"Shiny" Days

Instead of sunny days, at the sight of the sun in the morning, he proclaims "Shiny Day!" So, we've had some shiny days, but also rainy days. Considering all the rainy days of late, he learned the fine art of chores, cleaning and the vacuum... fun! Saturday we went to Stone Mountain. It was overloaded with people, so we didn't get to do everything we wanted because the lines were SO long. After 4 hours we'd only really gotten to do two things, so we were sort of over waiting in line. We probably did the best two things, the skyride to the top of the mountain and the train.

Gvido really liked the mountain top. To be honest, had I thought through it, he would have liked to have hiked it... had we prepared for that clothing/shoe wise and came earlier in the day. Oh well, the ride up was pretty cool and he wanted to run all over the top of that thing. We should have taken a friend because our energy and adventure level doesn't always match his. Still, he had a good time.

Other than that, he's been playing with his Christmas gifts and just relaxing around the house. One day between rain showers, he was able to get out and play with a neat game the Barron's made for him, Bolo Golf. He was a natural. I think Mr. Barron should patent his cool game. If not outside playing, he has his moments when he's turning flips over the couches, wanting to have light saber or karate fights and we have plenty of the "hey mom... look" moments. He's still so child-like for his age, doesn't match up with our American 14 by any means. But, I love it, it just keeps me on my toes. I've used the phrase "be careful" ALOT! I don't know how mom's of boys function sometimes, my word! I guess you just pray for them and roll with the rest. Boys must surely have more guardian angels than girls. Enjoy some new photos from Stone Mountain.

Zoo and Varsity!

This afternoon, we took the chance to go to the Atlanta Zoo and then get some Varsity food afterwards. It's going to be raining alot this weekend and our zoo tickets expire with 2007, so we figured we better go today. It was a great day to go, virtually no one there! And the weather was just right. The animals were really stirring. We even got to watch the lion roar several times... pretty cool. Gvido would have liked more crocodile sightings, but to no avail.

Then, on to an Atlanta tradition; The Varsity. Yum! He found the burger to be acceptable, but would not try the chili on the fries. He tries most things, but evidently the chili looked scary. Oh well, more for us. He loved going through downtown Atlanta. In his continued fascination with spiderman, he projected which buildings spiderman could jump between! He knows that New York is the "real" home to spiderman and has asked if we can go there some day. Enjoy a few outtakes from today, we're so cool! He got closest to the kangaroos, as you can tell. I practically had to pull his hand inside the fence. I didn't know how well a chopped off index finger would go over with his government upon his return... I know, I'm such a party pooper.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Thank you for checking in and Merry Christmas to you and yours. If you are missing someone precious to you this year, know that our hearts are with you and we very much understand. While we seek to create some wonderful new memories this year, we still can't help but feel the void of Jon's parents. Knowing we are not alone, we truly wish you a blessed day full of love wherever you find yourself. Borrowing the words of a song I like... God's grace is enough. May Christ be ever present in your home, filling it with a light that cannot be purchased or plugged in. Thank you to all our friends and family who continue to love, support and encourage us through life's hills and valleys. You are our gifts, you minister to us in so many ways... thank you for your friendship, love and walking alongside us another year.

Now, on to Christmas Day! What a blast! All you parents out there have the best job on the planet. Never have I been ok with sitting up at 1:30 in the morning... unless it's wrapping gifts and tip-toeing around! How fun is that? He woke us at 8:00. I'm amazed he didn't go straight downstairs, but he seemed timid, not knowing exactly what to do. Then again, I guess he's never done this before. He stopped just short of the tree, realizing there were more gifts than the night before. He loved everything, but especially liked the remote control car from some friends (thank you Paula and Bryan) and the little mp3 player I got him. He said, "I've want one all my life!" Sweet kid, he's an easy one to spoil. He also got board games, school supplies and a new backpack. He was just as excited about that, telling me his was broke. Merry Christmas and enjoy your day... I think it's about nap-time around here!

Good Ole' Rocky Top

Just before Christmas, we made a trip up to see my parents in Gatlinburg. For Christmas, they got us tickets to Dollywood so Gvido could ride all the roller coasters he wanted. That he did. I lost count, but on the Tennessee Tornado, I think he was up to at least 9 rides. That doesn't count the Mystery Mine, Blazing Fury and Thunderhead Mountain. Thank goodness Jon is a good sport, because you would NOT catch me on one of those things. I rode the very "tame" Blazing Fury one time. After it was over Gvido says to me, "Mom, you hurt my ear." I don't think he asked me to ride again. We were there two straight days and it's a big place. After the first day he asked me, "you are tired?" I said yes and he said, "why, you just walk around?" I guess he thought tired was only earned by those being slung through the air. He played a few games and won every time, coming home with a Tennessee basketball and another giganta-normous TN inflatable ball that I'm still wondering how I will pack back to Latvia!

As far as nighttime, he loved the lights overload, saying "city... all lights." He had a blast and was very well behaved. We watched the movie The Nativity, very good movie. These are a few pictures from our trip to God's country...

"These are a few of my favorite things..."

Welcome to America... land of video games! Sometimes you'll run across an orphanage that has a game system and the kids can, at least periodically, play some video games. However, Gvido's orphanage has very little and doesn't have one. After only a few days, he has discovered his great love of video gaming! (As with all boys... included my big one named Jon) He and Jon went to buy some used games that he would enjoy and he's been happy as a clam ever since.

