Nanning

I haven't really said much about the cities that we are in. Not too many pics on this one probably. So stop reading if you don't care unless there are pics. Kidding.

Started in Beijing. First, the smog is thick, although one day it was somewhat clear. It burns your throat. The city is enormous. New York City I don't believe can hold a candle to its size and scope. It is very industrial looking. Concrete everywhere, no signs of life. While the people are generally nice to us, there seems to be somewhat of a hardness about them. Big city type of hardness. Everything is fast and constantly moving. The type of trip that you want to get off but don't know how. And, this time of year, it is extremely cold. I have already mentioned that.

Nanning on the other hand we love. I would say the whole group likes it here. It is very green. Palm trees in the breeze, flowers blooming everywhere. Clean air, wonderful people. Even though the streets are still very busy, all seem to be at easier pace here. Now its still a big city, 6 million folks I think. But, this area is centralized to the minorities of China. Most of China is of the Han ethnic group, I believe. 90% of China in fact. But, not this area. This is the area of minorities. And it is a wonderful place. More agriculture down here, or at least in the surrounding areas. The weather is wonderful. Granted, the summers are excessively hot and humid, but this time of year is great. This is the area that Yazi is from. All of the girls in our group are from the Guiping area which is about a 5 hour bus ride from here. The girls are full of life, each are somewhat strong willed (you get that way growing up in an orphanage ), but all the girls are doing great. The sleep patterns aren't quite there yet for anybody. I think the Falconers didn't get any sleep the first night (and I mean no sleep) and then twelve hours the next. That gives you an indication of the adjustment the girls are going through.

Yazi is starting to take milk well now. So, maybe she will sleep a little better as well. She doesn't eat much of food food, but we ain't sweating that right now. She's taking milk, so everything is fine.

Spencer is a real trooper. He gets bored a little, maybe a lot sometimes, but he doesn't really say anything about it. He keeps pluggin' along. Today, we went to a minority cultural garden where they performed a dance and song in a gorgeous garden park. At one point, they grabbed several from the audience, Honey, myself and Spencer included, and we got to laugh and carry on like we knew what we were doing. It was a good day.

Chelle is quite tired. She's carrying a load on her shoulders making sure Yazi knows who Momma is. Well, after tonight, she knows. Chelle can get Yazi cackling pretty good, and then she starts grunting, and then she sticks her tongue out. Everybody needs to get used to that. She has a tongue thing going. The Chinese believe that a red thread connects people through time and space and fate connects them somewhere down the way. Or something like that. Well, I believe that God has his hand in tying the thread, and He tied it with Chelle and Yazi.

Mom is doing great. Tomorrow will be a special day. Mom Baker would have turned 100 I believe. So, we hope that as she remembers her Mom, my grandmother, that you all will pray for her. But, I know that being a part of this event in our life is something right out of a Mom Baker family moment. Always willing to take someone in as family, my mother is doing the same. A stranger is now one of her own. Happy day to you, mother.