Wow! It has been so long since I've posted. There has been so much going on over the past several months. Let's see if I can get everything updated.

In December, Brighton Sheng couldn't wait for Christmas. He was SO excited about getting AND giving gifts. He wanted to know all about baby Jesus and why we celebrate his birth. Then, when school was out for Christmas break, he became very sick. This was his first really bad illness since coming to live in the US. He had a high fever on Christmas day and spent most of the day laying on the couch and in bed. The next day we took him to Urgent Care and they diagnosed him with Bronchitis and also put him on an inhaler to help with his illness-induced asthma. The poor guy would try so hard to play ping pong on his new table and would start coughing so hard he could barely breathe. Once he was better, he finally got to enjoy his gifts.

He also started Upwards Basketball and has played several games already. He LOVES to play basketball and says he is going to be like Yao Ming when he grows up. Basketball will be over this month and he is going to be so sad!

The skaters at the ice rink are always happy to see him arrive! He has shocked them all at how good he's gotten at skating. The little guy just zooms all over the rink, laughing, racing and signing to everyone. He's even spinning, if you can believe that! He just seems to be able to do anything he sets his mind to. Now he's asking to play ice hockey. We'll see once basketball is over.

He's doing fantastic in school and is really moving at a fast rate. He started 4th grade in the kindergarden readers, which includes 10 workbooks for each reader. He has already learned enough English to get through all of the K and 1st grade readers and is now in the 2nd grade readers and workbooks. He started at K levels and has passed up the other kids in his class!!!! They all seem to be doing better because there's a bit of a competition between them now to see who can do more.

I'm hoping to be able to post some new photos soon, but I have to figure out how to use Dani's new camera first!

Thanksgiving Meal at School!

Here is my happy, shining boy sharing his very first Thanksgiving meal with his class and the first graders who came to share also. He was really excited about the meal, and about everyone eating together. I'm so happy that his teacher chose to do this for her class. He turned his nose up when he saw the sweet potato casserole (something he does at home quite a bit) and kept saying no when I told him to try it. I put a dab on his plate and made him try it. His eyes grew very large, and he asked for a big helping! He LOVES sweet potatoes!


Our Thanksgiving at home wasn't what it usually is, which made me very sad for Sheng. He was able to share a meal in Hearne with his grandparents, but no one could come this year (no cousins) due to illnesses or being with other family members far away. He was really sad that no one came to play on Thanksgiving. This was especially difficult for me (Mom) after I told him for two months that he would be getting together with all of his cousins to eat and play.

Sheng helped prepare the meal and explained to me all of the foods he used to help cook in China. He said he wants to cook for people when he's older. After watching him in the kitchen, I have no doubt that he was very active in the kitchen at the school or at the orphanage. He tried everything we cooked, but decided that the sweet potatoes and the pecan pie were his favorites.

Sheng's vocabulary has REALLY grown, and it's amazing how much better we communicate. It especially helps when I'm trying to read to him. His face shows an understanding that wasn't there before when I read a paragraph from a book. He loves to ask me lots of questions about what is happening in the story, so he's more engaged in what is going on. It's so much more fun to read together now!

Sheng started basketball practice this week and was so excited that he couldn't sleep the night before. The poor guy wiggled and rolled and kicked and fidgeted till around 1:00 am. The evening after practice he told me that he was going to dream about practicing his basketball skills with Yao Ming. When I woke him up the next morning, I asked him if he dreamed about basketball and practicing with Yao Ming and he said he couldn't remember, but that he was going to try to dream about it that night again! LOL!

We've entered the "no" phase that all children go through. It's very strange as a parent to be going through this with a 10-12 year-old instead of a 2-4 year-old. Our bio children never told us no after their toddler years. This is one of those instances where Sheng has to go back and start over because he never experienced trying this on Mom and Dad as a little guy. The holding and rocking was easier (who doesn't want to hug and love on their child), but the no's and the deliberate disobeying at 10-12 are a bit harder to navigate.

