Oh, BROTHER!!!!

Wow, so I've been REALLY behind on this. And quite a few AMAZING things have happened since then!!

1. As most/maybe all of you probably now know, my family got a referral for a little BOY from China instead of a girl!! There's a big long story that goes with this, but kind of in a nutshell, we got the referral a week after my parents filled out an older child adoption application thing or something, which basically said that we would be willing to take an older child. So my dad, Andrew, and I were at the library and my mom was home alone when she got the call for the referral. After recieving the call, she called my dad's cell phone, he informed Andrew and I and we started on our way home. Now, at this point, there were some pretty mixed feelings going on between the four of us. Andrew right away was all for it. My dad thought that this boy would fit right it. My mom was worried because she didn't look at the picture and right away thingk, "this is my son!" And I had no idea what to think. This was major news and since I didn't know how to react, I just kind of broke down and cried because I didn't know what else to do. It took almost a week before God led me to the conclusion that this kid was my brother. January 5, my parents locked in the file and we're now just waiting to be approved by the Chinese government (which should not be a problem at all). So now about this little boy: his name in China was Shengyang, but his real name (what we're naming him) is Jadon, which means "thankful" and his middle name will be Sheng, which means "victorious." He's almost 4 feet tall and 44 pounds, so he's a little bugger!! He's a pretty shy kid, but it sounds like he's made some attatchments at the orphanage, and that's our main concern that he won't attatch to us, so that's actually quite a relief that he's made those attatchments. (Oops, sorry... that was kind of a choppy sentence, but lazy me doesn't really want to make it sound prettier). So we're now hoping that my parents and Andrew will get to go to China (I don't get to go :( but I do get to go to SOUTH AFRICA!!! see more in following exciting points...) around April. So I'll be in Eau Claire by myself, but I've had quite a number of offers from some pretty sweet people that they'd come and stay with me or I could some stay with them. I'm actually pretty excited. :) Oops... so much for "in a nutshell"...

2. Since Andrew is going to China, I get to take my mom's place in going to South Africa so that I get to go on a sweet trip, too!!! My dad just got the itinerary yesterday, and I'm getting SOOOO excited! We leave 5 weeks from yesterday!!! I'll put the itinerary on here when it comes closer time for the trip...

3. I have my permit! I've driven in a parking lot twice (or is it three times now? I can't remember...) and on Sunday, I drove on a REAL ROAD with REAL PEOPLE!! Good news, though. I didn't hit anybody or anything. :) I think my dad maybe wants to take me driving again today? But we'd have to go soon because we've got a chili/Bunko night at church tonight! WOOT!

4. Yesterday I got the form and packet to sign up for classes next year! I'm still debating on some electives, so if anybody has any reccomendations, that would be sweet. So far I'm thinking about Pottery/Sculpture 1 and maybe Philosophy? Any opinions?