YOUTUBE part 2

I guess it is just my laptop that won't play these videos. My other computer is working. Go figure.

YOUTUBE

Anybody else having problems watching YouTube videos. Sorry if you haven't been able to watchi mine. For some reason I can't get them to play on my computers, and I wonder if it's just me.

SCHOOL HAS STARTED

Yes, we homeschool, but sometimes I want to distance myself from those who also homeschool because they come across like this....

GRADUATION DAY @ OHIO STATE

I wish it had been me, but it was our friend Xuehui, who earned her Ph.D. in Animal Sciences. You go girl! OSU has a campus in Wooster and that is where she was doing her research, but now she moves on to Madison, Wisconsin. We are going to miss her. Hopefully we can see her when we are in the Chicago area.

BATH TIME

Time flys

Wow, I just realized I haven't blogged for 3 days...I better put something on here.

THE OLYMPICS

In the last few years, I have taken a great interest in certain sports. Aside from watching a little football here and there, I really could care less who won and who lost at something. But now, my head hurts and stomach gets in knots when a sporting event I am watching is close. When the team I am rooting for is losing, I experience mild depression. This is the first Olympics I remember watching and even caring about. Someone asked me who I'm rooting for, the USA or China, and I gotta say without reservation-USA. However, if the committees that make the rules and provide the judges, can't make the call right, and get the ages of the cometitors right, I'm tuning out in 2012.

Fortunately, I stumbled on this blog from Yahoo that provides a little levity in their writing.

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/blog/fourth_place_medal

Now, you'll have to excuse me, I need to get Sean enrolled in a gymnastics class, 2012 is just around the corner.

DRESSED TO IMPRESS

Dawn, Liz and Sean went to a "toddler" shower, and Sean got all dressed up.

SUNFLOWERS

Taken in Northern Michigan last week, near Alpena, Mi.

Fingers

Katie and Sean are not from the same orphanage, but they both comforted themselves in much the same way.

WHAT ARE YOU?

I'm a Nissan 350Z!

You're not the fastest or the most agile, but you have style and power. You believe in looking good and moving quickly -- without breaking the bank.

"Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

I think this quiz nailed it pretty good!

Confused

Lost your way? It's not your fault.

New Car

At least one of us was able to get a new car

Swimming

Will went swimming with some friends at their pool, and I played around with a photo editing program.

Streets of Hong Kong

Steven Curtis Chapman

I already knew of the death of his daugher, but this is the first interview I've seen of him talking about it. Love your kids...!

http://abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=5524419

Chinese Adoption

If interested, here is an article about Chinese adoptions:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Story?id=5528628&page=1

China

Did any of you see the one hour program on China, aired on ABC with Bob Woodruff? For obvious reasons I had an interest, but what struck me at the end was, you don't need to adopt a child from China to realize, the Chinese will become a very important people to each of us. We are very inter-linked by our economy. Many here complain about the jobs we have lost in the manufacturing sector, yet, we exported 3 trillion dollars to China last year. We also saved 600 billion dollars over these last 20 years because we were able to by things cheaper. China shipped more in one day recently than they had in all of 1975 or 1978 (can't remember which year they said). They also are one of the biggest buyers of our Treasury bills, helping fund our increasing debt. We sure do love to spend money here don't we? Due to this, China has a great interest in our economy not tanking.

A story relayed to me this week once again got my blood boiling toward some in the church. My bookstore buyer was mentioning she was selling these rubber bracelets that say "Pray for China", I believe in response to the earthquake. Her customer, I'm presuming a Christian, said "why do we want to do that, they've stolen our jobs, ect....Hmmph. After I showed this women the picture of my son, I think I'd have a few choice words for this "christian". I wasn't even lookng for them, but happened upon another website that happened to be selling these wrist bands, so I bought ten. If you want one, I'll send it to the first ten to respond-free.

Last thought. During this piece, it spent a few minutes talking about China's influence in Cambodia. Having been there twice, I once again thought it interesting that school kids are spending 1-2 hours each day learning Chinese. Now, in China, it seems that so many want to learn English, yet in Cambodia, the way out is to learn Chinese.

As I close this blog, I am grateful and blessed to know Xuehui, XiXi, Hannah, Makenna, Sean, Jordan, Kevin and others who have and will have an impact on my life...forever.

Bad Day

Today was a bad day for Sean. He had to visit the doctor today to get blood taken, get re-immunized, have a general look over. The nurses had problems locating a vein, which made things worse. Of course, he let out his death cry...and who can blame him.
When he came back into the lobby, he had bandages all over his arms and the kids waiting in the waiting room certainly heard his cries. I wonder what they were thinking?

On the more positive front, when he came home, he saw his sister, went over and gave her a big hug and pointed out his battle wounds on his arms.

So this is what it's like....

If you watch football, you know the preseason has begun with the Hall of Fame game yesterday in Canton Ohio. The game last night was between the Indianapolis Colt and the Washington Redskins. Long story short, the Redskins won. Yes!
Anyway, I am heading back to St. Louis today for work, and since I don't have any appointments, I am wearing shorts and my Redskins shirt. For at least today, I don't walk around paranoid or looking over my back wearing this shirt since I continue to see a field of Burgundy and Gold here in the airport. It appears quite a few 'Skins fans have made the journey to Canton, and I have yet to see s horseshoe anywhere.

As an aside, on our walk last night Dawn and Liz broke it to me they would like to see the Colts win. I certainly understand, especially based on a previous blog, and I do indeed feel bad for Coach Dungy.

What's in that head of yours?

One of the things we are learning in this adoption process is, what's going on in that little head of Sean's. I could say the same about Will and Liz, but I have complete context with them; I've watched how they have developed. I am following another blog from a family we met in China, who has a daughter just a few months older than Sean. When th emom reported that dad went back to work and came home at the end of the day, the daughter was very upset and really wouldn't talk or look at dad for a little while-he was gone only 8 hours or so.

I went away last week for three days, and when I came home Sean hugged me and went about his regular business. Not that I'm complaining, but was he glad to see me, or do I represent just another care worker in his life that comes and goes?

Today, I went out to the car to put the car seat in another car. Sean was upset when I did this though he could watch me from the door. I came in, gathered my stuff, told everyone good bye, and headed out the door for work and will be gone all week. Again, he was upset he wasn't coming. Also, when Will and I went out this morning, Sean watched through the door and cried. So, I think he is more upset at the fact he doesn't get to come outside, or that he doesn't get to come along. We have learned he is a boy that really enjoys being outside.

Three amigos

Toot

For my conservative readers, this blog may not be for you. Don't say I didn't warn you.