Sunday, May 30, 2010

Another Dinner With Hutson's Godparents (These Are For You, Lauren)

Sue, being the sweet and kind person she is, invited Jim and Clare for hamburgers and hotdogs this evening.  There just aren't any better hosts than Sue and Bill.

Clare blowin' bubbles.

Clare and Claire

She's the best

"The best's" husband, Bill

Miss Claire

Miss Claire measuring out the wine

Look at the great smiles.  Fabulous folks.

We love her.

Two lawyers and Sue

Two lawyers, two Chinese girls named Claire and Clare, and Sue

What A Wonderful Sidetrip For Brycie and Hutson

When we went to get Clare in November, 2008, our friend, Amy Eldridge of Love Without Boundaries, put us in touch with a friend of hers, Mui.  We were able to meet Mui and her adorable little daughter, Portia, when we went to Shantou to see Clare's orphanage.  We became instant friends, and have communicated by letter and e-mail and facebook ever since.  For the past 5-6 months we  have not heard from Mui due to the difficulties with the internet in China.  We have, however, kept sending messages hoping they would reach her.  Yesterday I got an e-mail from Mui, and she was able to reach us by internet.  She gave her phone number so I immediately sent it on to Brycie.  I replied to her e-mail and gave her Brycie's number at the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou.  Within minutes, Mui called Brycie and they had a long visit.  Then Mui called again and asked Brycie to bring Hutson and take the bus from Guangzhou to Shantou (about 5 hours).  As I write this post, Brycie and Hutson are on their way to Shantou to see Mui and Portia, and spend several days with our dear, dear friend.  With all that has happened, Brycie needed a "warm fuzzy" and a trip to see Mui and Portia is just the ticket.  Thank you, Jesus. 

Trinity Sunday

"O the depth of the riches of the wisdom and of the knowledge of God!  How incomprehensible are His judgments, and how unsearchable His ways!  For who hath known the mind of the Lord?  Or who hath been His counselor?  Or who hath first given to Him, and recompense shall be made him?  For of Him, and by Him, and in Him, are all things:  to Him be glory for ever.  Amen."  Romans 11:33-36

Guangzhou

We flew from Beijing to Guangzhou on Friday.  The flight went well, although Hutson did have a little trouble with his ears, and he just halfway listened to my suggestion that he yawn to relieve the pressure.  Our new son has a mind of his own!!!  Saturday, we had his medical check done.  That clinic must've been the noisiest place on earth.  The ear, nose and throat check went great; the eye exam, temperature, and blood pressure went great; then he refused to take his shorts off so that the female doctor could examine him, so we stood in line for the male doctor; then came time for the immunizations - NOT good!!  First, he resisted the oral polio vaccination.  He did okay with the first shot, but it took us about 30 minutes to convince him to act like a 12-year-old to take the second shot.  Wow!  I truly didn't think a 12-year-old would act like he did - pulling away, wanting to run away, acting like an animal when we tried to hold him down.  Our guide told him that he could not come to the US if he didn't get this shot.  His reply?  Well, then I don't want to go to the US!  He finally decided to "cowboy up" and sat still for the shot.  

A trip to the Six Banyan Trees Temple and the Chan Family Temple was scheduled for today at 10:00 a.m.  Last night he told the guide that he wasn't interested, and I have seen it before and did not care to go again.  But this morning at 10:05 a.m., he was pointing at his watch and insisted that he wanted to go.  So, I called Kelly, and she said they had not left yet.  We got to the Six Banyan Trees Temple, and he moped around.  I was SO glad we'd gone - NOT!!  Come to find out, he had a headache and was sick to his stomach, but he had refused to take the Tylenol earlier - remember, this boy has a mind of his own!!  We went to the Chen Family Temple were he felt nauseated.  Luckily, the bus was still there, and the driver took us back to the White Swan, where Hutson decided to take the Tylenol.  He is feeling better now.  Needless to say, I am ready to go HOME!!!



View of the Pearl River from our room


Another view of the Pearl River from our room


Hutson getting his camera ready


One of the shops near the White Swan


Ahhhh, Starbucks!!!


