Is Her Daddy Chinese?

I have been expecting it. I knew it would come, but I didn't know when. It came last week...the first insensitive comment from a total stranger. Maybe it wasn't insensitive...maybe just inquisitive but I wanted to knock this lady out all the same.

Lily and I made a trip to the grocery store as we were running low on noodles. I felt the eyes on us...every trip up an aisle and down the next. I passed her several times when she finally called out in her best hillbilly voice, "IS HER DADDY CHINESE?" I was a little shocked but managed to spit out, "As a matter of fact, he is!" I only wished I had been thinking quick enough to add, "And so is her mother!"

Better Picture of Beautiful Cousins!

Oops...Lily closed her eyes!

Beautiful Cousins!

We were visited last week by my brother, Michael and his wife, Terri, and their daughters Sarah and Kaley. They enjoyed meeting their new niece and cousin and she REALLY enjoyed meeting them! We also had some wonderful Tennessee Springtime weather! YAY!

Look What Happened at Our House Today!

Just for the record, it is the third day of Spring today!!!

A Glorious Easter Sunday!

We hope everyone had a GLORIOUS Easter Sunday...we sure did! We started the morning early (I'm turning over a new leaf!) and had a wonderful family breakfast prior to donning our Easter finery. Let me say this...it takes longer to get two kids ready! Our church had only one service this Sunday...10 am...now that sounds "do-able" enough, but we were 10 minutes late! I wanted the girls to look fabulous and they did, even if I looked somewhat undone!

Did you know that a majority of the Chinese people are athiests? That's a concept I cannot wrap my mind around. There are over two billion people in China and most of them do not believe in God. It's not their fault...organized religion is discouraged. But I wonder how anyone can look at the beauty of a sunset or at a majestic mountain and not wonder who created this earth? How can someone hear a child's laugh or a baby's needy cry and not immediately thank God for those gifts?

We are blessed in so many ways...but our greatest blessing of all is the opportunity to introduce our children to their creator. Please, Lord, don't let me mess this one up!

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Many apologies for the delay in posting...I have misplaced my camera battery charger (it's probably in China somewhere!) and I haven't been able to take pictures! We enjoyed a visit with my dad and Gail today, so I took advantage and downloaded his pictures so I could post!

It was a beautiful semi-Spring day here in Tennessee..we enjoyed temps in the high 60's and wonderful, wonderful sun!!! I am a Florida girl and I really miss the sun in the Winter. I don't care if it's 16 degrees outside as long as I can see the sun!!!

Our lives have been touched by so many people who read our blog while we were in China. We have renewed friendships neglected over time, met new friends who share an interest in our journey and made cyberfriends we may well never meet. Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of the wonderful comments and compliments...it is a joy to share our joy! Thank you also to all who have sent wishes, prayers, cards and gifts. The girls were blessed today with gifts from a thoughtful group of people at the China Pavillion at Epcot Center...we may never meet these great folks (I hope we do!) but are touched by their generosity. Thanks also to my dad and Gail for the awesome scrapbook!!

Lily braved the hot tub for the first time tonight and really enjoyed it! She didn't want to get out until she noticed her fingertips were all pruny!!! We are amazed at how well she is adjusting to family life...she has experienced no negative sleeping, eating or beahviorial issues. Knock on wood! We went to our favorite Chinese restaurant tonight and the server asked her in Mandarin where she came from and she chirped out...MY HOUSE!!!!

This Blog Was Interrupted By Jet Lag!

I used to think "Jet Lag" was a wive's tale, a lame excuse made by many to grab a nap. I don't think that anymore because I am a full-fledged sufferer of jet lag! My poor body clock is so messed up that I don't know day from night! Thank goodness Lily hasn't been affected. The little trouper slept 10 of the 12 hours of our flight from Tokyo and has slept regularly since our return!

