Dancing and Adoption Movies

We aren't going to see Tangled today after all.  Brennen sprained his ankle, and Declan is running a 101 degree fever.  We desperately hope that Eva doesn't get whatever he has - the doctor said that if she gets a fever he might put her back in the hospital.  He might not be able to tell if it's because she's sick or because there's something wrong with her heart.  

We're watching "Snow Dogs" for the second time since last night.  It's about a man who finds out as an adult that he's adopted, and goes to Alaska when his birthmother dies and leaves him her home and sled dogs.  Eva and Declan LOVE it.  It's raised some questions, the main one being, "Why did his parents not tell him that he was adopted?" (Eva)  I had to think of something other than telling them that adoption wasn't as open years ago as it is today - I didn't want them to think that there is something shameful about being adopted.  I told them that the mom thought that maybe he wouldn't love her as much if he knew she was his adoptive mother.  They seem to be still processing that.  

Sometimes movies can be minefields for adopted kids - you don't realize how many movies have abandonment/adoption as a theme.  Recent ones we've seen are Despicable Me (they LOVED it) and Ponyo, which they've watched three times.  Sometimes it takes us by surprise, but so far they seem to watch adoption movies very matter-of-factly.

Last night Brennen (age 12, 7th grade) went to his school dance.  His friend Branwen invited him to go, and she (and her twin sister) even came to pick him up.  At the dance, one girl was giving Branwen a hard time for not asking Brennen to dance with her, and she cried. When Brennen heard, he walked right up to her, told her he liked her a lot and asked her to dance.  I was so proud of him for knowing just how to make her feel better.  By the way...they were "fast dancing," not "slow-dancing," - he said they are too young for that!  I agree wholeheartedly.  She's adorable - I'm so glad that he chose someone so nice to admire.

Today I'm feeling very blessed that Eva's heart is fixed, and that it was a simple problem - there are so many more complex issues than hers.  There is a little girl named Teresa who is adopted from China that has such severe damage to her heart and lungs that she needs heart and lung transplants.  For those of you who want to pray for her - there is a Facebook group: 
Teresa Facebook Group

No pictures today - tomorrow I'm going to do a Sunday Snapshot with some older pictures of my kids. 


Have a nice evening!