Another Monday (3 weeks home)

It was such a blessing to worship with our church family on Sunday. Especially a blessing to be reminded that God calls and He equips, and He is the one who is making our family. This is the work he has for me today, and I can honor Him in how I do it. Lord, give me a heart that is focused on you instead of on my own comfort and convenience!

This morning, as Ca expressed her frustration over her bangs (gestured her desire to cut them off at the roots), we discovered that wide fabric headbands are a pretty good solution. Haven't found just the right ones yet, but she was SO HAPPY to have those bangs off her forehead. And yet, regularly refuses my offers of barrettes, help with cute ponytails, etc. We'll keep working on finding a good hair solution and keep praying for patience.

Today I watched our sweet Ca with the first gift-wrapped gift I've seen her receive. (Everything else has been in gift bags). We were outside visiting with a neighbor because Ca wasn't quite ready to go inside our house after our trip to the grocery store. (While my groceries from our trip were all sitting on the counter...) Another neighbor stopped by to deliver a gift for our "new baby." Again, we saw the saucer-eyes. A stranger is giving me a gift? Mine? And I wondered what would happen next. It is my understanding that in Chinese culture, it is considered rude to open a gift in front of the giver. Ca looked at me - clearly trying to gauge my opinion on whether it was appropriate to open the gift right here. Had she received gifts before, and this was her cultural upbringing warring with her 6-year-old-ness, or was this a first for her? It didn't take her long to agree that now was a good time to go inside. She scampered over to the living room floor and began dissecting the wrapping paper. The gift was wrapped in tissue and probably had 8 or 9 pieces of tape holding it all together - she took off each and every piece.  Then removed the paper. Her little eyes lit up. As I saw my sweetie enjoying the bead craft kit, I realized she is the gift!

Less interestingly, tomorrow we have another doctor's appointment. We learned from her blood test that she was not vaccinated in China - we don't know why, most other kids from her orphanage were. So now she's got a series of "tong" (hurts) coming up. Tomorrow is our first visit for her catch-up vaccinations, and she'll be getting four shots. Please pray for her heart - that this experience would not increase her fear/distrust of doctors, and not damage her trust in me/us. Please pray for me - that my attitude would be upbeat and not focused on my fears for her, and that my tone of voice and body language would convey peace and comfort to her. Thank you!

Playing games at home that can be demonstrated rather than explained...

We love playgrounds!

Middle School gets out earlier than elementary. This is the typical end-of-day Mutual Admiration Society.

Happy Headbands!

Stealth photo of the wrapping paper dissection