When our plane pulled into tiny Tri-Cities Regional Airport, the passengers on our flight called us over to the other side of the plane to get a look at the crowd of people gathered to greet us on the observation deck. Among the welcoming committee were my mom, Angie Barnett, the Laughlins with Abbey Grace, Richard and Jada Lane, The Stewart Family and our neighbors and pet caretakers, the Toppings. We were so excited to see everyone and were never so happy to be getting off an airplane in our entire lives! Once inside the terminal, we made the long trek down the final corridor, seeing our friends and family at the end. Sophie took off in a sprint and Lily took off after her, not knowing anyone but still running and laughing. By the time Pete and I got to the end of the hall, most of the introductions had been made and Lily and Sophie were on the floor of the airport terminal playing with their friends. Thanks to everyone for making our homecoming so wonderful. My friend, Allison, who knows the quickest way to Pete's heart is through his stomach, brought banana bread and cookies and Stephanie Topping made us the most beautiful memory book!

We've spent the last two days tackling our mountain of laundry...it was so gross I considered burning all of it! Yesterday we went to the golf course to meet Pete's great staff, Marilyn, Bob, Roger and the girls from the accounting department who brought gifts for both Lily and Sophie. We all watched Lily do a jigsaw puzzle and write her name in English and Chinese. I wrote out the ABC's for her the other day and she copied them on her paper. Yesterday she wrote them by memory! I know we are not related by DNA, but I can still claim she's so smart because of me, can't I?

Thanks to all who follow our blog...it has been a real pleasure and we plan to continue keeping everyone informed on our progress!!! So check back soon for more pictures and stories about our ladybug and our leapfrog!

Flight Information

For those who are interested, our flight will arrive Tri-Cities on Saturday, March 1 at 3:33pm The flight number is Northwest 3097. We are looking forward to coming home!!! Now I am really going to nap! See you soon!

Last Night in Guangzhou!

It's a good thing the internet is free here at the Victory Hotel because I'd be a little PO'd if I were paying for it! Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't...it's a little finicky, like me!

There has been much drama over the past 48 hours, but I am happy to report all of the issues regarding our INS troubles have been resolved! By INS troubles, I am referring to the fact that someone in Memphis, Tennessee dropped the ball...AGAIN! Long story short is that Lily's US Visa approval was not wired here as it should have been nearly a month ago and they were going to make us stay into next week. Our wonderful facilitator, Helen, must have pulled some strings because we were able to take our oath and we have Lily's passport in hand, Visa and all. Hurray!

Today we visited a Folk Arts Museum...beautiful and educational. It is housed at a former temple to the Chen family, who must have been pretty wealthy and powerful here in Guangzhou! On our way there, Helen pointed out a lovely restaurant that specializes in SNAKE! No thanks! We then made our way over to a pearl market, which was five floors of everything pearl, jade, amber, gold...need I go on? A real ladies paradise! We picked up a couple of baubles for the girls when they get older and we came back to our hotel. Then the real fun began as we hit the streets of Shamian Island looking for bargains. And bargains we found as we stumbled on a store that was moving and the shopkeeper wanted us to help move the merchandise...right back to the USA! I'm not sure if I have misplaced some of our clothes, but everything fit in he suitcase with room to spare. I'm not sure how this worked out.....

Well, I am going to sign off now as we have to be ready to leave the hotel at 5:30 am and it's already after 2! A quick shower and a quick nap and I'll be as good as new! We have truly enjoyed our time here. China is not at all what I expected it to be. It is rural and cosmopolitan, ancient and new, deeply rooted in traditions of the past but also focusing on the future. She is certainly a proud and friendly nation and I am honored to be bringing one of her daughters home with us. Thank you all so much for following us on this journey of a lifetime. Thanks for your many thoughts and prayers...we appreciate them more than can ever be said. We hope you'll continue to follow our story as we close this important chapter and move on to the next. We will be faced with many challenges, but the joy we've already been rewarded with makes all of the hassles, frustrations and the agonizing wait so incredibly worth it.

We love you all and can't wait to introduce you to Lily XiCheng DeBraal!!!

Ga Ga for Guangzhou!

We love Guangzhou! Shamian Island is such a quaint little place tucked between the shores of the Pearl River. It has old ties to the British throne and therefore the architecture is neo-classical, not chinese. We got up this morning and took Lily to her medical exam, which she passed with flying colors. The doctor asked me to sign a form and Lily dazzled him with her remarkable penmanship when she insisted on affixing her signature to the form in chinese! The weather is lovely...in the 60's with a nice breeze. We ate lunch at a little joint called Lucy's, which is popular with adopting families. What I loved was being able to sit outside in the sun! (Can't do that at home...it's snowing! Thanks for the weather report, Stephanie!) I do have to admit that I'm starting to miss iced tea, salad and milk. We've been fairly careful with what we've eaten and so far our strategy has paid off...knock on wood. Tonight we're having Papa John's so we'll let you know.

