Merry Christmas to all our friends! We hope that this year has been good to you and that 2011 will bring you further joy in your life.
Merry Christmas from Bill, Cathe, David Kate and Bob
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Sunday, October 3, 2010
So there we were, just minding our own business when…
Three years ago today we arrived, completely unannounced, at the Northern Kazakhstan Regional Boarding School. October 3rd, 2007 was just a regular Wednesday for the students, who were unaware that we had arrived. Usually, arrival of a new family was big news and generated a lot of activity, but we had arrived during school hours.
So... while we were meeting with the Director, Assistant Director, and staff Social Worker, along with our attorney, translator, and the Department of Guardianship rep ("the D.O.G. Lady"), David and Kate were both immersed in their studies when The Call came.
David came to the Director's conference room first (he was in Language Arts class, Kazakh we think), but we had to wait a few minutes for Kate to arrive. She was in PE and some of the other girls had done their best to spruce Kate a bit, even getting a bow in her hair, though it was obvious she had been playing hard.
Fast-forward to today... Both have grown over 9 inches in height since coming home. We won't even talk about shoe sizes. They're both active in sports and doing well in school. Still not the best students, but definitely holding their own, which is amazing considering that they got a late start in school and have had to learn a whole new language as well. David has mastered the "Art of Eye-Rolling," while Kate has mastered the "Hair Ball Sound." Basically, completely normal for their age group, and solidly in the middle of the pack.
Knowing now what they didn't know then, would they choose to pick us again? Well, that answer depends on teh day of teh week. Homework isn't easy... Tests are no fun... And, we're not the Fairy Godmother or Fairy Godfather. But you know what? We're doing well and unless someone mentioned it, you wouldn't know that we weren't always a family. What do the kids say??? In true teenager fashion, both say, "Yeah, I suppose!"
So... while we were meeting with the Director, Assistant Director, and staff Social Worker, along with our attorney, translator, and the Department of Guardianship rep ("the D.O.G. Lady"), David and Kate were both immersed in their studies when The Call came.
David came to the Director's conference room first (he was in Language Arts class, Kazakh we think), but we had to wait a few minutes for Kate to arrive. She was in PE and some of the other girls had done their best to spruce Kate a bit, even getting a bow in her hair, though it was obvious she had been playing hard.
Fast-forward to today... Both have grown over 9 inches in height since coming home. We won't even talk about shoe sizes. They're both active in sports and doing well in school. Still not the best students, but definitely holding their own, which is amazing considering that they got a late start in school and have had to learn a whole new language as well. David has mastered the "Art of Eye-Rolling," while Kate has mastered the "Hair Ball Sound." Basically, completely normal for their age group, and solidly in the middle of the pack.
Knowing now what they didn't know then, would they choose to pick us again? Well, that answer depends on teh day of teh week. Homework isn't easy... Tests are no fun... And, we're not the Fairy Godmother or Fairy Godfather. But you know what? We're doing well and unless someone mentioned it, you wouldn't know that we weren't always a family. What do the kids say??? In true teenager fashion, both say, "Yeah, I suppose!"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
