A 16 year old Brazilian boy. Did we know what to expect? Not really. Do we love him and the outcome? So much so that it is a bit amazing actually.
In August of 2008 my wonderful husband, once again, agreed to one of my crazy ideas and we decided to get an exchange student from Brazil... for a whole school year. It was all a bit of a whirlwind. We were asked about hosting a student on a Friday and the following Friday we decided to go forward and within another few weeks we had a teenager! What exactly brought me to the conclusion that we needed a 16 year old from another country living with us, while I was finishing 2 college classes, working full time (plus some), Mike was getting ready to sit for his PE, being an assistant coach for a HS wrestling team and working full time, I can still not definitively say. I know it had a lot to do with the general reaction that I received from my friends and family in that week that we were thinking about it. Most of the reactions were some version of disbelief or doubt. I don't take kindly to people doubting me. Call it a flaw, but I like to prove people wrong when they doubt my choices. I can still hear Mike saying in a high pitched and tentative voice, "Well honey, if you think we can do this, okay then." If anything, I think I can confidently say that my husband will always have a new adventure as long as I am still kicking.
And so a tall lanky Felipe Ferreira Lisboa Luz joined the Keenan ranks on our little farm in St Johns. Neither of us had lived with a teenager before, (besides when we actually were teenagers!) So, we knew we had a challenge ahead of us, but we had no idea what kind of challenge it would be. Funny as it sounds now, we sat down before our new son arrived and made some rules together. Curfew, chores and the like. All very reasonable items to consider and we wanted to have a united approach to what we were about to tackle. It always happens in situations like this that you are prepared... but not for what is really about to come. And it was the same in this case. We were prepared for a teenager, but not the one we got.
We couldn't have had a better experience together. Mike, myself and Felipe all learned so much from each other. And somewhere along the way of trying to find rides and figure out how to get him to go out with his friends more often... we became a family. The time flew by and after lots of trips and adventures we suddenly, to our dismay, were at the end. June was upon us and we once again had no idea what to do. We all struggled through our goodbyes and our Brazilian son was gone. Our Felipeson was gone.
For several months it was a weird thing. It was only a short period of time, less than a year that he lived with us, but it felt like there was a large gaping hole in our house. Why did it take so long to re-adjust after Mike and I had been together so long and Felipe been with us such a short time? I believe it is because it doesn't really matter how long you have known someone... if you put your whole heart into a relationship that is what you'll get back. And we did, our hearts are bigger now because they have our son Felipe in there.
Yesterday, as I was ironing and watching TV we got an email from him. The shirt I was ironing got more than a few tear drops. It was amazing to hear from our Felipeson that he had the exact some feeling about us as we did about him. Oh what a feeling! He thanked us for all we did for his time in the US and for making him a part of our family. I thank him as well, for becoming a part of our family.
Well, another fun and busy weekend down and only two more to go with Mr. Felipe. This Friday we had a very fun time wishing John, Katie and Daniel a bon voyage. It was definitely bittersweet. We will miss all the fun times we have with them as they head to Minn for John's residency. Sure will miss them...
Saturday was a lazy morning and then into EL for some bike shopping with Miss Samone. I'm excited for her to make a decision so that we can get training!! I also made a return. Yes, I said a return. I rarely actually ever return items to a store, but I did it. It wasn't really that hard at all. I just had to make the time to drive to said store and give the item back to them. Why then I ask myself, if it isn't that difficult to return things, WHY don't I ever do it? I have the best of intentions. I put the ill-fitting article of clothing in the bag with the receipt and then it takes up a spot in my room for months and I never return it. I end up sending it to goodwill, tags and all. What is the inhibiting factor to me in returning items? I'm not sure that I'll know. I can only hope that this is a turning point in my shopping career, from here on out I'll return at least some things... I hope.
Sunday was a big day, graduation day for Felipe. It's hard to believe we've been through a whole school year already. It's also hard to believe that Felipe will be going home in just two weeks! Louco! Graduation was nice, but long. Kirk's (HS principal) speech was very nice as always. He is a great speaker. The rest of the speeches were the bland graduation type you'd expect. Felipe looked snazzy in his blue cap and gown as he walked across to get his diploma. Unfortunately they slaughtered his name. Felipe Ferreira Lisboa Luz is apparently not too easy to say for the average American. Ah well, it was nice all the same.
Afterwards we went to Mom's where we had dinner. All the food was delicious and I ate way too much. CJ was our main source of entertainment. The best was when Mom gave him a full chocolate chip cookie. The happiness on his face was amazing. We all laughed and laughed as he trotted around happy as a lark eating his cookie. We also ended up watching a movie before dragging ourselves home. We watched Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler. I loved it! I guess it just shows how much of a kid I am, but I enjoyed the whole movie. What fun.
A small report on the Duck Massacre 2009. We have two ducks that are going to live. The one that I mentioned before has been named Lucky Ducky. The second, who I wasn't sure about I think will live. I had to do a minor surgery on him/her last night. Walker has named him/her Mr. Quakers. Mr. Quackers kept opening his mouth and panting kind of. Last night I gave him a thorough looking over and discovered that his nostrils on his beak were plugged. One needle and some poking later... whola, he can breathe! I am a miracle worker, ha! Very happy that maybe in a week or so Mr Quackers will be doing well enough to join Lucky Ducky and the chickens.
Well, unfortunately last night we found out who the culprit was in the duck massacre 2009. The neighbor has a Siberian husky that got loose and he was kind enough to come over last night and offer to pay for our loss. I thought that was very nice and responsible of him, but it still sucks. To date we only really have one survivor. For the time being I'm going to call him/her Lucky Ducky. Anybody have an idea of a better name???
We had an awards night at the high school last night where Felipe was recognized for being an exchange student and for being a part of the Forensics team. He was the first exchange student ever to participate in Forensics and I am very proud of him.
I got some more things done for the garden last night. I got some tomatoes into the cold frame and also planted some bulbs I had forced indoors. Also the cilantro and dill I had started in the cold frame went out into the herb box. It's so nice to get some things done!! Mike went into town last night and bought a new hose. One of the ones we had was leaking so bad we had to toss it. I was hoping that it was going to rain yesterday as predicted so that I wouldn't have to water the garden, but it didn't. So I stayed up till 11pm so that I could get everything good and soaked. Then, of course, it rained last night or early this morning. That's how it always goes.
Two weekends ago Felipe and I trekked north so that he could see more of what Michigan was like. We went to Jordan Valley pathway where we had a gorgeous hike and then by pure luck we scooted over to stay with Ken and Janet Swanson on Mission Point in Traverse City and had an amazing fun visit with them. The cherry blossoms were in full bloom and it was so pretty!! Lastly we made a banzai trip to the Mackinac Bridge so that Felipe could visit the UP (if only for a few minutes). Pictures below...
