Safe In The Arms of the Shepherd
This is Who we want our children to know!
Saturday, December 22, 2012
Friday, December 21, 2012
Doxology
OK, I hope you all don't consider this post in poor taste. It is just so funny that I can't stop myself from sharing. Sam has not been feeling well today and has been in the bathroom a lot to the extent that , let's just say poo stinky! Daddy commented that even he could smell it, which he usually cannot. YiLi also said that she could not smell anything, and Daddy retorted that she was lucky. The next thing we knew, YiLi was singing "Praise God from whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above ye heavenly host, praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost." And she meant it! I guess she was really thankful for that blessing!
At any rate, please say a prayer for safe travel for us and for Sam's tummy to feel better.
At any rate, please say a prayer for safe travel for us and for Sam's tummy to feel better.
A delicate balancing act . . .
I've been noticing that I cannot be as verbally and demonstratively loving with Sam as I would want to be, not yet. YiLi knows she is dearly loved, she understands that love grows when shared, and yet, this is a hard process for her to go through. She IS making her way, but I do stop myself from going on and on about:
Sam's sweet heart- when we play Sorry, and someone gets sent home, even if he is the one sending them home, he begins a pitiful fake cry and comes over to that person and kisses and hugs them! The first time he did this, he checked out our response. When he saw we liked it, the kisses and hugs just got bigger and bigger!
How stinking' cute he is!
How clever he is! When he repeats English words for us, he has a peculiar little accent. Even though he is 6, it reminds me of how a baby will mispronounce words in a cute way and how sad it is when that baby starts speaking correctly . . .
How much mischief this little boy can find in this small space. Over and over again we have gotten on google translate, explained our expectations, described what a family is, held hands and gotten a Chinese pinkie promise about what he will or will not do going forward . . . We are making headway, but I would not exactly leave me dearest possessions on the counter for anyone to come along and play with!
Really, YiLi is doing great. We try not to make her responsible for too much translation, but there have been several times when she breaks out in giggles and then tells us what Sam has said, so that is a good sign.
I hope this helps a family heading over for a subsequent adoption, just something to think about.
Sam's sweet heart- when we play Sorry, and someone gets sent home, even if he is the one sending them home, he begins a pitiful fake cry and comes over to that person and kisses and hugs them! The first time he did this, he checked out our response. When he saw we liked it, the kisses and hugs just got bigger and bigger!
How stinking' cute he is!
How clever he is! When he repeats English words for us, he has a peculiar little accent. Even though he is 6, it reminds me of how a baby will mispronounce words in a cute way and how sad it is when that baby starts speaking correctly . . .
How much mischief this little boy can find in this small space. Over and over again we have gotten on google translate, explained our expectations, described what a family is, held hands and gotten a Chinese pinkie promise about what he will or will not do going forward . . . We are making headway, but I would not exactly leave me dearest possessions on the counter for anyone to come along and play with!
Really, YiLi is doing great. We try not to make her responsible for too much translation, but there have been several times when she breaks out in giggles and then tells us what Sam has said, so that is a good sign.
I hope this helps a family heading over for a subsequent adoption, just something to think about.
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
No blog is complete without a panda . . .
Vicky reminded me that I have not blogged for a few days . . . we have been wrapped up in chasing, guarding, feeding, protecting, feeding, teaching, feeding . . . you get the idea! Yes, we came to Guangzhou on Friday, but we don't have our consulate appointment until Thursday, and we don't leave until just after midnight on Saturday, China time! We are so ready to be home. I am enjoying China, but my impression of the China Hotel still stays true. It is not a good place for us, as there are no restaurants near-by except McDonalds. We have been to several really weird places and received unexpected meals that cost a lot of money. Why can't we walk into any Chinese restaurant and just order some rice or noodles with some ordinary vegetables? No chicken feet, pigs knuckles or duck head, please. My impression of China vs. other countries that I have lived in or spent time in is that most Chinese people are not interested in helping foreigners or speaking English. That said, though, we have many many blessings for which we are thankful:
Sam is unexpectedly healthy! He seems to have no remaining issues from his special needs he had surgeries for. We were told to prepare fro the worst and pray for the best, and we received the best!
He is so cute and can look so sweet and innocent that he "bamboozles" especially women. They just want to give him anything and everything. Men and women, including our guides, laugh at him because he says such unexpected things. Last night he got out of the taxi and swept the hotel greeter's hand off of our taxi and told him that he would take care of things . . . once in Shenyang he raised his arm in the air like he has seen people do and ordered the waiter over to our table . . . people think this is just so cute, but in reality, we have our work cut out for us! He makes fast friends with every bus and taxi driver, invites them out for a dinner and a "beer".
Today YiLi and I were studying on some of her reading homework. He came over and was very interested. So not only is he smart, but he seems to find learning interesting. I hope so, because we want him to start kindergarten in January! I can't quite see Grandma Grace watching him all day for very long. He is a bit sneaky and I think he would get quite a lot past her. Although, maybe she can hold her own!
OK, I know all you want are pictures. I can only post 3-4 at a time. After this blog, I will immediately post just some pictures that don't require words.
Sam is unexpectedly healthy! He seems to have no remaining issues from his special needs he had surgeries for. We were told to prepare fro the worst and pray for the best, and we received the best!
He is so cute and can look so sweet and innocent that he "bamboozles" especially women. They just want to give him anything and everything. Men and women, including our guides, laugh at him because he says such unexpected things. Last night he got out of the taxi and swept the hotel greeter's hand off of our taxi and told him that he would take care of things . . . once in Shenyang he raised his arm in the air like he has seen people do and ordered the waiter over to our table . . . people think this is just so cute, but in reality, we have our work cut out for us! He makes fast friends with every bus and taxi driver, invites them out for a dinner and a "beer".
Today YiLi and I were studying on some of her reading homework. He came over and was very interested. So not only is he smart, but he seems to find learning interesting. I hope so, because we want him to start kindergarten in January! I can't quite see Grandma Grace watching him all day for very long. He is a bit sneaky and I think he would get quite a lot past her. Although, maybe she can hold her own!
OK, I know all you want are pictures. I can only post 3-4 at a time. After this blog, I will immediately post just some pictures that don't require words.
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