Today is Friday. Alison and I got up very early this morning. Lynn and I both have developed a bad cold. Alison continues with her sniffly nose. I was running a bit of a fever today so when Lynn got up, I went back to bed. I guess he and Alison napped while watching TV. When I got up about 1:30, Alison had just moved to her bed. She was sleeping soundly when I saw her. I think we still have our bodies on China time. We need to get this moved around. Yesterday we did very well with no naps and up all day but today with the colds, we all are sleeping day and night.
We had lunch about 3:00 and I decided we need to get this child out of the house to wake her up some. We ran errands to Plainfield. I had not been in the "Justice" shop for girls. Well, we are looking around and getting ready to check out and Alison looks real dazed and then throws-up on the floor (so much for lunch). We were told she gets car sick and we had only one episode while in China so I was a little surprised. But, our car sits her so low in the back seat that she only feels the motion and she can't see out. On the way back I had her sit in a booster seat but she still got sick some more. Poor thing. I think we will take my Trailblazer and see if that makes a difference. What will we do if this doesn't get better? I will have to go pick up the sea bands and see if they help her.
She is right at home now. She continues to figure out how things work here. She was running the DVD player yesterday and turned our TV on when we were in the other room. She is the most fastidious toothbrusher and hand washer I have ever seen. She has a whole routine with her toothbrush with a cup and swishing water in her mouth. I am showing her what goes in the fridge and the dish washer and hoping she can pick that up pretty quick. She needs to feel part of the family and not a guest.
Yesterday she was running up and down stairs and checking out all the doors in the house. She is playing with Nikki all the time and still talks to Nikki and not us. We used the translator this morning and she seemed more at ease with it and seemed to understand what I said. I plan on using it more and more. All morning she had a smile on her face.
So, I decided to go to McDonalds. She has been to McDonalds at least once in China. I called Angie and asked if she and Nolan wanted to go with us, which they did. Alison ate her lunch but would have nothing to do with the play area. She watched Nolan run around and she smiled occasionally but wouldn't budge from my side. I will say the place was packed. Another time. I just want her to get used to going out and testing her comfort while we are still with her. I especially want her to get comfortable with the grandkids. I want to get out to Tammie's in the next few days but we need to get over these colds first before we get around Stephen.
Alison is doing well. She is very animated and hardly sits still when she is more herself. But, I don't think we have seen but glimpses of her personality. She is very compliant but she makes her wishes known. She is picky about her clothes and she loves pink. She is trying new food and is eating ok. She had cereal for breakfast. Meal times have not been a problem but then we have only had a few meals here at home. We are dong fine right now. I am very encouraged and am trying to stay patient. I just want her to talk. So, how long before I wish she could be quiet for 5 minutes?
So that answer is not much is going on here besides sleeping... Brenda
Friday, February 8, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
My Four Daughters
I am very proud to present the first pictures of my four daughters. The all came to the airport to welcome Alison into the family. Our dear friend Sam and her adopted daughter came as well.
I can't tell you how proud I was to see all of my daughters there to greet Alison. I think Alison was overwhelmed. But that is what family is all about. She has responded quite well and I think is seeing what being a part of my family means.
The VERY proud father of my four daughters,
Lynn
Day One Begins Early
I woke at 5:00. By 6:00, I heard stirrings in Alison's room. She slept in her full size bed with the door closed with no issues. Well, she got up and closed her door. We compromised and almost closed it but left our door open in case she woke crying or something. That didn't happen...she loves her room. I bought a dresser/armoir with a mirror on the front last year before I even knew for sure we were adopting. She got dressed this morning and did just a bit of primping in the mirror. It is just the right height for her. Something to think about...I don't think these girls often see themselves in a mirror. I wish I could say I bought this dresser for the mirror but I didn't and she probably wouldn't have a mirror in her room if it hadn't been for that.
Alison was so frightened of our dog, Nikki, when they met last night. Nikki thinks she is the greeting machine and is quite wired when anyone first arrives. For the first hour or so, everytime Nikki came close to Alison, she got behind me. This morning Nikki is at Alison's feet and she is petting her. I think these two are going to be fast friends.
