It's good to be alive and be in Tennessee. After a 2 week trip literally to the other side of the world, we made it back home safe and sound. Went to mama and pop's for some beans and cornbread then to Gloria's mama's for a quick visit and to tha house we came. Had an awesome welcome at the airport with my pastor and very good friend, his wife, Ms Dean and DeAnna. Sinuses are acting stupid but at least its the Tennessee air now. Thanks to everybody for the good thoughts and prayers, God was truly in control and brought us back safely. It is a bittersweet return however because i found out while i was at the airport that Hilda had passed away. She had followed the blog from start to finish and was excited to see Abi when we got her home. I am happy to be home, but sad about the loss of a friend and an aunt. Please pray for the family. Love to everyone. Bryan

ok, last post from guangzhou. we are packing up now to head to hong kong. just a short 3 hour bus ride with a new child in tow. but tomorrow morning at 1140 we fly HOME!!! im ready for some white beans, sweet tea(with ice), and diet mtn dew, a shower that wont make me sick if i swallow some water, being able to drink the water..... anyway, bell boys will be here for the luggage at 4. we leave for hong kong shortly thereafter. keep praying. this picture is one where Abi and me were surrounded by older chinese women reaching for her. Abi was having none of it.

today was a really good day. started out going to the botannical gardens for a group picture. we went through the flowers and water and what seemed like 10,000 older chinese people. We dressed Abi in a pink traditional chinese dress for the occasion and were the only ones who did so. as we walked through the park amost every one of the older people there stopped and smiled or waved or spoke to us and Abi. They all seemed pleased in either the idea that we were taking this child to the USA or the idea of the traditional dress. Either way we had lots of attention and company while we were there.

So today was the swearing in ceremony. first we went to a museum which i missed most of because i went to the store. came back to the hotel and played. Abi actually wanted to play with me this time, we had a really good time. I changed her diaper and she didnt even fuss. we are making great progress.We went to the consolate here and had "the interview" which consisted of signing 2 papers and getting a 3rd piece of paper back with some instructions, and "have seat". lol. Finally after about 50 families got through the interview process then a very american woman came out to swear us in. so now she is official. we get her visa tomorrow then a nice long bus ride to hong kong and come home thursday morning. praise God. im ready for some Tennessee air. keep praying.

nice little bus ride for the families that have children over 2 for the tb skin test results. the rest of us got to go shopping. so the bus driver drove this HUGE bus down what would be the equivelant of an alley and did quite well pushing the foot and bicycle traffic out of the way until he came to a parked car and a large concrete barricade. he got the bus stuck. it was hilarious. he finally backed up and i dont know how, but he got the bus out. we got off while he was stuck.anyway, nice time shopping. fixin to go eat italian with some of the people in our group.