The Great Wall was....well...GREAT!

This morning started bright and early. We're still having trouble with night and day, so I was up and at 'em around 4:30 this morning. Troy finally gave up trying to sleep around 5:30 and got up. This gave us time to get ready, Skype with family, and have a leisurely breakfast before leaving for the Great Wall. I'm so grateful we made it there. Words wouldn't do justice to the "creative" driving of the Chinese people - or at least those in and around Beijing. SCARY! And exciting. :) We got to the Wall around 11:30 and spent about two hours walking it. The first half hour to forty-five minutes we strolled and took about a gazillion pictures. Then, I looked to the top of the mountain and said to Troy, "We HAVE to go there." At first, Troy was dead-set against the notion. As we rounded the last corner before we would have to make our final assualt on the Wall, Troy said, "I haven't come this far not to do it." So, up we went; we made the ascent. Talk about feeling the burn. We did it, though. We hiked up to the final "legal" watch towers. Others went beyond the sign warning against it, but we had to be back to our guide by 1:00. Suffice it to say, we had to have set some kind of record for the distance we covered in the time we covered it. After our trek, we were treated to a delicious (real) Chinese lunch. Now we're exhausted. Luckily, we have masseuers coming to our hotel room tonight. Our poor muscles will be screaming before long! After our messages, we plan to finally go for our Peking duck supper, walk the night market, and if we have the energy, walk to the Forbidden City to take night photos. Tomorrow is our orientation!!! We get more information and learn about what the rest of the trip will bring us. In 48 hours, we will have Aiden!! It is hard to comprehend that this journey is nearing its completion. Our son will soon be in our arms. Praise the good Lord! Thanks again to everybody who helped us get this far. We love you!