Anna Li's First Hair Cut

Anna Li's first haircut curtosey of Amy Drake @ J. Drake Salon Spa in Cullman.
Thanks Amy! We love it:)

Anna Li's first Sunday at Church

Today was Anna Li's first Sunday to go to church. I don't know why I didn't take a picture of the kids. I just haven't got back in the swing of things:) Anna Li really enjoyed Sunday School. We found out this week that we have a couple in our church that were missionaries in China. We had the pleasure of meeting them today at church and Anna Li was so excited to talk with her. It was truly a blessing! After church we went to Mamaw's for lunch. I remembered my camera this time so here is some pictures for you to enjoy!!!! Mamaw with Bethany, Colin, and Anna Li. It would be very strange to actually see a picture of Mamaw with her eyes open!!!
Bethany and Anna Li eating lunch. We had Mexican Chicken Casserole and Anna Li liked it. She also had wienies, green beans, noodles, chocolate cake, and ice cream!!

Anna Li showed Mamaw that she can play a little tune.
After dinner we went out side and sat in our rockers (its a southern thang!). Anna Li played with my cousin's baby (Allie Belle).

Later the girls played croquette with Alex but he somehow made it out of the picture:)

And that is a Sunday in the life of the Gray's:)

Home Update

Wow! It has been almost a week since we have been home. Time sure does fly!! Anna Li is doing great:) and adjusting very well. She loves her family, her home, her room, the top bunk, and especially Pebbles the cat. I think she is a little bored staying at home. We took Bethany to her first day of school on Monday and Anna Li really wanted to stay. Next week she will be tested and we will have a better idea of what grade to start her in. She is such a people person and I really think she will be much happier in school vs. staying home with mom and/or dad. I am not sure how the language barrier will go over but I know people do it everyday. It will all work out! As far as food goes, she is definitely a meat eater. She loves my cheese stuffed meatloaf, hot dogs (without the bun), and fish. She is not crazy about casseroles but will give everything a try. She LOVES noodles but we try to limit the amount she eats because it is so high in sodium. She also loves to snack on slim jims (beef sticks), raisins, and LOVES Doritos (chips)!!

FAMILY FUN!!
We took the kids to Chucky Cheese last night and Anna Li had a blast. For those that do not know, Chucky Cheese is a pizza place that gives the kids tokens to play games, win tickets, and get prizes. When we were done each of the kids got to pick out a prize and Anna Li picked out a pair of glasses that had a funny nose and mustache attached. It totally suited her. She loves to be silly and laugh:) I am sorry to say I left my camera at home:( I promise I will get better and post some pictures soon.

We went to Bethany's school the same day and talked to the class about our trip. Anna Li loved to be in the classroom!! She didn't have a problem standing up in front of everyone and teaching the class some Chinese (hello, thank you, and good bye). I think all the kids enjoyed it and they loved the chopsticks we gave them.

I will post again next week and let everyone know how our doctor visit went. I promise I will post some pictures then too:)

TRAVEL UPDATE

We have made it to Detroit safely:)

We have a 7 hour layover and should leave Detroit around 9:45pm:(
We will arrive in Birmingham at 11:50pm.
I will be in bed snuggled up to my Colin no later than 1:30am:)

I am so glad to be back in America!!!!
Anna Li became a citizen as soon as we landed in Detroit:)
She is a little tired and sleepy but is doing wonderful.

Keep praying we are almost home!!

Last Day in Guangzhou!!

Saying goodbye to our new friend Jordan from Jordan's gift shop. If your going to Guangzhou you have to stop and visit Jordan!! It's a must!

Today we took our oath and received Anna Li's Visa. We will be getting up at 4am, carrying luggage down at 5am, off to the air port at 5:30am, and hopefully our flight will take off at 8:20am. The weather has not been so good the past few days. There was a typhoon in Hong Kong and we are feeling its wrath. I hope our flight does not get delayed:) I am so ready to come home. Please keep us in your prayers. Pray for good weather and a safe flight. Pray we don't get bumped off any flights. Our "wonderful" travel agent got us check-in only seats all the way back home:)

Colin, 1.5 more nights without mommy. I can't wait to see you and give you a big hug!!! I love you!!!

