When Dad works late.... and we wait to eat with him (well, we waited for a while), things like this happen to pass the time.....
Brenden breaks out the spoons to do a little ditty for us.
And Lucy insists on a few dozen posed photos of herself.
And she's always gracious enough to include her sister in a few.
Back to Brenden and his spoon creativity.
Big feet, little feet.
Peace out, man.
Then Brenden completely took over the camera. Out of over 100 pics that he took... I can honestly say, this is the most flattering. Ummmm, photography ain't his thang. Or could it be...that I'm not the supermodel that I once imagined I was.
I gotta tell ya real quick that Nick was a little miffed yesterday that Brenden's lard toast brought him so many laughs from you all.... and he didn't get one single ooohh-aaahhh comment about his tatooed muscley arm pic.
I told him, "Nick....don't you think it would be a little creepy for women MY age to comment on what a hottie MY teenage son is??"
He still didn't get it at all.
Please don't tell him I told you that... and PLEASE continue your silence on the muscle matter.
*************************
Last night Macy TRIED to teach Lucy a few Chinese characters.
Bless her heart.
I really need to go fix breakfast for part of my crew but I thought I would give you an update on how things are going with Macy.
She is so eager to learn more English. I bought her a couple of vocabulary workbooks and she works on them a lot, which is great. But I'm really trying to get her to talk to us using SIMPLE English, which I know that she knows.
I typed out a long list of questions and statements for her to practice and USE.
For example, "I'm not feeling well." "I want to go to the Chinese market." "May I watch TV?"
Things like that.
She seemed to totally understand what was asking of her, yet she still remains silent most of the time. It can be frustrating and it can be interpreted as a cold shoulder. But just when I think she's miserable being here, she will laugh hysterically at the boys or come help me make dinner....or help with Lucy. It really shows me that she is trying hard to find her part in our family. And everyday she does more and more.
One thing that bugs me (let's just be honest here) is that she never says, thank you.
Don't get me wrong.... I'm not looking for her to be gushy grateful that we "rescued" her from China. NOT AT ALL. In fact, I'm sure there are times when she feels as though we ripped her from the home that she really did love. I know that she misses her friends and aunts in the orphanage very much.
I just want common courtesy and she is very polite in every other way so this kind of baffled me.
As I was praying about it, trying to get the right attitude, the Lord just spoke to me that I needed to treat her as I do the other kids. Duh. So yesterday I bought her a little book light to use at night when she can't turn on the lights. She seemed thrilled to have it. I then said to her, "THANK YOU, MOM!" She then giggled, reached out her arms to hug me and said, "THANK YOU!!"
Yeah, it was as simple as that.
She is such a sweet, sweet girl and I'm so THANKFUL to call her daughter.
I have more to say but I must go fry some bacon now.
Oh my gosh, is Brenden ticked off about something?? What the heck?
Ummm, no. A kid who was doing......
this, just moments earlier.... Yes, that would be my boys coloring pictures while we shopped at Old N*vy.
isn't the kind of person who angers easily. No, he was just trying to make me laugh.
As usual.
******************************* Yesterday Brenden decided he wanted breakfast for lunch. So, he pulled out all the stops and made a huge mess delicious brunch for himself. Later, as I was cleaning up what he "forgot" on the counter, I saw a stick of shortening.
That's odd.
I said, "Brenden, what in the world were you doing with this?"
Bren, "Oh, I put that on my toast."
Me, "You WHAT??? Brenden, it's SHORTENING!"
Bren, "What's shortening?"
Sigh.
Me, "Brenden, basically it's vegetable lard!"
Bren, "Oh, I thought it was butter that just wasn't very yellow."
I suppose that just sitting around with the family, watching TV (AFV, of course)...joking around and being goofy sounds a little boring.
Oh, but it's not!
Here's a little peek into our Sunday night.....
Lucy has started wearing glasses....just like Macy does. Except that, they are...sunglasses. But, no less...she now has glasses, just like her sister. Ahuh.
Perhaps I could pop the lenses out for her. Naaa, that would be too easy.
But, between the darkness and gazillion fingerprints all over her shades, they end up on top of her head.
K-man and Macy.
And no evening would be complete without a Lucy performance.
Her ego was damaged (somehow) and she ran to one of her body guards for cover.
NO MORE PICS of Ms. Lucy, please.
