Update from the BAP family :)

Wow, we have had a LOT of snow lately, and I just learned that we're due for another big snowstorm tomorrow. Although we're enjoying the snow days (especially sledding!), it's been tough for Chelsea and Emmy to get in a rhythm of school and activities. Even though the snow slowed us down during the week, we're glad that we could get "out and about" for Emmy's basketball game yesterday as well as a dinner at the Chinese buffet last night in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Today, we went to Sunday School and then a peformance at OU by the OU Chinese Students' Club to celebrate the Year of the Tiger. After the show, Roger and I went out to celebrate Valentine's Day at Casa-- our favorite restaurant.

Over this week-end, I have been completely drawn into a book, recommended by one of my dear "Kunming" friends. "The Waiting Child," by Cindy Champnella, is such an inspirational and moving account of a little four year old girl, adopted by the author, who compels her new family to go back to China and adopt a little boy that she cared for during her time in the orphanage. I do think that conditions have likely improved in the decade since the author last visited China, and some of the policies seemed different than what we experienced during our journey. However, the book was a riveting call for others to consider older child adoption, and it was also a intense reminder to me about how very grateful that we should be for how smoothly that Ellie-Kate has assimilated into our lives...

She absolutely LOVES to play ball with Emmy, and they spent all of Friday evening doing just that as the older girls went to a movie. Roger was trying to teach Emmy some basketball moves, and Ellie-Kate imitated them to near perfection. Ellie-Kate even mastered "posting up"-- at least as much as any two year old could. They finished with basketball, and Ellie-Kate moved on to volleyball, insisting that Roger teach her to spike. She practiced for nearly 15 minutes, working up quite a sweat! God definitely knew what He was doing when he placed this special baby in our arms.

Bedtime remains the only rough part of our day... Ellie-Kate HATES to go to bed, and our usual time, from beginning to end, is around two hours of screaming, crying, and fighting to stay awake. Please pray that things start to get a bit easier for her and for us. Especially after reading "The Waiting Child," I re-realized that this behavior could be from deeper feelings/fears than just a desire to continue playing so we're going to talk with the International Adoption Clinic at Children's Hospital and get a bit of perspective and advice :) However, again, we are very very well aware that we have had it SOOOOOO good in terms of Ellie-Kate's bonding and fit with our family, and we trust that God will help us to help our little girl (and us!) to get more rest more smoothly :)

I hope that everyone enjoys a great week as well as the photos that I will upload tomorrow. Stay warm amid all of the winter weather :) Thanks for caring about our family!!

Christie