Bursting Out All Over

In addition to all the Wade fun we are having, the rest of the kids help make life an adventure in many ways. So we will take a break from the adoption update for some other interludes.

Stacia joined the varsity track team this year for the first time. This is new for Concordia; in fact, the school does not even have a track! They practice on the sidewalk or in the gym, and it was a short season with a couple of "friendlies". Shown here are pictures from the year-end city meet. She ran the 100m and 200m, and she is fast! She earned two bronze medals in the two events, only 0.2 seconds behind the winner in both events. Not bad against the city competition from across Shanghai. With a little experience, she is going to really give them trouble.

On the same day, Lucas was across town playing in the city-wide soccer tournament. He was called up to the varsity about two weeks ago. They were in serious need of some defensive help, so Luke "The Wall" Allen was just the antidote they needed. He jumped into a starting position the first game, and has never been taken out of a game since.

Here he is #14, doing some banging with the (huge!) kids from the Shanghai German school. The Concordia team played a great tournament, ending up fourth place in a shootout after time expired. Of course, the tie score of the final after regular time and overtime was 0-0...the Luke man was on defense the whole time!!

Lance earned a special honor this week -- he was named to National Junior Honor Society. It is the Middle School (Junior) version of the high school equivalent, awarded to a few of the students based on academic grades plus leadership and service participation. It was an exciting accomplishment as much as any...but sorry, no good pictures to go with it!

We are grateful to be parents, it is fun to see the kids make their own mark in the world. We are most proud of all for the way they really stick together and love each other, and each of them have shown that all again the way they have handled Wade's arrival.

Wade, for his part, got his first big taste of being the little brother -- he had to sit (well, run around, actually) and watch the events and wish he was in them! He can't wait for his chance.

Hope your spring is as bountiful as ours here in Shanghai,

Love the Allens.