Week 10, Spring Break Is Coming To An End

Spring break started with Easter activities.  Our church had an Easter Egg hunt on Sat morning.

The kids had a great time!  Jake even found a prize egg. 



Here's Marta with the Easter Bunny before the hunt started.



This is while the hunt is happening (it's almost over). 



Here are our 2 youngest, Marta and Jake, dumping their eggs to trade for their goodie bags.  Yes, Jake's the one with the Super Man jacket.  My mom gave that to him for his birthday and he wears it all the time.



Some people see these three and think they're triplets.



     We did our favorite ice cream spot this week while we were down 2 children.  Grace and Shane got to visit their grandparents from Tues through Thurs.  We needed something special for those who didn't get to go.  So, we did the Tuesday Family Night and this was just right!

Jake also found the doctor's play kit in the closet this week. 

I think he may have a future in medicine because he has such a tender heart.
This week was the week I fell in love with our son.  He is sensitive, smart, and funny.
God has so many incredible things planned for him and I can't wait to see what they are.

We also got to have a half day visit with my great nephew, John Clifton.  This is really strange to me because I never really thought of myself as a "great aunt."  John Clinton was in town with his grandmother, Grammy Missy.  They wanted us to come over to Folly Beach to visit (Tom's Mother's house).   Marta, Joy and Jake were so excited about this little guy and his little brother (not pictured).  Jake and Joy decided to "read a book" to JC....they were teaching him his alphabet!  Imagine, Chinese children teaching a toddler English.  I was laughing at this.  After eating lunch together, we took a stroll to the Folly River pier.



Joy was doing all she could to get her hands on these little guys.  She probably was
a big help in the orphanage with the babies.

Tom was not on this visit because he decided over spring break to work on the bushes in our front yard.  He cut them all the way back.  I hope they'll grow back soon because our front yard now looks naked.  Jake (not pictured) decided to help Tom with the clean up.  I'm so thankful for his helping spirit!



This is only part of what he did.  The boxwoods on the other side of the house
are also all cut down. 

We visited the library on Friday to return books and DVDs.  Jake found this book and wanted

to check it out.  I didn't look through it until we got home.   It's was a book that J & J can easily read.

This book also got J & J asking questions about going to school. 
It's a good tool for working on their English.

     We ended the 10th week on a not-so-good note.  Joy had some attitude problems.  We

sought counsel from our Christian friend who was able to give us encouragement and shared some insightful thoughts about Joy's behavior.

    I was able to redirect Joy with some "tough love."  I was thankful that by Friday afternoon, I was seeing a change in her behavior.  However, please pray for God to give Joy a teachable spirit and heart.  

     Once things turned around for the better on Friday afternoon, Jake started running a fever.  This is the 1st time he's been sick since he's been with us.  He was almost crying when the fever was spiking.  He slept all day Saturday on the couch.  I'm happy to report now (Sun afternoon) that he's feeling better. 

     I also want to say a very special thank you to the youth group from Anderson that came down this week.  They camped out at our church and did mission work for their spring break.  We got to be one of their projects (they helped J & J with their English).  Mrs. Karmen and the girls were a blessing to our family.  We loved getting to know them.  

*  Karmen, if you come back this summer, please give us a call!