Alison thinks she is still in a cold environment. She put on a fleece outfit today with a t-shirt, fleece shirt and a light jacket. She loves her new clothes. I showed her a Disney watch a friend bought for her and she wanted it on this morning. I am not sure if she can tell time but she likes the watch. I had sissors in her desk and then carried them to the kitchen last night. As we were trying to get the watch out of the box, I told her we needed sissors and we looked in her desk drawer and we both headed for the kitchen. She is tracking just still not talking excpet now to Nikki. Alison is quietly talking to Nikki as she pets her.
This is like a fun park discovering new things. Alison had rasin cereal for breakfast. She ate every bite. I showed her where the glasses, plates and silverware are and she nodded that she understood. We have a few food habits to break. She is a junk food junky. After her cereal she had Skittles. I know, I know.
David, our guide in China, said the average apartment in China is about 500 square feet. That is the size of my upstairs bonus room. We have so much. Alison has parents, sisters, aunts & uncles (ok peers, her age), a school and a church. She has her own things. She came to us with nothing personal of her own. She had no books, no dolls, no toys, nothing to call her own. She has her memories and whatever heritage she can hold on to from her past. She is the bravest girl I know (you may have a brave one in your home too). I have been paralyzed by fear of doing silly things, like going someplace by myself or talking in public and she leaves everything she knows and goes with total strangers who can't talk to her. And she did so with only one melt down and minimal tears. She has traveled half way around the world and has endured untold hours of boredom and exhaustion and has not complained.
The heart of an orphan yearns for a family and they will risk it all to be loved. It makes me cry and humbled to have the opportunity of giving this to her. I love and admire my bio kids. I love my grandkids to pieces. And I love my little China girl who appears so fragile but is so brave and strong. Brenda
Alison was so frightened of our dog, Nikki, when they met last night. Nikki thinks she is the greeting machine and is quite wired when anyone first arrives. For the first hour or so, everytime Nikki came close to Alison, she got behind me. This morning Nikki is at Alison's feet and she is petting her. I think these two are going to be fast friends.
Alison thinks she is still in a cold environment. She put on a fleece outfit today with a t-shirt, fleece shirt and a light jacket. She loves her new clothes. I showed her a Disney watch a friend bought for her and she wanted it on this morning. I am not sure if she can tell time but she likes the watch. I had sissors in her desk and then carried them to the kitchen last night. As we were trying to get the watch out of the box, I told her we needed sissors and we looked in her desk drawer and we both headed for the kitchen. She is tracking just still not talking excpet now to Nikki. Alison is quietly talking to Nikki as she pets her.
This is like a fun park discovering new things. Alison had rasin cereal for breakfast. She ate every bite. I showed her where the glasses, plates and silverware are and she nodded that she understood. We have a few food habits to break. She is a junk food junky. After her cereal she had Skittles. I know, I know.
David, our guide in China, said the average apartment in China is about 500 square feet. That is the size of my upstairs bonus room. We have so much. Alison has parents, sisters, aunts & uncles (ok peers, her age), a school and a church. She has her own things. She came to us with nothing personal of her own. She had no books, no dolls, no toys, nothing to call her own. She has her memories and whatever heritage she can hold on to from her past. She is the bravest girl I know (you may have a brave one in your home too). I have been paralyzed by fear of doing silly things, like going someplace by myself or talking in public and she leaves everything she knows and goes with total strangers who can't talk to her. And she did so with only one melt down and minimal tears. She has traveled half way around the world and has endured untold hours of boredom and exhaustion and has not complained.
The heart of an orphan yearns for a family and they will risk it all to be loved. It makes me cry and humbled to have the opportunity of giving this to her. I love and admire my bio kids. I love my grandkids to pieces. And I love my little China girl who appears so fragile but is so brave and strong. Brenda
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
WE ARE HOME
Wow, we are home. Alison is in her room playing. She is opening drawers, doors and just getting acquainted with her new surroundings. Today at the airport we got out her photo album that I sent to her in her care package that was sent several weeks before we left for China. In the photos I had family pictures and some pictures of her room. We went through identifying who is who in our family. Tonight was so fun. She walked through the house looking at rooms that she has only seen in pictures. She spotted her sisters as we came down the escalator!
