Ice Cream with Miss Heidi

We had the unusual opportunity and huge pleasure of meeting up with Miss Heidi yesterday, in Cincinnati of all places!  She is back in the USA visiting friends and family.  Heidi is the director of the orphanage school where Abigail, Jennifer and Patrick spent their early years.  Her love for them is obvious, and I am so grateful for the time she spent loving on them before I even knew they were ours.

Miss Heidi with the three kids as seen through the window at Graeter's Ice Cream.

 Heidi was actually the one who gave them their English names in the orphanage school.  Jennifer and Pat kept their school names, and Abigail's was Dawn which is now her middle name.

It was fun to hear Heidi talking with the kids about their history (that sadly, I was not a part of) and even singing some songs together that she'd taught them when in the orphanage.  We were so blessed to be able to make this connection from their past and for her to encourage them in their current situation.  I believe that Pat is still confused about the concept of a family, and that hosting in the States in 2014 then returning to China has reinforced his confusion.  Heidi was able to communicate that he was STAYING HERE (I think he thought she was here to take him back!) with his family who loves him.  If you think of it, keep him in your prayers.  A decade without a family wreaks havoc on a kid's thinking.

For a blast from the past, here is a post from August of 2012 where we first discovered Heidi's role in their lives http://lanzadoptionadventure.blogspot.com/2012_08_24_archive.html

Thank you, Miss Heidi!  Your work is so, so valuable and we appreciate you so much.