I Will Live and Grow in Jesus

A lesson from a leaf…
The focus of our lessons last week was Leaves. What can you learn from a leaf? Well, DD learned quite a lot. She learned about the normal kindergarten stuff like photosynthesis and transpiration…seriously (just simplified.) She also collected and classified leaves, created a few masterpieces, and read books about trees, etc. But the most important lesson she learned was that we are all very much like leaves…(not just the sweating and breathing part) but just as a leaf separated from the tree withers and dies, we too, will cease to live and grow when separated from Jesus. We need to “stay attached” to Jesus through prayer and the studying of God’s word in order to live and grow into the kind of people God wants us to be. Here are a few pictures of our week:

Observing the water given off through transpiration
Leaf Collection

Leaf Art
Yummy Leaf Cookies...Mmmmm
This week we are studying about Apples...We plan to make homemade apple sauce and an apple pie! That may not sound like much to most of you, but if you are as "domestically challenged" as I am, you'll understand why it's a big deal. I may or may not post pictures. LOL

Just Enjoying Life!

With play group friends at the park...

Or entertaining us at home...

Is she cute or what????? LOL

Sunday Fun

Sunday was a beautiful day. We had planned to go to a special event called Culture Day yesterday where the girls would have been able to experience several traditional Chinese activities, but the weather forecast convinced us to stay at home. Looking back, I wish we had gone.

Since the girls didn’t get to wear their traditional Chinese attire yesterday, I let them wear it to church this morning. I love to see them dressed like this. (Notice DB’s hair…we are considering letting her bangs grow out. I’m not sure if I like this new style or not.)

After church and a quick trip to Subway, we took the girls to the park. It was just too pretty to stay indoors.

Gray Skies are Going to Clear Up...But Not Soon Enough

I obviously should have checked the forecast before planning this week’s lesson plans. Who knew?
We’re using My Father’s World curriculum and supplementing with numerous other resources. The topic of our first two weeks was Creation. There was no need to check the forecast for that, but our topic this week was the Sun. The emphasis was actually on “Jesus being the Light of the world” and how God’s word is a lamp unto our feet and light unto our paths. Just as the sun enables us to see so that we don’t stumble and get lost, God’s son provides the way to keep us from being lost and enables us to follow the path in life that we should. DD learned many interesting things about our sun, the star, as well. Of course, in order to do projects involving the sun, the sun must be shining. Well, that hasn’t happened much this week. We attempted to make raisins by leaving grapes on a plate in the sun…No sun--no raisins. We also attempted to make a sun dial…We have enough trouble getting to places on time now; it would be impossible using a sun dial on days like we’ve had this week. No sun--no time...always late!
But finally, today (Friday) we had a little sunshine, so I snapped a few pictures of our day.

Notice that DB's hand is on the wrong heart. Oh well.

Calendar Math
Working hard

Still, just grapes. Sometimes you just have to make your own sunshine. lol

Having so much fun that they don't even know they're learning.

P.E. at the PARK

One of the nice things about home schooling is being able to plan your own schedule, spending as much time as necessary on the subjects that need more attention (even if it's P.E. that needs more time.) Desheng Darling loves school and has done so well. She loves learning! She never wants to quit, not even for play time. Since she had worked so hard during the week, I decided to use part of our time on Friday for P.E. AT THE PARK! Fun! Fun!

To make it even better, our friends joined the class. lol

Freedom of Speech...Not Always a Good Thing

I took DB to her first speech session at our public school today. This is what I got when I asked her to smile for her “first day” picture. Will you please pray for her teacher? LOL

DD was her true self, too. When we first arrived at the school, it was obvious that the principal (an aquaintance from my earlier years as a school administrator and board member) was having a tough morning dealing with a very rebellious child. The school officers were eventually called to handle the situation. When the principal came back into the office where DD and I were waiting he smiled and started this conversation.
Principal: Hi. How are you? What brings you here today?
Me: Our little one is in speech here.
DD: I’m the bigger one!
Principal: Yes, I see. You are really growing.
Me: Looks like you’ve had a busy morning.
Principal: Sighing…Yes, I have.
DD: Just a little TOO busy, huh? (Another one of my "most embarassing moments")
Luckily, the principal just smiled and said, “She’s very intuitive too. Isn’t she?”

(Just another justification for home schooling DD) LOL

Anhui Angels

Adopting a child is an amazing experience. Adopting internationally only adds to the excitement. When you travel with a group of “strangers” to a foreign country and spend two weeks with them, it’s amazing how fast those strangers become your friends…and very often friends for life. Last weekend we traveled by plane to meet with our special friends to celebrate the one-year anniversary of our adoptions.

