LAST DAY IN CHINA

We can not believe today is our last day in China. We want to make the most of it. We still have some shopping to do. We intend to get white Chinese tops and dresses for the kids to be sealed in. We also have a request from them for some traditional Chinese outfits. They have put in their color request so we will see what we can do. Squeaky shoes are a must. Some of the kids in China wear squeaky shoes. It is so cute to see them walking around in their shoes and hearing the squeak, squeak, squeak. I do like that the squeaker is removable. We plan to say goodbye to the shop owners that we have become friends with. I feel sad about this. I am not sure we will ever see them again. They have been so gracious to get to know us and share their culture. I have enjoyed and appreciated the long conversations late into the night with them. I have been pleased at how open they have been about us as adoptive families and how they have expressed their opinions regarding the one child policy. They don't agree with it but go along with it do to the generations that have gone on before them. A few other items that we plan to purchase are some jade balls. The Chinese call these the "Happy Family". We like to refer to them as the eternal family. They are balls of carved out of jade that, with out a break, have about 5 balls inside one another without having a seam. I love them. They are so representative of why we are here, to complete our eternal family and made out of "Jade", it can not get more appropriate than that. Another item I fell in love with is the Buddha with 5 babies crawling all over him. I have always liked the look of round old men. They have a special place in my heart, ask Tammy. Anyway he has the cutest smile on his face with these darling 5 babies crawling on him. One last thing we are interested in is called a "chop" It is stamp made out of various materials and on the bottom you can have the shop owner carve into it what you want. We ordered one with Jades name in Chinese and American. Brent also ordered one with his name on it. There are other trinkets we are getting but those are the most interesting to mention.
After shopping we got together with Scott, Nancy, True and Mia. Also with Dana, Shaelin, Leah and Lisa and ordered dinner to be delivered to the hotel. We are all a bit melancholy knowing that this is our last night together. We have been through so much in the last two weeks. We honestly and very sincerely feel that not only did we gain a daughter but also very dear friends. We bonded with this small group within our large group so immensely and we have grown to love these people dearly. We had a great time at dinner and then went off to our rooms to pack. The day went so fast. We have to have our bags in the hall at 5:00 am and leave by 6:00 am. For the long ride home. I have missed my kids at home so much. They are our life. We are incomplete without them. We know they have been in good hands and have had a wonderful time. Thank you to all who have helped. We can't wait to step off that plane and know that Bailey, Kyle and Landon are only a hug away.