece of chicken from the sweet and sour chicken dish. In they went and out they came. Well, the same thing happened with the orange slice today at breakfast. Our deductive skills lead us to believe that the child does not go for citrus fruit/flavor at this point! 
After breakfast, we all headed out together for a short walk to a little photo shop where we had visa pictures taken for our children. From there we went almost next door to a clinic for their medical check-up. I just realized that we only have video footage from there, no shapshots...In any case, we had to chuckle at the sign in the waiting room: Quiet Please. Children were anything but. Forgive us for sounding like proud parents, but John-Nathan did SOOO well! He laid down on the examining table and let the lady doc poke around. At the next station he got weighed and measured without a fuss, and at the last station he got his ears and mouth checked out without complaint. That last doctor couldn't stop smiling and saying he was so smart!
Afterwards, we strolled around the island some, picked up a few souvenirs--and our packaged laundry. 
Two groups of young school children stopped us at different points to practice their English. They were having an Outdoor Lesson. Back at the ranch (hotel), we had lunch in our room before J-N went down for a nap (and Mommy, too).
Later this afternoon we filled out all the US paperwork. Good to get all the last paperwork done and fees paid! Our coordinator will take it all to the Consulate on Monday.
Giggle times on the bed after naptime.
This evening we were able to meet back up with the family we had toured with in Beijing--fun to see them again! We strolled around together some after dinner. These pictures were taken inside a restaurant that we didn't eat at, but had plenty of fresh exotic and aquatic fare. Then we bopped into a 7-11 for ice cream bars. From the look on John-Nathan's face I would say it was the first time he had ever tasted ice cream. His eyes lit up in wonderment and delight! (PR) 
12 comments:
Ugh!! Icecream is fine, Hamburgers are fine but No, NO on what we see.
What a good boy our John-Nathan is. Now for a sweet rest for tonight. Enjoyed talking with you today.
Love
Dad & Mom/G&G
Gee and no one went for the snakes and bugs. Giggles and fun looked great. Glad the paperwork is over for now. Wednesday is not that far away when you all will head home. Am sure this has been a growinig and learning time for all. How are the sniffles coming along? Have a great weekend and a fun bonding time. nl & kac
We certainly can see the love and happiness shining from your faces in the pictures! We rejoice with you. It won't be long until you are back home and settling in - trust the rest of your trip will be smooth and rewarding for all of you. Enjoy - rest when you can and hurry home. God bless
Love in Him,
Scott and Kathy
Hey,
I like the pictures of John-Nathan.
My favorites were the giggling pictures.
Love,
Matthew Karl Smith
Well, I'm glad you chose not to eat at that restaurant! I would stick to the ice-cream! You all are looking great and I am praying you will soon be on that plane coming home to USA. God bless you as you sleep and then wake to a wonderful new day! Ps 118: 24 Love Aunt Genie
Glad John-Nathan is catching on. Sounds like he is enjoying his food. You will probably have to fix some Chinese dishes now. Glad he likes ice-cream, I do too! It was good to hear him repeating his name. Sounds like he is a pretty smart child. Looking forward to seeing y'all when you get back home. Love Uncle Gene & Aunt Margaret
Hey there! It's Tina Sumpter again from FBC Springville. My family is loving all you photos/videos/blog. I just had to share with you something we discovered while we were in China getting Jenna-Hope. The Chinese are really funny about babies/small children when it comes to getting cold or eating really cold things. An older chinese man stopped me and cautioned me when he saw me sharing an ice cream bar with Jenna-Hope! And when we got her, it was the first week of June - 90-something degrees and very humid. But they had dressed her in three layers of winter clothes!
The other thing I thought of is something you may have already heard about. There's an herb market there in GZ. I didn't go with my husband when he went, but the video footage was WILD! They have a lot of living creatures to be sold for food... Enjoy the White Swan! Enjoy China! When we were there we fell in love and wanted to sell all we owned and move there as missionaries. Oh! Did you find the little store in GZ that's a Christian store? It's owned by a british woman if I remember right - you can find Christian items there. It's very special, because the ladies working there are believers. One shared with me about her church having been recently raided by the police. Chris and I just sensed the Holy Spirit so richly while we were there. Indeed, the whole earth is filled with His glory.
In Christ,
Tina Sumpter and family
Thanks for trying the Skype this morning...it was fun to "chat". We think the Lord gave you a rare jewel in JN and also Julianna. She is a wonderful big sister/mentor/pal/tickle-buddy! What a difference in John Nathan's countenance since the first pix. We are all rejoicing and pray the next few days will go well. Glad the paper work is over and the last fees paid (hopefully enough left for the shopping;-). Each step brings you closer to home where you can rest and reflect on all the craziness of the past 6 months. Our prayers won't stop then....it will just be the beginning or your new life as a family. We are SOOOOO jealous B/J & RWJE will get to meet him long before we will!!!
What great parents you are! We can see all the clever and loving ways you are winning his heart.It was fun to hear John Nathan trying English and French with the gold-fish crackers, too. Hope Julianna is feeling much better!
Love to all, J & J
Fun so see him in his carrier and up with Mama. He looks like he is settling in beautifully. So many new tastes and things to experience! Eva had not had ice cream (or popsicles) I'm certain. There isn't much refrigeration in the rural areas of China so they haven't had any of those things. Eva adores bananas and I always wonder if they are new to her as well or if they had them at YQ?
Enjoy your time in GZ and try to cross the bridge (footbridge) and walk over to the other side. It is amazing over there. Great little shops with amazing things at fantastic prices. I wanted to crate home tea sets and other wonderful things from over there.
There is also a public playground in the middle of the island not too far from Starbucks that is absolutely magic in the eves when all the local families come to play with their children. Lily ran until she collapsed. It was great fun.
Also- look for the shop "A Gift From China"...also down the street from Starbucks, sales benefit the orphanages and it was by far the most beautiful shop on the island. Loved IT!
Safe travels home soon!
Jill
The variety at the seafood shop and restaurants amazed me. I didn't try the cobra or toads, but I did have "green shrimp". If you have opportunity, you really should try that. I would pass on the 1000 year old red rice pudding, but the "dragon eyes" were really good as well as the grilled pineapple on a skewer . We have really enjoyed being a part of your new family's joys.
Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers. J
Love him in his carrier! Do dyou like it? Our 2 year old would still love to be carried around by me all day, but alas, her little brother needs his moomy, too.
But, I would like to know what kind of carrier/sling that is....she is too heavy for our other ones.
SO fun to see more pics.
Hello! It is so wonderful to see you all together!
Very sadly I realized only yesterday that none of my notes to you all were getting through as I had not carefully read the blog directions to type in the word verification letters before publishing the comment:(
Thankyou for the sweet videos, they make this seem so real -especially as we can hear John Nathan responding to you. We are rejoicing with you all and for the magnificent way the Lord has brought this all to pass. There have been many opportunities to tell others about your little guy and the perfect in-workings of the process.
I love to hear his laughter and to see his sweet and ready smile. We are praying for your cold, Julianna. Wish we could be there to welcome you back when you return. Thankyou for your interesting and informative comments. We will keep looking forward to the next update. Love to you all, The Fritzlers
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