Fuzhou Free Day 3

Yep... that's right... free day number 3 here in Fuzhou. This also marks the halfway point of our time here in China. So it's downhill from here. We had only one main excursion today - to the Fuzhou Panda World Museum and Research Center. Panda bears obviously come from China, with the majority of them living in Western China. There are only about 1000 panda bears living in the world today, so the government of China has set up panda research centers in various provinces throughout the country. Seeing the pandas up close was a real treat - they are beautiful creatures. Raina enjoyed watching them as well as what is known as the "lesser" pandas - a smaller raccoon/cat type panda with huge paws. The lesser pandas did a performance show for us that was so cute - we all enjoyed it. After Panda World, we did a little shopping, followed by some lunch. Then back at the hotel, another hysterical discovery: upon seeing a reflection of light on the ceiling from a small mirror, Raina couldn't get enough of it. For some reason, she would try to "blow" out the light like a candle. Watching her puff out her lips and blow sent us in to completely hilarious laughter. She is the cutest thing on earth. We took our daily afternoon walk on the boardwalk outside our hotel, and it was beautiful as usual. Although we have thoroughly enjoyed Fuzhou, we are anxious to get to Guangzhou so we can reunite with our travel group. Being the only caucasian couple with a Chinese child has provided us with some awkward moments. Our guide Isabel (whom we simply adore) informed us that very few adoptions take place out of the Fujian province - only 92 in the year 2008. She told us that many of the Chinese people here do not even know that international adoption exists, so they are puzzled when they see us. Isabel gets asked questions by the people when we are out with her. We've been stared at, pointed at, and talked about. It has made for some uncomfortable moments, but we just press on. As we prepare to leave Fuzhou, we do so with a level of sadness. Leaving here will pull us one step further away from Raina's heritage, the only home she's ever known. We grieve with sorrow for her birthmother. Although we will never know her, we thank God for her bravery - to make, undoubtedly, the most difficult decision of her life - to give up her child for a hope at a brighter future that she could never provide. She does not know that by doing so, she has given us the most precious gift - our beautiful daughter. We are so thankful for Raina's caregivers and her orphanage doctor. We are grateful that they not only took care of her needs, but that they truly cared for her. And most of all, we thank the Lord for His beautiful gift of life displayed in the eyes of Raina... she is our little angel.