Its been 1 year since our daughter found her forever family. Its been a year of getting to know each other, but I can easily say we have all figured it out. She is a typical teenage girl, nothing more nothing less. She loves her siblings, but as all siblings do the fuss at times, but in the next minute they are laying together studying spelling words, sharing headphones, or drawing pictures. I just smile becasue I never in my widlest dreams thought we would have 3 daughters in our home let alone a teenager, so soon. :>) I wouldnt have it any other way though. **
She stays busy with school, dance and cheerleading. Our high schools are magnet programs so you go to high school where your field of interest lies. She attends a fine arts program high school. Her major is dance and drama. There is constant music in our home between dance music, cheer chants, and of course pop music.
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We spent the weekend in Chicago for her Gotcha Day. It always proves to be a great time. China town and Navy Pier provides a full weekend. it was nice because I got the best compliment for our "C". Momma you make better Zao (congee) than they make here. Wow Im good. :>).
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With our oldest daughter I have had to really fine tune my Chinese cooking skills. The one thing I really wanted her to know is its OK to be Chinese. She watches Chinese tv shows on the computer, she listens to Chinese music and helps her sisters with their Chinese. She also takes Mandarin class at school. By doing this, she also has improved her English skills. Her grades are GREAT. She receives minimal services in school and her grades are all hers, she has earned every one of them. She is really quite brilliant when it comes to math.
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Can you tell I think shes pretty amazing?
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She also just celebrated her 16th birthday. She received many cards in the mail. Thank You. We spent the day with her siblings, nieces and nephews, cousin and Aunt, and a host of friends. That in itself made a full house.
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One of the things I did for the other girls while in China was to buy them a good set of pearls for their 16th birthday. Well considering circumstances this didnt happen with our "C". When I had a friend travel this year to bring her 5 yr old daughter home I asked her to get a set for us, so I was able to present them to our daughter. I know pearls are an "old lady" item, but when she is an "old lady" and wears her pearls, she will look back at her 16th birthday and remember her youth and know they are from her homeland. She loves them. Not quite as much as her ipod touch, but she loves them. I really think the best part was to see all the people who love her and are glad she is part of our family.
