On To Guangzhou

Our time in Nanjing has ended. Yesterday afternoon we took a two hour flight from Nanjing to Gaungzhou. While here we will take care of getting Natalie's USA Visa. We do apologize to everyone, who has been following the blog, for our silence. I found it very difficult to update things with a very active 22 month old who only wants Mama. I cannot get anything done. She will not allow anyone else to carry her, and she wants to be held all the time. She is fighting sleep at naptime and night time, and she does not let me work on the computer-therefore the long silences.

I was just beginning to feel somewhat familiar with my surroundings in Nanjing, and then we had to leave. We are now in another HUGE city. Guangzhou is suppose to be "subtropical" but today it is very cold and windy (although compared to Beijing its warm). We got to do alittle sightseeing in Nanjing. Our guide, Susan, took us to two very beautiful gardens. We could only imagine just how absolutely gorgeous they must be in the springtime. That was one of the things we loved about China-their gardens. They are done to absolute perfection-or as the chinese would say-absolute balance. Most of the pictures here are of the Gardens in Nanjing and of the old part of Nanjing.

We had an oppornity to visit Changzhou and Natalie's orphanage, but declined due to Brad's ill health and our complete lack of sleep. We were told that we would be unable to take any pictures, and that would have been our main reason for going. We decided that, should she decide one day that she would like to visit the city and orphanage from where she came from, we would return. We were given the email address of the orphanage director and were asked to please send frequent emails and pictures, as they would like to hear how she is doing.

Natalie has been a wonderful child to have around. She has her moments-like not eating certain foods we were told she ate. Also, the need she has for only me is a bit over whelming and hard on my back, but I just continue to count down the days for when we will be home and she can begin a "normal" and "consistent" daily routine. And hoepfully she will learn that I am always here-although I do not always need to hold her. For the most part she is a patient and happy child-smiling ALOT. Our guide says "she talks alot and is smart too."

Keep the prayers coming for all of us. Homesickness has set in for me and I just want to leave! I am not feeling well again, so it's a good thing Brad feels ok right now. We anticipate a smooth plane ride home because she did so well on the short ride yesterday-although the car ride home could be really stressful. The Chinese do not use car seats, let alone seatbelts-so a restraining car seat and not being on mama's lap could prove interesting.