Wow, here we are again with another long over due blog. I guess there is a possibility that nobody checks into this blog anymore. But just in case there is, I thought I would post a couple of pics of a camping weekend we went on recently. Last weekend we went up to Silver Lake with some good friends. We had a blast. All we did was SWIM, EAT, AND PLAY. All of us have younger children and they had a blast swimming and playing together. Amy and I have always wanted a close group of friends to camp with now and again. Maybe we could make it a traditional outing each year and try some different campgrounds.

The biggest and most important job God has given me is to care for my family. I believe the measure of a man is how well he cares for his wife and children. This is one of the ways I care for my family. We spend time as a family laughing, swimming, eating, hanging with friends, eating smores around a campfire, playing on the playground, going to get ice cream. It is how my wife and I were raised. Our parents made their children a priority. It's the most significant thing in life you could ever do!

My wife just made a fresh batch of the most delicious strawberry jam you have ever tasted. This jam makes bagels tremble. English muffins stand in long lines waiting for a chance to be spread with this berrylicious product. The first person to post a reply to this blog will receive a jar of this fantastic jam:)

Joe P

Hangin out at Grandma's place

This is my Grandma Pleune!

Wow, has it really been that long since my last blog. How are you, reader? We are all fine and loving Spring in Michigan. It has finally arrived. Yesterday we spent most of the day outside and then had a barbecue with some family at night. We moved the sandbox along with a few other things. Amy has really wanted me to build a treehouse for the kids, so yesterday we are driving home from church and we see this big dumpster along side of the road with lots of trash and lumber in it. There was quite a bit of what I thought is good material for making a tree house (I have no idea). So we actually came back later with my little truck and loaded up. Dumster diving is an exillerating thing. I felt like a kid again doing something that my Mom would sheke her finger at me for doing. I took the kids for a quad ride when we got home. Our son Max just loves taking rides in the 4 wheeler. He cries when he has to get off. It is going to be an awesome Summer! Sorry it has been so long since I have blogged. Since it has been so long, I feel compelled once again to offer a small prize for the first person to leave a comment. i can probably guess who it might be:)

Hello all. All is well here at the Pleune household. We are doing well and adjusting to being a happy family of four. Max has had an irritating skin problem that just won't seem to go away. We went to a skin specialist yesterday and she prescribed a cream that she thinks will help a great deal. It has some steroids in it and should help. Although the steroids might help, it looks like it might hurt his chances of entering the Tour De France this year. Dave Roberts, could you fill in for Max? We just love our new family. Everyday seems to bring new things. Everyday Max seems to understand more and more. He mimicks us now very well and seems to be taking right to the whole English thing. discipline is a regular thing now. As with any 2 year old, he can be a little naughty. mostly it is just him touching and playing with things that he knows is a no-no. A friend of ours from our church invited us to a Chinese New years celebration this past week at a local church. There were a number of Chinese adoptive families that were there. It was so fun. It was a potluck with all authentic Chinese dishes (way different than the Americanized version). After dinner we enjoyed some programming for the kids. Esther and Max had a ball. it was truly a unique experience that we hope to attend again next year.

We would love to hear from you or look at your blog. Please leave a comment for us and let us know how you are doing. If you have a blog, let us know what your address is. It is really easy to leave a comment. Go ahead and try.

Love,

The Joes 4

Greetings from the momentarily quiet of our own West Olive home. We arrived home safely, though a bit haggared from the journey. So thankful to be home and we were greeted with enthusiasm by various family and friends. Esther and Maximus traveled very well, though well for a 2 year old includes hours of exhaustive attempts at entertainment on a crowded airplane. We were all relieved to land on Grand Rapids.
Our homecoming was great too. Maximus seem to feet comfortable here and is having fun exploring all his new things. He loves our company and is happy. Until bedtime. We are struggling to get him aquainted with our time zone. And Max only sleeps a few hours at a time. Please pray for his transition and a comfortable and safe blessing over him in the nights ahead. At times it's hard to comfort him without the help of a lot of language yet. And without some knowledge of sleeping quarters and his bedtime habits at the orphanage, we all feel like we're missing something and just want him to not be afraid or anxious. He does continue to understand more and more every moment though.

