Pictures from Amish Country Trip

Beautiful Amish Country, near Berlin, Ohio
(more details in next post)


As we drove along, mile after mile,
Grace and Lia made up a song to fit the lovely views ...
"Acres and acres of corn,
acres and acres of wheat,
.... etc.
Until we pulled in to a cemetery, and Lia added,
"Acres and acres of people who died!" right in melody and cadence.



Just after getting "kicked out" of the Amish school.
Something about dress-code, I think!


Who is cuter, the bunnies or the visitors?
(We three girls sure attract a lot of attention wherever we go.)


Classic! This Amish boy is trying to convince his young mule to come back to the barn!


What a giant horse! Taller than AnneMarie (who is now as tall as me!)


My first pony ride! Yee ha!
Round and round and round we go!


"Sally"
The Amish raise puppies for sale, like this ShihTzu.
We almost brought her home; she was so adorable!

Our Family Camping Trip - Amish Country

We had a wonderful camping trip! Amish country is beautiful, weather was fantastic, and each step of the journey went smoothly. It is so fun to see all the firsts with Mayana. Among others ... for the first time she rode a pony, rode in a horse drawn carriage, fed goats and lambs and horses, held a sparkler by the fire, and watched cheese being made.

Kayla was thrilled with our tours and the experience of being with "real live Amish people." We spent a lot of time talking, and I can see now why she is drawn to their way of life. She loves the sense of community, and the way they share so much in common. I hope that she will be able to experience that sense of community and closeness with friends and families in her future! (Oh, and she likes the dresses, too. Anyone know where we can buy an Amish dress??)

I will post photos soon.

I'd recommend Amish country as a great destination in Ohio. If you go, consider Berlin, Ohio. It is full of interesting ways to experience Amish culture. While a bit touristy, it is great for kids who are interested in learning in a hands on environment. Best tour - Yoder's Amish Farm. Best free things - Heini's Cheese factory (lots of free samples plus free tour; decent prices on cheese and bulk spices); Herschberger Bakery -- feed the animals & take a picnic if you like (rides and animal feed are extra). Best campground -- Long Lake Park Campground (great staff and wonderful pool), quite pretty.

Hope you can go sometime!

Mayana 's Birthday Party -- 8 1/2

Mayana is now updating the blog ..... with some help!!

I had fun at my birthday party yesterday! My cake was a beautiful princess cake, and it had rings on it. Many friends came to my party, and we had fun playing paper dolls, puzzles, Pollys, and making necklaces, and playing Mother May I. We sat on balloons to make them pop. We put our feet on the balloons to pop them, too. My friends brought me nice present and we took pictures.

Grandma came, but Grandpa and Daddy went to go watch a big movie instead.

Here are some pictures!

Grandma and me.... so wonderful !


Eating cake ... delicious !



Lots of friends - and sisters & cousin, too.


My cake .... so beautiful !




Popping a balloon !



I love my mommy !

Mayana is 8 1/2 today: Plus Climbing, Camping, & Summer Fun

We had our 6 months SW visit last week. Mayana talked and talked. She told the SW a list of about 50 food items that she liked and told her many other things as well. She had this huge smile on her face, sitting in my lap, all happy to be interviewed. What a hoot! Needless to say our SW was quite impressed. Here is the family photo that we sent to China.

We started summer by going on a camping & rock climbing trip. Mayana greatly enjoyed everything - rock climbing, creeking, camping, hiking, etc. with friends and cousins.

Today is Mayana's big 8 1/2 birthday and tomorrow we have a party for her!! (I couldn't make her wait all the way to December!!) She will have friends, cake and ice cream & games. She can hardly wait. But then, life is one big adventure for her, simply interrupted by mundane things like math, phonics, and chores.

Photos .... but be sure to see NEW post below, too.

Easter Egg fun ... with Natalie

Wouldn't I look good in this car??


Grandma & Grandpa Strom bought 3 bikes for the 3 beauties,
but only 2 in this photo.


Finally - a hot day in the sun!


I like my backyard!!!

Mayana update & Happy Mother's Day

To all you moms, expecting moms, and future moms ... a very happy Mother's Day!

Almost exactly one year ago - at beginning of May 2008 -- we were studying a photo and brief description of a girl on the other side of the world - she was nearly 7 1/2 years old. Boy, was she cute! And God certainly was shining His light on her. But our hearts were not quite ready to commit fully. W e wrestled with the decision for a few days ... "Should we say YES? Or should we wait? After all, we never really considered adopting a child this old." I wrestled with a desire for a younger child - more cuddly and dependent. In the end, though, we could only say "YES!' Her destiny and ours were intertwined, it seemed. So we sent our letter to China. "Yes, we want to adopt her."

