Sun - Mon - Tuesday

We haven't had much of a chance to update lately...sorry! I think jet lag has come over us at around 6pm and it is hard to do much after that!   4/16 Sunday It was a spiritual experience today learning about the key areas in China's history and thinking as we watched all the thousands of people at Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City, "I wonder what Charlotet (our new daughter) looks like now? I wonder what she will look like when she is as old as that person walking by?" We gained a renewed respect of the history, culture and people of China and heard some amazing adoption decision stories our Henan adoption group. At the end of the Forbidden City tour we were held up for ½ hour while waiting for some "big potatoes" (foreign dignitaries) to visit (the exit was blocked). In the newspaper it said that the Ukrainian prime minister was visiting, so I assume it was him. So, we were a little late and a lot tired getting back to the hotel. That evening we wondered over to the mall connected to the hotel to get some dinner. We ate at a Taiwanese restaurant, which tasted like unique Chinese food. And then went to bed early! 4/17 Monday Talked to the kids this morning. A huge thanks goes out to G-ma and G-pa for watching the kids. Our kids are helping out a lot too. You're all awesome! Great that they are doing well. It was fun to see they're smiling faces, hear them talk and laugh. We miss them "big time." I thought that we would be going to the same Great Wall location where I went before with the school study abroad – with a chair lift and alpine slide down. So, I ran on the treadmill and lifted leg weights for 40 minutes starting in the morning. After a hearty breakfast (buffet of American and Chinese breakfast food), we got on the tour bus and headed out side of Beijing. On the way we stopped at a jade factory and shop. Absolutely beautiful and talented carvings, jewelry, etc. We purchased some souvenirs. Well, it turns out that this part of the Great Wall included hiking up very steep stairs for an hour. :0 There are a few different tourist spots to visit the Great Wall near Beijing. Stiff legs still! The stunning views were worth it. On the way back from the Great Wall we stopped at a restaurant/store and the 2008 olympic area (Birds nest national stadium, water cube, dragon skyscraper buildings, and other sports arenas. Last stop was a Chinese acrobat show - absolutely amazing. 4/18 Flew to Zhengzhou, Henan. Heard more about Charlotte!! She's doing well and we'll get her tomorrow at 10am! Way way exciting!