The China Connection: September 2009

Can you feel the love, this was a fleeting moment, so we had to capture it....quickly!

We have been scurrying around like little worker ants with all that there is to do in the office with calendar season upon us. It was a relief to send out hundreds of calendars this week to owners of the dogs pictured in them. We can once again navigate our way through the office. We've also been working our way through all the images taken this spring, editing, printing and then uploading them to our new website (www.cefkphotos.com) for those who want to see what we have been doing....obviously it hasn't been updating our blog! In addition to all the hustle and bustle of business, we've been getting the family in the swing of sending two toddlers off to Pre-K....yes they are now in school, at least for this season. Lyndsay goes three days a week for 3 hours and Charis goes just one day a week at this point. Today was Charis' first day and she really seemed to enjoy it. Lyndsay started the week before and really seems to like it as well. Her first day she kept saying, I love my teacher, I love my teacher..... She spent the two weeks prior to attending, coloring a boatload of pictures for her to take when she started. It will be a real asset to her, learning that the world doesn't revolve around her, learning new social skills and well....just having fun apart from Mom, Dad and Charis. They look forward to it and I must admit, so do we, though it makes it hard to get much done hanging around town for three hours, three times a week. (It's too far to commute back and forth for that amount of time) Next to Charis' first day, the highlight of the week was taking her to a local playground while we waited to pick Lyndsay up from school. Upon arriving Bane commented that there was another little girl playing who appeared to be Chinese as well. I thought that would be nice for Charis to have someone to play with. Once I took a good look at this precious little one, I knew her right away, it was Tian Tian, now Reagan who was in the orphanage with Charis. Though I don't think the girls were in the same room or knew each other, it was fascinating to see Charis come face to face with her and just stop dead in her tracks and look at her, as if to say "hey, you look alot like me!", then off they went their separate ways. She has been home since April and is now beginning to settle in with her new family. She was three shortly after they got her, so the adjustment was extremely difficult for all of them. I'm happy to hear that it is beginning to get easier. She is precious and I know she will be loved, what a blessing these children are.

Charis is making great progress in all areas. Her speech is improving daily, as is her ability to communicate her needs, chew her food properly and increase her upper body strength. She is already potty trained as well! She will have a birthday next week and as she has neared that three year old mark, we have seen major changes in her behavior. I know they are all age appropriate, and for that we are grateful, but it is a real challenge at times. She is becoming increasingly independent, stating boldly as we attempt to help do something "I will do it, I will do it, I will do it" while struggling to do something she hasn't quite mastered yet. Bane tells her "Yes, I know you will do it. After all you'll be driving next week!" LOL We seem to have her ears cleared up from all the wax and fluid build up she had when coming home, that impaired her hearing, which makes us question why she all the sudden can't hear anything, but what she wants to hear these days.....hummm. Three, ahhhh, it's a magic age. As long as we don't have a repeat of this age as we experienced with number one daughter, we'll be okay. We were so happy to see her grow beyond age four. By four and a half, life was more bearable and enjoyable for all of us. The girls are so different in personality though, I don't think we'll have any problem with all the "expertise" (I use this term loosely!) we've gained. Charis also has an incredible sense of humor. She is very ornery and when she's feeling full of herself....which happens frequently, she will deliberately give the wrong answer to something she knows the answer to, just to watch your reaction, so she can laugh at you. She just cracks herself up and then you have no choice but to laugh as well, our little clown. Never a dull moment.

Lyndsay is growing up so fast, she is long legged and very elegant, just as we were told by some of the people of China, that she would be. After several very challenging months of adapting to having a sister in the house, she has now discovered not only the advantages of having someone to keep her company and play with, but also a scapegoat. She will show Charis how to do something, which she knows is wrong, then allow her to do it and come get us to tell us so she'll get in trouble.....ah, sounds just like "normal" siblings doesn't it? Lyndsay has always been very bright, which sometimes gets her in trouble, but has aided her in the ability to learn to read. She is beginning to read basic easy stories and she won't be five until November. We are really proud of her. It's tough to keep her focused while teaching her, but she can do it well, if she tries. Writing her alphabet is something that Bane started early with her and she is doing a nice job of it. She will write her name, Charis' name, Mom and Dad consistently and mostly accurately. She is also very artistic and loves to color, draw and other similar skills. Since we live in a rural area, we have no shortage of various bugs, butterflies, moths and other interesting critters,so she has taken a bunch of these critters (some dead already) in to share with her class. There is so much more, but I'll close for now and just attach some photos which will tell alot more. Blessings!

Future hairstylist?

Where's the hairdresser when you need her?

No explaination needed here!

When you are short of help, you take what you can get! Does this violate child labor laws! LOL Lyndsay and Charis helped me stuff business cards in envelopes for customers and then seal the envelope. Not sure if it was a help or if it really took me three times as long.

Five Chinese treasures. We joined the Cercopely's for a fun night of worship. They did a concert at at church in Banner Elk one evening and we got to see their girls afterward. (From left to right Piper, Sage, Willow, Charis and Lyndsay)

Charis (Xiao Zhen) and Willow (Xiao Hua)both from an orphanage in Xiamen

Charis trying her hand at the Dulcimer

Ice Cream!!

Looking at herself in the mirror during a haircut.

I know I'm cute

Panning for gold??

Contortionist sound asleep

I will not take a nap! She fell asleep with her feet still on the floor. Can we say "strong willed"?

Some serious blueberry pickers.

This one won't make it home.

Ahhh, this looks like a good one.

July 4th having some fun with bubbles

Miss Milissa is a good bubble blower!

The Outer Banks

Jazmine enjoying the waves. Her family traveled with us to China to bring her home. This is the second time we have been able to see the Elliotts since coming home in 2005.