Category: Thankful Thursday

Today I am thankful for my MOM’s group from church (not all of them were there today). All through the summer we have been getting together for a weekly playdate organized by Shawna (thanks!). We also meet once a month with our “mentor” mom and talk about being a mom and the stuff going on in our lives. I have really enjoyed our group and the women that I have gotten to know. And who can resist all those cute kids??

Most of us got Zoo memberships and we have tried to meet up there regularly. I am also thankful for our zoo membership. The Fort Worth Zoo is often mentioned in top 10 lists and I just love taking Nadia there. The great thing is that unlimited entry is included and parking, so you can go just as long as your child can handle it 🙂 Today Nadia liked the monkeys and the ostrich best. One chimp came right up to the window when she was looking in and she got so excited! In this photo he moved back to the tree to enjoy some orange jello. We cut out around noon when the heat was just too hot to handle.

I am thankful for the safety in travels for many people that I love and care for this summer. Some are still traveling and I continue to pray for their well-being.

• For Jen in Costa Rica. I am grateful that her host family has been so wonderful and that God has provided a good Christian friend for her at school.
• For Michelle in Italy and now in Oxford. She has been safe and healthy in her travels and having a great time.
• For Tahni in Senegal. God has protected her and strengthened her on this journey and she still has 6 weeks to go.
• For the safety of the India team mission trip from our church. They spent 2 weeks there serving needy street children.
• For the safety of the Reynosa mission team from our church who leave this weekend. They will be helping the Isaiah 55 ministries to deaf children in Mexico.

Today I am Thankful for the photos that are in the post. No parents have been allowed to visit the Suichuan Social Welfare Institute (SWI) that Nadia was from until last month. Two fathers were able to arrange it with an in-country guide and one took photos and posted them to our yahoo group. What a blessing! I have so badly wanted to see where Nadia spent the first 8 months of her life and now we have a view into it.

The dad said that the city is cut in half by a river and that the SWI was located right in the middle of an industrial area. So with the windows open the fumes and smoke just blew right into the babies room. Mike and I think this would explain the high lead levels that so many of the Suichuan babies have upon being tested in America. He also said that the nannies obviously loved the babies and called them all by name, but it’s just overwhelming for 1 or 2 women to be responsible for 10 infants. It’s just wonderful to have these photos to be able to show Nadia.

Click the photo below to see the slide show he put up for the other parents.

Here is the floor the babies are on.

Here is a sample room.