So independent

My oldest daughter is so independent.  Her mom in China taught her really good.  When she came to live with us in August of 2008 she was 16 almost 17 years old.  She started out a JR in HS and flourish.  Her mom started to teach her English when she was around 5 years old and she worked hard at it.  Many people were very surprised when she first came and sometimes still are surprise on how well her English is considering that Chinese is her first language.

Jade and her newest dog, she met him summer of 2011 when she went back to China to see her mom,dad and rest of her extended family.

She went to Boston over Christmas break 2011 with some classmates

She is now a Sophomore at St. Olaf and continues to thrive.  She studies hard for premed, she volunteers for different things including going to North Carolina her last two spring breaks and do a habitat for humanity and tries to learn as much as she can about America and what we have here.  I know before I adopted in 2003, I took many things for granted, after traveling to other parts of the world (not only China), I have learned we are lucky in America and there are many opportunities for us.

Summer 2011 in her dad's providence in China

 The first two years that Jade was in America, she was living with Dave and I.  She was a great daughter and taught us a lot about her culture.  She gave me insight on some of the ways people think in China about different things including adoptions, disabilities, government, family, etc.  She makes great Chinese food and was a great gardener.  She needed some encouragement from us to try different things and not just keep her nose in the books.  It was hard for her to do, but she did it, she joined choir and loved it so much she is in choir in college, she learned to play Tennis and joined the speech team.  She took on these new things with bravery and confidence. 

When she was with us for just over two months, she had her first birthday cake.  They don't celebrate birthdays in China like we do here.  She was appreciative.

 She knows she has to work hard here, that because she is considered a foreign student, she has 2x times harder time getting accepted (schools and business, etc because she is on a visa).  Because of this she pushes herself to the limits.  She knows she has to prove herself to others when she graduates from College.  She has a big heart too, that wants to help the world become a better place.

My dad took her ice fishing her first winter here in 2008/2009.  She caught 2 nice size northern within 20 minutes of each other.  My dad has been a fishermen all his life and he never seen that happen before.  They returned the fish to the lake and continue to fish for sunnies.

When Jade left to go to college, she started a new chapter in her life.  It was hard for me to watch her go.  She may have been only with us for two years, but she is still my daughter in every way other then paper.  She started college the same time we left for China to bring Erin home.  It was hard not having her in China with us as the rest of my girls were with Dave and I.  We had the pleasure of meeting her Mom and dad and they were wonderful to us there.  They showered us with love, gratitude, and were great hostess to show us the beauty that is in China.

First family picture one week after Erin came home.  Sept 2010

When Jade left for college, there was a lot of things going on at home, Erin coming home, Erin and her challenging and at times very difficult transition,3 months later her dad and I split up.  It was hard to have her gone, it was also hard to see our relationship change.  It started to change the summer of 2010 and with all the timing of everything the last 6 months of 2010, things shifted in our relationship.  There isn't one specific thing that did it, but it happen.  There were some big things that we didn't see eye to eye on things that caused the shift along with little things.  Both of us had different emotions going on at that time and unfortunately created some shifting.

Christmas 2011

Jade continues to grow and experience life to the fullest that she is able to.  She comes home on the weekends she is able and tries hard to make it to all the important family functions.  She prefers to stay at her dad's house when she comes home but I am usually able to spend a little bit of time with her when she does come home.  She is always ready for hugs from me and has a big smile when she sees me.  I am so grateful that God place her in my heart and life.  That I have the honors to call her my daughter and that she will always be my daughter and hope she will always see me as her mom too.

Riding a white Yak in Tibet 2011

Jade, you amaze me and continue to fly on your wings, to see the beautiful world that is out there, to experience the love, joy and even the sadness that comes into your life.  Don't ever forget that I love you wherever your life may lead you and you will always be my daughter even as things change for us.