4 Happy Birthday Candles

Our kids have developed an amusing habit of qualifying all birthday things as happy. "I want to eat happy birthday cake!" "When is gonna be my happy birthday?" "Can we open happy birthday presents now?" 

Jonathon blew out FOUR happy birthday candles last week!

Happy birthday morn started with a 6:30am big box opening.

Yeah! Got that new tricycle ready to roll before Dad had to be out the door at 8.
Jonathon is all about his new wheels and is already racking up big mileage.
(kilometerage? we've gone metric!)

Our motivated happy birthday boy polished off a bowl of sprinkle-coated ice cream, using a spoon, all by himself. This was an impressive and encouraging accomplishment for Jon; swallowing is tough business for him.

A happy birthday box arrived from Minnesota. Now our three boys sleep with blankets handmade by Nai Nai (Drew's mom) and on pillowcases handmade by Wai po (my mom). 

Titus had been asking for a kite, and in fact we planned to buy one this very day as a reward for doing his English lessons. When Jon opened his box, Ye Ye & Nai Nai had sent...a kite! God loves you Titus.

On the weekend we invited a few little friends over for Jonathon's happy birthday party. Two little boys from Butterfly Home came! I think it was a unique and valuable experience for them.

Crafts, games, cake & jello, singing and gifts -- Jonathon and his troop loved it all.

I think the happy birthday boy felt very special indeed.

"Thank you Wan Wan for my new hat!"

Jonathon perpetually dazzles us with his progress and enchants us with his gregarious personality. He has inner strength and resilience that I know nothing about... he's got more heart and character than anyone I have ever met. And he's barely four years old. 

Jonathon still needs a family to bring him home for keeps. As a friend wrote, Jonathon is both at home and waiting for home. He is safe and loved here with us and we have treated him with total sonship. But he really needs a permanent family. If you are potentially that family, please contact your adoption agency. Jonathon's file is classed as special focus, and you can find out more about his story on the Butterfly Home blog.

(We his direct caregivers cannot communicate with you in accordance with international adoption regulations. Thanks for understanding.)

counting the graces 

thank you Father for

Drew's new routine of riding bike to and from work every day

"he has washed us with his blood" yes, my sins are washed clean, even today's

surprise visit from two good friends, one with a burden to release

jammin guitar and violin with Drew, he is extra good-looking with that violin...

boatload of positive response emails from friends in the USA

being able to "stay home" with my children

rainbow in Changsha -- our first sighting! it was enormous! everyone was taking pictures with camera phones like some sort of spectacular phenomena!