EmmaLin's Birthday !!

Yesterday was a pretty good day for us. We got up for our buffet breakfast and then decided to go explore a little bit about the area. So we rented a stroller from the hotel and took a taxi down to what they call Shamian Island. It is basically an area of town that is surrounded by like a man made moat. There were some interesting shops there and some interesting characters as you will see in the pictures. I think they were down there for a photo shoot. One store we walked by a nice lady asked us about our family. Her English was quite well. We struck up a conversation about why we were there and about our 3 children. We talked about EmmaLin’s adoption and where she was from. When we got to the part where we told her that she was deaf, she said ohh you have a big heart. We browsed her small store to look at her things and she asked if we knew God. We said yes and she said that she had been a Christian for about 6 years. She showed us her metal bracelet that said "Through God, all things are possible". She said most Chinese people are Buddhist. We asked about her husband and he does not believe in anything. It was sad to hear that but you could tell the happiness she had just from her expressions and reading about Job in the bible. We were able to get a stamp from her store where Emmalin’s name is hand carved into. It was an extremely hot day and humid. So we headed back to the hotel for some time at the pool and EmmaLin’s nap.

Today we head back to the Dr to have EmmaLin’s TB shot checked. And oh, by the way, today is EmmaLin’s birthday!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY EMMALIN!!!!! She is 5 today. A coworker back at home has family here in Guangzhou and they are bringing EmmaLin a birthday cake and taking us to dinner tonight. They are so kind and generous. Then for tomorrow they will bring Drew a birthday cake. He is turning 14. Hard to believe. Well EmmaLin is stirring so I better go for now. 

P.S.  A staff member just delivered a cake to the room for EmmaLin and Drew.  Tonight we get one from my coworkers family for EmmaLin and then we get one tomorrow for Drew.  We will be caked out.