some pictures from today

One year ago today in Fuzhou, Fujian

after nine months of praying, our lives changed forever. We watched a sad, crying little boy being brought into our hotel lobby. We were hoping for a peaceful transition! He was brought into the conference room and sat in our guide's lap while they tried to make him stop crying to take his adoption and passport photo. I know he did not know what was going on. I was not able to hold him till after that was done. It was very hard.

Today we have an almost 4 year old boy and he is one of the happiest children I have ever seen! He is smiling all the time and has a wonderful disposition. God has truly blessed us. Tonight we had cake, please forgive the messy background in the video, we just started school and things are not quite as I would like them. Look at that smile! (to watch the video,you can turn off the music on the blog by clicking the little button on the upper left of the playlist on the side column)

Meet Kelsey

Our exchange student has arrived! Tonight she will be here one week. She started school on Wednesday. I think she is adjusting well. Her Chinese name is DengKe. She is from Beijing.She watched the fireworks from the Olympic ceremony from her living room window.

cute six flags pics!

Yesterday we went to six flags and I wore some sneakers that are new and I paid the price! Two huge blisters on my heels. But the kids are a blast and thats what counts! Here are some pics from right before we left. Kai was pretty amazed to see The Green Lantern, Flash, Batman and Robin in person, it was pretty cute!

long time

I know I haven't posted in awhile. Its busy here!

We are getting ready for the school year. I'm finishing up buying our curriculum. We are returning to Sonlight this year. We used it several years ago and I wish we would have stayed with it. This year we will be using Core 5 for Donya and Sarah and Core 3 for Sophia and Samuel. For those of you that don't know the core # (5, 3 etc..) does not mean that is the grade level. The Core # is a range of recommended ages. For example Core 5 is recommended for ages 10-13 and grades 5-8. However typically people use a core lower than their child's age/grade because Sonlight is advanced and some children just are not ready for some of the content. Example: even though core 5 says it's recommended for ages 10-13 most people that have taught it say that in their opinion its not appropriate for a 10 year old. Many people use it for high school level. Core 5 by the way is Eastern Hemisphere.

Core three is American History. Core 3 is recommended for ages 8-11 and grades 3,4, and 5. In the younger elementary years it is not unusual for a younger sibling to join in on an older sibling's core. Samuel will be 8 about half way thru the school year and I know he might not "get" all the books we read but as long as he is listening and getting most of it, I'm ok with it. One of our main focuses this year will be to improve his reading. He has spent years listening in while we've read the Little house series, The Hobbit, The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe series, Jesus Freaks, Voice of the Martyrs, Pilgrims Progress, etc....all well above his level but I think it prepares him.

Anyway, we have some news...No we're not pregnant or adopting (yet). We are hosting an exchange student from Beijing, China. She is 15 and will arrive here on 8/9 at 8:15pm.

I've posted some updated pics and some pics of our Sonlight books.

Blessings
Lesa

Florida Trip

Well we are wrapping up our almost one month long trip to Florida. We have had a really great time but are very ready to get home. We been to the beach a bunch, Busch Gardens, Lowery Park zoo, going to our old houses, visiting with my brother, his wife and their three kids, remembering old times, swimming alot, getting sun burned, oh yea and a trip to the emergency room for Kai. The one thing I did not do yet is go to the cemetery to my fathers and grandparents graves.

Well enjoy the pics!

Here are some updated pics