A good weekend with hopes for a better week!

When you adopt a child from China, there are really strict rules on the qualifications for the adoptive parents. One of these is age. I think I know why.

By the time the adoption of Annabel was complete, I was actually past the maximum age limit, but had started the application in time, so they approved.

This weekend, I have felt every MINUTE of my age.

Friday night I helped with an auction that benefits the girls' school. This was done by a group that helped us out so much when Jana died and then again when I adopted Annabel, that I was glad to help them out for a change. ONLY all of those parents are MUCH younger than the maximum age for adopting.

We helped with setting up, then went back to get our clothes to change. While trying to make it up the steps to the party, I fell. Big time.

Our focus at work this year has been on falls and fall prevention. I had felt somewhat smug during the discussions because it had been a couple of years since I had fallen.

Friday's fall made up for it. I landed on one side, so my arm, shoulder, and leg are bruised and VERY sore. Then I had to stay on my feet through the whole thing and dogs were yapping by the end of the night.

The girls had a great time spending the night with Mom and Dad. They even went to IHOP without me and got to stay up much later than I allow!

Saturday was a day for errands and if I had not had my girls, not sure if we could have done it all.

At the grocery store, I gave the girls the coupons of what we were shopping for and away they went. I realized it was a good way for Annabel to practice reading too.

Later we went to pick up the dogs' medicine. While there, I thought the girls were just going to stay. Thankfully we have a kind and patient vet who took the time to answer thousands of questions. When I mentioned that Grace wanted to become a vet, he showed a number of scars from bites and scrapes from the animals he has treated. I don't think that was a deterrent.

Since Annabel had a hard week, I always think a visit to the Chinese buffet provides "comfort food". I told them that while we were eating and realized they are completely unfamiliar with that term. Pretty funny to explain.

Tonight while eating dinner, I asked Annabel if she had to wash her own clothes in China. She had told us before she did, but I was not sure how she did it. I am not sure what she was describing, but somewhere behind the group home, she was responsible for washing her own clothes, as well as her foster brothers. She knew how to get out the stains and rub the clothes together to get them clean. There was also some sort of scrub board they used. I forgot to ask how they dried them, but when asked about her foster family and washing clothes, she told me that her foster mother had a washing machine. I hope so, but really doubt it.

Grace had told me before about going to the river to help her foster mother wash clothes. Today she mentioned that you had to be careful not to lose your clothes by them floating down the river.

I asked Annabel if she was surprised when I adopted her that she no longer had to wash her own clothes. She said she wasn't, but she also mentioned again about her foster mother calling her "Annabel".

Grace mentioned something else that happened when she first got here and didn't tell me because she was afraid to tell me. I asked why she was afraid. She and Annabel answered quickly because in China they would have been in trouble for a lot of things they were afraid to tell me. So the safer way was not to tell me.

I wish the amount of love and support they get during the weekend could hold them through the week. This is a hard week too with another of the TAKS tests and a day long field trip. At church today, a dear sweet man prayed that they will triumph over these bullies. So do I.