Merry Christmas!

I feel like such a blog-slacker! We are preparing for Christmas: wrapping presents, baking cookies, cleaning house, decorating, etc. This year is much calmer than last year. Things have gotten better with the kids' behavior in the past 2-3 months. Yanmei and I are bonding and getting closer. Jiujiu seems to be in a holding pattern with bonding, at least with me. Yanmei and Jiujiu are in the same class in school and it seems to be going well. Their English is improving and they are learning alot in their classes, even if they don't think so! Yanmei made the basketball team and she is excited, but also nervous.

Abby is in her school's chorus and they had a Christmas concert recently, they did so well! The five songs they sang were lovely!

Emily's reading is getting better and her teacher is so impressed with her math abilities!

Brian is doing well in kindergarten and is quite the goofball in class. Even with his "goofy" tendencies he is getting mostly green on his behavior chart so I'm happy.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Merry Christmas!!

We're still here.

Our summer has been stressful so far. There is a lot of defiance of Mark and I and it is coming from all the kids.

Abby, Emily and Brian went to a backyard bible club at a friend's house a couple of weeks ago. it was nice for them to spend some stress-free time but they wanted me to stay the whole time so I wasn't able to get some "me" time like I have in past years. There is some clingyness with one of my kids and this has been for the past nine months. I believe she doesn't feel safe unless she is with me.

Please keep us in your prayers. I feel like the behaviors of defiance that we saw at about 4 months home have continued for five months with little or no change. It is frustrating to see no progress in this area.

Jiujiu and Yanmei's english is improving but there are still comunication issues.

Beth

I'm back....

I took a hiatus from blogging for a bit. I have been too overwhelmed to blog about our journey. Today is Easter. I am so thankful for the resurrection of our Lord.

Our family life has settled down some recently. Abby and Yanmei are getting closer and closer. Abby's bedroom was moved to the basement and I think the privacy of having a room to retreat to makes her more willing to spend time with her new sister. Yanmei and Emily are sharing a bedroom and get along well together. Brian doesn't take "no" for an answer when it comes to bonding with his new sister. Sometimes he just assumes she will welcome him laying on her lap or hugging her and I think it is easier for her to just allow it than to say no. That's what happens when you are little and cute! :smile: Yanmei is getting closer to Mark and I but she does have a stubborn streak that we see quite frequently.

Jiujiu is not always willing to bond with his new siblings. Jiujiu is very helpful around the house and really enjoys spending time with Mark. There are temper issues that we are working on.

Mark, Jiujiu, Yanmei and I are seeing an adoption therapist once a week. We are trying to work on issues that come from living in an orphanage for years. Please pray for us as we continue with our therapy.

Emily will be turning 7 tomorrow. We will have a small birthday party: our immediate family, grandparents and two of Emily's friends. Just dinner and cake. Emily has requested Mom's homemade icing for the cake and she wants it orange!

I pray everyone has had a wonderful Easter!

Beth

Four down and one to go!

Well, Yanmei, Emily and Jiujiu are all riding their bikes by themselves! I have videos of Yanmei and Emily but I haven't gotten Jiujiu yet. Here are two more of our girls riding their bikes.

Now we just have to wait for Brian....

Bike riding!

Our daughter Abby just learned to ride her bike. Yay Abby! She has motivated Jiujiu and Yanmei, they were practicing this evening. They are almost there, I think another few days of practice and they will be zooming along with Abby. Here's a video of Abby riding.

A little progress...

Our children are not willing to have us take their picture. I'm not really sure why. They didn't mind it in China but since they have been in America I usually get this.....








But on Sunday I was able to get this....




So there is a little progress. Now, it's a good thing that my other daughters aren't shy!

Family Movie Night

Our family went to Family Movie Night last night at our church. We wanted to do something fun as a family and we thought showing Jiujiu and Yanmei that there are fun activities at church would be a good idea. There was popcorn provided and we brought candy. The movie was How to Train Your Dragon. It was a good movie and everyone seem to enjoy it. Yay for a fun evening together.

If you have a chance could you say a prayer for my grandfather. He is 82 and he has been confused, his heart is off rhythem and he may have had a small stroke. He is at the hospital right now getting checked out.

Beth