Have I mentioned that I love my church?

This week has been Vacation Bible School at West End Presbyterian Church.  Basically, it's the most exhilarating and exhausting week of the year at the church!  Alexis has jumped right in and participated in all aspects of VBS.  Here are some of my favorites from VBS:

Relay races at Outdoor Games

Dancing during Large Group Songs

Rocking out with Komet Kristin (local celebrity)

Because I work part-time at the church, I brought Alexis with me to work today.  I had no idea how she would do because her attention span is not that long, and an office is a boring place for a 9-year-old.  

 Entangling herself in Scotch tape at my office.

My dear Taiwanese friend came to the church and read Chinese books to her, played with her and took her out for lunch so that I could crank out some work.  Alexis also spent some time with my co-workers.  That went well:

Dancing with my co-workers

 Health Update:

• Urinalysis ruled out a UTI or diabetes.  Frequent urination is still an issue but not as bad.  Pursuing some elevated #s from urinalysis but don't have much info on that yet.

• Eye exam this Saturday.  Boom!

• Awaiting written permission (have received verbal permission) from China to have a few teeth extracted.  Alexis' teeth are crowded, and this is a simple fix. A local dentist is willing to do this procedure in office as the result of two friends asking her to consider taking on this patient.  It's a quick turn-around for a dental procedure so I'm very grateful for her willingness.  Date is TBD.

Observations:

• Hearing her native language (especially on tv) almost always brings tears.  I was so excited for her to watch Dora and Backyardigans in Chinese today, but within a few minutes of starting Dora, she burst into tears.  This is not the first time that there have been tears during tv.  The translator and I think that hearing her language makes her homesick.  In some ways, it's encouraging because she misses her caregivers and friends.  She is loved.

• Bedtime is still a little hard.  Once the sun starts to set, Alexis starts motioning to me that she does not want to go to bed.  She's not whiny or annoying about it, but she always lets me know that she doesn't want to go to bed.  But when the time for bed comes, she gets in the bed without a fight.  I have not been able to just leave the room yet if she is awake.  I sit down, put my hand on her and wait for her to fall asleep.  Because we do a lot in a day, she is usually asleep within 6 or 7 minutes.

• We're working on learning to play independently or with my other kids.  So far, we've only had moderate success with playing doctor and dolls.  I've adjusted my mentality and now I incorporate her into more of my work around the house.  She helps me unload the dishwasher each morning, set the table for meals or sharpen pencils while I cook (she LOVES this).  

The doctor is in

• I have given up trying to get her to eat breakfast.  She just wants a cup of warm milk, and I'm going to be fine with this.  She tends to eat more later in the day....maybe from time change?  I had really hoped to fatten her up while she was here, but so far, she doesn't like ice cream, candy bars or McDonald's milkshakes.  Say what?  She does like pizza (a lot) and whole milk, though, so we're focusing on calorie consumption.

Closing Remarks & What We Need

• People are so generous.  Seriously, you guys are the best!  Thank you to all who have provided spending money, meals, clothes, shoes, etc.  Thank you also for just listening to me vent when I'm having a rough patch. 

• This is hard.  Very hard.  There are a thousand ups and downs in a day. In any given hour, I have felt hopeful, hopeless, bitter, frustrated, humbled, impatient, blessed, overwhelmed, regret, relief, elation, etc.  For example, Alexis and I were alone at the grocery store today.  We were in the checkout line, and she really wanted a candy bar so I motioned that she could pick out one.  I'm thinking, "Of course I'll buy her a candy bar.  When is this child ever going to get a candy bar? I'm a generous person. Plus, my other kids aren't with me so this is the perfect time to buy candy."  We debated about which candy bar to get and she finally settled on a Nutrageous.  Good choice.  I pay for it, quickly open it and hand it to her.  She sniffs it, waves her hand that she doesn't like it and gives it back to me.  Next thought: "What?  Are you kidding me?  You didn't even try it! Who passes up a candy bar?  Don't be a brat. This was a special treat that you were supposed to enjoy."  Followed by guilty thoughts of, "How can you be angry at an orphan?  You can't even begin to imagine what she's been through.  Get off of your high horse."  TIRING.  As I was driving home, I vented to a friend about this and she encouraged me to cut myself some slack.  Easier said than done, but I'm working on it.

• We have received 3 Lewis Ginter passes, and I plan to take the crew in the coming weeks.  We could use 1 or 2 more passes if you know of any that are available. 

• We are able to pay for the teeth extraction (around $350), but if you would LIKE to help with this cost, feel free to send me a message about how to do that. ZERO PRESSURE.  

• Please continue to pray for a forever home for Alexis.  Please also pray for endurance for our family and that GRACE would abound in our home and in our hearts.

• Please forward this blog along to anyone you think may be interested in an international adoption. 

Thank you for reading!