Happy New Year!

Hi Everyone!
It's almost the last day of 2008,
Our first full year with Noelle - how far she has come! The only time she seems to become intimidated is when she comes in contact with people who are from China. It took me awhile to figure it out, but in China the orphans are looked down on and sometimes ridiculed, and I think all that comes back to her when she hears Mandarin spoken. However, with her Zion friends, with all the love and acceptance that they have shown her -she is happily confident. Ter and I often say how quickly the year has gone, but how we can't imagine our lives without her.
Nick was confirmed, graduated from Zion and has started high school - and he's growing up so much - he's lifting weights and he's starting to look like ....a bigger boy (my baby boy can't be a man, yet!)
Akaela has grown up so much this year, too - she's really starting to "be a girl" - wearing a bit of makeup and enjoying dressing up. Her face has gotten longer, and so have her legs! She has slimmed down and she has a waist! She's almost as tall as I am....
Ter and I are doing great - albeit a few physical issues - but then, as our kids grow older, so do we! But, as we grow older, the distractions fall away and the priorities become so clear - God, family, friends - helping others.
Blessings all - and Happy New Year!
Lisa