Good Luck Snow

We made it to Beijing!  The kids did beautifully on the flight over, making friends and impressing those around them with their patient behavior.  Claire even impressed the man sitting near us with her professional use of a vomit bag during some pretty rough turbulence.  Professional!


                                             Waiting for bags at 1:00am!!!

We landed in country at about midnight and went through customs and immigration and got our bags.  You can imagine our relief when we stepped through the gates and saw our names on a sign held by the kindest looking woman named "Sylvia."  She was smiling and even knew our children's names.  We immediately liked her and were surprised when she told us to bundle up, as Beijing was experiencing snowfall!  As we exited the airport, huge flakes began to fall...so beautiful for us southerners who don't see that often.  We jumped in the van driven by "Mr. John" and drove in the snowy wonderland around us.  Our guide told us that there js a Chinese saying, "an early heavy snow brings a great harvest" and is considered good luck.  It is rare to have such an early snow in Beijing the first of November and our guide and driver stated that we brought the good luck to China.  They stated it over and over again and were serious about it!  We know differently about what we bring.  Cory spoke these verses this morning as we left our hotel to see the Great Wall...

“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
    and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
    giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
¹¹ so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
    it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
    and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

¹² “For you shall go out in joy
    and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and the hills before you
    shall break forth into singing,
    and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
¹³ Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;
    instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;
and it shall make a name for the Lord,
    an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 55:10-13)

The snow kept falling and falling as we drove to the Great Wall.  Traffic was bumper to bumper and roads were detoured.  As a girl who lived in Pittsburgh, this looked like not a big deal as the highway was totally clear.  We found out later that the government had closed the road to the Great Wall just 45 minutes after we had begun our trek.  If we had left just minutes later, we would have not been able to see the Wall as to go would have been illegal.  If you had already started though, it was fine.  Miles of trucks were lined up with sleeping drivers who would likely be stuck for days until the government decides to reopen the highway.

The Great Wall was amazing and very very cold!  The Mighty Barnetts are not to be outdone by what we were told is the greatest early snow storm in the last 51 years so if we were supposed to go to the Wall, we will go come sleet or snow!!  Such a surreal experience to meet so many people from all over the world at the top of that windy snowy mountain.  You would have thought Claire was Gwen Stefani as so many people wanted their picture taken with her on the Wall.  She and I only made it up so far as it was freezing and the steps were icy.  We decided hot chocolate with Australians, British and a Nashville family sounded much more fun.  My 2 adventure boys went very far and very high up.  I love that about them.

                                          Snowy and amazing....goes on for miles and miles

Cold but adventurous

After the Wall, we decided that the Forbidden City was Forbidden as walking for 2 hours in the cold wet snow did not sound like a lot of fun.  We went to the Jade Factory, which displayed beautiful jade pieces being crafted and took the tour and ate a delicious traditional lunch.  Our driver and guide "Sylvia" whose real name is Xu Tian were so impressed with our children, their love of Chinese culture and knowledge, that they didn't want to cut the day short and decided to drive us to the Olympic Village to see the Bird's Nest and Water Cube.  Very cool.  Earlier in the morning, while we were stuck in traffic, Xu Tian was giving us a really great history lesson on China and the city.  She would ask a question, Carter would know the answer and she would translate what happened to the driver, then much clapping and cheering and amazement!  He even offered some statistics, river names, and history!  Carter's love of China, combined with us being a good luck charm, gave us extra sights today.  And the "luck" continued!  On our way to the Jade Factory, the exits were closed back into Beijing proper.  Our driver is totally amazing and we felt safe and secure despite CRAZY driving and near wrecks around us.  He was commenting that the exits were closed and right as we approached ours, it opened!  He said that good people bring good luck.  Such a nice compliment but Cory and I smiled as we knew it really had nothing to do with us.  Likely a lot to do with praying family and friends and the fact that the Lord has indeed paved the way for us.  Even through snow.

I always said to myself and others that I wouldn't blog unless I was honest.   I honestly almost blew up our room this morning by accidentally plugging my curling iron into what I thought was an adapted outlet.  It wasn't.  Pitch dark room and a maintenance man later, we were ok.  You can tell it is our room by the burnt smell as you come down the hall.  I'm out a curling iron, but we have laughed about it all day.   Ok, Cory has laughed about it.  But not at first.


We are heading out to try bargaining at the Silk Market in a moment.  I have 2 children who think they have the skills to get the best deal.  I'm sure there is a story coming in the future about this outing!