It finally snowed! Stella finally got to see snow! This girls was all smiles, squealing in excitement at the thought of snow. And when I calmly asked if she knew what snow was, she confidently answered "no". Stella was thrilled when she finally went outside to find out more about this thing called snow. She wanted to have a "snow fight", which I assumed would be a challenge given that the quantity of snow was barely a dusting. Somehow the kids managed to scrape up enough snow to make snowballs! Add that to slipping and sliding on the trampoline and you'll find the best fun! What did I see Stella doing on the trampoline? Quickly scooping up snow and shoveling it in her mouth!!! It may have contained just a touch of dirt, but she was more than happy to report that it was delicious! The kids stayed outside longer than I had expected. When you don't see snow too often (or ever in Stella's case), you take advantage of the opportunity!
The pink gloves!
She finally got to wear her pink gloves!
Thinking Back
There are days I can't remember what I walked in my own bedroom for, BUT I can remember in great detail the day we met Samuel. I can see his tiny face. I remember "that panic" that came over his face when we approached him. I can hear his scream (for hours). I can see his nanny wanting desperately to comfort him. And I can remember turning my back to her in my attempt to comfort Samuel. I remember his very first smile in our hotel room. I remember the way he ran to me if he saw me get the carrier out.
I also remember seeing his same nanny again 18 months later and hugging her neck as if she was an old friend. And I remember the tears in her eyes when she saw Samuel again a year and a half after he left to go home.
Samuel is a joy! That sums him up! When he first came home, he was serious and quiet. After all, we ripped him away from all things familiar about the time he should've been learning the verbal language. We jokingly called him the "fun police" because he was all business and firmly against the slightest sound of laughter. Now today? That kid can tell the jokes. He will pull me close for a smooch, immediately followed by "Daddy, I just kissed your wife". Quite often he requests for Daddy to "do airplane". When he swings up-side-down on the monkey bars, he proudly announces that he will be in the circus one day. He wants to be like Joey in all aspects...scary and good at times. Before he even knows what Joey wants to eat, he says "what's Joey having". Samuel has been caught a time or two wearing a princess gown with his sister...which he will not deny. When I ask him nicely to stop growing so fast, he throws the comment back to me that his growth is my fault because I ask him to eat a healthy dinner.
A few memories from the first time we met Samuel...
And then there are pictures of us enjoying our time together...
You can't convince me that this sweet lady doesn't love our little guy (8/2015).
She probably never expected to see him again after we left in January of 2014. We still send pictures to the orphanage so the nannies can see the fruit of their work.
And now...
He can't keep a smile off his face or his feet on the ground. Circus-bound this kid is!
Thank you, Jesus, for allowing us the joy of teaching and loving this little one! And what says "we are so very thankful for you" than a plate of steamy dim sum? And so if you need us to tomorrow, better check the nearest Asian market. That's where we'll be...celebrating this little ball of energy!
