China Day 8: Summer Palace & Chengdu

Day eight has arrived, and today would be our last day in Beijing until we returned to head back to the States. The families would be splitting in half at the end of the day heading in different directions across China.  It was time for our last yummy breakfast.  The Chinese take breakfast seriously and have what I consider dinner foods along with some traditional American breakfast items, including my favorite the omelet station

Charlotte joined us for our last breakfast at the hotel...We will miss you Charlotte.

Everyone is packed up and checked out....Time to go!

Good bye Holiday Inn Temple of Heaven.  I promise I will return with my family in tow.

The daily "waiting on the grown ups" activity had been established by the girls.  It took me back to elementary school and I must say I got pretty good, pretty quick.  It was a fun way to get to know the girls better and become part of their group.  

Our last day was spent among the splendor of The Summer Palace.  The Summer Palace was a place where the royalty of China came to rest among the Imperial Gardens.  It is a place where the design of the Chinese is intertwined with nature in a seamless balance, something their culture has fully embraced in a way no one else has. 

Did I mention these girls love to start playing their hand games as much as they can?!

Yes I love Lily Pads!!

Oh my goodness...The children of China take my breath away!

Stunning...I could have sat and stared for hours!

So beautiful

Nothing better than scaling the walls of the Summer Palace...While I watched them I thought about all the little Royal Chinese kiddos that use to play all over these grounds, just like our girls!

One of my favorite places at The Summer Palace was called the "Long Corridor".  It was built in the 18th century and is famous for its extraordinary paintings.  It was constructed so that Emperor Qianlong's mother would have somewhere to walk the gardens no matter what the elements.  The drawings speak for themselves!

How cute is she??  Hanging out with her grandfather!

"Hi precious girl!"

The center of the "Long Corridor"

Of course there were many vendors throughout The Summer Palace....after all it is now a public park.  We  came across this vendor...Really?? They love Obama in China...Really China Really?? But interesting that they compared him to Mao!

Picture perfect moment!

Heading to lunch I ran across this sweet boy and his grandfather....who could resist that face!

Friends For Life!!

China as a majority is a Godless country. A country told who and what to believe. I guarantee God is at work in China and it amazed me because I felt God everyday in the beauty and splendor of China, especially here.  This bridge was so peaceful and tranquil, if you took the time to stop you could feel him in the breeze from the willow tree.  The power of the Holy Spirit was and is definitely in China!!

Time for our last meal together as a large group!  Michael sat with all his babies.  I could see it in his eyes how much he loves and cares for each one of these precious China babies, many that he helped find their forever families.  Whether he knows it or not God has used Michael in powerful ways by helping shape the lives of these precious girls and their forever families!  Thank you Michael!

Back out to enjoy The Summer Palace...look I found another baby, out like a light!

The girls were called over by an artist who put "tatoos" on the Chinese girls who don't speak Chinese.  People were facinated by the Chinese girls and their American families!

"The Marble Boat" was also known as the Boat of Purity and Ease

Kunming Lake

Time for a boat ride across Lake Kunming

The Seventeen-Arch Bridge

Michael and the families he brought together with the gift of adoption

Once we were back on the bus it was time to head to the airport.  This meant it was time to say goodbye to Charlotte.  Charlotte was more than a guide, she had become our friend.  She is kind, wise, thoughtful and so much more.  Laura, Skye, and I cherished our time together with Charlotte.  Skye wrote her a sweet note with our tip to make sure that Charlotte knew she had a valuable effect on us and we would always have a special place for her in our hearts!

I think the feelings were mutual!

We arrived at the Beijing airport and again turned many heads!  Not only were we a bunch of American's with Chinese children, we had a ton of luggage!

Welcome to Chengdu...Famous for their Panda Bears!!

Even our hotel welcomed us with a sweet panda bear hello!

It had been a long day, fun filled with people and places.  Laura and I just needed to get some air and walk around where we wanted at our own pace.  So, we went out to check out the neighborhood.

Looked like Christmas with all the lights, but it was only June!

Another statue of Mao in the town square

Wait...do my eyes deceive?? No...it's a STARBUCKS in the middle of China!  I see a skinny vanilla latte in my future, ahhhh a piece of home!  Oh no, how do you say skinny vanilla latte in Chinese?? Where is my Charlotte when I need her?

Work doesn't stop, even in the rain!
Thus ended our long day and an airplane ride to Chengdu.  I am excited to see all of the beauty this city and enjoy the provence of Sichuan, famous for their spicy Sichuan food.  Tomorrow is a brand new day with a new guide, adventure lies ahead!!