Merry Christmas

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned." "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:2,6.

I didn't get around to Christmas cards this year. So, let me wish everyone a very Merry Christmas! Jordyn is doing fantastic! I took her out of preschool in November and she has really progressed by leaps and bounds since. I guess it was just too soon. We have had a great time preparing for Christmas! It has been so much fun to help her learn about the birth of Jesus. She has learned several Christmas songs and even sang with the preschoolers for the whole church last Sunday! I was so proud! After 5 wonderful months, I went back to work December 8th. It has been very difficult to not be with Jordyn all day. Only 3 more weeks and then I will be on nights and she will hardly know I'm gone. Please pray that these next 3 weeks will not have a negative effect on Jordyn and that she will feel secure that I will return everyday. I have wonderful people coming to the house to watch Jordyn and I'm very thankful for them. I've had a difficult time getting a good Christmas picture of Jordyn - one must be very fast for this - and she's not much on posing. I'll keep trying. Once again, Merry Christmas!

Picking Out My First Christmas tree!

Happy Thanksgiving

"Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations." Psalm 100

Snow - in November?

We woke last Friday to a surprise - about an inch of snow - although I believe there was more in the trees, it was melting as it came to the ground. Jordyn's first time to see snow! By the time we got outside, it was mostly gone but we did manage to make a small snowman!

November Update

As time was nearing for me to go back to work (Nov 24th) - and I was feeling that we needed more time - God graciously answered that silent cry and gave me 2 more weeks! DRH called to say that my start date would need to be December 8th due to nursing orientation schedule! My prayer request remains for all aspects of childcare for the 4-6 weeks of orientation and when I start 12 hour nights. It hasn't all come together yet - so please pray. Jordyn is doing great! She gained 4 pounds in 2 months! She is talking nonstop - some English and some Chinese and some gibberish. We are going to start speech therapy soon for a little extra boost. She repeats everything I say - evidently I tell the dogs to be quiet because Jordyn now tells them that if they so much as whine (points her finger at them too). She's a great pack leader! She is learning numbers, colors, and the alphabet. I've begun to realize how difficult the English language is as I've been helping Jordyn. She learned the word "eye" from one of her books and points to the letter "I" on her alphabet bus when we go over it. How do you explain that??? There are so many words that have different meanings too. I know she'll get it but how confusing it must be! I wonder how I ever learned it!!! Jordyn is very happy and has an exuberance for life. What a joy - what a blessing - I have been given. k
"Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear." Isaiah 65:24

My Pups "Luke" and "Noel"

Kentucky!

Jordyn and I just spent a few wonderful days with our dear friends in Kentucky. We drove - broke up the trip on the way and spent a night with Lao Ye and Lao Lao. Then we drove straight through coming home. Jordyn is an amazing little traveler! She played and sang and kept me awake. The drive was beautiful both ways and the weather was perfect. Jordyn had a grand time playing with her new "cousins"! Andy, Jenny, Grace, Anna Ruth, Benjamin, Joseph, and Mary Katherine - thank you! We love you.

Fair!

Nana, Aunt Sherry, neighbor Linda, neighbor Meghan, Jordyn and I went to the fair today! Although at first it was a bit overwhelming for Jordyn, it didn't take long for her to realize this was a fun thing! This was Meghan's first trip to the fair as well. We started with Al's french fries (the best in the world) and then Jordyn had her first hotdog. Then we went to ride rides. We started with a little kiddie train. Jordyn didn't show much response to it so I wasn't sure if she liked it or not. Well, the next ride was the wiggle worm which went much faster and had lots of bumps in it and she loved it! Then we rode a roller coaster which she loved as well. Then we rode the big teacup ferris wheel. She was trying to stand up so she could see everything when we were on the top! We finished the night off with cotton candy - another first - but we couldn't talk her into trying it. I guess it does look kind of funny. There were 2 sleepy little girls in the car on the way home - and I hope both have fun memories of their first trip to the fair.