Brenden plopped down on my lap and started reading The Two Towers to me. BORING. So I finagled a way to take a *lovely* picture of us.
Golly, I sure hate a post with no pics. But, I don't have any that would relate to what I'm writing about...though I wish I did (more on that later)!
Macy and I went to a Chinese Christian church this morning! They meet at the private school that my kids are involved in so it was already somewhat familiar to her (she's been to the school a few times now).
There were SO MANY families and tons of babies! It was soooo great!!! We had the option of staying in the main service, which was in Chinese or go to the youth class. We opted for the youth class (they were gracious enough to let me join in... even though I'm not so youthful...ahem).
I was disappointed that it was in English but the great part was that all the kids (ok, there were only 3 of them) are bilingual and talked to her in Chinese! There was a guy who is slightly older than her and he is SO CUTE!!!! I wanted SO BADLY to whip out my phone and take a pic cause I knew y'all would want to see him cause he's SO CUTE! But, knowing full well that a mother of teenagers just doesn't do such things, I resisted the temptation. But dog-gone it he is soooo cute! And SUCH a gentleman! *Husband material*
It was super great because they are doing a verse-by-verse study of the Bible, and memorizing portions. I was really encouraged by that and hope to take her there again and again.
YAY!! I just love these divine encounters! God totally led us there!!
I kid you not, this is Brenden's sincere reaction to a freshly-opened package of Oreos.
And if you are paying attention, you noticed that I'm posting this at 2 AM. That's right. Lucy started crying...I woke up to go sooth her. She went right back to sleep and I didn't.
THANK YOU all for your sweet Happy Birthday messages yesterday! I kept showing Macy as they came in and she was a bit confused as to what the fuss was all about! I told her that birthdays are a really big deal in America!
We had a simple celebration..... Starting with, a FROM SCRATCH Chinese dinner... made my ME.
Kung Pao Chicken that was sooo yummy!! And please note my redneck wok... aka, cast iron skillet! Can you tell I live in the heart of the Midwest?
A cake loaded with candles, of course!
Then a special card and a few gifts.
We ended the big day with....
EAR PIERCING!!!
I couldn't believe it when I had asked Macy earlier in the day if she wanted to get her ears pierced that she said YES! I re-explained what I was talking about, just to make sure and she totally understood and she confirmed her decision. Woot!
Ok, she looks terrified....she probably was. But she didn't even flinch...didn't even blink!!
Stupid me, I didn't take an after photo! But she now has beautiful little "diamond" studs in her teeny tiny ears.
I truly hope that her first American birthday was as special to her as it was to us.
Ok, seriously....I keep thinking, are we going to have any uphill battles in our transition with Macy? Because so far, it just gets sweeter each and every day! The awkwardness is almost completely gone... and though our routine still needs to be ironed out a bit, everything is so very GOOD!!
The boys have loosened up A LOT around Macy and aren't as intimidated by the language barrier. They enjoy opportunities to make her giggle....and here's one of those moments:
This is what went on yesterday when the kids were supposed to be working on schoolwork....
And then Lucy insisted getting in on the action.
I'll give you one guess who Brenden is going to be for Halloween. Another Lucy-requested photo.
And we ended our day with a full-blown family water fight, BUT...being that it was completely one-sided (Dad was the only one with a squirt bottle) I sent Lucy to get the big guns.... moving our battle to a (much more pleasant) marshmallow attack... right in the living room...and kitchen. Macy was laughing hysterically. There were marshmallows everywhere. She must wonder what kind of crazy family she has gotten herself into!!
Oh and guess whose birthday it is today??
MACY'S!!!!
Our sweet girl made it to her forever family with one month to spare before turning 14.
You guys are awesome!! We have put a nice dent in the needs for Morning Star Foundation's new home! Lynsay has updated the list, which is posted below. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH for helping these little ones get comfortable in their new surroundings. It's not too late to participate if you would like. If you need information about how to donate, just scroll down to previous posts. THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!! for letting God work through you!!
Morning Star Foundation Needs List September 2009 We are renovating a 10 room house. All the furnishings for 3 bedrooms, a dining room, kitchen, bathroom and laundry are needed.
Items in RED have been received!!! THANK YOU!
