It has been one month since I walked into a Jinan hotel room to pick up our son DJ. I will never forget the range of emotions we both experienced that day. Fear, excitement, tears, awkwardness, love, loss, and so much more. We are still working through many of those emotions a month later. DJ is trusting us more and more, but he still is homesick at times for China. I am so thankful for all of the training we had ahead of time that helped prepare us for all of these emotions and experiences. Each day we are discovering more and more about our son. DJ loves to help cook. He asks each night to help dice or cut veggies. If there is anything to help with in the kitchen, he is the first one to ask. DJ also loves to build things. He can spend hours quietly playing with legos or his transformers. DJ loves his family fiercely, but he also doesn't mind being alone. He is thoughtful and is a hard worker. He is doing a great job trying to learn English and helping us learn Chinese. DJ loves to be outside and keeps asking when it is warm enough to go swimming. Thankfully, we found a local swim team that has a free week of trying it out that we are taking him to next week. DJ has also been learning to pray with us. He loves his nightly showers and he LOVES routine. Each day we have to layout the entire day for him. Sometimes we even have to discuss what is going to happen the next day. It is amazing to see how far we have come in just one month. It feels like he has been with us so much longer then a month. We cannot wait to see what God has in store for this amazing young man we have the privilege to call our son!
Our first few minutes together.
Reading our first book together - he was trying not to laugh at my awful pronunciation of Chinese in the book.
Picture in Chinatown last week.
"Running" with Mama. He told me he could go 1.8km, which is about 1.2 miles. We made it exactly 0.5 miles before he was done. I guess we will have to work on running. We went home and I left him with Wayne so I could go run 2 more miles (which about killed me).
Saturday night we made homemade individual pizzas and watched a family movie together (the new Star Wars). The boys had a great time.
Yesterday we took Shan Chen and DJ with us to vote. I have always taken my kids to vote so that 1) they can see what a privilege we have to vote, 2) encourage others to get out and vote, 3) get them in the practice of getting out to vote, and 4) it is part of school - Political Science.
We appreciate all of you prayers, especially as we continue to help the boys process all their emotions and feelings. Today we made our first post adoption appointment with our social worker. It is crazy how fast time flies.
I am so glad that you are continuing to update and let us know how everyone is doing
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