We left Guangzhou late this moring so we missed our connection in Tokyo. But we were able to catch a Detroit flight instead of Minneapolis. We arrived in plenty of time to catch the flight to Indianapolis but due to mechanical review that flight was delayed. So, they sent us to gate 45 and after we got there it was discovered this flight also had a mechanical delay then down to gate 15 and we finally left. We were several hours late.
Tonight ...It was so fun... I asked that all the grandkids not come to the airport. I thought that would be overwhelming for Alison and I was probably right. But, Tammie, Angie and Michelle came and that was just perfect. Sam and Annie Reed also were there and I am so encouraged by that as well. I hope Annie and Alison will be good friends. It is so amazing to see how well Annie is doing and she has only been here since May and is 10. Someday Alison will know how special to be greeted at the airport by another 10 year old orphan who knows what she will go through. It means so much to me for the girls acceptance of Alison and that was apparent as well. We are so blessed.
The kids were all waiting at Angie's house. Everyone was great. I am so proud of my girls and how compassionately they have raised their children. I think Alison felt welcomed and she knows she has people in her life now. As the time went by, she became more and more calm and less anxious. Actually, the most anxiety was because of our dog, Nikki. But even now she is petting her some and Alison was actually talking to Nikki in the car as we came back home from Angie's.
It is so good to be home. I will write more tomorrow. I will catch you up on the zoo and our last day. Oh, we got some smiles today and our daughter is a trooper of a traveler. Twenty-two travel hours and not one whine or melt down. She napped, watched movies and people watched. How anxious she must have been! How brave these little orphans are! Brenda
We left Guangzhou late this moring so we missed our connection in Tokyo. But we were able to catch a Detroit flight instead of Minneapolis. We arrived in plenty of time to catch the flight to Indianapolis but due to mechanical review that flight was delayed. So, they sent us to gate 45 and after we got there it was discovered this flight also had a mechanical delay then down to gate 15 and we finally left. We were several hours late.
Tonight ...It was so fun... I asked that all the grandkids not come to the airport. I thought that would be overwhelming for Alison and I was probably right. But, Tammie, Angie and Michelle came and that was just perfect. Sam and Annie Reed also were there and I am so encouraged by that as well. I hope Annie and Alison will be good friends. It is so amazing to see how well Annie is doing and she has only been here since May and is 10. Someday Alison will know how special to be greeted at the airport by another 10 year old orphan who knows what she will go through. It means so much to me for the girls acceptance of Alison and that was apparent as well. We are so blessed.
The kids were all waiting at Angie's house. Everyone was great. I am so proud of my girls and how compassionately they have raised their children. I think Alison felt welcomed and she knows she has people in her life now. As the time went by, she became more and more calm and less anxious. Actually, the most anxiety was because of our dog, Nikki. But even now she is petting her some and Alison was actually talking to Nikki in the car as we came back home from Angie's.
It is so good to be home. I will write more tomorrow. I will catch you up on the zoo and our last day. Oh, we got some smiles today and our daughter is a trooper of a traveler. Twenty-two travel hours and not one whine or melt down. She napped, watched movies and people watched. How anxious she must have been! How brave these little orphans are! Brenda
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
The Last Day in Guangzhou
Our last day in Guangzhou included a trip to the zoo. In spite of the occasional showers we enjoyed having the zoo all to ourselves.
Monday, February 4, 2008
More Pictures
More pictures from the last few days. The first is one of the few smiles I have caught on camers. She lights up when she smiles. It warms my heart. Hopefully in a short time the smiles will be the norm, not the sneaked exception.
Of course I had to have a picture of Alison and I together on the top of the boat Brenda talked about. Alison loved it but it was very cold in the wind.
Next we step back to the medical clinic and the Shamian Christian Church.
Then is Alison and her 4 dolls. I've never seen so many hair pieces in little dolls in my life.
Finally, back to the boat--a picture of Alison and Brenda and one of many pictures of Alison watching out the window.
