We Had a Full Day!!!

Oh my, We had a full day today!!!
Samuel had another good night and woke up this morning at about 7:30am:) The four of us headed down to breakfast, which is always fun because we get to see most of our new friends and their babies or children that they have adopted!!! Yay God!!
After breakfast we headed out to find the local Chinese Trust Mart ( owned by Wal-Mart ) It was a beautiful day here today, but once again.... It really is like walking into a sauna when you step outside... The heat just drains you quickly, and we have to be sure to keep Everyone hydrated, so we have been visiting the Starbucks near our Hotel quite frequently :):):) Well, today on the way back from Trust Mart we found a Haagen Dazs Ice Cream parlor :):):) Hip, Hip, Hurray!!!! Abbie and I were pretty excited!!!! It was so, so sweet watching Abbie share her ice cream cone with Samuel:) She was teaching him how to lick the ice cream with his tongue and it was hilarious!!! We have no idea if he has ever had an ice cream cone before.... He really acted as though he hadn't.... But he had so much fun learning and enjoying a fun time with his sister.... Just lots of giggles and fun times with their tongues sticking out!!! Amazing how something so simple as eating an ice cream cone could turn into such a joyful occasion!!!!
When we got back to our Hotel, Samuel took a nap, and we just chilled in the room until we had to wake him up to go to the police station to get his picture for his passport:) Our little group was one of the first groups to get there, but I would say that eventually there were probably 25 families with their new children in the room together:) It was so wonderful to look around and see so many special needs children getting families and getting so much LOVE!!!! I can't even begin to explain to you what it does to your heart when you are a witness to this miraculous scene!!!!! We are meeting families from all over the world.... Our GOD is moving in the hearts of His people on behalf of the forgotten, hurting, lonely, cast aside children of this world!!! Please search your hearts and pray and ask yourselves if you might have room  in your heart and in your home for just one of these little blessings from God... Can you imagine the impact it would have if many families just said yes one time? Can you imagine how many little ones lives would be changed FOREVER!!! It grieves Our Heavenly Father's Heart to watch these little ones be unloved, abused, abandoned, or forgotten.... It grieves His Heart when His children don't believe and trust that He can and will move huge mountains to get these precious little treasures where they will be safe and loved and tenderly cared for and especially where they will learn all about HIM and HIS amazing Love for them!!!! Please, Please, Please, TRUST HIM AND STEP OUT IN FAITH.... HE IS MORE THAN ABLE TO ACCOMPLISH MORE THAN WE COULD EVER HOPE FOR OR IMAGINE!!! He doesn't promise that it will be easy.... in fact it's not easy, but He does promise that He will strengthen us, guide us, provide for us, and help us every step of the way!!!
I loved being there today... Meeting each Newly Adopted Child and hearing their families different stories....if they would have let me, I would have stayed all day and talked to every single family!!!!!
When we completed our paperwork for the passports, we went back to our Hotel and arranged to take a cab over to Shamian Island for a little shopping and dinner at Lucy's!!! When we traveled for each one of our daughters we stayed at Hotels on Shamian Island... We have so many wonderful memories of each one of our Adoption Journeys for Abbie, Becca, and Naomi :):):) Tonight brought back some of those memories, enabling us to remember and be ever Thankful for God's faithfulness to us in the past and embrace His Faithfulness to us right now, as we are here adopting Samuel :):):) We are just filled with thankfulness to God for HIS Steadfast Faithfulness!!!
We caught a taxi back to our Hotel, took Abbie and Samuel swimming for awhile.... Samuel had a blast swimming with his daddy and his sister... He is already jumping off of the edge of the pool into Mark's arms!!!!! They did tell us that he was Brave:)  What a perfect visual for us to imagine as we surrender all and fall into Our Heavenly Father's Arms!!! Trusting Him to hold us close and keep us safe Forever!!!!  ( I love all that God teaches me by observing little children... Reminds me of a line in the song The Hurt and The Healer by Mercy Me... I fall into your arms open wide... when the hurt and The Healer collide!!!! ) It was so amazing to watch Samuel just fall into the arms if his new daddy.... Can't wait for him to learn about Jesus, and fall into His arms:) Please be praying for that!!!
After swimming, it was back to our Hotel room for our nightly bedtime routine... It took about 5 minutes for our little guy to be sound asleep!!!
Thanks for letting me share my heart tonight... Thanks for coming along on this Adoption Journey to Samuel Mark :):):) We love you all and pray God's Blessings over each and every one of you tonight:):):) Thank You!!!! 
Love and Big Hugs to all...
Patti
P.S. Samuel is Talking so much!!!!! He just jabbers away, especially in our Hotel room.... Who is going to help us figure out what he is saying when we get home??? Oh, how I wish I could speak Chinese!!!

Learning how to eat an ice cream cone : )

What a cutie in his new sunglasses and clothes!!!

Sweet Abbie helping Samuel with his ice cream cone : )

Our hotel : )  Heading out to Wal-Mart!  It's soooo hot here!!!

Abbie : )  Standing in front of the fountains at our hotel : )

At breakfast this morning : )  Not sure how he ate all that food!!!

All set and ready for bed : )  What a sweetie : )  We had a full day today!!!