Christmas Eve

We had our US Consulate appointment today, where we took an oath with our entire group, confirmed our fingerprints, and finalized the last steps of bringing Fu Lian home.

We attempted a Mexican restaurant for lunch (anything besides Chinese!) and we were mildly pleased.  It took us longer to find the restaurant and convince Fu Lian to not run through the busy street or lay down and throw a tantrum in the hotel lobby, than it did to eat.  We find it funny that when eating in China, the servers bring out the food as it is ready. Which, today meant that Ethan got his food first, then about 10 minutes later, the other kids got theirs, and about 10 minutes later we got our.  Therefore, the kids (especially Fu Lian) were ready to bolt from the restaurant by the time our food came. We ate our food vey quickly and headed back to the hotel.  All in all, the Mexican was a nice change of pace, but we will not be going back this trip.

Random apartment building on way to Tekela's

Christmas decoration on way to Tekela's

McDonald's and Pizza Hut on way to Tekela's

A fellow adoptive father led a Christmas Eve service, in which many adoptive families participated.  It was a great time to reflect on this holiday season and to come together to worship our God and the birth of His son.  What a pleasure to share this adoption process with so many believers that understand that adoption is not about being recognized for helping a child, but rather a commandment of the Lord's to help the orphans and provide them with the same love and grace that our Heavenly Father extends to us on a daily basis.  We pray that we can continue to extend that to our children each and every day, especially this week as we struggle with Fu Lian's behavior that has been approved of for the last 6 years (i.e. hitting, pinching, kicking, biting, spitting (that is a fun one!), climbing up the escalator (not using the steps... another fun one!), and sprinting (we mean quick!) through the hotel lobby, hallways and elevators (thank you God for entry keys needed for the elevators).

Christmas Eve service at hotel with adoptive families

Fu Lian playing with another sweet boy

We topped off our evening with a cruise on the Pearl River.  Many of the bridges, buildings, hotels, and landscape were decorated in colorful lights to entertain us for the short tour.  The kids enjoyed this trip and it was a nice way to spend Christmas Eve in China.

Santa Clause greeted the kids with a treat on our Pearl River night cruise

The lit up TV tower along the Pearl River night cruise

This has been an amazing opportunity to share as a family.  We can all happily say that we are excited to be coming home in just a couple short days and we can not wait for fresh water, our beds, our dog, and seeing our friends and family again!  I say that I do not want to come back to China, but Ethan plans to be a missionary here, flying airplanes and delivering Bibles to people who need them.  So, he is hoping I will come visit him ... maybe by then I will be rested up again and not so tired of Chinese food that I'll be willing to come back.  :) We will continue to pray for the Lord's will to be followed by each of my children and for Him to be glorified through it all.  We are so anxious to see the plans God has for each of our children, and now especially with Fu Lian.  I know there is a great plan for him and we praise God that we will be part of that plan.

A tuckered out boy after a day of fun!

Random picture: if there is a Santa picture hung up in China, it is this exact one!  We have seen it in all 3 provinces and on many hotels, stores, and shopping areas.  We thought it was funny that there is not a variation.