Tuki turn 9 today

As usual we celebrated her birthday with cousin Natania on Thanksgiving, then today we went to get her ears pierced, bought some really nice winter hardy boots and now tonight we are going to Pam and Bob's for her final birthday celebration..Her last year in the single digits. She is growing up so fast!!!

Friday evening in our backyrd

Mim's homecoming photos

Mim

a future in bioengineering..... that is her goal...some sort of engineering and so far she loves her biotech class. She sure has come along way "baby" in 5 years. We hit her 5 year home anniversary last week Wednesday. Academically she is doing amazing; 50th percentile in her class of about 500, a GPA over 3.1 and she will only need 1 credit next year in her senior year, so she will be graduating with about 27 credits. We have had a few bumps over the last 5 years, but each and every day we are making it through our relatively new mother daughter relationship. When you arrive in a new country, not speaking English at 12 1/2 years old, acquire a new Mom, new sisters, and new extended family, I'd say she is doing pretty darn good!!! I am so proud of her and her determination!!!

Long time no post

It has been busy.

We found out that Mim only has 1 credit that is required next year in her senior year. So sh will have smooth sailing next year. Thank goodness because she has had a heavy load in classes this year and doing well too. She said she wanted to still go full time next year so she will graduate with about 27 credits which will look great for her college applications.

Ve passed into freestyle skating. If she stuck with it, then it would cost a great deal of money. So she had to choose between basketball and skating. She choose basketball, which means she ill not be in the skate how this year. Tuki is 2 classes away from passing out and then she chooses.

I am in the middle of a principal practicum, but I must admit it hasn't been that rough so far....???

I have been reading murder mystery after murder mystery...and I love them because they are so engaging to me. They really make me think. I have only been able to run about once each week since I have been pretty sick since October 10th..still a little dizzy but definitely feeling better.

Financially things have been tough. I had to purchase a 500.00 keyboard, a 1500.00 car and over 900 for fresh meat. It has really been tight month to month.. I hope it gets easier soon, but I doubt it...

I need more money from somewhere but I still haven't gotten it.

Mim has been applying for jobs within walking distance but to no avail...

I started attending a struggling teen group from my church and it turns out all the families, 3 of us, are all dealing with teens that have been adopted...funny that...it turns out that adopted teens tend to be immature and have faulty cause and effect thinking without remorse...we all keep trying and hopefully our teachings will take hold.

In regards to my 7th grade team of science teacher..I love them they have been fantastic and it makes working so much better this year!!

On November 5th we hit Mim's 5 year home date. It has been quite the ride, but most days we are good, but there are still some pretty rough days that we need to muddle through.