Home for one week already!

It's hard to believe that we've been home for a whole week already! There are SO many things that are new to Laiya. As soon as we walked in the house last week, she pointed at the dish washer and gave me a look, as if to ask, "what's that?". Today I heated up some food for her in the microwave and she looked back and forth from her plate to the microwave, trying to figure out how that little box hanging above the stove could warm up her food like that. Last night we had dinner at Jer and Tina's and then walked to get ice cream. Dusty and Betsy met us there and Dusty and Tina were asking Laiya questions. It was very interesting to hear her answers. When asked "What do you miss most about Hong Kong?" she quickly answered "friends". When asked "What do you like best about the US?" she replied "family", and when asked "what's the most different here from Hong Kong?", she said "house". I bought her an electric shaver and we had a little lesson on how to use it today. I don't think I've ever had to do that with the other girls. She watched me and then ran to her room, where she immediately put it to use. Tonight, we had family pictures taken. Ben and Erica left earlier than most of us because they had a get-together with Ben's family. They returned about 5 minutes later to see if Laiya wanted to come with them and hang out with Ben's sisters (ages 14 and 15). She was all smiles as she drove off, waving goodbye. It seems really strange to have her be gone without us already. It's nice, though, that she will know a couple girls at school next week. When asked today how her testing went on Thursday, she said "it was difficult!" The other kids have commented on how at ease she seems around her large family. She especially loves the little kids! Thanks for your prayers for her transition - she is doing so well.