Like Brenda said, yes, I would adopt again if we had been called to this younger. Every time I try to think about this whole thing logically I say this is crazy. That doesn't mean I am not whole heartedly committed to raising Alison as my own. What the head says isn't always the right thing. When I look at Alison, I know it is right. I think this is a guy thing mostly. We have to think about and worry about providing and all that. But when all that is put behind the smile puts everything back in perspective. God is good.
Lynn
It is Finished... We can come home now...
We went to the US Consulate and did our oath and got our paperwork that will get Alison into the US. If we had a flight, we could leave now. The room was pretty full with new families. Children of all ages now matched with parents who will love and care for them. It just brings tears to your eyes to see the happiness in one place. What was once a bleak future for these children has turned into a world of opportunity. What was once loveless has turned into a loving family.
For Alison, today was coloring and more Barbies. It is so fun to see what Alison will play with. She colored like mad the first thing this morning and then every time we have been in the room since she has been consumed with doing her dolls hair and changing their clothes. Well, there was that green blob while we were out too. She put that in her drawer and got right back to the Barbies.
Alison likes her space. She plays on her bed. She likes having a drawer in the night stand and our room has open shelving between the bedroom and the sitting area. We have her things (books mostly) arranged on the shelves. It is like she has her own little piece of the world. That is where she spends 90+% of her time.If coaxed, she will lie on the end of our bed to watch a movie but her bed is the haven. She is very neat and puts away her things when she is done playing. I hope she does't lose that habit and take after her mother by leaving things out.
We had our boat cruise on the Pearl River tonight. We were in a very nice boat with tables decked out like for a wedding reception (seat covers and table cloths). The ride was very relaxing and the buildings along the river have colored lights. It was very pretty. Lynn and Olivia (2) were with us. Alison does not know what to think of Olivia. Olivia is such a sweet, touchy child and reached out to Alison over the course of the evening. Mostly Alison ignored her but I just don't think she knows how to relate to a younger child. Very interesting to watch the interaction. The boat trip was quite a treat for Alison. She was out of her chair and into the window. She wrote her name in the foggy window (made foggy by her breath) of the boat. She smiled several times and her whole body changed as she seemed more at ease. At one point Lynn and David decided to go on top (outside) and Alison tripped all over herself to go with them. She just had a great time on the boat.
When we got to the hotel, she rang for the elevator. Lynn was talking to David so she pushed the button several times and it closed. Then we got in and the door almost closed before Lynn got in. He put the bag in the door to keep it open. We all laughed at that one, even Alison. I gave her the key and she scooted ahead of us down the hall to open the room door. I know this sounds so natural but she has only done this once or twice before. Normally, she holds my hand as we walk down the hall and sometimes she will open the door when we get there. She just isn't the carefree child that we all have known. She is timid and shy and just unsure of most everything.
Brooke was at the oath ceremony. She turned 14 yesterday and she is from Zhu Hai. Brooke had to be given to her new parents before her 14th birthday or she is not eligible to be adopted. She just made it by a week. Imagine being willing to be adopted and missing the deadline by one week the other way? Brooke is also very shy with her new mom but when Alison and Brooke are together they banter like two rival siblings. We will be on the same flight on Wednesday. The girls can talk from Guangzhou to Tokyo and then it will probably just be on the phone. Can't imagine not seeming my sisters again ever or only every few years. Such adjustments these children face... such loss.
We have a much happier child that we got a week ago. She still isn't trying any English words but does know a good deal about what we are talking about in this environment. Another adjustment until we get into a routine at home and hopefully soon she will begin talking.
Tomorrow is the zoo. Lynn and Olivia are going with us. I think being with another child is good for Alison as it will help prepare her a little bit for all of the kids who are part of her family now. It has been a good day. My Lynn confessed to Lynn (Olivia's mom) that if we were younger he would adopt again. That is enough confirmation for me that it isn't just me pushing him to do this. I don't think that it is fair to a child to only have one committed parent. But when God gives you a desire, I think He expects you to do His bidding. And the great thing is that He blesses it more than you ever dreamed. A good day...but only one more before we come home... I can't wait. I miss my family at home so much. I haven't seen my own little munchkins for two weeks and I miss them. ... Brenda
For Alison, today was coloring and more Barbies. It is so fun to see what Alison will play with. She colored like mad the first thing this morning and then every time we have been in the room since she has been consumed with doing her dolls hair and changing their clothes. Well, there was that green blob while we were out too. She put that in her drawer and got right back to the Barbies.
