Olympic Village

Before agreeing to the sightseeing today, I asked our guide if we could skip the silk factory and just do the Olympic Village. I asked if we could have lunch by noon and back to the hotel by 1:00pm. He agreed that was possible. One family stayed home altogether and one family came because the schedule was adjusted. It went SO well. We literally walked into our hotel just minutes before 1pm and Mia is getting another great nap. We really wanted to see the Olympic Village, but planned on not going if it was going to be more of the same difficult schedule.

The Olympic Village was pretty cool. Tom (our guide) shared how excessive amounts of money were spent in preparation for the Olympics - cleaning up the city, planting trees and flowers and buildings. They began moving people out of their homes and began the building process 10 years before (assuming that they would be awarded the games). Almost 1/2 million people were "asked" to leave Beijing during the games and strongly encouraged anyone else to move out if they were able. Driving was restricted to every other day to reduce pollution. [Even still today everyone has a permit that restricts them from driving 1 day per week. He said that the government does not want to restrict the buying of cars so instead they restrict the driving of them. Currently, everyone has one day where they will be fined if they drive. He said soon that restriction will need to increase to 2 days per week.]

Today again was CRAZY hot & humid. It has been so hot here (during our entire stay) that if it were this hot at home we would not leave the house. =) As we sat in the Bird's Nest dripping - no air movement at all, I asked if it was this hot during the games. Tom said this hot or hotter because it was in August. As I looked down on the track, I could not imagine running in this heat. I had a new level of appreciation for the Olympic athletes. The Bird's Nest now is largely unused - such a shame - because it is apparently very expensive to rent. Occassionally a high level soccer game may take place there a couple times a year. The bathrooms (which of course I saw with Mia) were air conditioned - total luxury - and there were about 6 regular toilets in addition to about 12-14 squatties! Praise the Lord. I was happy to enjoy the perks of an Olympic athlete. I think I should write a book ranking the sqatty potties all over Beijing. The other 2 children are in diapers so nobody else has experienced them like me. =)

Mia did fantastic and having this schedule the last two days has been so much better. By about 7pm she starts to have a hard time, but then she goes to sleep without any trouble. Steve has been so great. He continues to initiate love with her and sometimes she receives it - other times she does not. It is very unpredictable, but I can see that she wants to love him. Whenever he leaves (our table at the buffet or our room) she says where is Baba? Come back Baba. (in Chinese). Steve has been a rock for me too as I have definitely had some major tears after bedtime for Mia some nights. We are a good team and I am so grateful that this hard thing has brought us even closer. The Lord is good.

Tomorrow we will have a free day and I hope to do some shopping along the local streets. Tom will pick up the passports for the kids in the afternoon tomorrow which means we are all done in Beijing. I am very much looking forward to Guangzhou as everyone says it is a much more relaxing pace for the families there. We fly there on Saturday. As difficult as it has been, because Beijing is Mia's birthplace and where she has spent her whole life, I think I will be a little sad leaving too.

A special thank you to Brad and Jess who have moved into our house and Derek & Christy who are helping out big time with the VCrew at home. My parents have passed on the baton to them and I think were sad to leave. The kids know the schedule well - the Bretls and Boyds, then Team Williams (Aunt Kathy & fam), then Grandma and Boppa are back and then MOM & DAD & MIA are home! We are forever grateful to all of the help that we have been getting for the kids at home. It is so reassuring to know that so many are praying for them and looking out for them at VBS and in the neighborhood. We really appreciate it.

That's all for today. Miss & love everyone more than you can imagine.

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Enjoy the photos...You can probably see the sweat glistening on our skin. =)