One week tomorrow

The connections I have had in Gaungzhou haven't been the best and it has been hard to post pictures. I will have to do that when I'm home and settled.
This is what I've learned this week, Xiao Gang is pretty quiet. Sometimes when he's asked things(even in Mandarin) he will either just look or will mouth the words with no voice. Now, I know he can speak bc he will talk very softly from time to time. He willingly will hold my hand and smiles when we are out walking.
He has a sweet smile, he loves music( he breaks out in dance when music starts playing while we are out and about. He continues to show me his Kung Fu moves, thankfully no longer at 3 am,
He eats like any other Van Nostrand, so no help in the food buying department...lol.
Yesterday w
He completed his medical exam, which is needed to get his Visa to travel home. He handled it like a trooper. Sadly( to me) they asked if he would have his blood work done first, and he marched in rolling up his sleeve. While it was nice to not see him go in or come out screaming, it's sad thinking that he does it so well due to his past surgeries. He was just as brave while getting his 3 shots. Daniel, when we were there, needed 8!  I still think it is so crazy getting so many shots and not knowing what their reactions could be, all the while you are usually leaving a day or two later .
Today, another family and I went to Safari Park. The other families went to the zoo, where I didn't want to go. Last time I was there was in 2008 and I didn't really like it. Of course, Mazhu, liked it a lot, although not sure how much he took in while running laps there. Lol
Safari park is beautiful, the animals look very well taken care of and there is so much to do there
I bought food so Xiao Gang could feed the giraffes and I could get a photo op, but the giraffe pulled the entire branch from his hand. He had a great time and it was so much fun listening to him laugh so much at the monkies, and especially the white tigers as the jumped into the pool while retrieving their treats.
Tonight after dinner, I did get my first glance at him being upset. We were coming back from dinner and his water bottle fell into the street. He wanted to run and get it, but of course mean mother here said no!  He started yelling and pulling and I just held tight and said stop. Then he did "the squat" and refused to move. Oh little boy, you do not know this mom. Lol. I told him that this was something I had LOTS of experience in, and could wait it out. Eventually he started walking again. I did translate back in the room about listening when mom says no! He said he understood, and I'm pretty sure that will be for the moment, until the next time. Off to bed.

Made it to China!

Well, how would my life be if not mostly on the run.  Most people I know who travel this path will agree that time drags on forever as you " hurry up and wait" .....and then BAM! You are scrambling to get it all done to leave at the last possible moment. This time was no exception. I started to pack athursday night and then spent hours on Friday trying to locate the new passport pictures that we took and the huge amount of Chinese money I had left over from a previous trip ( as in maybe $6, but figured it could get me a bottle of water).
Ended up leaving work early to finish things up and make sure the crew didn't starve for at least the first few days. I did end up finding the pictures as they fell into a bag that had a shirt I was going to try to bring back
Saturday morning came and it was time to go.  Probably my fastest time through JFK. China southern 's newest route was good and efficient and I was able to make my connecting flight with time to spare.  I was met by my super- organized guide Jane who had me filling out paperwork while on the way to the hotel.
Monday morning and we arrived at civil affairs about an hour before Xiao Gang so we could exchange money and finish with papers. He is very sweet and quiet. He is sporting a huge scab on one side of his face as I was told it happened while on a motorbike with his foster family. He had the photo album I sent and the SWI sent some pictures of when he was younger. A definite treasure for us to have.
We spent that first day hanging around for a little while and then we went out to get water and snacks. Came back to rest since he was up so early and then we spent a few hours at the nearby park which is big and had rides and lots of walking paths. Had dinner and thought it would be a quiet night but this guy decided that 3 am was still a good time to be awake. He wasn't sad , had some stomache issues but just played quietly and then was waking me up at 6. This mom is tired!!
Today we finished the paperwork and it is official.  Hoping for lights out in 15 minutes and for a good nights sleep.

3 more sleeps!  My flight leaves Saturday morning at 11am, and I'm sure to be sound asleep once I buckle in..lol.  That's what happened last time, too.  I was so tired from all the running around, that I didn't even stay awake for take-off.

Family day is Monday the 12th.  Please pray that Marcus' heart is open for all the changes that will be happening, and that he is somewhat prepared.  Also, asking for prays that the kids at home will behave and not eat all the food in my first day gone!

I will try my best to post pictures and let everyone know what we are up to.  I do want to thank everyone who has helped us with our fundraisers, listened to me complain, prayed for our journey.  It takes a village, for sure.

To my special villagers, your friendship means the world to me!

Going to try to pack, I have work straight through til Friday afternoon.