Sunday was a very good day

This morning Alison and Lynn looked at videos that Lynn has on the laptop. That was much more entertaining to her than just looking at still pictures. Alison seemed very interested in Alyssa playing basketball and her dance recital. They spent about an hour overall looking at pictures together and Alison normally doesn't get very close to Lynn. Then on the way to church she let him hold her hand. That hasn't happened since day one. Lynn was very encouraged with the change of heart toward him by his daughter.

The church service wasn't a service but a Bible study in Numbers. Tithing came up and so did full time ministry supported by the church for the pastor. All topics I have heard on many occassions.... universal issues for the church. The Bible study was translated into English and was interesting. It was very cold in the church.

The sun has warmed us up. We aren't as cold walking around and can enjoy the island much more. On the way back from lunch, we bought a couple more of the Barbie type dolls and more doll clothes. They are so cheap that it is just impossible to say no. When we got back to our room Alison sat on her bed really playing dolls for the first time. She dressed all 4 of them and did their hair. They talked (the dolls) and she walked them around on the bed. She seemed really happy as she played. She was mouthing words but not saying them out loud. This was a different play than she did a few days ago with the dolls. Then she would dress and undress them and then move onto something else. You could tell that she was playing an activity that the dolls were talking to each other and going out. Not sure what the doll in the drawer was all about though. She would put one in and play with the others and then get it out and it would play too.

We did some shopping this afternoon. Bought most of the things we want to bring back.

We talked to a family at dinner tonight that was stuck in the snow in the Hunan province. They were in a very nice hotel but she said as they left Hunan the airport was awful because you had to just push through the crowds and with kids that is hard to do.

Alison ordered a quesadea for lunch with french fries. She ordered this a few days ago and ate the salsa by itself with a spoon and hardly ate the quesadea. Today she put the salsa on the quesadea and picked it up with her hands to eat it. Today she ate all of the quesadea and lelft most of her fries.

Then tonight she only wanted french fries. She couldn't find anything else on the menu she wanted so I ordered peanut butter & jelly (it comes with fries). You should have seen her face when it came. She ate a few fries and then tasted the sandwich. We weren't sure if she liked it so I gave her some of my spaghetti and took 1/4 of her sandwich. She ate every bite of her sandwich and fries and did not touch my spaghetti. Hmmm I guess she liked her pbj. I have to say it is fun to watch her branch out and try new things.

Oh on our way back from lunch we stopped by a 7-Eleven to get cokes and she wanted an ice cream bar. Now like it hasn't been so cold here! She hate it over the next 20 or so minutes as we shopped our way home. With it still being cool, it didn't melt any too fast. I think she got cold eating the ice cream but she sure enjoyed it.

I bought her a couple of Chinese outfits (a vest, a pants outfit and a dress) today and another warm outfit. I guess I am paranoid about keeping her warm and she is so skinny. I am not sure you can get clothes thin enough in the US. Clothes here seem to be smaller around the waist.

Overall a good day. I think she looks happier. When we walked into a few stores, she let go of my hand and did some of her own shopping. She would come get me and then go back on her own. She is starting to feel a bit more confidence. She was even playing with a child in one of the stores. I am happy with our progress today. She is watching her first TV today and is giggling quietly as she watches it. Someday soon I hope to hear that laughter out loud.

Thanks for your prayers and support. I feel your prayers and I thank you for them. Children are such a blessing from God. Seeing so many unwanted kids find homes just makes me want to weep. I see the shell shocked kids with their new parents and over the days they brighten (like Alison) and it is so exciting. Then thinking of all the children who will never have homes is just beyond comprehension. As you pray for us, pray for the suffering children of the world. Pray for the orphans in China at this time of major crisis with the cold.

Thanks for listening. The end of a very good day. Brenda