Going back!

There's something that makes me feel at home when I say that I'm going back to China.  No, not for an adoption.  This time anyway.  Wink, wink.  A big part of my heart was left in China when we brought Sunshine home, and will forever remain there.  In some small ways, I feel like I am part Chinese because of how entangled my life has become with the beautiful country and its people.  I have been waiting for the opportunity to return.  Finally, that time has come.  I'm going back to China in March with Visiting Orphans and my very dear friend, Kelly, to love well on orphans and the workers that tirelessly care for them.  This opportunity has been a dream of mine since before we brought Sunshine home, so I am still pinching myself a bit knowing this is happening!  I am very thankful to serve in this way and I know how special it is!

One-Month-Post-Broken-Arm-Update

Lovebug's broken arm recovery has been a little bumpy.  X-rays right after the cast removal showed his ulna was not completely healed, but the doc didn't feel it needed a new cast.  He said, "just be careful."  Riiiigggght.  I think he forgot he was talking about a six year old BOY :-)  Fortunately nothing happened, and his 2-week post cast removal showed it had pretty much healed.

The bigger issue Lovebug is facing is his significant range of motion loss.  At first he couldn't move his arm at all, although a very small percentage did return.  At the two-week follow-up, the doc was concerned because it usually returns within a couple days of the cast removal.  So we've been trying to get him to stretch it out with some exercises and lots of hot tub visits.  At the four-week follow up yesterday, the doc was much happier.  He can finally straighten his arm almost completely, but he still has trouble bending it much past where the cast held his arm in place.  His ability to twist his wrist back and forth (from his elbow) has also gotten much better, although still not 100%.  There was talk about a PET scan, but we've seen enough improvement that we're going to hold off on that for now.  We go back in two more weeks to evaluate again.  Please keep his healing in your prayers!

Just like the older kids

The older kids are learning to play chess.  It's adorable, especially because I have no idea how to play.  Sit checkers in front of me, and I'm good to go.  But chess is a foreign language.  Sunshine has been tagging along in all the fun too.  I think she might be the only three year old I know who can set up a chess game with the king, queen, pawns, and whatever else goes on the board, all in the correct spots.  Good gracious, she kills me.  So, so precious.  Oh this girl.

The Sunrise

"Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." Hosea 6:3

I had the beautiful opportunity to watch the sunrise with my Lovebug several weeks ago.  It was a precious time that I am so thankful for!  What a blessing!  The individual time with him, coupled with witnessing the artistry of Our Father was priceless.  I see many more mornings like this in the future.

Individually frozen dinners

I've been interesting recently in finding a way to freeze individual meals from our leftovers.  There are so many times when we throw out perfectly good leftovers because we're just in the mood for something else.  Ya know what I mean?  It's such a waste though, and I know plenty of families that freeze meals all the time.  I found these cheap reusable to-go containers on Amazon the other day and decided to give them a whirl the other night.  I overestimated (by A LOT) how much we would eat, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity.  I had enough stuffed shells for an entire extra meal and four individually frozen meals, veggies included.  Awesome!  I wrapped these containers in two layers of aluminum foil.  A lot of the online website suggest wrapping in plastic wrap first, and then aluminum foil ... but I don't typically keep plastic wrap around.  Hopefully two layers of aluminum foil will be ok, I'll have to update later on how it works out.  I think these will be perfect for work lunches or nights when I just don't get around to cooking dinner.