Our Little Souvenir

And here's what we went to China for. Like our other kids, she's an incredible joy--who also occasionally drives us bonkers, makes us laugh, and fits right in with our crazy family. The process of getting her was ardous and expensive, but I would easily do it all over again. Welcome home (again)!

Time to Go Home

Hope y'all have enjoyed the month-long China retrospective, but it's time to wrap it up. One more post tomorrow and then back to scenes of daily life in Portland.

The above shot is from the China Hotel lobby in Guangzhou.

Narrow Passage

Another passage through the Folk Art Museum in Guangzhou, China. One of my favorite shots in the China series.

Dragon Teapot

A lovely teapot from a tea shop in Guangzhou, China. Though we didn't buy that particular model, we did pick up a simple and elegant set to use a family on special occasions.

Grrrrrr!

Another fearsome beast at the Summer Palace in Beijing.

Forbidden City

Another view inside the Forbidden City, Beijing.

Traffic

Looking down on traffic at the intersection of Tuo Dong and Bai Ta roads in Kunming, China.

Say "gan lao"!

This picture has made my wife and I giggle for a whole year now. Evidently you have to pooch your derriere out just right in order to take a good photo in China. =) Say "cheese"!

Incense

A display from the Folk Art Museum in Guangzhou, China.

Garden Window

A shuttered window hides a lovely garden view at the Folk Art Museum in Guangzhou, China.

Pearl River Bridge

A shot from our dinner cruise in Guangzhou, China.

On a Bench

A gentle, elderly man plays peek-a-boo with the camera in Yue Xiu Park in Guangzhou, China.

Moon Window

A circular window, a common architectural feature in China, displays garden area outside a tea shop.

Smokin' Froofy Lipstick Guy

What? This had to be the strangest piece of public art I saw in our China journey. A statue that smokes? With lipstick on? And a froofy head thingy? Wow.

Ornamental Wall

A decorative wall from the Folk Art Museum in Guangzhou, China.

Eliana in the Sunlight

A happy girl--at least for the moment. This shot was taken in the orphanage clinic one morning before she was to receive an IV in her scalp to help her get over a bout of pneumonia.

How You Say, "Tall-Decaf-Cappuccino"?

The comfort of an American indulgence in foreign land--Starbucks! (Apologies to those who despise the very mention of the name!) If you thought figuring out how to order coffee at Starbucks was overwhelming and confusing, try doing it in a foreign country where they repeat your order back to you in Chinglish. And reading the specials of the day (note the sign above) is out of the question. But oh, the pleasure of sipping a frothy cappuccino in familiar surroundings!

Heritage

Fingers trace a rich heritage of Chinese culture ages old.

Sorrow in Bronze

A moment's anguish captured in statue at the Folk Art Museum in Guangzhou, China.

China Smiles

A smile means "friendship" in any language. A group of Chinese children crowded outside our tour bus at a stop in a rundown remote town. Eager to try out their limited English, we heard endless cheerful repetitions of "Hallo! Ha ah yoo?" for a good 15 minutes.

Imperial Gate

An ornamental gate at the Summer Palace in Beijing.

Street Poem

Water and sponge form fleeting words of poetry. (By the way, Happy 200th Post Birthday to the Crossmark Photo Blog!)

Thoughtful Passage

One of many long meditative passages through a Folk Art Museum we visited while in China. I could have spent an entire day there strolling about in peaceful reflection.

Fearsome Beast

A menacing beast guards the Summer Palace in Beijing.

Welcome Home

One year ago, Cheng Hai Bo became our daughter, Eliana--forever grafted into our family. Born not of our flesh, but of our hearts. She's a one-of-a-kind joy that I can't imagine being without. Her name says it all: We journeyed across the "waves of the sea" (Hai Bo) to find that "God has answered our prayer" (Eliana).

Marble Boat

Big boat made of stone. Nope, it doesn't float. Just for decoration. Useful, huh? (Taken at the Summer Palace in Beijing.)

Bike Town

Portand Oregonians like to brag about how bike-friendly their streets are, but our city is nothing compared to Beijing where entire car-sized lanes are reserved for bike traffic. Riders everywhere--old and young, men and women, white collar and blue. Many bikes were loaded with piles of clothing, papers, or even 55-gallon drums with roasted sweet potatoes available for sale.

Bicycle Built for Eight

What trip to China would be complete without seeing a Chinese Acrobat show? Most of what I remember from it is just trying to stay awake with such horrible jetlag. The show was impressive though and I'm glad we made the extra effort to go.

I have to wonder how you rehearse a trick like this. How many times did the bike fall over and eight kids go tumbling across the floor before they got it right?

Contest Winner!

Congratulations to Rebecca, winner of a FREE set of 12 custom note cards featuring her choice of any photo from the Crossmark Photo archives!

Thank you to all who entered the contest by leaving comments on this post, especially to those who took the time to write a thoughtful response.

Stay tuned for more giveaways in the coming weeks!

One Year Ago

Colorful rooflines from the sparse, yet elegant Forbidden City, the Emperor's expansive grounds in Beijing.

February marks an important milestone in our household. One year ago, my wife and I traveled to China for nearly three weeks to get our third child, a precious eight-month old girl. To celebrate, I'm featuring some of my China photos all throughout this month's blog posts. I'd love to go back to China, but this will have to suffice for now. (Anybody wanna send me to the Beijing Olympics this summer? I'll pack myself in your suitcase!)