How We Celebrated

That's our boy Mike:

For if we have become united with him in the likeness of his death, certainly we shall also be in the likeness of his resurrection. - Saint Paul

Photo Essays

Grandpa's Hands

The Power of Ice Cream Bribery

Preliminary Adoption Application

Tonight we submitted a preliminary application for international adoption. The process can take 3-5 years. Yes, we know that we don't have any money. Don't discourage me from obeying the Spirit.

These numbers are overwhelming. (Graphics from Bethany)

But I try to remember that changing the life of just one can have a profound effect, not just for the one, but for countless others.

An except from our April snail mail letter:

Some of our college freshmen come with an attitude of self-entitlement. But I am refreshed by the gratitude and pure motives of my friend Wang Zhao, a seventeen year-old orphan who was abandoned as a child because she is a midget. We met at the orphanage last year -- she was looking for an English tutor and a friend. Once a week I tutor Wang Zhao and play with her younger roommates, and every week I think “What is stopping me from taking a couple of these darlings home?” Let me know if you have any ideas about how we can fund a couple international adoptions.

You know what is so satisfying about my relationship with Wang Zhao? Justice. I ran into some of her high school classmates at the bus stop once. Those students can only dream of having an American oral English tutor, because they’re impossible to find and even harder to pay at US$20 an hour. Wang Zhao, who has nothing and can’t pay, secured such a tutor for free! Psalm 82:3 says “Give justice to the weak and the fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.” I am instrument of justice to Wang Zhao.

Bedtime

Just one picture to keep this blog alive.

I want to upload a video of Michael dancing and a slideshow of pictures from the past couple months, but this is all I have time for at the moment.

This weekend we have a big supper party for 80 sophomores. They'll take a do-or-die test on Saturday morning then come to our apartment complex to relax and eat.

By the way, in the last post I said I'd give a prize to whoever could translate my note to Titus' teacher. If you checked the comments, it's clear -- "Frogmama" and family get the trophy. (Albeit the dad had his Chinese coworker translate it...fine with me, that shows a great deal of effort and resourcefulness!)

Ok, seriously I've got to get going on potatoes. More later!

Home & School Contact Book

You probably heard that Titus has been in Chinese preschool for about six weeks now. I'm sure you're curious about it, so I plan to describe it more and show you a few pictures. First I thought you might like to see the 'report card' of sorts, which goes home every month.

Based on a 1, 2, or 3 star rating, Titus is pulling a 49.75/100 gpa in preschool. Is that passing?

This month's areas of evaluation:

• Greets the teacher and is happy to go to preschool.
• Uses simple words to describe a picture.
• Mimics the teacher during dance time.
• Naps nicely and doesn't bug the other kids.

At the bottom of the page, the teacher commented:

Our little friend Tai-de has done very well this month. Although he just entered preschool he can do everything well. Keep working hard next month.

The next page has a section for the parent's comments. This is what I wrote, and I will give you a prize if you can tell me what it says. Leave your translation in our "reader response" link below.

Christmas Cards! In April!

Today we received about 20 pieces of mail, most of them were your Christmas greetings! It made us laugh. One was a Valentine, some were letters dated in February. All are very appreciated and we enjoy reading each one.

Our mail is collected at a couple different offices that we try to check regularly. This time there was quite an accumulation.

Thank you again for your letters and pictures!