Time is flying and we are sure having fun.

Maddie, Zach, Eliza and Katie

Zach's buddy -- our 100 lb "toddler" -- Baylee

Zach on his new bike!

The front of our house (when it wasn't covered in white!)

And the backyard

Zach is having a great time here in lovely, white, cold Minnesota! We have had a lot of snow, and Zach has been shoveling A LOT of snow! He is such a wonderful helper. He loves to be with his dad and if he sees a tool, he wants to use it! I think I am going to have to buy him his own shovel (so that his dad can get more done ;-).

Recently, I had to repair something in the kitchen. I left to check on something and when I came back, Zach had already reassembled it. If it weren't for the fact that the wood was already splitting, he would have been successful at completing the repair for me. And, the other day, I had a large wrench in my hand to tighten a pipe and Zach stopped playing to follow me and my wrench. What a BOY! That is so unusual around our house. My girls don't want anything to do with tools, unless it is used to put together one of their toys.

Last night, Zach had a chance to talk on the phone to one of his friends from China. He and Nina talked for about half an hour and we had to stop the conversation so that he could take his bath and get to bed. Otherwise, they may have been talking for hours! It was so fun watching him as he talked. He was so excited and laughed and giggled and listened and shared. I am so thankful that my friend Pam told me about the Yahoo group for families with children from Zach's orphange. We have pictures of his friends, we can contact friends, we will hopefully even get together with them in the future! What a joy for Zach and for us. His friends from China are the only people he can talk to who will truly understand what he is going through and what he is feeling. And they are the only ones who will know what he is talking about when he speaks of his past. What a blessing to be able to stay in touch with some of them. Thank you, Nina, for brightening Zach's week! I know he wants to talk again soon.

And, per Nina's request, I have posted pictures from home! She wondered why we hadn't and it is simply because I haven't taken the time to do it.

On a sad and yet happy note, my grandmother went home to her Savior last week. She was 91 and had been missing my grandfather ever since he died so many years ago. They are together now, with Jesus, in a glorious heaven. Zach experienced his first funeral and met lots of relatives. He even remembered to add many of them to his list of people he prays for each night. He named Uncle Chris (my brother who is here from Atlanta) several times! I believe it is a joy for Zach to claim his relatives. We have a family photo that he loves to carry around and name each person in the picture. Again, something we take for granted too often -- family. May we follow Zach's example and remember how special it is to have them.