Lily's first plane ride went well...she was a little irritated that I insisted she wear her seat belt so she should be real fun when I strap her into a car seat! We were served an authentic chinese box lunch on the plane, which Lily devoured. (The rest of us only picked at it.) Her favorite part was the little packet of hot pepper relish. Mom, you would have loved it! We had to hide our packets from her because I wasn't entirely sure what it was. She made the universal sign for "I've got to pee" so she and I made our way to the back of the plane. She went potty and proceeded to touch every surface in the bathroom including the toilet! I told our guide to tell her how gross that is and she told her she never touched the toilet...hmmmm. She finally fell asleep about two minutes before we landed!

We are staying at the Victory Hotel here in Guangzhou. We are in a Japanese suite, which means the bed is on the floor...a big hit with both girls. Pete took the girls to the park while I did paper work with our guide, Helen. She informed me that she got a phone call from the US Consulate and they have not recieved our updated approval from the INS yet. Imagine that! She took one of our copies of the approval and will drop it off tomorrow so we'll see if that is sufficient enough for the US government.

Pete bought each of the girls a slightly creepy looking chinese doll with a little baby on her back...Sophie is lovingly mothering hers and Lily is absolutely beating the trash out of hers. I wonder what that means.....

Only two more days until we fly the (un)friendly skies on Northwest Airlines. Hopefully my seating stategy will work and we'll have a whole row of seats to ourselves. Otherwise, I feel really sorry for the poor sucker crazy enough to put himself between us and the chinese tasmanian devil!!!

Movin' On Up!

Today is our last day in Xian. We are moving on to Guangzhou this evening to complete the American portion of our adoption. First we will visit the Starfish Foster Home home here in Xian and then have some lunch at Pizza Hut before heading to the airport. I want to say that we have treasured our time here in Xian...it is the closest thing to a hometown Lily will ever have. We have seen many interesting things and met many AMAZING people. We cannot say enough about the staff here at the Sheraton. They have been super with both Lily and Sophie. The chinese people are very kind and gracious, except the crabby old lady at the Muslim Market.

We look forward to the next chapter of our story and hope you do, too!

Snow Day in Xian!

We didn't do a lot today...just hung around the hotel. Sophie worked on her schoolwork and Pete and Lily took a walk to give her a little quiet time. Lily took a three hour nap this afternoon...I think all of the running around is wearing her down. Sophie and Pete watched a movie while Lily slept and then we all went down to the restaurant for dinner. Have I mentioned that Lily and Sophie are celebrities among the staff here? They are all very good with both of the girls...speaking Chinese to Lily, but always very careful to include Sophie. A couple of the girls in the restaurant got both girls a gift for CNY...two crazy cars that light up and turn around and play a loud, crazy song. They remind me of those crazy lowriders in California that jump up and down and go side-to-side. I had to put one of them up high as it was making me a little nuts...guess which one.

Our travel companion, Robert, was pretty ill last night so please send a little prayer his way and continued prayers for our good health are appreciated, too!

We want to give a "Shout Out" to our faithful readers and comment posters...Kaley and her class in Orlando, Emily and Chris in Vero Beach, the Tennessee Toppings and Stewarts and everyone else in out there in cyberspace. Please leave us a comment when you read...we will print them when we get home and put them in Lily's "Baby Book."

Enjoy the pictures of the girls and their new friends!

PS. Dad and Gail, we finally got Lily to give up her coat from the orphanage. We didn't want to push her , but she willingly gave it up and put on the coat you sent and then we had a really hard time getting it off of her !

Lily Loves Her Dumplings!

Tang Dynasty Show

Here are some pictures of the show we saw...it was really beautiful! Sophie took some of these pictures,too!

What a difference a day makes!