Alison likes her space. She plays on her bed. She likes having a drawer in the night stand and our room has open shelving between the bedroom and the sitting area. We have her things (books mostly) arranged on the shelves. It is like she has her own little piece of the world. That is where she spends 90+% of her time.If coaxed, she will lie on the end of our bed to watch a movie but her bed is the haven. She is very neat and puts away her things when she is done playing. I hope she does't lose that habit and take after her mother by leaving things out.
We had our boat cruise on the Pearl River tonight. We were in a very nice boat with tables decked out like for a wedding reception (seat covers and table cloths). The ride was very relaxing and the buildings along the river have colored lights. It was very pretty. Lynn and Olivia (2) were with us. Alison does not know what to think of Olivia. Olivia is such a sweet, touchy child and reached out to Alison over the course of the evening. Mostly Alison ignored her but I just don't think she knows how to relate to a younger child. Very interesting to watch the interaction. The boat trip was quite a treat for Alison. She was out of her chair and into the window. She wrote her name in the foggy window (made foggy by her breath) of the boat. She smiled several times and her whole body changed as she seemed more at ease. At one point Lynn and David decided to go on top (outside) and Alison tripped all over herself to go with them. She just had a great time on the boat.
When we got to the hotel, she rang for the elevator. Lynn was talking to David so she pushed the button several times and it closed. Then we got in and the door almost closed before Lynn got in. He put the bag in the door to keep it open. We all laughed at that one, even Alison. I gave her the key and she scooted ahead of us down the hall to open the room door. I know this sounds so natural but she has only done this once or twice before. Normally, she holds my hand as we walk down the hall and sometimes she will open the door when we get there. She just isn't the carefree child that we all have known. She is timid and shy and just unsure of most everything.
Brooke was at the oath ceremony. She turned 14 yesterday and she is from Zhu Hai. Brooke had to be given to her new parents before her 14th birthday or she is not eligible to be adopted. She just made it by a week. Imagine being willing to be adopted and missing the deadline by one week the other way? Brooke is also very shy with her new mom but when Alison and Brooke are together they banter like two rival siblings. We will be on the same flight on Wednesday. The girls can talk from Guangzhou to Tokyo and then it will probably just be on the phone. Can't imagine not seeming my sisters again ever or only every few years. Such adjustments these children face... such loss.
We have a much happier child that we got a week ago. She still isn't trying any English words but does know a good deal about what we are talking about in this environment. Another adjustment until we get into a routine at home and hopefully soon she will begin talking.
Tomorrow is the zoo. Lynn and Olivia are going with us. I think being with another child is good for Alison as it will help prepare her a little bit for all of the kids who are part of her family now. It has been a good day. My Lynn confessed to Lynn (Olivia's mom) that if we were younger he would adopt again. That is enough confirmation for me that it isn't just me pushing him to do this. I don't think that it is fair to a child to only have one committed parent. But when God gives you a desire, I think He expects you to do His bidding. And the great thing is that He blesses it more than you ever dreamed. A good day...but only one more before we come home... I can't wait. I miss my family at home so much. I haven't seen my own little munchkins for two weeks and I miss them. ... Brenda
Monday - Visa is a Go, Oath moved to today
David took our application for the Visa to the Consulate today and called to say everything went well. They have moved our oath ceremony from tomorrow to this afternoon. David is picking us up at 2:45. We had to be in our room from 11-12 for David's call so this has been a lazy, lazy day so far.
We had breakfast in the hotel this morning. We are down to a routine now. Lunch was "junk" in our room. We have left over pizza but Alison isn't interested in that so we are just snacking. She had picked up a couple of things over the course of this week. The first was a bag with mushrooms on the outside. It turns out to be a small cookie stick with a chocolate top on it and it looks like a mushroom. There was no English on the package at all but it sure looked like a mushroom on the packaging. I didn't know what to expect but when she opened it, I ate one and it is cookie w/ chocolate. Yesterday when we were out, she asked for a yogurt looking container (only taller). She just went for this and it is a package of cookie sticks and some icing dip. The cookies look like a stick pretzel only a little fatter and some pink stuff to dip it into. I would probably say an icing kind of thing. Yup, my child likes junk food. She has eaten crackers and peanut butter and some Pringles. I also brought dried fruit and she isn't much into that either...just junky stuff. We will work on this later after we get home. She hasn't had too much of a chance to eat a lot of junk so far... until today. I guess one meal won't spoil her.
