Family...continued.....

This part of the China trip was solely about family - very little sightseeing or "tourist" worthy places/things to do. 

Tuesday, we went back to Becky's orphanage - or the new place that is the orphanage of the same name. She didn't get to see the place she lived for 14 months - it's gone, an the welfare institute is in temporary quarters while they find a permanent home. I felt a little disappointed for her - and I know she was as well. The woman who took us around did remember her though - and that was beginning of the greatness of the day. 

This little one was part of the joy - what a smile! She has a VSD - but one look at her told us she has Williams Syndrome - just like Julie. She was adorable - and Becky wanted to take her home....

This director was at the orphanage when Becky was there. 

This young lady was also there when Becky was there - and has an apartment there now. She makes these cool items and sells them. 

Becky's orphanage is now a Half the Sky program - and it has fundamentally changed since she was there; it's so good to see and was healing for me. 

Her hometown is known for dried mandarin products; we had tea. 

After a very full day, a walk about at the mall. The day was made so full because between the orphanage visit and the evening stroll, we were able to locate Becky's birth parents and meet them. In a totally God orchestrated chain of events laid out 4 years ago when we started the search, our searcher got a call, and we traveled about 2 hours after lunch to meet her birth family. Becky has chosen to keep the photos and details private for now - but GOD!!!! 

On Wednesday, we went back to visit Cami's foster family at the home village. What a homecoming it was

Her foster grandma was SO happy to see her. When Cami was in foster care, they would spend holiday's at the village and some weekend - and the love these grandparents have for her was evident. 

It was awesome to see a small, traditional Chinese village 

They look like they fit right in - the picture doesn't show how incredibly HOT it was there. 

The fruit - was AMAZING! 

And BIG - this might be the biggest papaya I have ever seen 

As sweet as the reunion was, the goodbye was hard 

Grandma didn't want to let go...

It was three days of foundational family; it soothed souls and warmed hearts and helped heal - well worth the bug bites, 98% humidity and 100 degree temps and hours in the car. Money can't buy the healing that happened over these three days. 

Family

It will come as no surprise to anyone that I believe blood/DNA connection is just a small part of what makes up a family. We are now entering into the part of the trip that personifies that belief so strongly it about makes you cry. 

We checked into the Garden Hotel in Guangzhou late (very late!!) Saturday night after a "planes, trains and automobile" day = that included me getting into the face of the guy at that taxi cab line and holding up the entire line until he found a car big enough for us. 

SUnday morning, I dragged the girls out for a photo opportunity - because...well....just look at it! 

This is the hotel I satyed at on Cami's adoption trip - and I think I made her take 100 photos on this bridge. 8 years later, grudgingly, I got one! 

The real beauty of the day cae when these ladies arrived. Agnes (the taller one) and BRenda were benefactors of Cami's the entie time she was in the orphanage. They live in Hong Kong and Cami lived with Agnes for several months while she had surgeries in Hong Kong. They adore her - and she them. They came up from Hong Kong to spend the day with us - such a GIFT! 

This lady is hte former orphanage director. She is likely responsible for saving Cami's life. 

Reunited and it feels so good! 

After a great day SUnday, it was off again via train to Cami's hometown to visit her orphanage and her foster family. She is totally a celebrity when she comes back - and that warms my heart. She was truly cared for during her time there. 

No one was happier to see her back than her foster mama! This lady cared for her four 4 1/2 years - through some tough times - and loves her. A lot. 

Her foster dad 

Food. Every time we get together with someone, they feed us. A lot. We are eating about 4-5 full on meals every day...

This nanny has been with Cami since the ay she arrived at the orphanage. She was directly responsible for caring for Cami the first months there and likely saved her life. She also went to Hong Kong with her when she had her surgeries. 

While no child should ever be in an orphanage, this place is top notch. When China recalled all the kids back to their orphanages frm foster care, this place was the first to set up apartments for the foster families so that kids could stay in their families. They have therapy equipment and the kids that are there are very well cared for and engaged with and help and loved on - the fruit of that effort shows in my girl every day! 

Family - taking care of one another - and always connected. 

Friends and FOOD!

Day 3 and 4 had very common themes - friends and FOOD! After my experience at cooking class in Italy, and upon the awesome recommendation of our friend Sohpie, we signed up for a cooking class at a cultural center in the hutong section of Beijing. 

It was a dumpling class - well, because - who doesn't love dumpings! 

We got there a bit early to ejoy the location - this lovely girl Sophie is just the bomb! We love her and loved getting to spend some time with her

Practicing my selfies.....

My and my favorite traveling buddies 

The center was amazing - he set up was marvelous

The finished product - we had them boiled and pan friend. We were too busy eating them to actually take any photos of the lunch experience! 

We moved from the FOOD portion to the friends portion - taking the train (by ourselves!) to Tianjin. 

We rrived in Tianjin and were met by a classmate of Cami's who lives there. I think it was pretty cool for her - she likely doesn't have many of her classmates over to her house! Of course, in the Chinese way, we went to dinner! 

Cindy and her parents treated us to a boat ride on the Sea River in Tianjin - that is a real ferris wheel in the background, and it is the BIGGEST one I have ever seen. We did not go on it - none were that brave. 

Cindy's mom took a special interest in Becky 

Breakfast at the Qin's home - SO much food - but so, so delicious! 

Then....shopping! 

This was the coolest - this man made sugar animals. As Becky blew into the thin tube of sugar, he formed it into a pig - her Chinese Zodiac animal. 

We left the market, went home to yet more food, then off for our "trains. planes and automobiles" adventure to travel from Tianjin to Guangzhou via Beijing! It was a LONG aternoon and evening of traveling, and suffice it to say the girls experienced a different side of China - the hurry up and wait in line then wait some more side!