Hello everyone!

Two sleeps left before we make our way back home. While we continue to experience great things here, we continue to swing towards home in our hearts. We miss family, friends and co-workers. It is still surreal that I am here in China bringing home a little girl to change her life and our family forever. Thank God for this opportunity, the blessing of a daughter, and the great support that we have and continue to receive from family in so many ways. We are excited about our homecoming and the many memories that we'll be able to share in the coming days and months.

This morning we woke up later than usual as there wasn't anywhere to rush off to. Our guides went to the Chinese consulate to obtain visas for our children to leave the country. This didn't require our presence only that we be available in the event that there were questions. As of this evening all of the paperwork went through with no problems for all in our group. Another hurdle crossed! Tomorrow we visit the consulate to finalize everything before we are totally ready to leave the country with our children.

After we were released from our hotel, we ventured out to CarreFour (grocery store) with the Grimaldis to pickup some supplies. That was fun as we were able to catch a cab using the card that the hotel concierge wrote up in Chinese telling the cab driver where we wanted to go. We had lunch and got back just in time to leave with the group to the Chen Dynasty Museum and Art Display. I have included some pictures below of some of what we saw there. Many ornate buildings and art pieces. Truly amazing how much detail was put into the artwork and buildings.

After a few minutes relaxing at the hotel, we were off to dinner at the upscale Banana Leaf Thai restaurant. This is something that has been done with many other groups as a celebration for completion of all of the paperwork/process to bring your children home. It was a great celebration as we enjoyed the food, conversation and entertainment. Lots of pictures below. To end off the evening we stopped off at Starbucks for some sweets with Chris, Kristen and Jonah Davidson and walked back to the hotel to wrap up another day. Bethany is asleep and Becky and I are close behind. She has been going to bed so easily the last few nights. Actually she has been asking to go. I think we are wearing her out with all of the activity.

Good night all and God Bless!

Dan (& Becky)

A monument to Chen ancestors.

A comical piece of Chinese art...

A very small and old Chinese woman who had very much to say to two young boys running within the museum...

Becky and Bethany at dinner tonight...



The Davidsons getting ready for the big meal at the Banana Leaf.

The Rexroad family (the doctor) at dinner.



Thai dancer/singers sharing a Thai folk song, "You ain't nothin' but a hound dog"...