Hi. We have been in Guangzhou since Saturday. I have not posted - I'm not too into blogging. Today is the big day - we have our swearing in ceremony at the U.S. Consulate! Our consultate appointment was yesterday where all of our paperwork was completed and Sammy's visa was issued. Today we take our final oath at 4:00 p.m. and are free to leave China. We leave for Hong Kong tomorrow.

Sammy is doing wonderfully and tells the guides he is ready to go to The States. He is very sweet and affectionate and also very smart! When we go out he talks to all of the store clerks, waitresses, etc. - they all say he is a "clever boy." He is very independent and likes to help with everything. He wants to start violin lessons, martial arts and swimming. He has alot of energy and gets bored easily so I think we will be starting activities as soon as he is comfortable. He has been testing some boundaries the past several days and likes to tell us "no," but eventually complies with what we ask - we totally expected this and know it is very normal behavior.

We have enjoyed our time here in Guangzhou. Guangzhou is a very large city, about 11 million people. Our hotel, The Victory, is on Shamian Island which is separated from the main city by the Pearl River. It is small and geared toward adoptive families - lots of shops and restaurants. We ventured off of the island yesterday by foot across the Pearl River to a bookstore - it was more of the "real" China and we enjoyed it. We met another family in Fuzhou whose son traveled with Sammy by bus to Fuzhou - he is from Jinjiang SWI also, however they are with a different agency. Sammy knew their son from the orphanage and the kids played really well together. We met up with them again yesterday and the kids swam and we ate at an Italian restaurant last night that was really good.

Sammy has a great appetite and is not very picky. He can definitely put away the chicken wings! We have visited a temple, the Guangzhou Zoo and Yuntai Gardens (largest landscaped park in China) since being here in Guangzhou. We are looking forward to Hong Kong and hope to see Victoria Harbour at night while we are there. China is wonderful and has blessed us with our beautiful children, but we miss the good old USA!! Please pray for our safe and uneventful return.

Denise