Picture Day and Farewell Dinner

Today was picture day. We gathered all the children adopted in our group to sit on the red couch for their picture. It was fun and adorable but you will have to wait until we are home to see them:) Mom, Dad, and the girls at the White Swan Hotel
We had our farewell dinner tonight at a Cantonese Restaurant. SURPRISE!!! It was very good!! We had a very good dinner and company:)
ONE MORE DAY!!!!!!!!!
We will be leaving very early Thursday morning (which will be your Wednesday night) heading to AMERICA!! Colin... Mama's coming home!!!!!! Keep us in your prayers.

Love,
The Gray's

Another Day in China

A view from the island... Dad and his girls....
The girls with Nicki and Timothy from Christian Action (they are both so sweet!!)
Today we visited a Buddhist Temple....
We also took Anna Li for medical examination. We actually did this first thing this morning:)
I will not have much to write about the last few days here. Today we completed the medical exam, tomorrow we have our ACS appointment, Wednesday we will visit the zoo and that afternoon take the oath and get Anna Li's visa., AND THURSDAY we will be flying HOME!! Yippie!!! I can not hardly wait to get home to my little Colin!!!!! We all miss him sooooo much!!!

2 MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!

More Blessings

Tonight we had the privilege to meet with Nicki and Timothy from Christian Action. They are such wonderful people and support such a great cause. They have done so much for the children of Xining, especially my daughter:) I have prayed for my daughter since I was at least 15 and the Lord sent them to watch over her. They were the answer to my many prayers. I will never be able to repay them for their kindness. Tonight they gave Anna Li a very sweet card and a jade necklace. They also gave Bethany a jade necklace. They gave mommy and daddy many more pictures!!! I will share a few with you:) (above) Anna Li on the play ground at the orphanage.
(above) Anna Li at school.
(above) Anna Li loves playing games. Since we have been here we have played ping pong and snookers.
(above) Anna Li has already shared with us that she loves basketball.. now we have pictures of her playing.
(above) This looks like it may have been taken at Center Square but I could be wrong. Isn't she precious!!!

(Back tracking!!) Leaving Xining

Our last afternoon in Xining. Pictures on the way to the airport. The girls like to take pictures:)


The girls saying goodbye to Peter, our guide in Xining.

We Have Arrived!!

We have made it safely to Guangzhou. I think we are all really going to like it here. We had Papa John's Delivered to our room tonight:) Food at last!!

Chad is teaching Anna Li English right now. He just said, "Say it again" and she did. She said, "say it again." It is so funny! We forget sometimes that she doesn't understand us. If you say what is this she will say "what is this". I think things will be a little easier once we are home.

It's late and I'm tired (I almost wrote it's tired and I'm late!!) so we will post more tomorrow which will be tonight for most of you:)

Good Night!

Kristy

Too Funny!

This is too funny!! While at the People's Park, we stopped to watch this man ride a motorcycle in a cage shaped like a ball. All of the sudden people started gathering all around us taking pictures. Half the people stopped watching the show and started watching us. It started out with a couple of kids wanting their picture made with Bethany and then it grew, and grew, and grew!!! I think I counted over 20 people and more were still running towards us to get in the picture. I have pictures of them taking pictures of us. I was laughing so hard I couldn't hold the camera straight. I bet those motorcycle men were not to happy with us:) Our guide said they do not get to see foreigners too often so they were just taking advantage of the opportunities. I can't tell you how many photo albums my daughters are going to be in:)

Fun Friday!!

Today we went to the Center Square and walked around when Anna Li suggested we go to the People's Park. We hailed a cab and off we went. It was the best day yet!! At the entrance there was a little outdoor pet shop. Anna Li loves dogs!! The People's Park was very nice and there was lots to see and do.
This would be Chad trying to push me in the water.
Lots of fair rides!! Anna Li did not want to ride this but then she decided she would if I would. I think it scared both of us to death!! We screamed our heads off and of course everyone had to gather around to see the crazy Americans:) Anna Li did a good job of keeping up with how many rides she took and how many Bethany took. She didn't want to ride some so Bethany had more and she started demanding fair treatment:) Is this a little sibling rivalry starting????
On top of the bridge at People's Park
What a wonderful day!!!!!!!