Great Wall and a looooong day.....

Saturday started off early for us! We met our group in the hotel lobby at 8:00am with plans to tour a jade factory, the Great Wall and the Olympic Stadium.  We were also scheduled to see the Chinese Acrobats that afternoon.

At the jade factory we were able to see how jade was produced and educated on the different types of jade.  We didn't purchase anything today, but I am planning on shopping next week in Guangzhou for several pieces of jade to bring home.

Onto the Great Wall! The locals say you're not a hero until you've climbed the Great Wall...I'm not a hero but Brian is! He made it all the way to the top and  Bella and I made it to the second level. Brian has some great pics on his phone that he took, but since they're still there, I'll have to share some from my point of view:

 Brian, on his way down the wall....

After the Great Wall we had lunch and then planned to go to the Olympic Stadium.  We got stuck in traffic; about one and a half hours into being in traffic it got interesting....we were in a wreck.  Yep...a wreck.  Our bus hit a car as it cut in front of us.  We were all fine, as was the driver of the car, but we are the first adoption group we've heard of being in a wreck.  Since there are no required seatbelts or car seats in China, Bella was in my lap.  This was by coincidence, she's been sitting with her two new friends.  I was sitting sideways with her cuddled in my lap as we hit, so luckily my shoulder took the hit and not her.  I don't even think she noticed...she was tired by that time.  By the time we finally arrived at Olympic Stadium, the three of us took a taxi to the hotel; we had enough and Bella was sleeping.  The rest of the afternoon and night was spent watching Bella nap and packing for our flight to Zhengzhou.

This morning we left our hotel at 7:15 and are safe and sound in Zhengzhou now.  We have received the plan for tomorrow and are leaving for the Civil Affairs office at 9:30.  We will be meeting our Baby Shawn anytime between 10:00 and 11:00 tomorrow!!! Please pray for his continued peace while he's in the orphanage and for his transition to his new family to be as smooth as possible tomorrow.  Also, please pray for our sweet Bella's heart as she officially becomes a big sister tomorrow. 

I will update and post pictures to Facebook as soon as I can tomorrow!!!