Kendee Part 2

Well last weekend Jason took Kendee to Hot Springs, Arkansas (her birthplace).  He showed her all around the town.  He took her to the "Hot Spring" and she was afraid to put her feet in as she said it was really hot.

He took her to the hospital where she was born.  She enjoyed getting to see where she came from.  They were invited to dinner with Jodee (Kendee's birth mother) and her family.  They gave her an authentic Arkansas dinner of fried catfish and fried okra.  When I asked how she liked fried okra she just told me that she tried not to think about it, but she ate it.  (I don't think I would have been able to swallow it).  She is much braver than I am at trying new things to eat.  They took pictures that evening.

This is Kendee, Jodee, Mindy (Jodee's mom), Stephanie (Jodee's sister) and Ashlynn (Jodee's youngest).

The same except that Jodee's oldest, Brittany is in this photo.

Then just as they were leaving they had this next picture of the three of them together, Jason, Kendee and Jodee.

This is not something I thought I would see, the three of them together.  I'm so grateful that they are all so kind and think of Kendee first.  She is such a special girl and we are all lucky to have her in our lives.  I'm so grateful to these two special people who chose to share her with us.

The next day Jason and Kendee spent the day with Jason's mom.  Kendee really enjoyed meeting her and spending time with her.

Yesterday Jason took her Galveston, Texas to a water park.  They had a real good time.  On the way home he took her to eat and she tried Oysters Pappadeaux.  Again showing her courage.

She is having a great time.  We miss her and I think she misses us a little too, however she is enjoying herself. I am so glad that she has so many people who love her.  This whole experience of her getting to know her birth family has been such a blessing.  I know that not every adoptive story can have these joyful happenings but I am sure grateful that this one does.  She still has another couple of weeks before she comes home.

Kendee off to Louisiana

Well it's been so long since I've updated.  I so wanted to do better at this than I am, but onward and upward.  Well we decided to let Kendee go to Louisiana again only this time it is for a month.  She was a little nervous but very excited.  She will get to spend a more relaxed time with Jason and his little family and not be so busy craming as much as they can into a few days.  She left on Thursday June 9th and will be back on Friday July 8th.  It is a little weird around here without her but we have talked quite a bit on the phone.  I'm including the picture she sent of her first official crawfish boil dinner.  She was excited to try this and actually really liked it.  She said she ate the whole thing.  She said her Dad would like it and her Mom not.
Then on Saturday night Jason took her to Houston to see a Houston Astros vs. Atlanta Braves game.  Needless to say she loved it.  Her Grandma Owen has been an avid fan of the Braves for a long time and  so she was excited that they won the game at the top of the 10th inning.  After the game Jason drove her by to see the Houston Temple.  She said it was so beautiful and that the picture doesn't do it justice.

That was very nice of him to volunteer to drive her by.  She really appreciated it.

Sunday after going to church with Jason, Mr. Ralph and Mrs. Peggy they just had a nice relaxing day.  Kendee was holding Berkley and Jason was trying to get Berkley to look at the camera and she wouldn't then Kendee said she just looked up at her and gave her a great big grin.  I'm so glad that Jason got this picture  I think it is priceless.

This weekend Kendee and Jason are going to Hot Springs, Arkansas, Kendee's birthplace, where Jason can show her around.  They are going to have dinner with Jodee, Kendee's birthmother, on Friday night and Kendee will get to meet still more family.  Jason's mom also lives in Hot Springs so she'll get to meet her too.   So Ken and I are just getting a taste of how it used to be and also what's to come in a few short years.