Our blog, as summarized by wordle
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Friday, February 20, 2009
We heard some news from the hearing
We have heard from Taiwan that the court hearing took place on the 19th and the judge has asked for some more documentation and hopes to make a ruling sometime in March. That is very good news. Please continue to pray. We really need it. This is a very bumpy ride and we lose focus. But we really want to focus on Jesus and believe He has all our best interests in heart and is completely able to do as He wills!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
One year ago today
We were spending our very first hours together as a family of 8. We were excited, nervous, and not at all sure what the future would hold.
Kai was such a surprise to me. When I met him at Jonah House he was shy, quiet, and reserved. I got a couple of true smiles from him, and he was excited to look at family photos with me, but overall, the impression he left me with was one of a quiet, polite, and sweet kid. Looking back, I realize he was scared that day. Scared maybe of what sort of impression he would make, scared of what his new sister would be like, scared that maybe we would change our minds after all, scared at how much his life would change. I’m not really sure, but I do know, that timid child was nowhere to be seen from the moment he walked in our door.
Kai Wei walked through our doors and became a part of our family. He came in, singing in Chinese, squealing in excitement, and shooting nerf guns at everyone (with a bit of prompting from his siblings). It was easy to love him. To my surprise, it even felt natural to say he was my brother. Despite that, there was still a sense that we weren’t quite family. After all, families have a history together. They tell stories that start with, “remember when?” I longed for that cohesive bond that families have, the way we can be comfortable being ourselves together because we know each other better than anyone else ever could.
Well, after a whole year, we have built a history together. We have so many stories beginning, “remember when?” Remember when the electricity went out and we cooked dumplings on the floor? Remember when we went backpacking together and ate the crayfish? Remember the time we went to the drive-in with Abby and Matt? Remember when, remember when, remember when. . .
This whole first year we went through a lot of “firsts” together. Those firsts were hard for Kai. He could sense our excitement, but since he hadn’t been part of it before and wasn’t really sure what to expect, he was always rather “prickly” about traditions. I’m looking forward to this coming year. We have a solid sense now of being a family. After a whole year together, there will be very few firsts that aren’t also firsts for the whole family.
It’s been such a joy to spend this year with Kai. His sense of security in his place in the family has grown. He loves his Mom, his Dad, his brothers and his sisters. He makes us all laugh and loves to talk when he’s in the mood (not necessarily when we ask questions). He has learned a LOT of English, and still works hard at communicating things when he doesn’t know the words. He still loves noodles for breakfast, but we’ve managed to convince him that chocolate cake is a good thing. Medieval capes, legos, and bionicles are all things he and Daniel have learned to enjoy together, most of the time. Kai has amazed us with his resilience and adaptability. We love him and are so happy that we've been on this adventure of being a family together for a year now.
Kai was such a surprise to me. When I met him at Jonah House he was shy, quiet, and reserved. I got a couple of true smiles from him, and he was excited to look at family photos with me, but overall, the impression he left me with was one of a quiet, polite, and sweet kid. Looking back, I realize he was scared that day. Scared maybe of what sort of impression he would make, scared of what his new sister would be like, scared that maybe we would change our minds after all, scared at how much his life would change. I’m not really sure, but I do know, that timid child was nowhere to be seen from the moment he walked in our door.
Kai Wei walked through our doors and became a part of our family. He came in, singing in Chinese, squealing in excitement, and shooting nerf guns at everyone (with a bit of prompting from his siblings). It was easy to love him. To my surprise, it even felt natural to say he was my brother. Despite that, there was still a sense that we weren’t quite family. After all, families have a history together. They tell stories that start with, “remember when?” I longed for that cohesive bond that families have, the way we can be comfortable being ourselves together because we know each other better than anyone else ever could.
Well, after a whole year, we have built a history together. We have so many stories beginning, “remember when?” Remember when the electricity went out and we cooked dumplings on the floor? Remember when we went backpacking together and ate the crayfish? Remember the time we went to the drive-in with Abby and Matt? Remember when, remember when, remember when. . .
This whole first year we went through a lot of “firsts” together. Those firsts were hard for Kai. He could sense our excitement, but since he hadn’t been part of it before and wasn’t really sure what to expect, he was always rather “prickly” about traditions. I’m looking forward to this coming year. We have a solid sense now of being a family. After a whole year together, there will be very few firsts that aren’t also firsts for the whole family.