It makes it quite a bit easier knowing why the behavior is happening and that it is a normal childhood milestone that Sheng must experience and get past in order to be healthy emotionally and to mature. If a little one can't or doesn't experience and get past these milestones as a baby or toddler, they are still going to have to get through them as an older child or adult. The tantrums are always worse the older the child gets. It's scary and sad to think about what happens to the children in abusive orphanages who are turned out on the street at 14, 15, or 16.

All in all, Brighton Sheng is doing wonderfully and has attached and bonded with Mom and Dad!!!! We are still working on bonding issues with his siblings. Dani and Sheng are the closest and do the most together. They play games together, make things together and communicate really well. They also fight the most too, but Sheng tells me that he loves Dani. He tells me about all of the things he wants to buy her for Christmas. When I ask him about Charly and Josh, he just shrugs his shoulders and says he likes them a little. We are working on helping them interact more and to pay more attention to their little brothers' feelings.

Josh decided on his own that he wants to take an ASL class at Blinn in the spring. Charly has learned more ASL than anyone in the family, but she hardly talks to him. (Charly is usually quiet around everyone anyway) The age difference plays a role as well. It really does take laying down some rules, making everyone sit down together to play games and to make time to talk in order to accomplish effective communication. Sometimes that means making them get off the internet, put the iPod away, etc...

Sheng has told me everything that he wants for Christmas. There isn't enough room on this blog to write it all down, LOL! I had to explain to him that he is only getting a few things and that he needs to focus on what the meaning of Christmas is and what he wants to do for others. We talked about how he never received anything for Christmas from the orphanage and how many, many children in orphanages and in some families everywhere will not be getting anything this Christmas. I told him that he is going to have the most wonderful Christmas of his life, but that I want him to think about what he might like to do to help other children less fortunate to have a happy Christmas too.

get ready, get set....

... leg wrestle!!!!!!!

Brighton Sheng and his sister were having a leg wrestling match. We still do not know who won because they were laughing too hard to remember or care. It was so funny to watch them flipping back and forth with their legs in the air while giggling uncontrollably.

Sheng's tree before crystals grow

Sheng's tree after crystals grow

Practicing archery...my favorite thing to do!!!!

From the KSBJ Morning Show

with Mike and Susan

The Sky Angel Cowboy…

October 29th, 2007

(from Mike & Susan) "Logan is 12 years old and listens to KSBJ on Sky Angel because he lives on a ranch in a very small town in Nebraska. He called us distraught because he had to take down a calf. His words have wisdom beyond his years. After many emails and phone calls we decided to put the audio online for you."

Listen to what he had to say… <---click on link and it takes a minute to load up. Sometimes you must click twice.

Fab Fall Fun!

I LOVE to bowl! You should have seen my fab bowling skills. Everyone in the alley heard the ball kerplunk from 10 feet up in the air! Mom and Dad thought I broke the floor.

My brother showed off his fab skills too and pulled a muscle in his thumb showing off. We had such a great time!

My aunt Theresa came to visit with my new cousin Zachary. I really love babies, and I took this picture all by myself.

My little cat at his first fall festival.

My little cat and his football fan sister at the fall festival. She didn't know that she had MTA instead of ATM on her cheek. (she did it in the mirror!) We all had a good laugh when we got home.

Fall is in the air, and Brighton Sheng absolutely LOVES it! He really hates the heat and is so happy that it has cooled off. The temperatures we've been experiencing the past week or so are generally what his summers were like in China. He is very sad that we will not be getting snow though. They have very cold winters with lots of snow in Liaoning Province.

The witches and goblins around town seem to have him a bit spooked, but he doesn't seem to be having any bad dreams or real concerns. His friend from China experienced nightmares and terror from all of the scary images last year.

Tomorrow night will be his first Fall Festival at church. Charly will be working in one of the booths with her Sunday School class. I may have to stay home with Dani and let David take him since Dani has been sick with pneumonia. Brighton Sheng has been so worried about her. He asked me if she is going to die. We are wondering how many children he's seen die in the past from illnesses at the orphanage. When we take her temperature he runs over to ask if it's good or bad. He told me he loves her so much and doesn't want her to be sick.

