closing ceremony, etc.

The closing ceremony was great! Very impressive and had a sweet message about writing a letter to the future. There were more than 90,000 spectators, 2000 performers and 4,000 athletes.

Our hotel is nice and modern and around the corner from the Forbidden City. It is located on what is called a back street (no thru traffic and only one lane). It has been very interesting walking and eating on this street. You can but most anything from the little open shops on the street. The stalls specialize in one item; fresh fruit, fresh vegetables, beans and nuts, noodles, dumplings, fresh meat. Also there is a cleaners, beauty shop and a grocery store as well as little curio shops and a place where I bought my cell phone.

Fourth Place!

I just talked to my mom. She said Matthew finished 4th with his best throw at 42.25(not his personal best). He was very close to getting third. The official results can be found below.
http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRMP/ENG/INF/AT/C73S/ATM642101.pdf

Of course we are all very proud! Matthew should be home Thursday night around 7pm. Mom and Charlie are scheduled to arrive Friday morning around 10am. This is all pending on the conditions in Houston. They are all supposed to come through there.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone. WooHoo!!!!!

Tonight

Matthew is throwing the discuss tonight at 8pm! His practices have been going really well this last week. He is relaxed and feels ready for competition.

I will post results as soon as I know something. (probably about 10pm tonight)

Beijing the City

Some things we have noticed about Beijing.
Lots of flowers.
Thousands upon thousands of tall buildings. it makes downtown Houston or Dallas look like a little village.
To our knowledge, we have not seen a church. (so sad)
There are very few children. (only one child allowed per couple)
All dogs are pure breeds, no mixes.
Almost no individual homes. The ones we have seen are all over a hundred yrs. old
The people are very friendly and most want to help you
No overweight people, I mean NONE.
Schools are in high rise buildings like apartments
and yes Logan, you can buy bugs on a stick.

Charlie, Jan, and ???? at the Great Wall

Pandas at the ZOO

Jan in the birds nest watching the shot put event

scoreboard

Matthew throwing the shot

Shot Put results

Matthew competed in the shot put this morning. He placed 8th in the world! I think that's pretty awesome. I know he was very disappointed with his performance because he did not throw as well as he normally does. My mom said he threw almost a meter shy of what he has done in the past. That's quite a difference. I know he can put his disappointment behind him and focus on his next event. He will throw the discuss on Tuesday next week. As his sister, I have to say I am so proud of him whatever the outcome. He is a world class athelete, and more importantly, an awesome brother. Love ya, baby bro!! Here' the result page link if you didn't see it.


http://results.beijing2008.cn/WRMP/ENG/INF/AT/C73S/ATM342101.pdf

Rollercoaster

Since leaving home I have been on a rollercoaster of emotions. The flight to China brought back vivid memories of the day we got the call about Matthew's accident. As I rememberd the flight to Ft Worth, the emotoins of sadness, concern and fear all came flooding back. I thought about that long flight (1 hour) and how awful it was not knowing the extent of Matthew's injuries. It was the heaviest sorrow I think I have ever felt. The China flight also brought back the flight when Matthew came home from the hospital. Again I remembered a heavey sadness, dispair, and an overwhelming concern for Matthew's future. How could he/we survive all the heartache and disapointments that lie ahead?
As Charlie and I watched the US team enter the stadium for the opening ceremony, my emotions got the best of me again. As the tears streamed down my face, I was gloriously thankful to our God and Savior. He has blessed Matthew and the whole family in so many ways during the last 2 1/2 years. We have seen His love and power working and watched as He opened door after door for Matthew. God's plan has far, far exceeded anything I could have hoped for. Praise Him! Praise Him! Praise Him!

love to all, Jan

My mom sent some awesome pictures of the opening ceremony. The bird's nest was filled with people! I watched it all online, it was awesome. Unfortunately, I didn't get a glimpse of Matthew when the U.S. atheletes came in. If you watch it, get ready with your fast forward button. The U. S. team is the 99th team to enter in the procession! The video also shows a man in a wheelchair being lifted up high in the air to light the torch. Pretty cool stuff. Matthew was able to visit the Great Wall of China this week. Can you imagine????!! It really blows my mind. He said it was a long hike up a steep hill but it was really worth it. Mom and Charlie arrived safely in Beijing and have been able to spend a little time with Matthew. They have purchased a cell phone there so now I don't feel so out of touch with them. For a few days after they left, I really didn't know if they made it or not. The hotel they are staying in is nice and not too far from all of the olympic events. They plan to watch several events and do a bit of site seeing this week. Matthew is going to stay around the olympic village, train and just get focused on his events. Please pray for him! I can't imagine how much pressure he feels right now. Pray for good rest, calm nerves, and that whatever happens, it will accomplish God's will in his life. His first event is this Wednesday. He will be throwing the shot put.

opening ceremony

The opening ceremonies can be seen live on this website: http://www.universalsports.com/

Go to the paralympic link on this site and click on the schedule. It looks to me like it will be at 7am tomorrow morning. I am hoping that the video will be archived so that you can view it at any time.

Another site is :http://www.usparalympics.org/ You can view the results next week on this site.
You can also try:www.en.beijing2008.cn\paralympic

amy

Adios Jan and Charlie!

Jan and Charlie are on their way to the big "C" tomorrow afternoon!! I wish I could go too. Matthew should already be their and settling in. I'm hoping he will post something soon. Maybe some pictures??? I talked to him on Saturday and he was still having a great time. He said he had some phenomenal sushi for breakfast the other day. He mentioned that he was really being spoiled. Ya think? I am currently living the life as the lowly art teacher here in little ol' Idalou, Texas. My breakfast, for lack of a better word, will be some toast or maybe some yogurt. I guess I will have to live vicariously through my baby bro.! Sushi!(and ribs) for breakfast!?? Must be nice!

Matthew is packing his bags and making ready to leave Japan and travel to Beijing Tuesday. He has had a great time in Japan but is very anxious to begin the next leg of his journey.

His throwing practices have been good, but not great. Hopefully he's saving that fantastic throw for the games!

While in Japan, each team member was assigned a military individual as a sponsor. Matthew's sponsor works on the C130 airplanes. Matthew was given a tour of these huge cargo planes and was allow to start the engines! He spent one day seeing the sights of the area and visited the worlds largest aquarium. He said Japan was beautiful, the people were very friendly and was a place he would enjoy visiting again.

Please keep him in your prayers.