Settling In

It's been 2 weeks since we've been home in America! How time flies! Last weekend, K and I went to Maine to visit my mom, oldest sister and nephew. Of course it rained the entire time there, but we managed to have fun celebrating K's 14th birthday. K also discovered Dairy Queen, and we visited there everyday for a delicious treat...it's a good thing there aren't many DQs down here to be found, or we'd both be in big trouble!

K went to Town Recreation camp these past 2 weeks, and had some fun swimming, bowling, going to Six Flags, etc. She's a little shy about meeting so many new people all the time, but I expect that will be easier as time goes on. She will be attending the next 2-week session of camp, and hopefully, the weather will cooperate a little better. Some of the same kids will be attending again, so I'm hoping she'll get to know some of them a little better. She has a few girls that she's been "buddies" with when they go on camp trips, which she's told me about, so another 2 weeks may give her a chance to get to know them a little better. I told her Americans are very interested in people from other countries, and like to ask lots of questions. In Latvia, all people are generally very closed-mouth about personal information and public diplays of emotions, which is a result of being under communist rule for so long. So, I think the openess of Americans will take K some getting used to, but it helped to explain this to her.

We have an appointment with the school principle next week to determine what grade K will be entering in the new school year. I have her translated school records from Latvia for the last 2 years to provide them to help make a determination. From what I'm told, the Latvian schools are more advanced than American schools by grade, so we shall see.

Last night, I asked K how she's liked her first 2 weeks in America with me, and she said she LOVES it! I've noticed she's been learning new American phrases and words, and is trying them out on me. And yesterday in the Pet store, she asked me to explain our money to her again, which we did while waiting for the huge downpour of rain to pass. She picks up everything so quickly, including a discussion about an "allowance" (and she is very helpful, by the way!). She is such a JOY, and I am SO BLESSED to have her as my daughter!

God's PEACE and JOY, EP