Deep Waters

If we thought Ty was ready to go to HuangGuoShu Waterfalls yesterday - the excitement built! He was up before the alarm and dressed and ready for breakfast. We had another very pleasant breakfast at the buffet with our California friends and met our guide to go to the waterfalls!!!!

Michael told us that all over China people know these waterfalls. They are on the cover of the Children's primary school book. However, Guizhou is considered so remote, that many Chinese do not know where the waterfalls are! It is named for the tangerine banyan tree and is about two hours west of Guiyang.

The van drive was pleasant and it felt wonderful to leave the city behind for awhile. Tony and I worked on teaching Ty to play "Rock, Paper, Scissors" and he figured it out and enjoyed it! Although he seldom uses paper and when I tried to get him to - he lost that round to Tony. So paper may not be his gesture of choice - and I've probably just ruined his chances at being the "Rock, Paper, Scissors" champion of the world by divulging his strategy. Following this, we began to thumb wrestle. He is pretty good - but doesn't like to lose. I suspect that losing in China carries greater consequences than we can imagine.

We began our journey to the falls by walking through a National Bonsai Garden. It had very large bonsai of many different varieties and giant stones that have been carved by the water of the local river. The stones were amazing and one of them was even hollow! You could strike it with another rock and hear a beautiful sound - like a deep wind chime. Ty enjoyed this rock very much! We struck all over the rock enjoying the different tones.

There was a stone path that was very uneven. Ty's walk is very unsteady at times and stilted - and he fell in front of many people. Of course, he was stared at and there weren't many smiles in the crowd. Tony and I bent down immediately to help him and see if he was hurt. As he stood, he told us he was ok and he was a very brave boy. All three of us rose and walked forward with HUGE smiles on our faces!


We began to hear the falls and the excitement built. The path had many, many stairs - which can be a challenge for Ty - but he bravely went on. We tried to get him to stop and rest - but there was no way. The Energizer Bunny would have lost the race to the falls if there had been one. The path led down beside the falls and then actually went UNDER them! We could see the raging curtain of water in front of us. It was amazing - and very wet! We were drenched - but loving it! Ty was disappointed that we couldn't shower and swim there. He found a small trickle of a waterfall in the caves and played in that and loved it. We had to walk along way back- but after crossing a rope span bridge over the river - we found a very long escalator that went back up the gorge. As we were heading up the escalator, Ty asked our guide what we were doing next. Our guide replied that we were going to have lunch and then go home. Ty replied to our guide that "Ramada was not his home, America was his home." Can your heart physically soar out of your chest??



We had lunch at a restaurant at a hotel near the falls. We had a private dining room with a breeze gently blowing through. The staff at the hotel all treated Ty with such kindness and respect. It was a nice change. Tony and I shared a beer and dishes of sweet and sour pork and eggplant with garlic. It was so good - the pork was not battered and in a light sauce. It was the best meal we've had since arriving. Ty ordered an unrecognizable chicken dish that was of course....SPICY and full of chopped up chicken with skin on it. I kindly declined tasting any.

The van ride back began quietly. Most everyone slept accept me and thankfully the driver. Ty laid his head across my legs and was out in an instant. As he drooled on my leg thus christening me a mommy again - I looked out over the rural countryside and tried to soak up my son's China. I saw terraces of rice fields and corn with people in traditional costume of their tribe at work in these fields. Some had water buffaloes, some had horses - but most had very little. I saw men working on the roads and was struck by the fact that they were given such very small tools to accomplish a large task. No front-end loaders to move giant piles of dirt -just tiny spades with long handles and a few men.

I looked down at my son and saw evidence of his past pain scarred across his cheek and on his neck and wondered what has to happen to a person to make them want to leave their own country? I began to cry silent tears. I was so glad for the peace and quiet - time to reflect. The driver saw me in the rear view mirror and acknowledged my tears with a kind look in his eyes.

Ty woke up with about an hour to spare and was ready to get some questions of his own off his chest. He obviously understands that we have limited time with our guide and seemed to get right to work. We began with him asking about doctors in America. He told about his surgery and how no one explained to him what was going to happen to him and he went to sleep and woke up with casts and a lot of pain. We told him that he might have to have surgery again, or he might not, but that he would know what was happening and have a family there with him each step of the way. He even asked if the scalpels the doctors used were small or big???

He told us that before his surgery his life was dismal. He could not squat and that made using the restroom here a humiliating thing for him. He asked about bullies in America. He had heard that movies from the west were more violent and wanted to know if the bullies in America were more violent than here. We explained that bullying is a bad thing no matter where it happens, that his Daddy was bullied when he was his age and understands how he feels, but that no matter what happens he should always tell us if something happens so that we may help him together.

He asked about the laws in America and if there were life sentences. I do not have enough background in the Chinese justice system to know exactly where this came from. He asked if the law was fair. He said maybe he would like to be a lawyer or judge to make sure that things were fair, but that he had made a promise when he was in the orphanage to be a teacher. We told him that maybe he could be a teacher that taught people how to become lawyers. He told us that he also likes to make babies and disabled children laugh. He asked about some deep theological issues that moved us beyond measure. He has asked if we were baptised. He has asked about communion. It was a good ride in the car - and were left blown away by this child of China.

We were not in the hotel two seconds when he asked about swimming. He was so excited when I explained that his Uncle Joe was a swimming teacher. He said he was so happy because he really needed it! And you could probably join in the chorus of what comes after swimming - TUB TIME! Spiderman continues to expand....we are beginning to think he may need his own suitcase.

We dined in the hotel restaurant with the California crew. Ty discovered the dessert bar for the first time tonight. I looked over to track his progress at the drink station (he loves lemonade) and saw him enjoying the chocolate fountain with glee. He was eating right out of it - and there were trails of chocolate everywhere in a matter of two seconds. We wrangled him and his treats to the table - knowing we would pay for this in about 20 minutes.

When we got back to the room - our Skype was ringing - and when I answered I heard the sweetest voice - my other angel baby! Caity and Grandma called and we fired up the video. Unfortunately, the sugar high of the century kicked in and I can't imagine what they were thinking back home as they watched Ty leap up and down on the bed trying to pop a balloon that we put under the covers. He calmed enough to come over and I got tears in my eyes as China and America sang together. Grandma and Caity sang "Jesus Loves Me" to us and we sang a Chinese song that Ty taught us back to them. My heart soared again - so I know that I didn't lose it at the waterfalls!

We hung up hoping the next week will fly by. Every morning Ty wakes up and tells us now many days until Guangzhou and then how many days until America. We are just as anxious as he is.

I know that on some level leaving his China will be difficult - but we were never promised an easy road....just that we wouldn't be alone. He will never be alone again.