New Blog

I have decided to make my life a little easier, and just post to one blog, rather than to two. Since Janelle MinMin is home (and washing dishes right now, after asking Why? she has to do them tonight) I'm going to only post to my family blog. You are all invited to check that blog for news of MinMin, as well as our other 6 kids.

Please check in often, and continue to leave comments when you have visited. You, in the adoption community, as well as my family, have been a great encouragement and help to us in this journey, and I hope that you will stay in touch!

A View Through My Window

can be found at: kullstarla.blogspot.com

Link is in the right hand column.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANELLE MINMIN

MinMin is 13 today! I think that she had a good day. It is not always easy to understand just how she is feeling about things. She seemed a bit unsure that all of the gifts were for her, and was reluctant to open them at first, but little brother and sister were quite eager and willing to show her how to tear into the paper! She did tell me thank you a number of times.

A few friends dropped by during the day to give her gifts as well. When I reminded her to say thank you, she looked at them and said, "Gracias!" She is a smart girl, and knows when to say thank you and when to say gracias.

We went to our local Chinese restaurant for lunch today in honor of MinMin. Now, in Mexico you don't expect to find a great Chinese lunch, but the people who run this little restaurant are actually from Guangdong Province, the same one that MinMin is from.

Friends came over tonight and we made pizza. MinMin was embarassed by all of the attention, but enjoyed herself anyway!

Christmas Party Piñata

I Love You

Tuesday we made our second trip to the dentist. It was quite a different visit than the first one. This time MinMin basically knew what was happening, and confidently walked in the office and sat in the chair. She didn't even need mom to go with her this time. The dentist fixed the smallest of the cavities--not wanting to scare her off this time. She plans to finish the cavity work this month, and put braces on next month. We are thankful to be getting this work going so quickly.

Yesterday my daughter, Lancy, arrived from Argentina, where she has beenn in Bible school for the last four years. MinMin really likes having her here, and sharing her bedroom with Lancy. Lancy will be here for a month.

Today as she was hurrying out the door to catch up with dad who was going to visit a friend she called out, "Bye mom. I love you." That was a first, and makes putting up with all the shadowing, annoying habits and what not worth it all.

A Few Pictures

I forget to take pictures now that we are home, but here are a couple taken at our Jiangxi reunion in Mississippi at the beginning of the month, and one from MinMin's first Thanksgiving Dinner.