It’s been such a joy to spend this year with Kai. His sense of security in his place in the family has grown. He loves his Mom, his Dad, his brothers and his sisters. He makes us all laugh and loves to talk when he’s in the mood (not necessarily when we ask questions). He has learned a LOT of English, and still works hard at communicating things when he doesn’t know the words. He still loves noodles for breakfast, but we’ve managed to convince him that chocolate cake is a good thing. Medieval capes, legos, and bionicles are all things he and Daniel have learned to enjoy together, most of the time. Kai has amazed us with his resilience and adaptability. We love him and are so happy that we've been on this adventure of being a family together for a year now.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Happy Gotcha Day to Kai and a note on Sarah-Grace
One year ago today we met Kai Wei for the first time! It hardly seems possible. In some ways it seems like just yesterday and in other ways it feels like forever. We had a CELEBRATE! card for him this morning and we told him we would go out to dinner this weekend--just Kai and Mom and Dad. He likes that! We talked a little about the day we met in Taiwan. But for right now Kai prefers to look forward, not back.
Here are some firsts for Kai this year as well as some language learning he has done. In looking over these I can see how he has been changing and growing;
Flying
Snow
Drive-in Movie
Snow Tubing
Back Packing
Fifth grade in the USA
Boy Scouts
Christmas morning in a family
And of course, being part of a large family--He really likes that. Says when he grows up he will get married, have a big house, lots of cool cars and a lot of kids--maybe 6 or 7 :-)
Just after we got home from Taiwan Kai announced that he knew I was Debbie and Daddy was Dana because he listened and heard us call each other that in Taiwan.
Rebecca was Bagga.
To express all of something he would say "everybody", whether it was food or cars etc.
as in "Everybody for me." (I can eat all this) and "Everybody for sale?" (in the car lot)
One day I told Kai he was being selfish, later he said I was mean, "You call me crayfish!"
Our church is the Basket Ball Church or very early it was the Basket Ball jiao tan(Chinese for church), because it is where he plays basketball.
And still, when we go out to a restaurant, we "go outside eat" ever a favorite of Kai's.
Kai has such an awesome personality and great sense of humor. He is also opinionated and the grass is always greener on the other side. But right now I think he is fairly content with where the year has brought him. I know he is sometimes still frustrated or feeling misunderstood or confused. But I also believe he feels loved and accepted. What a year it has been for one little boy and his whole big family!
Now for a note on Sarah-Grace:
Our Congressman heard from AIT about the same info we've been hearing. They want to see the father sign relinquishment papers before they will issue a visa. That was the bad news. However, just after we learned that we heard from Taiwan that the court date for this case is February 19 and the judge who is presiding over the case really cares about the good of the child and usually is able to give his rulings in a timely manner. So more waiting, but maybe an end in sight? Please pray!
Here are some firsts for Kai this year as well as some language learning he has done. In looking over these I can see how he has been changing and growing;
Flying
Snow
Drive-in Movie
Snow Tubing
Back Packing
Fifth grade in the USA
Boy Scouts
Christmas morning in a family
And of course, being part of a large family--He really likes that. Says when he grows up he will get married, have a big house, lots of cool cars and a lot of kids--maybe 6 or 7 :-)
Just after we got home from Taiwan Kai announced that he knew I was Debbie and Daddy was Dana because he listened and heard us call each other that in Taiwan.
Rebecca was Bagga.
To express all of something he would say "everybody", whether it was food or cars etc.
as in "Everybody for me." (I can eat all this) and "Everybody for sale?" (in the car lot)
One day I told Kai he was being selfish, later he said I was mean, "You call me crayfish!"
Our church is the Basket Ball Church or very early it was the Basket Ball jiao tan(Chinese for church), because it is where he plays basketball.
And still, when we go out to a restaurant, we "go outside eat" ever a favorite of Kai's.
Kai has such an awesome personality and great sense of humor. He is also opinionated and the grass is always greener on the other side. But right now I think he is fairly content with where the year has brought him. I know he is sometimes still frustrated or feeling misunderstood or confused. But I also believe he feels loved and accepted. What a year it has been for one little boy and his whole big family!
Now for a note on Sarah-Grace:
Our Congressman heard from AIT about the same info we've been hearing. They want to see the father sign relinquishment papers before they will issue a visa. That was the bad news. However, just after we learned that we heard from Taiwan that the court date for this case is February 19 and the judge who is presiding over the case really cares about the good of the child and usually is able to give his rulings in a timely manner. So more waiting, but maybe an end in sight? Please pray!
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