When There Is Room in Your Heart, There Is Always Room in Your Home!: Orphanage Visit

Hi Everyone,
Yesterday began with a quick breakfast, and then all of the families in our group headed to get our children's Medical check ups:) They had to draw blood for TB tests, so most of the children and babies were not happy:( Samuel cried and got a little angry too... That is until another sweet mom offered him a lollipop:) That seemed to help alot!!!
The doctor who listened to his heart said that he could hear a heart murmur and that we should get it checked when we get back to America... We already have his appointment made at the Herma Heart Center six days after we come home:) Please join us in praying for Samuel's heart to be completely healed and for his one kidney to be functioning perfectly!!!
The next thing on our agenda was a little shopping time at one of the local Friendship Stores:):):) We found some cute China outfits, and a few other things:):):) In October of this year we will celebrate that it was 10 yrs ago that we traveled for our sweet Abigail Gracelin's adoption:):):) ( Thank You Lord!!!) We have watched the prices of everything in China skyrocket in that 10 years.... We sent some laundry out at our hotel this morning and when it came back to us, the bill was 1,000 yuan..... Do you know how much that is in American Dollars..... $162.00!!!! Shame on us for assuming it would be cheap!!!! Pretty sure that we could buy a washing machine for that price!!! ( ha ha! ) Crazy!!!
Moving along, after shopping we came back to the Hotel and had one hour to prepare to leave for the drive to Samuel's orphanage:) We have always requested to visit our children's orphanages, but our requests have always been denied... However this time they said YES and so we were excited to go and see where Samuel has spent the past 4 years of his life:) Everyone at the orphanage was very kind to us, and we are so grateful for that, but it was very difficult to witness first hand the conditions at an orphanage:(:(:( May we suffice to say that it was extremely Sad and extremely Emotional!!!! Samuel did Great and was ready to leave with Mommy,Daddy, and Abbie when it was time to go!!! He waved bye bye to all of his little friends and my heart broke for all of them... because they had to stay!!!! We are so grateful to have been able to visit his orphanage.... But we are even more grateful that he will never have to go back unless he chooses to someday!!!!! ( Oh Lord God, Please move Mountains on behalf of every child that we saw at Samuel's orphanage yesterday... Please bring miraculous healing to their bodies and warm caring arms to enfold them in Your Amazing LOVE!!! Thank You for placing Samuel in our family, he is a Precious Little Treasure who is fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image:):):) Please strengthen us and equip us so we can be the mommy and daddy that he needs us to be... We love you Lord, and are extremely grateful for Your Provision and Your Faithfulness:):):)
The drive back from the orphanage was quiet......I think that it was an emotional day for Samuel too.......We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant, went for a short walk, came back to our Hotel, took Abbie and Samuel swimming, and I think that we were all in bed by 10:00pm!!!! A good day, but an emotional day! ( Still processing this day...and praying for all those little ones.... Emotionally draining!!!) Thanks for your prayers everyone... We love you all:):):)
Big Hugs
Patti, Mark, Abbie and Samuel Mark:)