A trip to the country side

October 12, 2006

Today we took a trip to the countryside to get an idea of how most of the rural people live. the trip out to and in the rural area was beautiful. Out in the country the smog is a little less but still very previlent. We went out to s small town that I don't remember the name of and visited a small village. A village is really just a group of extended family that is all living together. They have built their own houses and pretty much everyting within the village. On the way out to the village, we passed 2 universities. One was a medical school and the other was just a regular university. It was really cool to go out to see the villages and to see what type of life Grace might have had if she were now put up for adoption. After the trip back into the city, we headed to a restaurant for lunch. The restaurant was named "0791" after the zip code in Nanchang. In the entry of the restaurant the had a cone shaped fish tank with a few too many fish in it. I guess the fish really like each other. As we left lunch and reboarded the bus to return to the hotel, we came across some people with monkeys who were begging for money using monkeys. If we tried to take a picture they would hide the monkeys so that we couldn't get a picture. But we still got a picture and could probably sell it on the internet for 1 million dollars. Please call if you are interested. Please enjoy the pictures and if you did not see I wasable to add the photos to Registration day and the zoo day.

Free Market, Pedestrian Mall and the Golden Arches

October 11, 2006

Today we were able to take it a little easier getting started. We just needed to go to breakfast this morning and then wait until 10 to goto the Free Market and the Pedestrian Mall and McDonalds.
The one thing I don't remember if I have talked about is the common mode of transport around Nanchang. Besides the entire group outing for adoption related stuff, most of our transit is by taxi. Now this is no ordinary taxi ride. The driving here is insane. A taxi will try to pass at any momment, even when other cars are coming. They cut everyong off including the Police. They will also honk and cut off bikes, pedestrians, even handicapped senior citizens. There Mato is I have the right of way!
So once the interesting taxi ride was over we were at the Free Market the shopping spree could commence. Oh, By the way I sat in the frontseat with Grace on my lap. This place kindof like the pearl market. Many Many Many little stores and tempurature that you would not believe. Here you can find anything from immitation watches to clothing fabric to jewelery to immitation purses to whatever else I didn't even see in the time we were in there.
After exhausting ourselves in the free market it was time to replenish our energy at the Golden Arches. Out of all of the food that we ate the overall consensis is that it pretty much tastes the same except I thought the Coke tasted funny and the so did the milkshakes. Also Ronald McDonanld looks the same in China as he does in the US.
We took a walk through the pedestrial mall and a couple people look in the stores but know was really impressed with anything so we headed back to the hotel.
A couple of us decided to head out in search of a fresh food market to get some good pictures and stuff. We got to see some pretty cool stuff from chicken feet to whole raw squid to live chicken and ducks to whole fish to tripe and many other interesting things. There was also a little doggie running around trying to get some scraps off the floor.
Our final treat for the day was seeing a child squat down on the sidewalk and drop an enormous terd. Be thankful I wasn't able to get a picture of it.

Oh How I Love My Auntie D

It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace. (Heb.13:9b)

October 10, 2006

Since Tory couldn't travel, I took the next best thing...My sister-in-law Danielle. She has be so great with being patient with me as I watch over Grace like a hawk. I really want Tory and Grace to bond well. So poor Danielle has had to kind of sit back and watch me with Gracie this whole time. O.k....not kind of!!! She has been a great support system for me and Tory through all of this. Well, I have decided...or Tory has assured me that she is not worried about her and Gracie. She gave me a talking to. After her reassurance that Grace needs more lovies and attention from someone else besides me and the fact that Tory isn't here to do that I realize that I have not used all of my resouces as well as I should have. Gracie has strenghened my heart so much that I have over looked the someone important in her life. So Auntie, I'm graduating you to the next level in the world of me (Jeff). My daughter is so lucky to have so many people already loving her so much. I need to open the door to allow her to feel that. She will still love Tory and I. It's funny how a little bitty thing can make your heart feel so much. Tory and I are blessed beyond our belief. I love my wife, I love my boy's and now I love my baby girl!!! Gracie asked if Auntie Danielle can play with her until she can have her Mommy all the time. She wants to have a bond with her Auntie that will never be broken. Auntie, thank you for being here and being part of my "Forever Family". With all my special kisses...Gracie

A trip to the Zoo to discuss World Peace

October 10, 2006

Todays schedule was faily simple, not chock-full-of activities. After breakfast I was able to shoot over to the Kodak store to drop off the disposible camera that we gave to the foster family to help us to see her before we came to get her. Throughout the middle of the day we had some time to rest which was every helpful for Grace, She was able to get a full nap in. Now the Zoo is another story. For the most part it would be much like a smaller zoo that is just very dirty. The thing it needed the most was just a little bit of spring cleaning. I will say though, with the animals they do a few things differently when it comes to there cages. One thing that I could not believe is the Tiger and the Cheeta. Both of these cages have a dog in with the animal. My first question was are they lunch? Our guide says no they are to represent world peace. Does a Lion and a Dog say world peace to you?? You Decide. The other interesting thing hear was the show they had at the zoo. The contents of the show Lions and Tiger and Bears (Oh My) and goats and monkeys and a horse. I think that covers everything. Check out the video below for my favorite part of the show.

