Things have been insane. Good insane, but completely insane! I lost November somewhere along the way, but things have been going really well. Since I missed putting up Halloween pictures - here's one of the girls. I made the costumes, and I think they turned out pretty well! Eleanor thought Halloween was the best thing to happen in America so far. We dress up, have a parade at school, and go ask for candy at all our neighbors' houses. What could be better? She was one excited little pumpkin. And Genevieve was adorable and excited - telling everyone who would listen, "I'm a LEOPARD!" and "We're trick-or-treating!!" and "I LOVE your COSTUME! Spiderman is so cool!" (After which the Spiderman in question would strut down the street knowing he had little-girl groupies!) Thanksgiving was wonderful, in that Grandma Jean cooked the turkey this year. All I had to do was make mashed potatoes and green beans, which is a relief after hosting for some years now. Thanksgiving was pleasant and homey.

Now we're getting ready for Christmas, which is even crazier if that's possible. Eleanor thinks it's pretty weird that we're expecting this old guy with a beard to come down our chimney to bring us stuff, but - since stuff IS involved, she's game. This Jesus guy is apparently popular to have such a great birthday party every year. We've been watching the Muppet Christmas Carol and the classic Rudolph stop-motion films. All of this is pretty confusing for a first-timer.

In the meantime, I'm having some research published soon (yay!), but my manuscript is due sooner than I'd like.

And for BIG news - I'm going back to China next year! No - not for another adoption, but on a medical mission. I am joining a group of audiologists sponsored by Soaring Hope (http://www.soaringhope.org) that is heading to Liaoning province in June. Many of the folks going are associated with my department at CU Boulder. We will be provinding hearing services to somewhere between 340 and 400 kids in less than two weeks - testing hearing, fitting hearing aids, and most importantly - training teachers and caregivers who work with the kids every day so the cycle of care can continue. Eleanor is going to come with me, to visit her home country (and to make staying with the other two kids for two weeks on his own bearable for Dave), and Eleanor gets to be a helper, too - giving out goody bags to the children whom we will be serving. I'm hoping it will be a good experience for her.

I'm collecting unneeded but usable hearing aids to take with us - so if anybody reading has any to donate, please contact me! Also - Soaring Hope is non-profit, and any monetary donations to our mission are tax deductible. We need all we can muster in terms of support - especially financially. We're paying for our own travel expenses, so all money donated will go towards the children. There is a form for donation on the Soaring Hope website - just specify that the money is for the Audiology Mission 2008. Thanks!