This has been a pretty big weekend for Annabelle already, and we haven’t even been to church yet! Friday was the class Valentine party. Our little girls walked in to class, armed with their bags full of home-made valentines cards for their classmates. They came out with an equal but different set of cards. And for some reason, Annabelle made out like it was her birthday. In addition to the cards, she received a couple of books and some sweet gift cards for some local eateries. And McDonalds. We’ll have to put those to use soon.
At some point in the day, the kids all went sledding. I guess that counts for PE, although that’s not what they call it anymore. They’ve got new names for all the classes we used to have. Home Economics is FCS (family culinary science? food creation studies?) Wood shop is Technological Education. Physical Education (PE) is something like DPA–directed physical activity. I don’t get it. Math is still math, though. I think. They look like they had fun playing in the snow.
I’ve said it before–we are so blessed to be living in this school district. Mrs. Lee isn’t actually in Annabelle’s class; she’s a helper in the class adjacent. But she comes over every day to see how Annabelle is getting along, helping her understand the assignments, conversing in Mandarin. We are absolutely grateful for the people God sends us!
Annabelle started ESL Friday. Kim got a call today from the ESL teacher, who wanted us to know how special Annabelle is. She’s made friends in the ESL class already. Two of the other Chinese girls have already asked to come over for a play date! The ESL teacher couldn’t get over how well Annabelle has adjusted to all the new things in her life. She asked Kim what our secret was…and Kim got to tell her a little about Jesus, and how many people have been praying for Annabelle. Our little adventure is opening doors of conversation with people we’d never rub shoulders with.
Friday night was a step outside of the comfort zone. We’ve got good friends (the Bievers) who run the music studio our kids have grown up in. We watch their 5 year old cutie one night a week, and have a blast doing it! Heidi asked if Annabelle and Sadie would want to go swimming with them, and we weren’t sure how Annabelle would do. Our kids have all been waterbugs, and we practically have to drag them out of the water. But I don’t think Annabelle can swim. We asked if she wanted to go, and she responded with a most emphatic, “Oh Yes!” She loved it! The girls were worn out when they got home, and can’t wait to go back to the pool. Waterbugs, I tell ya…look at that face! She’s definitely one of us.
Levi, Lilly, and Sadie all had friends sleep over Friday night. Sleep was scarce, even though I know they were all tired. Kim and I went to bed around 2am, and I could hear some kids talking and messing around as I dropped off to sleep.
I got to speak at a prayer retreat for ThirdPlace, a ministry for 20/30-somethings that Calvary leads. And tonight Kim and I snuck out for a little date. We went to dinner and a movie while Delma, Anne, and Ashley took care of things at home. Annabelle was a little concerned that we weren’t home to tuck them into bed, but all the kids did just fine for a couple of hours without us.
We are truly blessed. This is going better than we expected, better than we could have hoped or imagined. Thank you, Jesus, for your grace and presence, and for our family.
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