Laughter is a good thing

October 9, 2006

Below is a short giving an example of how well Gracie is warming up to me. When we were told about her before, they said she was quiet. I will admit she doen't talk alot but she is very loving and when she is playing she talks to herself. It may be in Chinese or just jibberish. Who knows but its darn cute. She also loves to give kisses. She will give me a kiss if I ask for one and also she will give me this cute little lovey look and then give me a kiss. She is so sweet. Well enjoy the video and check back soon.

Registration Day

This is what China views as the Official Day
October 8, 2006
Sorry I am having trouble uploading pictures I will update ASAP. Today started out with a nice breakfast at the hotel buffet and then we headed out to the same place where I picked up Grace. After I heard that, I was a little worried about going back to the same place thinking she might get upset again. To put the icing on the cake, the SWI director and the orphanage Director were going to be there as well. Well thr good news in all of that is she just wanted to be with me and did not want to go to them! The process here was to get interviewed be a provincial representative, take a picture, take an oath and give a gift. "Do you like her? uuhhhh Yes. Do you promise to love her forever? uuhhhh yes. Do you promise not to abondon her? uuhhhh yes." That was pretty much the jist of the oath and here is your gift from the Jaingxi Province. Thanks here are your See's Candies. Now we got a short break an then lunch. After lunch we had another short break (30 min power nap) an we were off to the notary for some more paperwork and another oath. Pretty much the same one. I believe somewhere in this process we applied for the passport for Gracie. I just sign the paperwork, I can't read it. Now it was time to head back to Walmart to stock up on baby supplies andother needs. I took this opportunity to find some nice cheap girly shoes and then I had to get an outfit to match them. So now I headed over to the toy section in search of deals on toys for the boys. A couple of RC Cars and a Power Rangers Mask later, I was done. All of that plus drinks cost about the same as just 1 pair of shoes and one outfit at Walmart in the US. Well its time to go for now. Feel free to log on and enjoy the pictures.

OK. Does anybody want to hear about Gotcha Day?Well here it is.
October 8, 2006
Okay, today started out with an early rise in order to get to the airport and catch the flight to Nanchang where we pick up the babies. Once we arrived in Nanchang we met up with Kiki and headed for the hotel.
After we were all settled in we went across the street to get lunch and then to head to the friendly neighborhood Walmart Supercenter. We decided to shop at Walmart to pick out the gifts we wanted to give. We only managed to lose 1 person in all of these expiditions.
By this point in time there was enough time to get all of the stuff together that I needed for the hand off...yippy the time is about here.
Alright cut to the case and all other small talk aside. We went to the building where we pick up the babies. At first we went up to the 26th floor and had to stand and wait outside the elevators because one of the children would not settle down for us to enter.
Here is how it went. I Walked with the group over and into the room where all of the children were. I took one look in the room and found Gracie. I stood there for about 30 second and they called my name and I came over and they handed me Grace. She proceded to cry and cry but ater a few minutes she calmed down. She would then only get upset when she could see the orphanage director.
Since the time we got back to the hotel she has warmed up more and more, Taken a bath, played with her new toys, ate dinner and even let me lay down with her to put her to sleep. Most of this I was able to have Tory on the web cam to see Gracie and for Gracie to see MaMa. It has been a wonderful day.

Flowers for Mommy

October 7, 2006
I just wanted to send you some flowers to say congradulations on becoming a new mommy today. Gracie is so lucky to have you and so am I. Congradulations and I Love You. I Hope You enjoy the digital flowers.
I Love You,Love Me!!

Do you like Incense?

Buddha does! Or thats what his smiling gold face would tell you! October 7, 2006 Today we were able to take a city tour for 3 hours. Or thats what Jason (our Guide) said it would be. We went a little over because of all of us tourist taking too many pictures and choosing to stop by the pearl market on the way back to the hotel. The first stop of the day was the 6 Banyon Tree Buddhist Temple. After we got past the beggers we were able to enjoy all the insence you wanted (and didn't want). The temple was actually a very nice architectural place to visit. The Pagoda was 50+ meters high and it is leaning now. The temple is 1450 years old but because of wars it has been rebuilt about 5 times. After the temple we moved on to the Qin (Chen) family museum. The architecture here was very cool. Here I was able to get a stamp made with Gracie' Chinese name symbols on it along with Tong Min Tai. There were also some very good examples of guangdong provincial paintings, furniture and China (dishes). The Chinese arts and Crafts Center was the official, final stop of the tour. This is actually a government owned store that carries the finest silk, porcelain, gifts, jewelry, and a tea cup store. Here I was able to purchace the Traditional Chinese dress for Gracie to wear for hear "Red Couch Picture" and also when we get home for all of the chinese holidays. The porcelain shop was also a very cool place to see. they called the pieces egg shell, and when you hold the items you know why. I think I would hand cuff my boys if they were ever in a store like that. Now that the tour had ended, we chose to go the Pearl Market to chek for some deals on jewelry. Now this place was crazy. Picture a regular full size mall. Now make it 6 stories tall and make each of the stores about 10 feet wide. Now make all of the stores pearl, gems, silver and gold products. That is this market. It was crazy. I was able to get a great deal on a pearl necklace and bracelet for Grace here. Well it is time to go to dinner but I will update more as soon as I can.