We carved pumpkins yesterday and had a blast! Brighton Sheng couldn't wait to get the candle into his. He was literally jumping up and down. When we were done he hugged me and smiled so big. Everything he does that is new to him brings such joy that it brings tears to my eyes and puts a lump in my throat. Every one of his firsts produces the same feelings in me as when our bio kids walked for the first time or learned to say "mama!"

Christmas is going to be so special for him this year! I vividly recall how sad I was last Christmas when I woke up in the morning with sadness in my heart. I thought about our little boy so far away who wasn't getting to open gifts or sit around the fireplace in his jammies, eating a candy cane and wrapped in mamas arms. When we had our Christmas meal I sat wondering what he was eating and if he was sad. The entire day was overshadowed with a sense of loss.

Brighton Sheng loves to be held and hugged and kissed and loved on. He may be 10 already, but emotionally he has never gone through the attachment/bonding phase that happy, well cared for infants get to experience. He also displayed some real anger for the first time a few weeks ago and he wasn't sure how to handle it. It was a very scary, emotional experience for both of us. There was quite a bit of pent up anger and frustration released that he had been holding in for years I believe. I think he's really starting to feel comfortable enough that we aren't going to hurt him or abandon him to express things he would have been beaten for in the past. This is a postive sign of attachment.



"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8

Pumpkin carving time!

Drawing the face on...

Scooping out the pulp and seeds...

Carving the face...

My very first Fall pumpkin!

Our archers with their cheer squad. Josh won second place and Charly won 1st place in their respective divisions.

Brighton Sheng's first JOAD tournament at Texas A&M University. He won first again!!!!!

Working on homework

Sheng's very first archery tournament in Columbus, Texas. He won first place!

Brighton Sheng shooting side by side with sister Charly!

Brighton Sheng's 4-H Archery Club

Does this bring back memories of the A-Team?

My handsome boy waiting for the school bus

Friday afternoon I went to Sheng's school to have lunch with him. He was so excited to have his mama there that he never stopped smiling the entire time! Mrs. Walsh went back to the room to get two red readers to show me how much he's learned to read on his own. That was the highlight of my entire week! His classmates asked me so many questions and told me all about themselves.

After lunch we went out onto the playground so he could show me all of the things he likes to do for recess. He really does like to play with the girls!!! He played soccer and played on the swings and monkey bars. When we went to his room after recess, he showed me some of his workbooks and showed me around the room. They are really doing a huge amount of work in his class!

Thursday I went to get my hair all cut off and to get it highlighted. I was a bit a nervous about how Sheng was going to react when he saw it. When he got home he raced over to me with a huge grin on his face. He kept signing over and over, "Mama beautiful!" It made my eyes well up with tears. (Then I started wondering why I wasn't "Mama beautiful" before?) HAHAHA!

We are getting ready for church as I type this. Last Sunday, Sheng was so happy at church that I was lost in the look of awe on his face. We sat right in front of the woman who interprets the service in sign language. He was thoroughly engrossed in what she was signing. He really loves to watch her sign the songs! It looks like poetry in motion.


"You are a shield around me, O LORD; You bestow glory on me and lift up my head." Psalm 3:3

Enter to win the complete set of Terrestria Chronicles on the

HSB Company Porch!

Sheng's been a bit grouchy of late, no doubt due to the virus going around that his body is trying to fight off. It's been about week now that he's had a runny nose, sneezing, sore throat off and on and headaches. So far though, he's not had any fever, so I think his immune system must be handling it pretty well.

Dani, on the other hand, has it really bad with high fevers and pure misery. She's been REAL grouchy, and I don't blame her. I had this before they did and it's nasty!

Yesterday, Sheng was pushing my buttons from the time he got up till the time he went to bed. He was grumpy, wouldn't listen, refused to take a shower, and sat on the couch, refusing to go to bed until he got ice cream. Needless to say, he did NOT get ice cream! I kept thinking, "Wow, was I like this when I felt bad?" Poor guy!

