Things are going pretty well. The biggest challenge is Nathan's activity level and not being able to communicate with him. When we are in the hotel room, he is calm and able to focus on things like TV, or playing Uno, or playing with the DS or his remote control car. But once we leave the room to go anywhere, he acts like a wild toddler- jumping around, flopping to the ground, crawling under the tables at restaurants, climbing on the furniture at Civil Affairs, etc.
He is also incredibly thoughtful, always offering food to us, he accepts affection, and he is incredibly happy and smiles all the time. He picks up things easily if they are shown to him, especially using the toys and things we brought. He is good with his hands. He does not appear interested in anything academic, and as we suspected, is not reading at all in Chinese. It seems he has already absorbed the message that he is not capable in these areas, so he is not interested. I am hoping it will be better for him in the States, school-wise, and if not, I guess I will be home schooling again!
On another note, our guide Amy is fantastic. We just love her. She is willing to spend a lot of time with us, is fun to be with, and loves to converse about many things. She has taken us to lunch twice and we have had the BEST food with her. She is good with Nathan too, and he likes her. Having a good guide makes things so much better on an adoption trip.
Tomorrow, we head over to Martyr's Park where hopefully Nathan will burn off some energy, and then off to the embroidery factory to see the famous double-sided embroidery that apparently Hunan is famous for. Who knew?
Here are a few other random shots from the day:
Banana boy at breakfast
Marc doing his favorite thing in the world...shopping! The man used to run 100 miles a week, but one circuit around Walmart and he is wiped out for the rest of the day. I don't get it.
Praying for you guys! God is with you and will see you through.
ReplyDelete[28] Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The LORD is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.[29] He gives power to the faint,and to him who has no might he increases strength.[30] Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted;[31] but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;they shall mount up with wings like eagles;they shall run and not be weary;they shall walk and not faint.
(Isaiah 40:28-31 ESV)
This is bringing back many memories! Sam was the same way whenever we went out in China I felt like I needed to keep him on a leash, but he was like that in the hotel room too!
I can't wait for Sam and Nathan to meet, I hope they will be friends. and I thought double sided embroidery was famous in sichuan province lol! we saw a factory there too.
God bless,
Martha
Did you buy yourselves some new tops since your already enormous hearts just got bigger? No wonder you are such great athletes :) Still think there's a great channel for that energy. Good luck at the embroidery factory!
ReplyDeleteThe embroidery factory was kind of interesting! I bought a beautiful double-sided scene with pandas that I just love. The enormity of attention required the needlework is amazing!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy Changsha, and getting to know Nathan better!