An Inch is a Mile.

I was hoping to blog a little sooner than this, but I'm finding that hosting while working is a whole lot different than hosting while everyone is home on Christmas vacation.  Phew!  I fall into bed completely spent every night, but in a good way.  :-)

If you haven't read about the night he arrived yet, you can do so
HERE

My friend Kim is a ROCKING storyteller and photographer, and you'll feel like you were there at the airport with us!  :-)

Things are going really well with our smiley guest- I can't believe he's been here 5 days!  He is a precious little treasure, for sure.

I was so worried about hosting again, after hosting my little crush, JQ (swoon.)
BUT...I am happy to report that the human heart is capable of making room to love another!  Who knew?!?

They are very different little boys, but equally special. 
Ji Nuo (I'll call him JN) is so eager to please.  He does anything I ask of him (short of eating broccoli), and I never have to ask twice.  If you haven't noticed in the photos, he smiles CONSTANTLY.  My friend Deanna asked, "Does he ever stop smiling?!?!??"  I told her no  (maybe when he sleeps?!?) 

Much like JQ, at first, he wasn't very open to affection, and hugging him was like hugging a board.  Now?  Oh my- every time he walks into a room he comes right over for his hug.  It doesn't take long for them to figure out, "hmmmm... I like this.  I think I've been missing out!"

JN has CP and is pigeon toed.  He is very weak.  He can only get up stairs if he pulls himself up with the banister, or just crawls.  His upper body is very weak, too.  He can't lift a gallon of milk, or close the van door by himself.  His balance isn't good, and his coordination is even worse.  Bless.  Today Reid asked him if he wanted to play catch, and he replied, "No.  I am not good."  Ugh.  I told him that was ok, and that Reid would be very patient, but I think he is self-conscious.  We will definitely work on that, and celebrate the small victories!

He seems much younger than he is (just turned 10 on the 8th), but boy oh boy is he sweet.  And brave.  Wow.  these kids utterly amaze me.

He had a checkup at the dentist today, and he was SO GOOD.  He was nervous and maybe a little scared at a couple of points (the X-rays, mostly), but he listened to me and trusted that this was all for his good, and he did it!  AND...no cavities!!!  WOW!!!



the panoramic X-ray machine really freaked him out.  What a trooper!

Dr. Chris, checkin' out the chompers,

Done, and super proud of himself!

Before the dentist, my dad and I took him out to lunch at this little hole in the wall Chinese place called Wok and Roll.  (LOL) We were the only ones there, and the staff was falling all over him.  He was chatting away with one of the employees, and she said, "He just told me that he likes being with your family."  I said, "He does?  What does he like about it?"  His reply?  "Everything!" 
OK...my point here is this:  we have done NOTHING SPECIAL.  I took him to Costco.  I took him to Chickfila.  He has lightsaber battles with the kids.  We play Zingo.  We hug him and tuck him into bed at night.  We eat meals as a family.  He plays on the iPad.  We play outside.  We went to church.
I feel like we've barely done anything (an inch), but to him?  It's EVERYTHING (a mile)

If you've EVER considered hosting an orphan, but felt like you couldn't offer them much...please reconsider.  What you offer will be SO MUCH to them.  It will be more than enough.

We do have some fun things planned (we need to make sure he has some fun stories to tell when he returns to China!), but it will just be icing on the cake.  He is happy and content just being in a family. 

I'll close with this picture, taken at dinner.  (yes, I know- I shouldn't be snapping pics when we are praying, but I couldn't help myself!!)