Just sitting around (i.e. waiting) - June 1

That pretty much sums up our day...at least for me, Lauren, and Betty.  (The boys spent "International Children's Day" at McD's, the pedestrian shopping area, and a nice local park).  

We spent the morning at the Civil Affairs office where the adoption approval certificate was notarized (insert applause here) and thumb-stamped; then the rest of the day we spent at the China passport office in Fushun. A long, interesting drive to and fro, and then LOTS more waiting around... often asking questions.

Questions like: "What are they saying?  Does he look agitated or happy?  Why are they all shouting and pointing?  Are they looking at us again?  What are they laughing about?  Does he look stressed now?  Is her body language concern or relief?"  Hopefully that paints the picture.  Betty got her picture taken, and goes back early tomorrow morning for final approval (we hope).

Though we did spend many long hours just sitting and waiting on other people, my impression of the entire operation is that the Chinese government offices are a model of efficiency, patience, and good behavior.  It was pretty impressive to observe.  And, they did accept Betty's passport application.  One more step closer to coming home soon.

Getting back on the tangent about driving in China:  It seemed like driving in Beijing was -- for the most part-- much like driving in any other major metropolitan area I've visited.  Hectic, crowded, but workable.

Well, so far Shenyang and Fushun are a different story.  Here, the roads have no dedicated "lanes," just open asphalt where you squeeze in as many cars, buses, motorcycles, bikes, pedestrians, trucks, and miscellaneous animals across the roadway as possible.  Where travel lane markings do exist, they seem to be more of a suggestion, rather than a rule of law.  Buses run red lights without a touch of the brakes... bicyclists arrogantly zip in front of cars and trucks as if THEY would be the one to survive that meeting??!  Too much traffic in the roadways?  Then just drive up on the sidewalk and dodge pedestrians, trees, and parked cars.  The sidewalks are just as chopped up, bumpy, worn out and crowded as the main streets anyway.  Yet through it all, our driver is totally relaxed-- obviously he's been doing this all his life, and it just is what it is.  In the midst all this madness, we still managed to feel safe and secure; strangely relaxed, and even shrug-your-shoulders confident that we would make it.   (By the way, on the long bus rides, I found out Betty really likes tennis, running, hacky-sack, and snow-skiing!!  Yes, it sounds great, but in FL I don't think we'll do much of that last one... hope she likes the beach!)

Really nothing (else) exciting to tell today -- from 830am to 5pm it was just sitting around watching other people work, and work for us they did.  Thank you thank you thank you to our guides who did all the heavy negotiating and obvious pre-planning for today.

Got in some pool time in the evening, a traditional Chinese gourmet meal (well OK, OK, we really just ate at Subway, I know, that's so non-adventurous!!), more swimming pool and right to bed, out cold.

Thank you all for your emails, Skypes, prayers, notes of encouragement, and finally, your blog comments.  We read and definitely appreciate all your kind words and ceaseless support... There is still a lot of official business to do and much official paperwork to be processed, expedited, and completed-- then our visit to Guangzhou to make everything official and bring her home.

" Therefore, my dear brother, stand firm.  Let nothing move you.  Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that you labor in the Lord is not in vain."  1 Corinthians 15:58