Happy Valentine's Day!!!

 Today we spent the day at a flower park. I haven't downloaded those pictures

yet, but here are some from prior days.....

Posing by the flowers in the hotel lobby.

Taking pics in the hotel garden. It got dark by the time I convinced Pearl to

put her feet on the ground. I may try these another day. The hotel has a

garden and waterfall of its own.

Pearl fell fast alseep on the taxi ride back from Shaimian Island. It was fun to

walk these familiar streets and visit the shops that we visited in 2007 and

2010.

One of the shop keepers tried to convince us Pearl needed sunglasses.

Look who warmed up to Papa Ron. I convinced her only he could reach the monkey

bars so she let him touch her. It was brief, but it is progress.

There is a new playground that has been built since we were here last. Pearl

was very timid at first. Her gross motor skills are severly lacking. I don't

think she was ever given a chance to run and play because of her heart. She

ran and played here for about an hour and wanted to play more, but Papa Ron and

I were tired. Maybe we are the ones with the heart condition? Pearl always

seem to out last us.

This college student asked if she could make our picture. Her name is Judy and

she is studying journalism. She is writing about the adoption phenomenon  in China. She wants to change the views of the Chinese people about their daughters and their orphans. Someone told her that adoptive

families can be found in Guangzhou so she had traveled here hoping for photos

and comments. Go Judy Go.

Her TB test was negative ! Thank goodness and thank you for the prayers. On

Thursday we have our consulate appointment then our official business here is

done! On Friday we pick up her visa and head to Hong Kong by train. We will

spend the night there and fly HOME on Saturday morning!