4 Years ago today, we became a family of 5

Before I start with us becoming a family of Five, I want to write about our busy and very highlighting week. Last Thursday, I watched Jade in her second tennis match. The picture below is her serving her set against Cretin Hall, she won it. She has improved so much and looks forward to playing. On the weekends she also wants to play. Dave has taken her on a couple of times and I took her on last week. Her coach told her that she has improved a lot on Thursday which made her day.
Jade's choir group had the honors of singing the national Anthem at the Twins game this past Monday. They had less then a week to learn the words and to be in sync as a group. They did wonderful. Her and I stayed for 3 innings, but left because she had a lot of homework to do. When we left we were losing 0-3, but they rally and won 6-3. She is staying busy with Tennis practice or game after school Monday-Friday and has lots of homework. She tried out for the beauty and the beast school play, she didn't get a part in that but has been selected to be with the Children's Theater. She doesn't know what she is doing with them and when asked if it is the Mpls one, she didn't know. Will find out more next week. She returned to International Club as president too, so she will stay well busy.




On September 10, 2009, Dave, Monika, my mom and I left for China. We stayed in Beijing for one week doing all the tourist things. Monika was 3 years and 1 1/2 months old. She was an excellent traveler and was so much fun. The people there loved her. On the 12th, we received news that a dear friend of ours that had been fighting for his lift for two weeks had died. He was suppose to be Katie's Godfather. Katie's Godmother is the one that open our hearts with the idea of adopting an waiting child. It was a bittersweet time as we couldn't be there to support her losing her husband and two young girls (one of them is Monika's sorority sister) losing their father at the age 3 and 5 years old.
September 18, 2005 was Mid Autumn Festival in China. This holiday is about families coming together and celebrating being a family. It was also the day Katie and Jenny were brought physically into our lives and family. This picture is Katie coming in the room we were waiting, she had a big beautiful smile on her. As soon as Ms. Li (director at the orphanage) let Katie go, she turned around and walked back out of the room. They had to bring Katie back in, she still had the big smile. Katie didn't really ever grieve leaving the only life she had known for 25 months. She grieved if I wasn't in the same room as her. She attached to me instantly, it took her about 4 weeks if not longer before she attached to Dave. She didn't have a issue with Dave as long as I was in the room or close by. It is amazing how well she is doing. She doing fabulous in school, she is happy go lucky. She loves to follow what others are doing even if that causes her to get in trouble, she is very trust worthy. She has an infectious laugh and can get anyone to laugh at her expressions. Katie being introduced to me. The book and the bear she had in her hands are what we sent to them. She understood that I was mom, don't think she knew what it meant.


While I was connecting with Katie and helping Monika connect with Katie, Dave was talking to the director and social worker (not sure if that is the correct title for her), Jenny was brought in and put on my lap. We unfortunate don't have any pictures of her coming in. She took to us very well, until we left, then she lost it and cried, the cab ride wasn't very long and she would go from crying to very quiet almost subdue. Jenny was 2 weeks shy of being 2 years old. Dave trying to bond with Katie, she was ok as long as he occupied her with something. This allowed me to change the girls and to console Jenny, who was having a hard time

Jenny cried hard for about 45 minutes. We were told that she was a favorite at the orphanage and had lots of one on one from her "Godmother " Ayi. She was taken home to the Ayi house at times too.

She finally cried herself to sleep. After that period, she didn't grieve like that again. To this day, she still loves the one on one and prefers adults over kids. She loves to "read" books and is more of an independent person. She is really starting to want to help with everything. She loves food and will try anything and usually like it.This is the first picture of me and my girls after we left the Civil Affairs office. We were down in the Swan Room. We started to get some small little smiles out of Jenny. Katie was very smiley and just loved being with people and seeing everything.

Jenny eating rice and was a happy camper now. Amazed on hold well she and Katie could hold a fork and spoon.The next day, the smiles came big and happy (Katie, Monika and Jenny)

4 years later, what a journey it has been, thru the great times, so-so times, difficult times, sad times and all the times in between, they have brought so much to Dave, Monika and I and we are so lucky they became part of our family.Monika, Katie and Jenny

Today was our second day of our garage sale, we have had wonderful weather today and yesterday. We have a lot of stuff again, most of being donated, which we are so grateful on. Even though we haven't made the same amount as last months one, we still have made a lot and are so grateful for everything. We had some slow times today, and I got to enjoy just sitting outside with my mom talking and at times reading a book while she also read a book. We have 3 hours tomorrow and hopefully it will do well. I thank God for giving me a wonderful husband, 4 wonderful daughters, my family and friends and all the guidance he gives me.