Greetings from the White Swan Hotel. Apparently the four-star experience of Guangzhou. It is very beautiful, with ornate artwork and hand carved sculptures out of wood and jade everywhere. There's a big waterfall in the lobby and great ponds with chinese giant goldfish. Kinda pricy though, we bounced down into the dining area and found that to feed our now family of 4 would cost us $60 american dollars. Yikes! we've been averaging about 12. So we quizzed the nearest american families (which are everywhere here in Guangzhou) and found that Lucy's is the place to dine. American-like food and hollywood posters all over the walls. Joe says his hamburger had the essence of china in it's flavor, but we do think it was beef. We laughed when we saw blueberry cheescake on the menu and just had to see it. It turned out to be a round mix between jello and cheese with little red fruit bits and seeds in it. MMMM..... We told our coordinator that we will try and send some Michigan blueberries to her if we can.

Thank you for your prayers. Max has been going to bed at 8 and getting up at 2am, and then again at 5:15am ready for his day. Needless to say, our days begin early here. Esther seems to be handling it well. I was feeling very run down and sick yesterday when I arrived here. But one steamy hot bath and a cup of nyquil along with prayer, tylenol and two oranges has perked me up again. I was needing a full nights sleep,and last night Max and all of us slept from 9pm to 6:30 with no wake ups. Thank you Jesus!

This morning was Max's Medical examination appt. He needed two different doctors to look over his scar and listen to his heartbeat, but he tested clean, and apparently has a wonderful big head. Beginning at 8, the clinic is full lined with families and their adopted children. Everyone looks so elated and sparkly, and I think Wow, what a thing, adoption. Everyone wins. All the perfect little faces that have just been given a name. (at least a name that means something more than 'year of the monkey') And I think, yeah, this has God design written all over it. We are so happy..and overwhelmed too, but so happy and humbled to be part of this piece of God again.
I used some of my rash creme and salve on Max's skin,and Joe and I both thought it looked alittle better today. And his congestion seems to be lifting too. It's sunny here so we're hoping any cold will just bake right of him.
Also a personal note of mine. Maximus loves his daddy. They rough and tumble all over the place and he just laughs and can't get enough. If daddy puts his arms out Max will just come a barrelling into them and giving five's is a favorite too. He's content to be with either one of us and that is so great. Many of the children only really bond with one parent this quickly.

More later...
the Joes