48 hours.

Our biggest news at the foster home is the arrival of Addison Hope. She's been with us about three weeks now. Like most of our kids, she has Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or Brittle Bones disease. We're not sure on her age, but guess she's just under a year. She can roll over, but hasn't mastered sitting up, she has two teeth, and can giggle up a storm!




And I love her very much!

We had a team of nine volunteers from Hawaii with us last week. They brought lots of laughs and joy and served wholeheartedly. The other half of their team from Hawaii will be joining us the last week of the month, and we're excited to get to know them as well.




While here, the Hawaiian ladies spent an afternoon getting pampered with massages, and they treated me! What fun! I hadn't done anything girly like that since last summer with my friend, GG, when we had Chinese foot baths and they took mallets to my feet. Ouch! Well, the full body massage was wonderful, and the foot massage was incredible. But the whole time, I couldn't help but stare at the glass cups on the shelf in front of me. I've seen enough shows on the Travel Channel to know that they're used for Chinese cupping therapy, but hadn't ever seen it done in person. After my peaceful massage, I decided I just NEEDED to try something new and exciting. So I inquired about the cupping, and my kind masseuse offered to let me try just one cup at no charge. Woohoo!

I didn't even feel it when she applied the first cup. I guess my lack of a reaction indicated to her that she could keep going, so she did! She stopped at four, which I was thankful for a couple days down the road. I was left with dark bruises and a deep soreness. I couldn't sleep on my back or lean back in chairs for days! It's been a week now, and the tenderness is gone but I still have a polka-dotted back. I'm glad I tried it for the memories, but please don't let me ever do that again!






In just forty eight hours, I will line up at the starting line of the Beijing International Marathon (I'm running the half). 25,000 other expectant runners will huddle alongside me in the streets surrounding Tiananmen Square. We'll wait nervously in the cold, dark morning and rub vaseline on our bodies. The starting gun will be fired and we'll will our bodies to move forward - from Mao's Mausoleum toward the picturesque Summer Palace. And hopefully, hopefully, two and a half hours later, I will cross the finish line with a smile on my face.

As soon as I dismissed class yesterday, I headed to the bus stop to grab a ride into the city for my last big weekend of fun in Beijing. I have a room here at my favorite little hostel, nestled in the hutongs. My girls made me a sign that they held up as I left. It's now hanging on the wall at the foot of my bed where I can admire it.



As soon as I sign off, I'll be headed up to the Olympic Stadium to pick up my bib-number. So exciting! I'm itching to hit the subways and navigate the Beijing that excited my heart so many years ago! Stay tuned for photos from my fun and fabulous weekend!