MK is FOUR!

Four years ago, on this day, MK was born and placed in a safe place to be found and cared for. Four years later, she is home, safe and being loved and cared for more than one can fathom. She has eight hands all around that are constantly warming her with hugs and four pair of lips that are endlessly caressing her cheeks with kisses. She is our girl, all of ours, and we can't believe how fast she has grown up right before our eyes! At the age of four,

• she wants to be a mommy, a doctor, and a ballerina, all at once, and drive a pink corvette when she grows up
• she can read a simple book
• she is determined to accomplish all that she lays her hands on - there is no giving up!
• she answers to Mei, Mei-Mei, Mei-Kate and Mason-Kate as if they were all of her names
• she dances - in ballet class, at home, in stores, and she does so no matter who is watching
• she sings songs she knows from church, songs she listens to on cds, songs she hears on the radio and songs she makes up - singing is a favorite, the louder the better!
• she LOVES feeling like a lady - getting her nails done, having her hair curled, wearing dresses, wearing jewelry, she is all about "the" look
• she possesses the best belly laugh yet - we heard it for the first time on Gotcha Day and it is still music to our ears
• she is loyal
• she is a great swimmer - she is taking lessons now, in the winter months, and we are all quite impressed with her endurance
• she loves "her boys"
• she loves to hear mommy sing her special song to her - that is nice, not too many people, including myself, can endure my singing :)
• she speaks clearly and efficiently - her most recently used words being "fabulous" and "delightful" and "seriously" and "absolutely"
• she longs to be a big sister - we have told her for months that we would travel to get baby Maddox after her birthday, now that day is here so she is ready to get on the plane and TRAVEL - we all are!
• she knows when we skip a page (or, gasp, several pages!) in a book
• she has all little baby girls, no boy babies, and they are all named "Goldilocks" yet when addressing them during playtime one can often hear her calling them "sweetie"
• she loves to hear her story of adoption

Happy 4th Birthday to our joy, our laughter, our never-stop-talking, precious baby girl!

Snowschool!

Yesterday we woke to at least 3 inches of snow. This is definitely not a usual thing for the south so the children were powered up and ready to go. We did schoolwork for almost 2 hours and then it happened - there was noise on the street and my children tuned into the fun outside. Within seconds, the boys had on their boots and snow gear and they were amidst the neighbors on the street having a snowball fight. MK and I were a bit slower. We dug out the old ski pants of the boys, an old sweatshirt and her little ladybug boots, and off we went. MK, at first, was not impressed. She did declare she was going to build a panda vs. a snowman but when she got outside she had other things in mind. She quickly decided that she could make snowballs too! And throw them at her brothers. Then she proceeded to build gardens, and roll down the hills, all the while her gear coming off here and there....she was real cute. Alas, the fun ended, hands were cold and feet were wet so we headed in to dry off and finish up school.

Silent Tears

Again, I mention, I am not a huge, profound reader. I read to my children and thoroughly enjoyed our mornings recently reading Anne Of Green Gables. I am learning in my older years to appreciate the joys that a book can bring. We read together everyday, morning and night, and they begin their school day reading independently. I decided that part of their reading journey was to see me reading as well, not only hearing me read to them but actually seeing me, book in hand, enjoying a book. For Christmas, Ryan gave me the book Silent Tears, A Journey Of Hope In A Chinese Orphanage. I told Ryan last night that everyone, grandparents, parents, friends, should read this book. If you or your family has been a part of an adoption from China, it is a must read. If you wish to help orphans, it is a must read. Kay Bratt, the author, went to live in China with her husband who was transferred there on business. While in China, she volunteered in an orphanage and she kept a diary which later became her book. This book certainly not only opened my eyes to what my daughter did or could have endured while in the orphan care system, but also gives a vivid description of why these practices occur. Coming from a mommy with two little girls who very well could have had a very different life, this is one book that I will not be forgetting anytime soon.