Free Day {Lanzhou, 10.24.2012}

Today we had a free day with no appointments and no planned sightseeing so we walked to the “expensive” mall. Melody warned us! She was right, it was the “expensive” mall! Aside from a small toy for Nora, no purchases made. The mall is a nine story mall in a square with welcoming green space. There is also an area where locals were exercising, and there was an area where a “leader” was playing music over a speaker system and people were dancing. We were tempted but resisted! Many of the sales persons would approach, look at us, look at Nora and speak in rapid fire Chinese. Between that and the same thing happening every time we go to the grocery store, it does get a little unnerving.

Tomorrow we will do some additional sightseeing and hope to get Nora’s passport. And, on Friday we leave for Guangzhou where we will finish up all of our appointments and paperwork. The weather has been mostly in the 40’s / 50’s in Lanzhou. In Guangzhou, we are expecting high 80’s. That will be a change, but we are looking forward to our next stop which is rumored to have a McDonald’s (which I don’t even like, but it sounds good!) and a Starbucks. Need I say more? Haha, we are getting a bit homesick.

Locals Exercising in the Square

The Nine Story Mall

We continue to fall more and more in love with Nora every day. I can honestly say that everything is going really well, praise God for his grace and his gifts that he would choose this little one to be our daughter. Today little miss would only nap if in the carrier or in our arms. While some might say this is a challenge, at this point, we consider it a blessing that she feels comfortable with us. We did have some inconsolable times of crying today which we suspect is due to a bit of sensory overload, adjustment and grieving. During these times, my heart breaks as the ways I comfort her and the words I say are not at all what she is used to. One day we will just know, and until then we will keep looking up.

Will I Never Tire of Photos of Little Miss Sucking Her Thumb?

One week until we are home and reunited with the rest of our crew! We are missing the kids like crazy, but they are very clearly being loved on and well taken care of. So thankful!