Bedrooms-
* Cribs- 8 cribs needed. Working on getting a better price, will probably have them made. Worst case means purchasing from major store-$100 each. 6 gifted!! * Bedding- Sheets, bumpers and blankets. $20 each crib * Artwork for walls- $40 per room (3 bedrooms) * Changing table- $20 x 4 * Dresser- $100 x 3 * Window Coverings- $60 x 3 bedrooms
Dining Room-
* Dining table and chairs- $100 * High chairs- 4 at $20 each * Wall art- $25 * Window coverings- $25
* Artwork- $50 * Window Coverings- $40 * Small indoor play toys- currently working on price, probably around $150 * TV- $150 * Bookshelf- $50
Isolation room/clinic-
* Locking cabinet- $125 * Window covering- $30
Storage room-
* Wire Shelving- $25 x 8 * Rubbermaid style boxes for storage- $5 x 20
Office-
* Desk- $50 x 2 * Laptop computer (for purposes of being able to take with us to avoid theft and so that we always * Have info with us) ? Unknown cost. Around $800? Would like to purchase outside of china. * Futon- $90 * Window coverings- $30
Dorm room-
* 4 beds- $100 each * Nightstands- $15 x 4 * Lamps- $10 x 4 * Shoe rack- $10 * Bedding- $40 x 4 * Window Covering- $30
Laundry room-
* Sink- $50 *
* Hot Water Washer- $350 * Clothes drying rack- $100 * Shelving- $75
Bathroom-
* Shelving with individual locked cubbies for ayi storage- $200 *
* Towels and washrags- $50 for all
Yard-
* Sod- Unknown price * Playground- also working on price
Day to day needs-
* Diapers- $28 for box of 170 (working on better pricing) * Formula- $14 per can, need 2-3 cans a day with 12 kids * Money for staff and baby food- Approx $10-15 a day (with new home staff) * Medicines- Spend approx. $50 a month on local meds, donated meds always needed. * Wipes- $2 per pack
Large Items-
* Air Conditioning units- 6 units, 4 small units, $350 each, 2 large units, $750 each * Heating system- currently unknown, greater than $3000 * Yearly heat and electricity cost- estimate- $3500 * Safe- $400 * Time Stamp- $150
The other day Lucy broke out her little piano keyboard. And as I was fixing dinner, I suddenly heard a familiar ...little lamb...tune. It perked my ears because as much as Lucy thinks that her pounding is music, it's well....not. So I glanced around the corner to see Macy pecking away, playing the world-famous lullaby.
I asked her if she knows how to play the piano. She said no but that she would like to learn! Woo! But wouldn't you know it, we just gave away the piano we have had setting in our basement for years. Actually, it was in need of some major repairs so maybe it's for the best.
SO....now I'm on a search for a decent keyboard to buy Macy for Christmas. Though the problem is, we don't have a lot of money to spend.
Any advice?
Last week we saw an advertisement on TV for the show, "Storm Chasers." Macy looked mildly alarmed. I asked her if they have tornadoes in Ch*na...she said no. So, not wanting to miss out on a spontaneous science lesson, I quickly drew a map of the United States.... showing her the northern cold air.... mixing with the warm southern air, creating a crazy swirl (my artwork was amazing), more commonly known as a tornado.
A few days later, we watched the first episode of the season. Poor Macy sat and watched (no English necessary to understand the terror going on), in our state. I'm sure it left her thrilled to be here.
Here we are watching the tornadoes run amuck. Macy is the little head on the right. Poor girl. Welcome to the Midwest!
Many of you have asked about how the boys are doing with Macy.
Very well, actually. But, even though they have been eager to build a relationship with her, I know that the language barrier has been a bit intimidating (Brenden wouldn't like me using that word but I can't think of any other way to word it!). But they are starting to learn to communicate with her in other ways and she REALLY enjoys having them around.
She is very much a teenager. No regression in her behavior at all as far. She enjoys Lucy a lot but really, I know she wants to be around kids her own age.
After church Macy, Lucy, our friend Holly and I set out to go ice-skating. Well, we were really disappointed to find a hockey tournament going on at the rink so that idea was nixed.
So we went shopping, of course! One of our stops was a craft store to find something for Macy to do in her free time.
It was proving to be an impossible task until she spotted an origami kit!
Brenden insisted that she help him make something. As you can see, he was a bit overwhelmed.
I just love how she laughs at him constantly...we all do!
Lucy got in on the action....no, she didn't make this, she's just the glamorous model showcasing it.
Such a fun day!!!