Ready for Sunday School

Lao Ye's 82nd Birthday Celebration

October

Hi all! Thursday we will celebrate being home for 9 weeks! Everything is going well. Jordyn is very happy and finds joy in each new day. Today was very special as we went to Duke for a visit. We saw so many friends at the ASC and the PACU/Preop at North. Jordyn even got to hear some Chinese from Ho-Yu which was an extra special treat. It was bitter/sweet going back as Marie is not there - but I have great memories and I'm very thankful for the time I had on her team and with that great group of people. Some folks never have a good boss, but I was blessed to have the very best - not once or twice - but three times over the last 12 years. I do thank God for sending me back for the third time last October. I was where I needed to be when I received Jordyn's referral and I thank you Marie and everyone in the unit for all the support. I'll be going back to work on November 24th but I'm transferring to Durham Regional - to a unit that I left exactly 20 years ago. I'll be working with neonates again and I will have a schedule that will allow me to only miss a couple of Jordyn's waking hours 3 times/week. I guess this is what they call coming full circle so maybe I can retire at this place! Thank you all for praying about the job situation. Now - Jordyn news! She is talking a lot and tries to repeat every word I say. She is learning to use a word (mainly please) when she wants something instead of "grunting" - something she may have picked up from Uncle Jeff (ha ha). She really likes preschool (confirmed when Ho-Yu asked her that in Chinese today) and we are going to move her up to the 4 year old class tomorrow. She has been playing with our next door neighbor, Meghan, (also adopted from China) and having a blast. Meghan is so good with Jordyn - she is so patient teaching her things and she encourages her to use words. I also wanted to mention that this blog will be turned into a book for Jordyn to have - I'm going to wait until our 1 year anniversary. All this to say, if you want to make a comment please do because it will be part of the book. I know so many had trouble leaving comments or didn't receive the link to the blog. It's not too late to post - you can even go back and post under another date. If you want to post and have trouble, let me know and I'll do what I can to help. I think this will be a great keepsake for Jordyn one day. More soon - we are planning to go to the fair and the zoo this month!

More beach pictures

Beach - continued

We are home now. The beach was wonderful and it was sad to leave - as always. Aunt Sherry stayed on so that made it even harder to leave! Jordyn had a grand time - as did we all. I think she will be a beach bum like her mom and her aunt. She definitely likes sand a lot better than I do - wet sand at that. She will probably go to preschool tomorrow with sand in her hair! I had trouble posting pictures at the beach so I'll make up for it now.

First Beach Trip!

Hi all! We are are the beach - Jordyn's first time to see the ocean! No surprise it scared her a bit - but she likes the sand. It's a beautiful day so after lunch we will go try again. And, hopefully I will have pictures to post tonight. We are here with Lao Lao and Lao Ye (Amanda and Dad) - Aunt Sherry is on the way and Uncle Jeff will be here tomorrow. Jordyn will so excited to have so many of her family here with her! We brought enough stuff to stay a month - so maybe we will. Nana (Mom) is home with Luke and Noel - didn't think I could get us all in the car! More later!

Graceful September Days

The weeks are melting away. I can scarcely believe that this Thursday will mark our 6th week at home. Everything is going very well and Jordyn is doing great. There are many areas of progress - and a bit of regression, which I've read I should expect. When I stop and think about what she has been through in her 5 short years (and in the last 6 weeks) I am amazed at how well she is doing. She is very happy and has a zeal for life which is contagious to all who meet her. She seems to feel safe and secure with me and with those friends and family who she sees often. She still gets a bit scared in public - you might remember how this manifested itself in China. Nothing like that now, but there are signs that I've learned that tell me when she is stressed or overwhelmed - and I try to avoid these situations or remove her quickly from them. She is enjoying Sunday School and tomorrow will be her second day of preschool. For those still praying for us - please pray that Jordyn will continue to feel safe, secure and loved as this will open the doors to learning. Still asking for prayer for my return to work - more on that later. I had hoped to have an open house but have decided that it might be too much right now. However, we love visitors so don't hesitate to come by if you can! "He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:11 Love to all. k

Is it really September?

Uncle Jeff

Aunt Sherry



Hi to all. I'm having trouble believing it is September! The days are just flying by now. Jordyn celebrated her 5th birthday last Tuesday 8/26 with Mom and Aunt Sherry at Pullen Park. It is so much fun to see her do things for the first time. She loved the train and the carousel - but wanted nothing to do with the boats. We had a picnic and fed the ducks. I received some really good news from China recently. I found out that Jordyn's birth mother left her immunization papers with her. Her name was on the paper and Haoyun is the name her birth mother gave her! Also, the first immunization was given 10/10/03 which means she is 5 or close to it. My guide in China who sent this information (Maggie) said that often these first shots are given at birth so it is possible that she was born on Oct 10, 2003. We will continue to celebrate on 8/26 since that is on her birth certificate but it is great to know that we are close and that the year is correct! Jordyn is doing great and learns news things every day. She received a trike for her birthday and she is trying to figure that out! Each day is a new adventure! She starts preschool tomorrow - she will go for 3 hours on Monday and Wednesday at our church. If anyone is out our way, please come visit! Much love, k

Nana's 80th Birthday Celebration