What a Difference a Day Makes, Saturday, March 12, 2011

This morning we woke up feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep.  Blythe got up around 4:30 a.m. which doesn't seem early to us anymore because we go to bed around 8 p.m.!  We had an incredible breakfast at the hotel and then headed out for a lovely walk in the adjacent park.  The park is right along the water and was so beautiful.  The area we are in is called New City and it is filled with wonderful art museums and open parks.  At 9:30 a.m.  our driver picked us up and we headed to the famous White Swan Hotel.  The White Swan is famous in Chinese adoption circles because so many families stay there.  It was amazing to see so many western families all with beautiful Chinese sons and daughters.  Many had older Chinese children as well - just like biological families they come back for more.  We met up with the three other Gladney families and their wonderful daughters.  They are from Montclair, NJ, Easton, MD, & Rockville, MD.  It was great to speak with them and hear about their experiences thus far.  We then headed over to have the girls pictures taken for their visas and onto their medical appointments.  There were lots of other families doing the same and it was great to see all these excited families going through the same process as us.  If you doubt that there are loving and kind people in this world then come to this medical office and you will see family after family choosing to love and parent children with all sorts of special needs.  Whether the children are older and having trouble adjusting or are missing both their hands and feet.  Amazing people are saying they were called to love these children.  It puts a lot of life in perspective and makes you feel good about your fellow man.  I was grateful for the experience.  We then did a little shopping and had lunch outside at Lucy's Bar.  Blythe and I walked around the park listening to music and dancing.  They love cheesy music here so I was in heaven.  We parted ways with the other families and headed back to our hotel and had the most lovely Italian dinner.  We were seated right by the open kitchen and the Head Chef noticed Blythe and made her a miniature pizza - not bad for your first pizza!  I looked over a Christian and said a week ago she was eating steamed eggs in an orphanage and tonight she is having Italian food at the Ritz Carlton - she deserves it.  She was a perfect angel all afternoon and at dinner!  Yeah Blythe!