After Alice in Wonderland, we went out to do a little shopping. Lynn hates when I say that. We bought 2 T-Shirts for her, 10 tops (toys...don't tell the kids), chop sticks, a dragon, 4 scarves... oh, and we picked up her Christmas stocking with her name embroidered in Chinese on one side and English on the other. Ok, no snickers from those of you who know I have an embroidery machine and could have done this myself... well, I might make another and I have a pattern to go by... how is that? I don't think Lynn thought about the fact I could have done the embroidery. I will just act surprised when he comes to that realization. Oh yeah, he will probably read this too.
We also bought this stupid, gel filled, rubberized blob with a long rubbery (almost yo-yo like cord) string. Well, you should see this girl play with it like a yo-yo. Do an around the world on her finger and generaly just about knock everyone with this thing as we walk down the street. She just is so easily entertained but I would be too with this silly thing. Oh, it lights up to. The ones I have seen in the states don't light up (looks like a round blow fish with porcupine spines but everything is rubbery).
That has been our day so far. We do the river cruise tonight. I hope we don't freeze to death. More later.... Brenda
OHHH the super bowl. Lynn found it on the internet. Someone said it was on TV but I searched from 8 - 8:30 and didn't find it. I am glad a Manning was the winner of the superbowl at least. Sounded like a good game. Anyone at home tape it?
We had breakfast in the hotel this morning. We are down to a routine now. Lunch was "junk" in our room. We have left over pizza but Alison isn't interested in that so we are just snacking. She had picked up a couple of things over the course of this week. The first was a bag with mushrooms on the outside. It turns out to be a small cookie stick with a chocolate top on it and it looks like a mushroom. There was no English on the package at all but it sure looked like a mushroom on the packaging. I didn't know what to expect but when she opened it, I ate one and it is cookie w/ chocolate. Yesterday when we were out, she asked for a yogurt looking container (only taller). She just went for this and it is a package of cookie sticks and some icing dip. The cookies look like a stick pretzel only a little fatter and some pink stuff to dip it into. I would probably say an icing kind of thing. Yup, my child likes junk food. She has eaten crackers and peanut butter and some Pringles. I also brought dried fruit and she isn't much into that either...just junky stuff. We will work on this later after we get home. She hasn't had too much of a chance to eat a lot of junk so far... until today. I guess one meal won't spoil her.
After Alice in Wonderland, we went out to do a little shopping. Lynn hates when I say that. We bought 2 T-Shirts for her, 10 tops (toys...don't tell the kids), chop sticks, a dragon, 4 scarves... oh, and we picked up her Christmas stocking with her name embroidered in Chinese on one side and English on the other. Ok, no snickers from those of you who know I have an embroidery machine and could have done this myself... well, I might make another and I have a pattern to go by... how is that? I don't think Lynn thought about the fact I could have done the embroidery. I will just act surprised when he comes to that realization. Oh yeah, he will probably read this too.
We also bought this stupid, gel filled, rubberized blob with a long rubbery (almost yo-yo like cord) string. Well, you should see this girl play with it like a yo-yo. Do an around the world on her finger and generaly just about knock everyone with this thing as we walk down the street. She just is so easily entertained but I would be too with this silly thing. Oh, it lights up to. The ones I have seen in the states don't light up (looks like a round blow fish with porcupine spines but everything is rubbery).
That has been our day so far. We do the river cruise tonight. I hope we don't freeze to death. More later.... Brenda
OHHH the super bowl. Lynn found it on the internet. Someone said it was on TV but I searched from 8 - 8:30 and didn't find it. I am glad a Manning was the winner of the superbowl at least. Sounded like a good game. Anyone at home tape it?
Sunday, February 3, 2008
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
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
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