Today, Tatjana came to hang out with us for a few hours so her host mom and dad could go to work. I just love her, she's so precious. She and Gvido got along wonderfully from the minute she got here, but she's a good kid and that didn't surprise me. Gvido introduced her to one of his other great loves... playing with the dogs. Outside of the slobbering, he loves to run around with them. We have "dog jeans." He thinks that's funny, but they are a pair that have holes in them so it's ok if they get dirty and torn a little... you know "play clothes." Everytime he's about to go outside I say, "dog jeans." He asked me why and I said, "they will get you dirty." His response, "yes, they are dogs!"

Also today, we had our eye appointment. He seriously needed glasses! I go pick them up later so maybe I'll have a picture tomorrow. LensCrafters will see our kids for free and give them a free pair of glasses, if needed. The only hitch I ran into is he liked the ones on the wall, not the ones that were offered for free. Oh well, hopefully he will be ok with the ones we got. At least for now, he needs to go with the free ones. I hope he will wear them, maybe a cool glasses case will help. He did well today, especially considering he had to do the dilation thing. He was very good, I was proud of him. Yesterday he got his teeth cleaned and did great with that too! He has a few cavities we hope to get fixed before he goes home. Enjoy a few pictures from today!

Church Clothes!

No real reason for this particular blog other than to show you how cute he was on his first day at church! He asked me this morning how many days he had been in America so far! He's gotten to where he calls us mom and dad sometimes... it's quite cute. I think it's easier for him to remember than our first names, but either way, its warms my heart every time I hear it. He met the neighborhood kids this afternoon, that went well. I tell you, all the kids around us, whether at school, church or in the neighborhood are so great with the kids we bring. They are so kind, putting the "new kid" first and being patient with the cultural differences. It's so awesome to see how the children around us are a part of ministering to our host children. You know who you are and if you are reading this... THANK YOU or PALDIES (pall-dee-ez)!

Fun and Games

Saturday was the welcome party for all the Georgia hosted children. We went to Andretti's for some go cart racing and video games. He had a blast, loves video games.

We've had some special moments today. Saturday night as we were riding to our friends, The Smith's, it was raining and Gvido says to me from the backseat, "you know what I hear about rain? It's like how Jesus washes our sins."

Earlier this afternoon, he and I got to talking about bible stories. I asked which ones he knew and he mentioned, "Peter in prison." I asked what else, he said Adam and Eve. I asked who were they, he said "the first humans." I asked who was first, he said "Adam then Eve." I said yes and they had two boys, to which he replied, "Yes, Cain and Abel." Then I said, yes, but do you know what happened between them, he said "yes, Cain kill Abel." Just amazing, this kid...

He has no self-confidence. He has spoken only English since he arrived but says his English is no good. He sees pictures and says things like, "my nose is big," or "my lips are big." He says he's "fat," which is hilarious! (I've yet to meet an orphan who is "fat.") I think he must get picked on alot. After the bible story discussion, I told him he was so smart. After a few minutes, I guess he was thinking about it, he said, "you think I'm smart?"

He's just so incredibly special. God is all over and all around this child. He learned some of these things at camp this summer and the church that put on the camp. He sometimes goes to that church which is in Riga, capital city of Latvia. I asked him how he gets to Riga and he told me he takes the train. I asked how long the train takes and he said two hours. Riga is probably about 60-80 miles from his town. More later on this special young man!

First Day

We are settling in! The children arrived Wednesday night about 5:00pm. He’s doing good with us, but he doesn't feel 100%. He has aches in his joints, especially his knee, and he gets tired quickly... not sure what's going on. I'm just going to try my best to get some vitamins, minerals and wholesome things down him! He "says" he doesn't like meat, so he probably never gets protein. I wouldn't like meat if I lived on the meat they serve in Latvian orphanages! Pray that whatever is ailing him, that God will show me what it is, what to do, how to help him or just heal him up. I want him to be good and healthy when he returns home. It will do him well to be built up before the flu season hits hard over there.

Other than that, we decorated the tree in his room, got a haircut and french fries; a special request. Also, he did a pretty spectacular movie-esqe fall and flip off the scooter today. Yeah, that didn't help the knee, but whoever prayed he wouldn't break his wrist today, thank you! He loves anything with wheels, skates, skateboard, etc. So, I think he's getting a skateboard for Christmas... again with the wrist prayers! He loves spiderman and we did buy a spiderman action figure today at the store. By the way, he can't stand that there is something under the tree with his name on it and he doesn't know what it is! Then, when he realized the 2 presents were his, not just one, he just couldn't believe it.

In our conversation this morning, he told me he believed in God at 10 years old. He explained that the devil is close when he does something bad, but when he does something good, he moves away. Perhaps not perfect theology, but a pretty good start! He said he used to be bad and fight people, but when he believed in God at 10 years, he stopped doing that. Under his shirt when he arrived, he pulled off a blue felt cross strung on a piece of orange ribbon. God is surely close at hand to this kid. He knew Christmas was "Jesus Birthday." When I asked about Santa though, he said rather cynically... "I've never seen him." Thank you Lord for his fantastic English, what a joy to have an ongoing conversation!