We woke up this morning and threw the curtains back expecting much of the same (smoggy) sunny weather. But alas, that was not meant to be as it is SNOWING! We were supposed to go to the Muslim Market today, but it is outside so I'm not sure if we'll go or not.

Yesterday, we toured a Jade factory and saw a Buddist Temple and the Wild Goose Pavillion. Then we hit McDonald's for lunch. I had a Big Mac, just to say I did, and it was good. Even the special sauce, Kaley! The french fries were great, maybe even better than ours in the states or maybe we were just craving some western food. When we got back to the hotel, Pete took Sophie swimming and Lily and I had a good, long nap.

In the evening, JoJo took us to a dumpling banquet and Tang Dynasty Show. The Tang Dynasty dates to 600 AD and was one of the most prosperous times for China. The show was excellent with beautiful costumes and interesting instruments I have never seen before. One number was entirely percussion and I thought it should be entitled "Asian Stomp." We enjoyed it so much we bought the DVD so Lily can see some of her culture as she grows up.

Maybe we'll go back to WalMart today if we can't go to the street market. I was looking forward to the bargaining, though.

Terra Cotta Warriors

Here are some bonus pictures of the Terra Cotta Warriors!

I love Xian in the Springtime!

I know this gets old, but another great day here in Xian! Believe it or not, the sun came out and we saw some blue sky! It felt like a fresh Spring day. Today we visited the Terra Cotta Warriors...one of the biggest highlights of our trip, next to Miss Lily, of course. I have been looking forward to seeing these infamous soldiers for a long time and they did not dissappoint. For those who don't know about the terra cotta army, they were created by the Emperor Qin, who needed an elaborate army to protect him in the afterlife. He used over 7000 craftsmen to dig several giant pits and they made over 6,000 lifesize terra cotta soldiers, officers, generals and horses to guard his tomb. It took 38 years to construct and after the project was completed, the emperor had all of the craftsmen and workers thrown into pits and buried alive to protect the location of the tomb. The amazing thing about this army is that it was only discovered in 1974 when a group of local farmers were digging a well. Emperor Qin is best known for starting the Great Wall and uniting China into one nation, instead of 7 separate countries. He was hated by his people, though, and after his death they pillaged the army, stealing their weapons to overthrow his regime. These soldiers were created 200 years before Jesus was born...WOW!

After the army, we visited Walmart! Another WOW! Three stories of rollbacks and low prices!!!!

I was very impressed at how clean and neat the store was, even the meat department where you could get squid, stingray and a variety of snakes to serve for dinner! We bought some Budriser, diet coke and bottled water. A couple of snickers bars and Lay's potato chips made it into the buggy, as well. Miss Lily picked out a new pair of sneakers at Walmart and it was obvious by her reaction she has never had a new pair of shoes...just for her. She told everyone she met about her beautiful new shoes and she put them on as soon as we got back to the room. She strutted in front of the mirror and closed herself in the dark bathroom so she could see them light up! When she was done with that, she put on her new pair of pink mary jane shoes (rolled back to $2!) and would not take them off until bathtime!

She continues to delight and amaze us...she is still talking a blue streak and just opens herself up more and more everyday. She delighted the crowd today by feeding Sophie peanuts with her chopsticks! Big sister loves the attention, too! We have our moments, of course, as Miss Lily is very high energy, but overall I think things are going very well. It is priceless to hear Lily yammering on and on in Chinese to us...she has no clue that we don't know what she's saying. We just smile and nod. She is picking up some English, too. Local people will ask her name in Chinese and she now responds in English "Lily!" She tells us "Let"s a go!" when it's time to go somewhere. Communication is good, between our charades and the Chinese we've learned. We definitely know how to ask her if she has to potty, if she's hungry and how to tell her she's full!

Again, thanks for all of the comments. We love reading them, so please keep them coming. A special "Ni Hao" to Mrs. Dunford's class at Miller Perry Elementary School...Sophie is learning a lot, but misses her friends. To Molly, Mattie and Eli...Thanks for taking good care of our kitty and fish!

Tomorrow we will see the sites within the Xian City Wall...the Drum Tower, the Bell Tower and the Wild Goose Pavillion. We also get to eat lunch at McDonald's, so it should be yet another great day!