It's been a week since I've last written and we have done so much!  In addition to "normal" errands that we all must do around Christmas, we have had lots of fun as well.  We've enjoyed a Winthrop basketball game, a UNCC basketball game, watching movies, playing putt-putt, shopping, spending time at the YMCA, and lots of playing at home.  Mike and I were able to squeeze in a date night to eat dinner without kids :) and to finish up our Christmas shopping.  As you can see, it's been a busy week!

Yevgen (aka Zhenya) is still doing great!  His English is much better than we expected, so it's been pretty easy communicating with him.  He can even read the beginner reader books (Level 1) with no trouble!  He continues to amaze me at how much he knows.

Zhenya also continues to eat really well :)  He gained 3 pounds the first week!  For those of you that know me well, you know that Chex Mix is a staple around our house.  Well, he took one bite and said, "Ooh, this is good!"  My kids love it too, so my huge red bowl is getting pretty low.  Zhenya loves pizza, so he definitely fits in well at our house :)  He loves fruit, too!  I wish I ate as much fruit as he does.  He also loves Cheez-Itz.  He found them in the pantry one day and ate a ton with his sandwich.  He's also a big fan of sandwiches, which is great for me!!

We plan to show Zhenya the "Jesus" film tomorrow in his language so he can understand it all.  Please pray that his heart will be open to hearing and learning more about Jesus.

Through Facebook, a family in FL contacted us regarding Zhenya.  They are a host family through New Horizons as well.  They are hosting a boy also named Zhenya, who is also from the same orphanage as our Zhenya.  Not only this, but the boys are best friends!  The boys were able to talk on the phone with each other this week.  That was very interesting for me, to sit back and listen to Zhenya talk in his own language and have no clue what he was saying!

Zhenya is so excited about opening gifts!  He keeps peeking under the tree and shaking boxes.  Too funny!!

Thanks for checking in....