The Summer Palace

After a great day of Wall climbing, we came to our hotel and were greeted with turned down beds and slippers.  The slippers were a favorite for Pryce:)

 After a good night's rest, we set off for a day of adventure touring the Summer Palace.

 Pryce was always a good sport about my picture taking habits during the entire trip:)

 We toured the Kunming Lake portion of the Summer Palace. 

 We loved this man and his talents!  He was busy writing Chinese characters with a large paintbrush and water.  We walked by and he immediately began sketching the face of one of our team members and then wrote "Hello".....

 Some of my favorite photos from the trip were taken here.....

 this is the China that I envisioned years ago before our first visit.

 My travel partner....

 looking back, this time in Beijing was so good for all of us.  It was the calm, the known. 

 We were all healthy, excited, and anticipating the days to come.

 On this day, Pryce looked at me and said, "I can't wait to meet the children tomorrow!"  And he couldn't.  

 Following our morning of touring at the Summer Palace, we chose to dine at a local restaurant that reminded me somewhat of a Disney dining experience....

 although the menu selection was far from Disney:)  Braised Beancurd with Fishhead anyone?

 We arrived in our province that evening with a surprise pizza dinner!  My happy place.  Mind you, the Chinese food is good yet so different from what we have here in a Chinese restaurant.  And I am not a chop stick master.  Many times during this trip I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman as food would fly right out of my hands - "slippery little suckers." And you don't always know what you are eating.  

For a person who is a bit finicky in her own backyard, eating the unfamiliar was a bit daunting.  However, dinnertime was always a high point.  Laughter was a guarantee at each dinner.  No matter what we encountered during our day, dinner was a time to bring us each to a place of happiness....not because we were untouched by what we had seen during the day, but because it was a time to unwind and unstress due to the reactions of everyone as plates were passed around our table. 

But pizza was familiar.  And it was comfort in the uncomfortable.  And it did bring me (and others) much happiness after all was said and done each evening.  

The Great Wall Of China 2015

China would just not be China without a squatty potty experience.  At least this trip, there was a warning - these signs were politely placed on each stall to give a heads up before entering.  This was our first encounter with the squatty potty on this trip but definitely not our last.  Lots of laughs as team members tried to maneuver this minor obstacle during our trip!

 Snowballed on the Great Wall!  

 Our plan was to ride the cable car to the top of this area of the Wall and then ride a toboggan down. 

 However, the weather was not ideal for toboggan riding so we rode the cable car up (great decision!) and had the pleasure of walking down!

 This section of the Wall was amazing!  And the snow was the icing on the cake.

 This was the beginning of an amazing journey with Pryce!

 For more than two hours, we laughed, slipped, squealed, and stood amazed at the beauty of China.

 We have been to China four times now and the Great Wall twice.  Our first trip to the Wall was almost 8 years ago when we brought MK home....a time that was full of a different kind of excitement.  I honestly do not recall much of our first visit aside from the restaurant we dined in (a fish with the head was involved) and the horrendous uneven steps coupled with the fear of my boys falling off of the Wall (they were 5 and 8 at the time!).  

 On this day, I simply took in the beauty that surrounded me.

 And took in the beauty that others created:)

 And I did fear a little of slipping....the ice on the steps was a bit thick at times.

 But the Wall was breathtaking and allowed for my mind to rest....going into this trip, the few days leading up to our departure, I allowed Satan to take over and fear to set in.  How would the girls do with me being gone for almost two weeks?  I had never been away from them.  What if Pryce got sick?  What if I got sick?  What if we were not safe?  What if, what if, what if....but on this day, I relished in the fact that we were right where we were supposed to be, a place that God was/is continuing to prepare our hearts to serve. 

And this was just the beginning.....

China Mission Trip 2015

Many moons ago, while visiting Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC, I happened to spy a mother and her Chinese daughter as they admired the animals.  Her daughter reminded me very much of our little Maddox.  I went over and politely introduced myself and asked where her daughter was born.  To my surprise the mother answered, "Guizhou."  Guizhou is where our Maddox was born and it is where our Maddox was still waiting on this particular day.  We exchanged contact info and became Facebook friends and kept acquainted through these two methods of communication.  

Last year,  this mother, Brandi, traveled to China on a mission trip and I followed along.  Shortly after she returned, she announced she would be leading a mission trip to China in 2015.  I immediately told her I wanted more information and I felt called to join her.  Pryce and I soon signed up and the rest is history!

So, we have arrived in Beijing on our first mission trip ever!  We landed, and Pryce immediately dove into the Chinese culture and devoured duck during our first meal here.  We are traveling with 12 other adults and as I type, it is SNOWING.  YIKES!  Our real mission begins on Sunday when we travel to be in an orphanage for the rest of our stay. We are thankful for this opportunity and look forward to seeing our purpose revealed during our time here!  

Today will be spent on the Great Wall of China.....in SNOW - Brrr!  

                                                                       

Happy Halloween 2015

Our fabulous five!  I am savoring these moments when they are all together and smiling!

 Our beautiful Maddox....she was beaming with joy on this day.

 These two besties took on the patch together to find just the right pumpkin....

 there were struggles involved but nothing kept them from giggling....

 what a treasure it is to have them together!

 This little cherub was shouting, "Hey, mommy, wook!  I got one!"  She was so excited to find just the right pumpkin for her to hold all by herself.

 Other pumpkins, in her opinion, we just made for sitting:)

 The whole gang....

And another Maddox photo....she was on a photogenic role this particular day!

 Our fall festival at church was a huge hit this year as well!  Lots of sliding, and train riding, and jumping involved....and candy.

 Pumpkin carving gone new age.....we typically do the old style carve, two ears, a triangle nose and a crooked mouth.  

 This year, the Mohrs encouraged us to get a bit fancy....lots of fun and they really turned out well!

 While carving was taking place, some kiddos chose to get ready for the trick or treating event....Maddox is our resident make-up artist.

 My three baby girls....so fun to see them grow together!

 A clown, so fitting for her personality.

An Egyptian princess, fitting too as she will be something extravagant as she grows.

And a cat, fitting as well....she is so sweet and sly and happy most all of the time!

 The dynamic duo....Chloe was so sweet to trick-or-treat with MK.  She wasn't convinced this was going to be how she spent her Halloween but she trudged forward and supported MK on her mission for chocolate!

 Never a dull moment....

 Maryn was all about trick or treating for the first 20 or so houses.....

 I am pretty sure she never said, "Trick or Treat" but she swindled quite a variety of candy from everyone she approached.

 The big girls ran ahead and paved the way....

 while we lagged behind and took pics and chatted!

 This pic pretty much sums up our Halloween evening....a bit of crazy, a bit cross-eyed, and a little sweetness.  It was the first Halloween where all of my babies were not all together.  So goes the life of growing up.....friends reign on the social front so off C and P went to do their thing!

 The candy sorting....they all came together for a bit of sorting....some for them and lots for our Operation Christmas Child kiddos.  

 And a bit of Halloween card reading!  MK is such a huge help with Maryn....she adores her and thinks she is the best thing ever!  Thank you G-Mom and G-Dad for the goodies!