We've had yet more problems trying to get our flights confirmed home. Marty has been on our phone for almost an hour and finally learn that Julia and I are confirmed, but he and Mary are not - what? We put in a desperate e-mail to our travel agent that we are once again stranded and need their assistance. We have the tickets and there is a definite communication breakdown between accents and such and we are not sure what the problem is. We are told to have the travel agent call. I want to get home - just get us home!

Breakfast was once again good. I'm worried that Marty will become too comfortable with this fare - I begin my shift by 5 on my workdays and needless to say I don't "do" breakfast.

We put on our walking shoes and all head down to the lobby for our appointed meeting with Ann. She is just absolutely delightful and just as Mary described. Ann and I have been e-mailing for quite a bit and it is much like meeting an old friend. We hail a cab and all pile in. Now Mary Romer has a particular item she is seeking that I will not name (it is to be a present) and we decide to knock it out first; there are many things nearby to occupy us and we will concentrate on silk dresses for the girls, purses, etc.

Well, it takes a bit longer than anticipated for Mary Romer, and Julia alternates between charm and tantrum, but we are successful.

Mary has secured her purchase for a VERY good price (thank you Ann) and I think all involved will be pleased. Marty (who we have established is not a shopper) is already getting restless. We head to "the shop" where we will spend the rest of our trip.

Oh my goodness! We see many, many, many of the exact same items that I have viewed at over a dozen shops. I have bought a few (budget disallowed us doing a lot of souvenir shopping) and I see that with Ann, I could have gotten four to six items of the same thing for the same price (even with allowances for her fee). I am just flabbergasted. We first head to the silk dresses for the girls. I'm not picky and she simply sees what sizes the girls are and starts picking out their beginning sizes and then moving up the scale, alternating colors and such. Marty's eyes grow wide at how we start just stacking and stacking. Purses? Oh my goodness - I can't believe the selection. Chopsticks? Got them. We get Marty a couple of traditional Chinese shirts and also some silk type sets that he can wear around the house as well as out if he wishes (which I doubt he will).

There are robes and bags and lipstick-holders and compacts and just a VAST array of merchandise for miniscule prices. I'm still dumbfounded and not wanting to pass a bargain (laughing). Marty does stop me at one point and asks if I'm buying because I really want/need/will utilize it or if I am simply unable to pass up these prices. I have to admit it is a combination of both.

We realize we have been out longer than we anticipated and that we really need to be heading back to the hotel as we have not had lunch, the girls are getting tired, and we have to go to the consulate!

It is seeming much, much more real that we are leaving soon. But I have yet to be able to see what I could do as far as pearls or the jade chopsticks like Mary Romer purchased yesterday, or the gorgeous cloisonné Christmas ornaments. My birthstone is the pearl and I'd like a pair of simple earrings if I could.

So, we head back to the hotel and I am already asking Ann if she is free tomorrow - our flight out is at 9:00 pm so I could get some shopping in! Hahaha! Marty is really growing concerned about suitcases and Ann informs us that we can get them anywhere on the island but not to pay more than 100-105 yuan (about 13 dollars) for the largest size. She says she is known well on the island as she used to work there and that we will do better to simply go in a store, not go above the set price, and if they do not want to give it at that price to walk to the store next door.

So, we get to the hotel and Marty is really starting to fret when he views all the extra clothing and such and immediately heads out to try Ann's method of luggage shopping. Mary Romer is wanting a case as well and they head out together while I stay behind with the girls and try to get them fed and situated before we have to head to the consulate.

They return with two HUGE bags and then I realize there is a third bag inside of one - for Mary Romer. Marty feels triumphant at his purchase and I must admit they seem like decent bags, although we've been told to expect to have them get us home - period.

Now for the consulate appointment... we have been told we may be interviewed and that we have to take an oath. From reading other's blogs I already realize that we cannot bring any type of electronic device in... no cameras, cell phones, recorders, etc. Mary Romer says she may just stay at the hotel with our Mary and I think it is a good idea.

We load into the bus again and Kelly tells us about different points of interest. I'm still just thinking of the trip ahead and looking forward to it and dreading it at the same time. Julia has stopped protesting at our boarding vehicles and has all but stopped crying on elevators as well. She's really progressing.

We get to the consulate and begin the process of passports and documents and such. We are like ducklings behind the Mama duck (Kelly) and just anxious for this important last part of the process. We get papers and head to a window where our photographs are compared with our faces. Julia at first didn't want to look at the people and I imitated her crying to try to get her to match. They laughed.

