Our Last Full Day in Guangzhou

Today was our last full day in China and we wanted to make the most of it. However, we woke up to rain, rain, and more rain! Not to be deterred, after breakfast we headed for the bank and some of our favorite shops. Alex and Michael were excited to each hold their own umbrella, and Tyler was happy to share with Daddy. I tried Lily in the carrier for the first time so I could hold an umbrella, and she really seemed to like it. After some shopping, we went back to the room for lunch and to dry out. Then the packing fun began. There seemed to be a lot of "stuff" to fit in 4 suitcases, and we fully expected to have to buy another suitcase. We were close to the weight limit on our way from Nanchang to Guangzhou, but somehow, everything seemed to fit today.

We decided to take a break and head out on another walk in the afternoon. We got a little resistance from Tyler who said he only wanted to get wet once today, but after some fruit chewies, he was ready to go. This walk took us off the island, across the bridge to the spice market. Because of the rain (quite a bit heavier now), there weren't as many displays as usual, but there was still plenty to see. All sorts of dried "things" hanging or in bags. I really didn't even want to know what most of it was. We took the looong way back to the hotel (accidentally and in heavy rain!), and spent more time drying out. We had to meet our guide in the lobby at 6:20 to pick up Lily's passport and visa and the brown envelope. We are not sure exactly what's in the brown envelope, but every adoptive family gets one, and it's not to be opened under any circumstance. It's handed to immigrations once we land in the US.

We decided to spend our last dinner at Lucys. Again, we got some resistance, but it wasn't raining quite as hard now, and we were able to arrange a ride in the hotel cart. Alex has been eyeing the cart all week. It looks like a golf cart, but with 3 rows of seats. After dinner, we walked back to the hotel and settled in for the evening.

Another big change is coming. I've been showing Lily the photo album with pictures of our house, but I know she doesn't understand. Tomorrow we'll be leaving her country and everything that's familiar to her. Please pray for her as she begins this new journey to her home.

I don't know if I'll get a chance to post tomorrow. In the morning we hope to meet with a family from our agency who's daughter will be getting her medical exam just down the street. Her mother, Nikki, has become a good friend and I'm so looking forward to meeting her husband and new daughter! We'll be leaving for the airport at 1 pm for our flight to Hong Kong. We have a 5 hour layover and then catch the loooong flight to LAX. We're looking forward to seeing all of our friends and family when we get home!

Such a cutie!

The first outing

This is what happens to the living area on a rainy day, when the parents are busy packing!

The busy, packing parent. (Ruben is in the bathroom blow drying the kid's shoes!)

Dried Starfish..........yum!

Dried seahorses.

Dried...... something that looked like worms!

This is what Michael did the whole time we were in the spice market!

Crossing the road on the elevated walkway

Our last night at Lucys

Good night Guangzhou!