I've Got Patience!!!

...on my wall, at least.

Our friend and neighbor, Ed, just returned from a trip to China with several of his teaching colleagues. He brought this Chinese calligraphy of the character for 'Patience' back for us. I'm surprised that they read the blog (Hi, Keira!) and also extremely touched that he would think of us and have this made for us while on his trip. It is a gift that we really do treasure. Thank you so much!

Just a couple of days after his return, Ed, Keira and their crew came over for dinner and we enjoyed a slideshow of Ed's China pictures. What an adventure! We have to give Ed some props because he went out of his way to take it all in. He saw it all, did it all and we're convinced that he tasted it all as well while in China.

We also sent Ed on a wild goosechase for a picture of a pregnant Chinese woman in China. With his entire tour group on the hunt, it took several days to find one but find one, they did.

In all likelihood, we will never know who Meili's birth mother is. As a mother who wants to provide her children with everything they need and at least a few of the things that they want, it is hard for me to accept that I will not be able to provide Meili with that basic piece of information. I know that Meili will wonder about her and what she might be like. I thought a picture of a pregnant woman in China at about the same time that Meili's birthmother was pregnant with her would be something that might be of interest to Meili one day. While this picture does not capture the actual woman, it does serve as a frame of reference for the place and time period. I plan to place this picture in Meili's Lifebook so that from time to time we can wonder about her birthmother together...

To end the post on and light note (and just because it's just too darn cute not to include)...