The Knox Family Journey: Day 11: Slept late!!!!!!!!!!!! and Shamian Island

I got to sleep late today... 7 AM. Annabelle and I woke up then and tried to let the others sleep for awhile. We didn't have to be anywhere with the group this morning. Chris and Timothy woke up a little later, and then we finally woke up the teenager and preteen just before 9. We had to get to breakfast before 10 or no food. It was nice not have to be somewhere for a change. After breakfast we hung out in the room and played and then went to lunch.... finally some good food. We ate at Tequila's, a Mexican restaurant like we have at home. The food was good and we were glad to have something different. Although, I am soooooooooooooooo ready for a home cooked meal. Thanks to some awesome friends we will get some good food when we get home. You just don't know what a blessing that is to me. I am so very tired and having that good food will be great as I try to catch up on laundry and rest and laundry and school and laundry. :) Thank you friends for helping us out in the food department for a few weeks!!! You are lifesavers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

After lunch we came back to the room to try to get the Littles to nap for a bit. They did get a short nap and then we met the group to go to Shamian Island. It's a little famous island here where most adoptive families used to stay. The main hotel here was the White Swan. Many families have stayed there when adopting. It was closed today... I think they are refurbishing???? Also, the medical center used to be on that island but has moved to the city where we are staying now. The island is very quiet and no hustle and bustle like here around our hotel. It was nice walking around over there. We got to do a little shopping and bought a couple of quiet toys for the plane ride home. We also got to eat at a place called Lucy's. American food. Chris and I had cheeseburgers (not like McDonald's) and the Bigs and Littles had fried chicken. We also had sweet tea!

Tomorrow is our consulate appointment- the last appointment we have in China. We must go to the US Consulate to apply for Annabelle and Timothy's visas to enter the US. We should receive them the next day and then travel HOME the day after that. Boy we are ready to go home. and. REST! We are all getting a little under the weather.

Also, tomorrow is the day we will travel to Dongguan (about and hour or so away) to meet Annabelle's foster family. It is my understanding that Annabelle will not see them but we will get the chance to talk with them. Jenny from True Children's Home will be with us and guide us through the meeting. We hope and pray to be able to express how thankful we are to her foster family for taking such good care of her. We know they love her and this will be an emotional meeting for them (and us, too.) We are hoping to hear of some stories of our sweet girl (special memories) so we will be able to talk with Annabelle when she is older and tell her stories of them and her. You know that I am a crier, so tomorrow will be extra tears, I'm sure!

We are now 12 hours ahead of Chattanooga time which means it is 11 PM here.... late. I must go to bed.

Thank you for your prayers and encouraging comments!

Enjoy pics from today.....