Ping Pong and Puzzles

Clare had a good time today. She watched the ping pong games on the tiny ping pong table at the Ventresca's. After the ping pong, she had to give another jigsaw puzzle training session to brother, Blake. It seems that her brothers are jigsaw puzzle challenged. Before Blake had to leave to go back to Tulsa, Clare made Blake and Baba march around the house to the Chinese children's marching songs.

Brunch In The 'Hood

Today we had brunch at the Ventresca's. Four neighbor families had a huge breakfast and great fun. Clare got to meet her sister, Kelsey, and Bret (Kelsey's husband), and Carson (Clare's niece). She also got to meet brother, Blake. After the meal everyone just had a good time visiting and playing ping pong. Very casual, very fun! The top photo shows Clare and Carson on the shoulders of Mama and Daniela; the next two photos are Carson and Clare with their jewel stickers; the next photo shows Angelo Ventresca and Baba discussing bacon and biscuits; the bottom photo shows Clare helping Daniela with the waffle mix.

Clare and Mulan

Tonight, Clare is watching the children's movie "Mulan." She is watching it in Chinese with English sub-titles for her mom and dad. We truly want to keep Clare's Chinese heritage and culture.

First Visit to Pediatrician

Clare had her first visit to her pediatrician today. Dr. Stephanie Grim gave her the "once over" and declared her "fit as a fiddle." Obviously there are issues with children adopted from China, including the fact that Clare has a repaired meningocele, but we are prepared to deal with any and all issues. The bottom photo shows the nurse measuring Clare. Thank you Dr. Grim.

Give to Love Without Boundaries This Christmas

You can make this Christmas season special for orphaned children in China! Clare benefited greatly from donations to Love Without Boundaries. She was in the "Believe in Me School" at the orphanage in Shantou, and she received a Tuan Yuan grant to help with her adoption fees. We are thankful every moment to Love Without Boundaries, and we plan to "pay it forward."

You can access the LWB 2008 Holiday Wish List at http://www.lovewithoutboundaries.com/pdfs/2008%20Holiday%20Wish%20List.pdf.

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.' Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

~Matthew 25:31-46

Our Tiny Dancer

Sometimes you just have to "let your hair down." Clare loves to dance and she was having some fun this evening dancing to some Chinese children's songs.

First Day of School

Clare enjoyed her first day of school. A speech therapist was at the school today and visited with Clare. She indicated that Clare now has a pretty good grasp of about 30 words. Not too bad for the first week in America. We were afraid that she might be frightened, but she waltzed right in and took it all in stride. She also wanted everyone to see her karate pose - scary, huh?