Fountain and Flowers


Music Teacher and Children







Brycie's lunch


Hutson's lunch


I call this masterpiece "The Boy Who Insisted He Wanted to Go on the Tour"


Pagoda at Six Banyan Trees Temple


Great Wall families


Entrance to Chen Family Temple


Chen Family Temple Detail

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Ember Saturday After Pentecost

May Thy holy mysteries, O Lord, impart to us a divine fervor: which may make us delight both in their celebration and in their fruit.  Through our Lord. (Postcommunion Prayer)

Friday, May 28, 2010

Ember Friday After Pentecost

O Merciful God, we beseech Thee that Thy Church, which was gathered together by the Holy Ghost, may nowise be troubled by hostile attack.  (Collect)

We have received, O Lord, the gifts of Thy holy mystery, and humbly beseech Thee: that what Thou hast bidden us do in remembrance of Thee may be of avail to us in our weakness:  Who livest and reignest. (Postcommunion Prayer)

Prayer Request

We ask that all who follow this blog please pray for a sweet young girl who is suffering with a severe case of shingles.  Please lift up this precious soul and her entire family as they work through this ordeal.  Her mother is about to have a baby, and she has brothers and sisters who might be vulnerable.  May God be ever near them during this time.  God bless you, Miss G.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou

Here is a photo of the White Swan Hotel in Guangzhou, where Brycie and Hutson will be staying for the next week.  It is a lovely hotel on Shamian Island, that caters to families adopting Chinese children.  Jim took this photo when he and Brycie were in China in November, 2008, adopting Clare.  Obviously, Jim is bored and trying to think of things to do while his bride is off gallivanting in China with our son, Hutson.  Please humor him.

Thursday In Pentecost Week

"And he called the Twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to preach the kingdom of God and to heal.  And he said to them, 'Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics.  And whatever house you enter, stay there, and from there depart.  And wherever they do not receive you, when you leave that town shake off the dust from your feet as a testimony against them.'  And they departed and went through the villages, preaching the gospel and healing everywhere."  Luke 9:1-6

St. Luke, the Evangelist, reminds us that our Lord Jesus Christ conferred on His Apostles the power of working miracles and commanded them to preach everywhere the Kingdom of God.

Pray For Safe Travel For Brycie and Hutson

As I write this, Brycie and Hutson are boarding the plane to travel from Beijing to Guangshou.  I would ask all our friends, family and blog followers to pray for their safe travel.  I just spoke to Brycie and she said Hutson is quiet and pensive.  He is leaving all that he has ever known . . . but he is coming to a much better life . . . a life with a mom and dad and brothers and sisters, and most of all, Jesus!  He is excited but scared.  Please lift him up.

Listen to the words of the Book of Tobit:  Tobit called his son and said to him:  "My son, prepare whatever you need for the journey, and set out with your kinsman.  May God in heaven protect you on the way and bring you back to me safe and sound; and may his angel accompany you for safety, my son."

All-powerful and ever-living God,
when Abraham left his own land
and departed from his own people,
you kept him safe all through his journey.
Protect us, who also are your servants;
walk by our side to help us;
be our companion and our strength as we travel on the road
and our refuge in every adversity.
Lead us, O Lord,
so that we will reach our destination in safety
and happily return to our homes.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Ember Wednesday After Pentecost

"Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life.  I am the bread of life.  Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.  This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat of it and not die.  I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live for ever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh."  John 6:47-51

Tiananmen Square & the Forbidden City



























Summer Palace

The Summer Palace landscape, dominated mainly by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, covers an area of 2.9 square kilometers, three quarters of which is under water. Its 70,000 square meters of building space features a variety of palaces, gardens and other ancient-style architectural structures. Well known for its large and priceless collection of cultural relics, it was among the first group of historical and cultural heritage sites in China to be placed under special state protection.

The Summer Palace, originally named Qingyi Yuan or the Garden of Clear Ripples, was first constructed in 1750. It was razed to the ground by the Anglo-French Allied Forces in 1860. The Government of the Qing Dynasty started to rebuild it in 1886 with funds that it had misappropriated from the Imperial Navy and other sources. Renamed two years later as Yihe Yuan or the Garden of Health and Harmony, it was supposed to serve as a summer resort for the Empress Dowager Cixi. Known also as the Summer Palace, it was ravaged by the Allied Forces of the Eight Powers that invaded China in 1900. The damage was repaired in 1902. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China, the Summer Palace has undergone several major renovations. Its major attractions such as the Four Great Regions, Suzhou Street, the Pavilion of Bright Scenery, the Hall of Serenity, the Wenchang Galleries and the Plowing and Weaving Scenery Area have been successively restored. 

(http://www.ebeijing.gov.cn/Travel/Sightseeing/Summer_Palace/)


Bronze Qilin statue inside the Summer Palace


Hmmmm


Phoenix and Dragon






The Marble Boat on the grounds of the Summer Palace


Decorated Paifang in Summer Palace




Lady selling "goodies" outside the Summer Palace