When I finally got the little stinker to bed, he was asking a million questions. I know it's his way of stalling, but I will answer them for a short bit. He pushed down the covers and pointed to his bellybutton and wanted to know what it is! LOL! After explaining to him that it is a scar left from the tube connected to baby and mom, he wanted to know if my sister's baby (still in the womb) has a bellybutton yet. You know...this is the first time since raising 4 children that any of my kids has asked about their bellybuttons. It was so cute!

Then we were back to the button pushing as he kept turning the light back on after I turned it off to see what I would do. When I threatened pulling his next archery practice with dad, he was VERY ready to have the light out.


"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." Psalm 119:105

He Reigns! by The Newsboys

It's the song of the redeemed, rising from the African plain

It's the song of the forgiven, drowning out the Amazon rain

The song of Asian believers, filled with God's holy fire

It's every tribe, every tounge, every nation

A love song born of a grateful choir

It's all God's children singin' Glory Glory, Hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns

It's all God's children singin' Glory Glory, Hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns

Let it rise above the fore-winds, caught up in the heavenly sound

Let praises echo from the towers of cathedrals,to the faithful gathered underground

Of all the songs sung from the dawn of creation, some were meant to persist

Of all the bells rung from a thousand steeples, none rings truer than this

It's all God's children singin' Glory Glory, Hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns

It's all God's children singin 'Glory Glory, Hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns

It's all God's children singin' Glory Glory, Hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns

It's all God's children singin' Glory Glory, Hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns

And all the powers of darkness, tremble at what they've just heard

Cause all the powers of darkness, can't drown out a single word

When all God's children sing out Glory Glory, Hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns

All God's children sing out Glory Glory, Hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns

All God's people sing out Glory Glory, Hallelujah, He Reigns, He reigns

All God's children sing out Glory Glory, Hallelujah, He reigns, He reigns
(Repeat)

And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation." Mark 16:15

Shooting with his 4-H club

Shooting after school with dad at Gander Mountain

Brighton Sheng LOVES to shoot his bow and asks to go every day. Gander Mountain is his favorite place to shoot, since they have air conditioning. The area in China where Sheng lived is very mild and he's not used to the Texas heat. He sweats like no other person I've known. When we were in Guangzhou, the heat made him sick, and I had to make him drink Gatorade before we went anywhere. David is still working with him to try to keep him from leaning while shooting, but he's doing amazing for someone who's only had a bow in their hand for two months!

He really likes to spend time with his dad too. When David gets his camo cap and sunglasses on to go somewhere, Sheng runs to get his cap and sunglasses on too so he will look like dad! When David puts on a tank top, Brighton will run into his bedroom take off the shirt he is wearing, and put on a tank top too.

I'm very happy that he is bonding with his dad. When I first got home from China, he clung to me and wasn't so sure about David. He still clings to me when David's not home, but the minute David gets home from work, Sheng is right there next to him every minute, watching him like a hawk. He loves to get hugs from his dad now too, which is a big step forward in the bonding process.

He did very good at school last week! The huge packet of school work he brought home was amazing. He had several papers that had 100's, and the rest were all in the 90's. His handwriting is so nice. It's better than his older brother's handwriting. He really likes school, which makes it so much easier to put him on the bus in the morning. It's hard on Mom to see him go!

"All your sons will be taught of the LORD; And the well-being of your sons will be great." Isaiah 54:13

It takes several shots to get my silly beans to smile at the same time!

Finally! But I kind of like the first one better.

Sheng had a wonderful first week of school. It was off to a bit of a rocky start, but ended wonderfully! Each time he experiences something new, he tends to slip back into old patterns of distress, complaining of headaches and being too tired. We know that this will eventually pass and just try to reassure him that all is well and he is safe. He now gets up excited and comes home excited!

