Adventures

Well, since my last post Michelle seems to be doing better. She cried again the next night at bedtime and I went in and sat with her, but since then she has been much more cheery. I would cry too if I was so far away from home and so young.

The director of the exchange program, Michelle's principal from back home, and another couple who work with the program made visits to all the families last week. Our visit was on Friday. It was interesting. The principle and the other couple are all Korean. They speak some English but not a ton. So it was kind of awkward. They basically came out to see how we were doing and to get some pictures to send back to her parents. We got her mom's email so we can "visit". I tried using an internet language conversion site, Babblefish, but when Michelle read the English and then the Korean version she said it didn't translate very well. So I may just send a simple note in English and maybe her parents will be able to figure it out. I think they can read some English.

When Ethan and I first talked of doing this I said, "Well, it's gotta be a lot easier adding an older kid to the mix, and not a baby." Ha. Famous last words. :) She is easier in some ways, but she still forgets to flush the toilet and leaves clothes on the floor. Kids are kids!

Maternal Instincts

As I'm typing this our poor little exchange student is in the bathroom sobbing on the phone to her mom. My heart is BREAKING. She has been holding up really well but fell tonight at the playground and skinned up her knee. She didn't cry then but I knew it bothered her. I'm not sure if the kids at school have been very friendly either. The first day when I picked her up a couple of the girls from her class were kind of snotty to her when we walked past. This is SO much harder than I thought it would be. You wouldn't think that your heart would break so much for someone else's child, but it does.

Update . . . The girls and I prayed for her upstairs before they got in bed. I came down and she had just finished her call. I gave her a hug, but I don't know if that was any help. (She was trying to look like everything was okay.) She really needs her family. Please pray for her!

New Experiences

Less than 24 hours ago we had no idea that we would hosting a little Korean girl for a month. I received an email from a friend about a cultural exchange program and that they were in urgent need of families. Usually they have 11 kids visit and this year they had 17. Ethan and I talked about it and decided to get more information. This is what getting more information looked like: the director dropping by our house and telling us what to expect and to be at the airport in seven hours! It was such a whirlwind of a day.

Michelle is from the city of Seoul so this is quite an adjustment for her. She has never seen livestock up close so we're going to take her to a dairy. She is 9 years old and in the third grade. She'll be going to school during the week while she's here and the rest of the time we're going to try to fit in as many experiences as possible.

I can't IMAGINE letting my little girl go to Korea for a month! Especially not knowing the family at all. Her mom sent a sweet note and a music box for us. She asked us to please take good care of her daughter. (Of course!) I feel so connected to her; just another mama on the other side of the world. She is very brave!

Accomplishments

This last weekend was a big one for our family.

Ethan ran a half-marathon.

Allie got news that a poem she wrote will be published!

Emmie danced in Swan Lake.

Ryan pooped on the potty for the first time! (And he went to the bathroom without any prompting.)

And Samantha and I . . . well, we didn't do anything spectacular. :) She is growing like mad and I guess I am the support staff around here! I'm proud of this family.

Game ON!

I have really creative friends. :) One of them found a fun new game for a bunch of us to play. It's from a book and called the Game On Diet. For one month a group of us will all be competing against one another to see who can live the healthiest lifestyle. I will be having less of this . . .

and much more of this . . .

Players get points for not just what they eat, but how much they exercise, how much water they drink, how much sleep they get, etc. We're all going to throw a little cash into the pot before we start and whoever racks up the most points wins! I can't wait to begin.

Parade of Homes

Along with yardsales, I love this time of year for going to the Parade of Homes. It's such a treat getting to walk through gorgeous, award-winning houses! Ethan and I go every year and went last night together. Below are two pictures of a secret room. Since I loaded these pictures backwards the reveal is showing first, but oh well. It was a bookcase that you gently pressed on to slide back into a low-ceilinged room for kids. Our kids weren't with us last night but they would have gone crazy over that. Wondering where I can put it in my house . . .

Besides unique architectural features, parade homes are decorated beautifully and perfectly landscaped. They kind of take your breath away. And yet -- and I am so thrilled to say this and truly mean it -- when we got back home after looking last night, I was SO HAPPY with our home! Our house is nothing special but it's perfect for our family. We've lived in nine places in our marriage and it is such a joy to finally feel like we're home.

Yard Sale Finds

I guess I really am addicted to green things. Coffee tastes better coming out of these mugs, I swear.

Allie took this picture. I've always wanted some of these decorative bottles. You can't beat $1 per bottle.

Love this time of year!