Keelan's Piano Recital

Keelan has been taking piano lessons for two years, and had his first recital on Sunday.  (There was a recital last year, too, but we had to miss it, as we were zooming off to China!)  He did a great job and we were very proud of him.  He also looked very handsome!

Keelan and his teacher, Mrs. Scott, who used to teach with me at Meadowood Christian School.  

And here is a video of Keelan playing his piece.  

Proud of you, Keelan!

My Daughter Still Knows Mandarin

Today Jim and I took Caylie to our school district's ChildFind office to be evaluated.  I was hoping that they would find that she was delayed enough in her English and maybe some other things so that she would qualify for their free pre-school.  However, I don't think that's going to happen, as she did great, haha.  We're going to have another eval sometime during the summer, so maybe it will work out, but the lady who did the testing was very impressed that Caylie knew so much English already, and did so well at her other tests.  So we'll see!

What we did not realize was that they had arranged to have a Mandarin translator there during our evaluation.  We were surprised when a very nice Chinese lady came in to be part of the meeting.  I told her that I didn't think Caylie remembered any Mandarin, since she never answers anyone who speaks to her and gets rather weird about it!  But the lady spent a lot of time talking to Caylie in Chinese, and got down on the floor and played with her for a long time.  After awhile, she told us with no uncertainty, "Caylie remembers Chinese."  Apparently, Caylie understood what the lady was saying, and even answered her with Chinese words a few times.  I was absolutely dumbfounded, as Caylie has not said anything in Chinese since shortly after we returned home early last June.

I LOVE this news.  I never wanted my daughter to forget her first language, but there was little I could do about it, as our main priorities upon returning home from China were attachment and bonding, and helping her learn the language we speak at home.  Besides the fact that we knew no Chinese-speaking people for her to converse with!  But now that I know that she hasn't forgotten, I want to keep it that way.  The problem is, we still don't know any other Chinese people for her to converse with, unless we go to a Chinese restaurant!  And as sad as I am about it, we are the only family we know in our city who has adopted from China, so she doesn't have any little Chinese friends, either.

So, my prayer is that God would bring other families across our path.  We know other adoptive families, but none here in Aurora.  I'm sure there are some here, as big as our city is; I just have no idea how to connect with them.  But God does.  He knows what my daughter needs, and He will be faithful to bring whatever that is.  

Easter!

This was Caylie's first Easter, and as usual, she was very excited and happy to take part in our family traditions.  We went to the Friday Tennebrae service at our church, and she learned (as much as she could) about Jesus dying on the cross.  She sat very nicely and listened to Daddy and Keelan as they took part in the service.  On Saturday we dyed our eggs and she was very careful.  I don't think any of them were even cracked.  Then we picked out a "pee dess" (pretty dress!) to wear to church the next day.  At church on Sunday, she sang with the children as they performed three songs in the service.  She also had a fun time telling people, "Jesus is alive!"  I'm so glad that she will have the opportunity to come to truly realize just what that means. 

Easter baskets

Daddy took this picture before church.  She looks unhappy, but she really wasn't!

Justin, Taylor, Keelan and Caylie before church.

Singing with the kids at church.

Egg hunt on the church lawn.

HE IS RISEN!

20-Week Baby!

Brittany is 20 weeks now!  She is finally starting to feel better and can feel the baby moving.  We are very excited about this little one coming in August!

(And of course Auntie-To-Be had to be in the photo.  Haha.)

Happy Birthday, Brad!

 Happy Birthday to our son-in-law, Brad!