Thursday night I got the most wonderful, exciting surprise of my life! (okay, except for Sheng himself) We bought Sheng a bilingual bible for his birthday, but he didn't seem all that interested in reading it. When school started, I thought about ways to get him to relax before trying to go to sleep since his bedtime was now moved up a bit earlier. We all like to read, so I explained to him that his bedtime is 7:30, but he could read for 30 minutes if he would like. I took out several of his Chinese books and put them, along with his bible, on his nightstand. He chose to read the bible every night. Wednesday night, after reading about Jesus, Sheng told me that he loves Jesus very much and that He was a good, good man! It brought tears to my eyes! Needless to say, this sparked a long conversation about Him and how he is alive and with us always.

Sheng has been saying prayers each night before he goes to sleep, but Wednesday night they were different. His prayers were purposeful and heartfelt, not just a quick, "going through the motions" type of prayer. His face was serene with a huge smile, and he signed thank you to the Lord. Lifting my eyes to heaven, I repeated the thank you with overwhelming joy in my heart! I guess we will not know for awhile if he understands enough to accept the Lord as his savior, but one thing I know for sure is, He's doing a mighty work in this little boy's heart!

Friday he got off the bus and ran, top speed, into the house with the biggest grin on his face. He zipped open his backpack and pulled out a shoebox that he had decorated. Inside were 5 things that were important to him. There were three small toys, his little China boy figurine, and the photo album we mailed to him in China with our photos inside. It was so fun to watch him explain everything and to see the joy on his face after creating his "All About Me" box.

Monday afternoon he brought home a three ring binder that Mrs. Walsh had put together for him. It's called a F.I.S.H. binder. (Family Involvement Starts Here) I am thrilled that his teacher is keeping us involved every step of the way. This will really help Sheng to learn and grow. I feel like we're a team! In this folder she included a section labeled "Parent/Teacher Communication." She let me know how the week went and talked about his show-and-tell for Friday. I took his scrapbook to her on Monday, and he shared it with the class Friday. He signed to her, "Mom Dad China don't want me. I prayed and prayed. Mom Dad came and got me," and she said he smiled so big when he said that we came to get him that she had to take a minute to recompose herself. I cried when I read this part and sent up a prayer of thanks that the Lord blessed us so enormously when answering Sheng's prayers. It is such a privilege to be this sweet little boy's mama!

Sheng's friend Tanner was also adopted, and is also in Sheng's class. When it was Tanner's turn for show-and-tell, he displayed a photo of him and his mom and dad with the judge who made the adoption final. Mrs. Walsh said that Sheng had that same big smile on his face that he did when he talked about us coming to get him to be his parents. We think that he truly understands and that there is a special bond between Tanner and Sheng. I am so happy that he has been blessed with a wonderful teacher and a class that he has so much in common with.

David has just been thrilled with how fast Sheng is learning archery. His form is amazing, and it looks as if he's been practicing for YEARS! I'm amazed at how close the two have gotten while sharing a common interest. Sheng and David love quite a few of the same things, like fishing, boating, camping, hunting, etc..., but archery is something that they do together several times each week. I'm going to estimate that they are practicing about 7 hours per week. David has taught Sheng how to keep his own scores, and he loves to run to me when he gets home to show me how he did. Last Saturday, they shot at balloons at Gander Mountain, which he LOVED! He keeps asking me when he can go to his first tournament. David has been learning quite a few signs just by researching ASL for archery. He found a great sign language program for free on the web called ASL Pro.

Dani and Sheng seem to be getting along much better since we've asked her not to try to play mama-hen to him. We've asked her to step back and let him do things for himself, to let us handle it when he does something he shouldn't, and to ask him nicely to stop when he's bugging her. It's already made a huge difference in their relationship. It has also helped that I've been verbalizing his attributes, talking about the good things he does and his good behavior out loud so that she can see that he's not always doing something he shouldn't be. We've also been talking about some of the bad behaviors that she and her other brothers and sister have displayed in the past and how they grew out of them in time with help from Mom and Dad.

"I praise You Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children." Matthew 11:25