We ventured to Meijers on Friday for a bedside railguard and clothes and few other necessary items, like, I don't know...food. We thought it important that Max was introduced to one stop shopping right away and experience the penny pony ride.
Needless to say, we are settling in and plan to keep up the blog in the days to come, blessings and stay tuned.
The Joes

Greetings from the momentarily quiet of our own West Olive home. We arrived home safely, though a bit haggared from the journey. So thankful to be home and we were greeted with enthusiasm by various family and friends. Esther and Maximus traveled very well, though well for a 2 year old includes hours of exhaustive attempts at entertainment on a crowded airplane. We were all relieved to land on Grand Rapids.
Our homecoming was great too. Maximus seem to feet comfortable here and is having fun exploring all his new things. He loves our company and is happy. Until bedtime. We are struggling to get him aquainted with our time zone. And Max only sleeps a few hours at a time. Please pray for his transition and a comfortable and safe blessing over him in the nights ahead. At times it's hard to comfort him without the help of a lot of language yet. And without some knowledge of sleeping quarters and his bedtime habits at the orphanage, we all feel like we're missing something and just want him to not be afraid or anxious. He does continue to understand more and more every moment though.

We ventured to Meijers on Friday for a bedside railguard and clothes and few other necessary items, like, I don't know...food. We thought it important that Max was introduced to one stop shopping right away and experience the penny pony ride.
Needless to say, we are settling in and plan to keep up the blog in the days to come, blessings and stay tuned.
The Joes

Hi all, it is time for us to come home. Amy and I are packing up all of our stuff and we will rise and possibly shine tomorrow morning at 3:30 am. We have had a great time. The people of China have been very good to us. We arrive in Grand Rapids on Thursday afternoon at 2:30 pm. Northwest Flight 464 from Detroit to Grand Rapids. Please don't feel like you have to be there for us. Thank you all for following us on our trip and for all the support and prayers. Your kind words have been so special for us. We have many pictures and stories to tell. Love you all,

The Pleune family,
Joe, Amy Jo, Esther, and Max
The Joe's

Hi All,
It's Tuesday afternoon here. (mOnday late-night for you) and we sure are receiving multiple reports of snowfall. WOW! Is it starting to break up yet, I wonder if our plane will make it in if it continues.
We finished our paperwork for Max's visa yesterday. 2 hours of filling out forms. Amyjo did that while daddy and Karen kept the natives from getting restless. whew! two hours and a lot of money later, we recieved the call this morning that all the papers got the stamp of approval, so we can expect things to go smoothly tomorrow at our embassy appt. We will be interviewed as a family as to our reasons for adopting a boy with special needs and our intentions as parents with regard to this child. It should all go fine..if not, I trust Esther will charm them, as she has everyone this trip. People continue to be quite enchanted with her and Lauren too, wherever we go. Yesterday at the park, Esther took a bubble machine we bought and had a mob of young brightly dressed children chasing her to pop the bubbles. This went on for at least a half hour and through two bottles of bubble solution. It was really sweet to see a bunch of chinese children and Esther in the middle of it. I couldn't help but smile, as she is just like her dad, loves a crowd and is more than able to command its attention.
Joe pulled off a ping-pong game with a local guy at White Mountain yesterday. And this morning
he met up again with some hackers (hacky-sac) which are very popular here. Amyjo still wants to join up with a tae chi class. Down by the river on the walk, there are always people exercising this way in small and large groups. Old and young, just out in the park doing their daily exercise. Who needs a gym.
We are all ready to come home, though we're not as anxious since we are all together here. I can't imagine the trip without Esther. What an excellent decision.
There is a couple here who has been detained because their little girl has chicken pox. The government won't let them leave. They have been quarantined in their hotel room since they arrived and have had a miserable experience here in Guangzhou. We all feel so bad for them. Please pray for William and Dawn Sciokowski.
So later this afternoon, we will hit a shopping mall and take advantage of Chinese prices on all the things we've come hoping to score on. Can't wait! More later.

Oh, OK, yes we arrive in Grand Rapids airport on Thursday at 2:30pm, and anyone who would like to come to welcome us is invited to be there. We will be exhausted, as we will be repeating Thursday by then, but we will be so excited to see everyone and we will have our best traveled face on! We love you. and if you can't come, we love you anyway and you will meet our precious Maximus soon enough.
Love,
The JOES

He did not like his physical examination at all! Who does? Good news! His heart sounds good.
When we get home, we will se if it looks good. please pray for his heart. Thank you
A fun little park close by
The daughter of some friends we have been hanging out with a lot. Jenna
Out on the town at a restaurant


Our coordinator Jane is teaching the girls how to count to 10 in Chinese as we wait to get into the ten o clock service at church
The girls here are adorable
A beautiful mountain park we were at today. temp was 76
On the cable car headed up the mountain
This experience has been very cool! We are going on a crusie tonight on the Pearl river. It takes off right by our hotel. We are doing great! Thank you Angie for the great advice. Max's skin is looking better. Amy is also doiung better. Lauren and Karen are having a ball and feeling healthy.

Anyone can post a comment on this blog now. I have fixed it. Thanks so much for all of the kind words. We love you all. We are nearing the end and soo looking forward to beginning life at our home. Will blog soon.

Joe P