Luana & Steph

Jessica, Alyssa, Steph and Luana

Its so good hearing from everyone! Keep the comments and emails coming! We love being in contact with all of you at home. Well, like you said Cindy~ One week down and 5 or so to go! :) You know for as much complaining we've done about the whole 6 week thing for the past year~ we actually are considering it a blessing that we have that time to spend with our son and bond before we have to return to life as normal. Since we missed out on his first years of life we are so thankful to have this quality time together now.
Today was a great day! We started the morning off with joining the CLM family at their "Progressive Dinner" each group went to a different house here on campus for a different part of the meal. It was all yummy food and just a lot of fun! After that the boys (including Steve!) played soccer. It was neat to see our boy in action on the soccer field. We then had our first sit down family dinner tonight with everyone helping by cooking, setting table, clean up etc.......After dinner we went to church this evening with the CLM family also.
After church we came back and played games..............great family bonding time at night with games....wish I would have brought more now!
About our only plans this week will include taking Donei for his blood test/vaccinations..........that is just so weird not having a million things on the calendar to do!
Tonight at dinner Alyssa made the comment that she could see herself working here at CLM~ Donei looked at her in shock and said, "Really?" It just made me laugh and made me realize that Alyssa and Donei have lived on completely different aspects of CLM...........Alyssa seeing the beauty and reward of caring for the Orphans and Donei wanting to leave the orphanage after all these years desiring to be adopted (He has been here for 7-8 years now).

Steve & Lu

We also had a GREAT day with Luana :) Steve and I were going to seek her out and get her to play with us like the rest of the children. We definitely broke the ice with her and now its completely melted.......melted into our arms! She has once again turned into our little cuddle bug and now we can't get her to leave our sides. Alyssa did her hair for church tonight. Gosh we love her and Alyssa has now seen why we fell in love with her. Luana came and sat with us tonight at church holding on to us tightly............its so hard to understand all this with Luana.........but again.............we will trust God through it.

Not going to give up hope........