We head back to our seats in the waiting area as other families arrive. We are told that we are awaiting a total of 43 families (we have nine in our group from our agency). We see our friends from Taiyuan again and stop and chat once again. One family is heading out tonight after we are finished. I'm torn between feeling jealous and just happy we haven't had to face packing yet - and knowing I'm going shopping again tomorrow!

Suddenly it is starting. A woman from the consulate is on a microphone and telling us about the process and some facts of how many immigrant visas they process yearly - and this is the only location for processing. We then stand as a group and raise our right hands. The oath! Will I be promising to love, nurture, protect her? No! It is an oath stating that in this process we have been honest and forthcoming and truthful as best we know. No problem. And then we are told congratulations. What? WHAT? Kelly begins calling us forward to get our daughter's passport with her visa stamp.

What? You mean that is IT? No interview? No tears? No trauma?

We chat with the woman from the consulate and just meander right back down to the bus. We are THROUGH with all the adoption stuff? Really? We're free to leave (if we can get confirmed?). Honest?

Kelly learns of our dilemma and makes some calls on our behalf (with copies of our passports in hand). We are told that all has been confirmed and nobody knows why there was a problem or exactly what it was but we are assured and reassured that we are set. I'm almost afraid to exhale.

And suddenly I realize that my sister will be leaving EARLY tomorrow. She'll probably be gone before I'm moving about and I am really saddened by this. I want to go, I want to be home, but with her having been such an integral part of this - she's supposed to be able to witness the transition at home and struggles and triumphs! I choose not to address these feelings.

We get back to the hotel and Marty has the first suitcase packed. We go to weigh it and as he attempts to lift it to the scale, the handle snaps off! Oh my goodness! We laugh but are horrified as well as this is a monster of a bag and how will we get it loaded on the plane? We decide to head to Lucy's for supper and on the way I hear that the burger is really, really good. I decide to test the waters of American fare while in China.

I don't know what the trick is but the flavor was not just a regular burger and it was probably the most tender one I've eaten. Julia had part of mine! I raved about it and got Marty to take a bite and I believe I saw envy on his face for the first time ever. Man!! Julia is also begging food from Kevin and anyone else who falls prey to her charms. I'm wondering already how much weight she has gained. Whoa!

A quick walk back to the hotel and we find ourselves on the balcony yet again to watch the laser light show and boats. It just has a nice calming effect of winding the night down. Marty and the Marys head one last time for ice cream and Julia and I get a bath (well Julia has the bath and I get splashed pretty thoroughly in the protest). She's funny - sometimes it isn't a big deal and other times - hold on to your hats!

But once she is out all is forgiven and she clings to me for comfort, seemingly forgetting that I was the direct source for her trauma. Ah - the beauty of children.

Mary Romer and Marty work out a system to transfer Mary to our room early tomorrow. She checks out tonight, has her boarding passes printed (for a fee of course) and is ready to leave. I know she's ready to be home, too - I'm hating that her home and my home are so far apart.

How do you tell someone how much you appreciate it all? The willingness to give of their money (she paid her way plus all sorts of things she did for Mary), her time (away from her family, church activities, etc) and of her SELF (allowing herself to be completely incorporated in all the emotions that accompany international adoption, experiencing a different culture, remaining upbeat and excited, and even being a scapegoat for our Mary's resentment at discovering a little sister can be competition). Mary Romer is the very first person I told that we were considering adoption when I asked that she pray that we open our hearts to what God was leading us to do and have the discernment to be still and listen.

Her reaction was one of complete support and stating that she wanted to be a part - and she was going to China! She was there for all the bumps and twists and turns and such. She has been certainly a driving force in the tours and outings and just overall experience of China. I'd hate to think of what we'd have done without her and certainly don't know that we'd have been able to bring Mary - and don't know that we could have left her behind either!

I tear up just thinking of my gratitude and how blessed we are to be sisters and friends. THIS is what I want for my girls.

We say our goodbyes without really saying "goodbye" but until later - although knowing it may be a while. But each step brings us closer to home. We accept and move on - and we know that this experience is something that has bonded us further - I told her it was like she was in the delivery room. She can relay things to me about this all from a different perspective as I was such a basketcase.

We head to bed a mite stressed about the packing ahead, the flights ahead, and knowing we're starting out with luggage that has already broken. We're ready to simply pay fines if we are overweight and quit stressing about the possibility of shifting items around to balance.

Our last night in China. Tomorrow is Marty's birthday. We're in the final hours of countdown. Somehow sleep envelopes us completely and rest is welcome.