Doodlebug with LL and JK

All of these girls were adopted on the same day in the same province, but they are not necessarily from the same orphanage. Oh, how I wish I had “before and after” pictures of these sweeties. The change has been remarkable. They are all so healthy, so lively, so happy and SO loved! Sadly, this wasn't the case one year ago.
The family that hosted the reunion did an OUTSTANDING job. We met at their house Friday night for pizza and fun! LOTS OF FUN!!!
Saturday was filled with more food and fun at a children’s zoo and a beautiful park.

Here's DB hanging out at the zoo with her friends.

A group picture of the girls and their siblings-- unfortunately, CS, the youngest, isn’t in the picture.

LL, JK, Doodlebug and DD on the way to the swimming pool

After a picnic lunch and fun at the park, the girls enjoyed a swim in the neighborhood pool. Then, it was back to the hotel for a much needed nap.

Once the girls had rested, we went back to the host family’s house to enjoy a WONDERFUL cook-out.

Finally, a picture of all 5 girls and DD. Sorry that LL was looking the other way. Getting five 2 & 3 year olds to all look the same way and smile at the same time is no small feat! LOL

This is a picture of the cake that JK’s mother ordered for our little Anhui Angels.

I really think if this picture had been taken from any other angle, you could actually see their wings. lol

A Lot of "FIRSTS" for the Darling Girls

We returned late Sunday night from Doodlebug’s first travel group reunion and hit the ground running Monday morning with Desheng Darling’s first day of Kindergarten. She was so excited!
We tried to make her first day a BIG deal with a new dress, etc! She actually had cute knee socks and shoes, but they weren’t comfortable…so I had to give in to the sandals.
She seems to understand that Home School is really school. I heard her tell a lady at the airport this weekend that she was excited about starting kindergarten because it was “the law” that she start school and “she didn’t want to go to jail.” LOL (I wonder where she heard that.) The lady looked quite shocked! LOL

But Doodlebug wasn’t going to be out done…Oh no. .. She had to put on her school dress too, along with her make-up and a just a little spray of cologne. LOL

They really look confident and ready to learn…I sure wish I felt as confident. Not only was Monday DD’s first day in K, it was also my first day to TEACH Kindergarten! LOL I’ve got a lot of experience in the upper grades, but NONE in kindergarten!
To top it all off, Sister Darling started her teaching career Monday! She is teaching 7th grade science this year. What a way to start! LOL Unfortunately, she didn’t send me any pictures of her first day. I know she’ll do a great job. She’s just a natural when it comes to working with kids.

So Glad We "Gotcha," Doodlebug

Doodlebug... August 20, 2007
Doodlebug... August 20, 2008
Today we celebrated the one-year anniversary of DB’s Gotcha Day. I can’t believe it’s already been a year since we traveled to China for her. The years we spent waiting to travel sure didn’t go this fast.

When we first got DB, she wouldn’t let DD touch her. Now, they are practically inseparable. It’s difficult to take a picture of just one of them alone.

We spent most of the day at the Mall with friends where DB enjoyed spending time in the play area and riding the carousel.

After purchasing a special kitty from the Disney Store, we stopped by Dixie’s to buy a charm (also a kitty) for DB’s Gotcha Day bracelet.

We ended the day by making a special Gotcha Day treat…Cookies ‘n Crème Brownies…Yum! Yum!

Today is one of those times when “Thank you, Lord” just doesn’t seem adequate to express my gratefulness for the wonderful children God has blessed us with. I’m glad He knows my heart and understands the joy I feel.
Doodlebug, I'm so glad we “Gotcha!”

THSC State Conference

It was almost midnight when we arrived at our hotel. The girls were well rested after sleeping for almost 3 hours in the car. They were also hungry. Here they are eating a banana in the bed! I guess I was too tired to care.

DD was scheduled to attend a Children’s Camp while I attended sessions. Since DB was too young for camp, she got to spend the day with Daddy Darling in the hotel. She didn't have any trouble leaving me. By the time I saw them again for lunch, DB had eaten 3 Pop Tarts, a package of chips, and 2 cartons of apple juice! Hmmm…It’s no wonder that she loves to stay with Daddy D.
DD's morning wasn't quite as pleasant. She cried quite a few tears because she missed her mommy and daddy, so after a few more sessions she spent the rest of the conference with Daddy D too.

Just one more reason the girls enjoyed spending time with Daddy D.

He’s so much fun! The conference was really good and I’m glad I attended. I need to get off of this computer now and finish my lesson plans for next week so we can actually start school!!!