While only one year has passed and only a few months have passed since returning from China, we can hardly imagine life without our beautiful blessing, Mayana, who lights up the room with a radiant smile and loves to hug us all.

Mayana started sounding out words today – enough to put into two short sentences. “This cat is sick. This cat is sad.” Yeah, Mayana!!

---------------

Interesting things that Mayana has told us.

• She told us today that she had three different foster mommies – three different houses – before she went back to the SWI (orphanage). She had foster brothers and foster sisters, all younger than her – ages baby to age 4. She helped to take care of her younger siblings, including a baby. (“I know how to do-a baby. Like dis!” she says, cradling an imaginary baby in her arms. She is all smiles!)
• 
  
• One time her foster family took her and her foster siblings to the beach. They did not go in the water. They (she and her little foster sister) were too little. (She saw a picture of us at the beach, at Tybee Island, GA, and that prompted the memory. ("I go "dare" in China. Can Mayana go dare? – Grace, Lia, Mommy, Daddy? Tomorrow?")
• 
  
• At the SWI they had big bowls of food on the tables where many children sat, and they could take lots of food from the bowls. The food was good.
• 
  
• Mayana slept in a bunk bed, top bunk, with Gabbie (Mao Huan He) on the bottom bunk.
• 
  
• They did not see snow in China; it would get cold for only a little while, and then it would get hot again. It was sunny most of the time.
• 
  
• There were “two houses” at the orphanage. The older kids went to the “house” where they did math (she says math but means “school work”). But where Mayana stayed, they did not do school work. (“In China Mayana no do math. Big girls do math. Not Mayana. Mayana in little house. Littles no do math.”)

Funny things Mayana says.

• 
  

AnneMarie told Grace & Lia, “When Molly comes, you can’t hog her.” Mayana asked, “Why no hug Molly? Mayana no can hug Molly?” she says with a frown.




“Mommy, I go you. Why no go you, Mommy?”




Several months ago, when Kayla did not serve her the food she desired at lunch time. “I go China. I tell - You no feed Mayana!”




“You taka picture me. Send to China. To teacher in China. Lotsa pictures Send to China.”




“I help you maka food. I lika maka food.”




“Gwacie no cleana da woom.” - Grace did not clean the room.




I lika dat one. Dat one over dare. Dat one beautiful! Mommy giva Mayana?”




I lika da orangies.

• Mayana still enjoys most everything - all kinds of food, every outing and adventure, time alone in the yard, time playing with sisters, inside or outside, drawing, cutting, pasting, etc, - but one of her favorites is cooking with Mommy. She is a seriously good helper, too, great chopping vegetables, cleaning things, mixing things, etc.

I could go on, but we're just so busy living the life that it is nearly impossible to find time to write about it.

Have a blessed Mother's Day!!

Brief update

I feel guilty for not updating this blog sooner, though I know you'd say, "I understand." Knowing that there are people interested in us and praying for us does mean a lot to us, and we are glad that you have come back to visit this site!

Mayana continues to blossom! We are so impressed with her progress in every arena of life. Her English acquisition has sky-rocketed! It is so fun to hear her speak in sentences and even tell stories. Consistently affectionate with us, she loves to hug, cuddle, and wrestle.

This past week brought two extra blessings. Mayana was able to reconnect with two friends from China. Gabbie, a younger child, is one whom Mayana helped take care of at the orphanage. At six years old and home 11 months, Gabbie greatly enjoyed reconnecting with Mayana and vice versa. What fun the four Chinese girls had playing together for quite a few hours a week ago! Then, four days later, Mayana had a visit from Ruby, a 10 year old quite recently adopted, who lives in northern Ohio. While communication was difficult for them (Mayana refused to speak Cantonese and Ruby doesn't yet speak English), they still seemed to enjoy just being together.

Later, Mayana dictated this email to Ruby (she started typing it, but since I had to tell her all the letters, it would have taken all night):

Ruby,

i had a great time playing with you~~~~~~ [end of Mayana typing]

I hope we can see each other again.

I can see you

have fun with your sisters. I like my sisters very much.

Are you happy?

Do you miss Maoming? You can say English and your daddy help you. I like you very so much.

Gabbie (Mao Huan He) & me & Ruby & Mei Ru & QuanShin & Mei Feng & MeiShao & Lia & Grace all from China. And Mei Ke & Mei Na & somebody & MaoShouGuan (boy) MaoShouTang (girl) gbvfftrytrd;'jh, fdgtr [Mayana typing again] & Mao Oy Ho == all from China, go to mommies and daddies.

We dance in China.

Mayana all done, (she insisted I put the "all done" right here)

I tried to add a few names to the list above - names of girls whom she knows who are still in China - and she said, "No. Not yet have mommies and daddies. They come later."

I sure hope they do, and I hope they get wonderful families!!!

Thanks for reading everybody!

Photos coming soon!

Pam