Guangzhou Safari Park

Today started out very nervously.  We all woke up, and we felt Fu Lian was a live wire today.  After returning from breakfast, it was time for Fu Lian to burn off some energy.  He was wound up and we had 1 hour to get him ready for a 60 minute bus ride to the Chime Long Safari Park.  We played soccer and basketball and ran on the tennis courts trying to get everyone to burn off energy for the long ride.

We finally arrived at the safari park...

We really enjoyed the tram ride through the park.  We saw a ton of different animals from lions, tigers and bears (Oh My!!!) to giraffes, zebras, elephants, and deer sprinting throughout he fields. Fu Lian was the resident cameraman.

Camel Herd

Elephants up close

Bears begging for food

Bears resting

Great pic of a lion

Next we went through the dinosaur section, which featured dinosaur animitronics that moved, had sound effects, spit and a major t-rex battle. Fu Lian was a little scared, but he came to us to be  comforted.  As we walked through the zoo portion we saw diving monkey's that got Brianna and Fu Lian wet, tigers diving for food, and of course, China panda bears.

A tiger about to dive for some food

The T-Rex

feeding giraffes

Fu Lian riding a panda before seeing the real ones.

Panda eating lunch

Even though there was a lot of walking and no planned lunch, by God's grace we had packed a few snacks that had to last all of us all day. We were not willing to try the seaweed cowballs or 'hot dogs' that were available for purchase. We figured it is better to go hungry than get a sour belly.  Fu Lian was our resident photographer today and took many of the above pictures.

One thing about the adoption process is how the the group of adoptee families have become fast friends.  We all understand that we will not have perfect kids as we all adjust to new family dynamics.  Not only do we understand this, but we help each other out.  Ethan and a another boy,  Jackson, were inseparable today. I saw parents working together to watch other kids, I watched families help other families out when a child got sick, I saw other families holding other families' new children and I saw needed medicine being shared to help everyone be able to survive and enjoy the time together.

Brianna and her new friend

Ethan, Fu Lian and new friend Jackson petting a snake

As we prepare to celebrate our Savior's birth - as a family of 7, we are excited that as a new formed community, this group of adoptee families are going to celebrate Christmas together with a worship service.  God sent his Son to save us and starting on Christmas Eve we celebrate his birth.  Help us to remember that he loved us first so that we can have a relationship with him.  We are not worthy - but his grace saves us.  Our prayer is for us to be able to share this same grace with each of our children.