Matthew, Day Five

Today was a great day. It is our last day here in Wuhan and one step closer to being home as a whole family with Thomas and Catherine. We have been SKYPEing in the mornings here from China. Catherine told us proudly this morning that she did not miss us. I am so happy to hear that since she was having a hard time only a few days ago. Her little blond hair is so darling after my eyes have grown accustomed to only black hair here in China. Thomas is hilarious, asking us so many questions that seem too mature for his young age. He asks us about China and about Matthew in the most caring way. I love his little heart. Amy was over there at my parents house during this last SKYPE session and had brought them chewing gum. Their little lips were smacking all over the place and we enjoyed just watching them be happy little children up at the kitchen island of my parent's home.

We were allowed to retrieve the final documents for Matthew, including his little Chinese passport, this afternoon. Matthew was so sweet during the process.

Tracy, our guide, along with our driver, took us to a very nice restaurant (the Hu Jin Restaurant) for lunch afterwards. We ordered a large fish that tasted like sweet and sour fish. Each morsel of the fish meat stood erect on its body like a porcupine. Stuck into the eyeballs were large grape tomatoes which were held in with toothpicks. The mouth of the fish was open as if the fish were screaming as it had been cooked. I am so glad the the head of the fish faced our driver, it tasted much more delicious with us not having to look into its face while consuming it. We also enjoyed fried lotus root that Joe chose. It was my favorite dish on the table. We had two bowls of meat with peppers in them – one chicken and the other beef (though both meats looked and tasted the same – curly, brown, and chewy). We ate both dishes (the chicken one was much hotter!) and our noses ran from the intense heat of the peppers. We also had plain white rice and a plate of what tasted like pork ribs with a tiny bit of meat clinging to each one.

We came back to the hotel and were ready to rest. Matthew started crying as we laid him down. I took him in my arms and sat in the floor leaning my back against the bed and rocked him. I sang to him until he fell asleep in my arms.

I wish I could crash like the waves and turn like the autumn breeze
In effort to praise You
I wish I could smell like the forest, the fragrance lifting a mighty chorus
In effort to praise You
In effort to praise You
But I'm such a limited creature
And my words can only paint so many pictures
But somewhere I think I read that I am treasured over all creation
So I know that I must try
I wish I could roll like the thunder, to leave the earth below in wonder
In effort to praise You
I wish I could fall like the summer rain and every drop would sing Your name
In effort to praise You
In effort to praise You
But I'm such a limited creature
And my words can only paint so many pictures
But somewhere I'm sure I read that I am treasured over all creation
So I know that I must try
Gloria, glory in the highest
Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Oh, Gloria
Glory in the highest
Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Every breath that I breathe, every moment in my history
Is an effort to praise You
An effort to praise You
Glory in the highest
Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Oh, Gloria
Glory in excelsis Deo
Gloria, Gloria, Gloria
Gloria, Gloria, Gloria

~Watermark, "Gloria"