Mana our daughter from Japan

Mana our foreign exchange student from Japan 

 The first week we took Mana to the great Salt Lake.  We played there for a little while.  It was a little windy.  And everyone knows it is the "STINKY" lake so we don't stay long. :)  She thought it was beautiful.

 I have wanted a foreign exchange student in our home every since I had the opportunity to live in Taiwan with my brother 23 years ago.  My children have a love for Japan- especially Dalynn. For many years we have been invited to have one.  This year I felt was it and I believe in fate and Mana is fate. She was sent here for our family.  She truly is amazing!

 She was teaching Brylee how to use chopsticks

 We went camping up Settlement canyon in the 5th wheel.  She had never went camping like this before.  She loved the mountains.  We went for a hike after dinner.

 Down by our camp site was a creek.  She and Brylee kept going to down to it.  She was so good to Brylee.

 I love this picture.  Mana became a sister right away to my children.  They love her like a sister now.

 Just Dance.  Mana was a great sport she tried everything.

 Brylee and Mana found walking sticks.

 I was in charge of doing the primary summer activity so we were having fun at the church here.

 first slurpee!  Everyone has to have a slurpee.

 Cayley- Kaylee and Mana- We went to the eye dr.  Kaylee wanted contacts.  Mana had lost her glasses so we bought her some new ones.

 She brought this amazing ykata for Kaylee first day she gave us so many amazing gifts.

 Brylee bought a build a bear dog and named her Mana

 I love Mana- I bonded a lot with her.  She does not have a mother and I just found right away I had a connection to her.  Like she was my own daughter.  I love her so very much.  I am sad she is not here anymore.

 Shopping for school clothes.

 We went Swimming- Mana Loves swimming

 Mana had never been on a trampoline- first time and it was hilarious watching her.

 She knew how to play UNO :)

 Brylee's dog named Mana

 Lagoon day!

 Silly kids in jail at the pioneer village

 I love this pic.  I think I had more fun watching them go through it than riding it.

 We went fishing in Strawwberry

 Mana reeling in her first fish

 the tidal wave

 The rocket

 Mana was so cute with Brylee they played a lot outside.

 Lagoon

 Her fish

 Brylees fish

 Mana had never played with glowsticks.  It was a great night in the back yard just playing.

Chalk Art

 I love the way the glow sticks looked in the dark with the camera

 Of course Chewy is a victim :)

 getting ready to go to a Japanese night.

 Fun night learning more about Japan

 I love that we have her here.

 Fishing with my new daughter.  She is amazing!

 We had a lot of fun!

 Brylee took this pic.

 We went to Hollywood connections

 Mini golf

 Bryson was so fun to watch

 I love these three

It was so hot in the golf area 

 I love that these two are such good friends and sisters now

 Making Origami

 fun times!

 Family- Mana is family forever now.  She really touched our hearts and she taught us so much.

 my favorite thing is her smile

 Gotta love Bryson

 I sure love this kid.  He was so good to help Brylee and Mana learn to skate.

 First time skating

 Mana is so patient and willing to learn new things.  We all miss her.

 I love this pic.  What a great brother

 Helping Mana skate

 Kaylee was so cute with her.  She held her hand and helped her.

 Mana made us Japanese dinner and it was deli-shes

 Look at all of the food she brought

 S he had never made cookies- YUMMY!  She made good ones.

 Dalynn came out for the Japanese food and he loved it.

 At the Zoo

 We went to the zoo with Teresa and her kids.  We had so much fun!

 Everyone needs a picture in the lions mouth

 Bryson went and made Pizza with her.

 Mana loved this.

 Bryson said it was way fun!  He too thinks of her like a sister.  She made a real impression on us forever.

 We took her to the pioneer museum in Tooele

 And to the railroad museum

 I had to do story time at the library and Mana came to watch

 Family reunion!

 YUMMY

 The Zoo

 I took her and several Japanese students to Thanksgiving point to see the farm and the dinosaur museum

 We took her to temple square to show  her the temple grounds

 She loved the temple. It made me think how blessed I am to have a family forever.

 Mana loved seeing the inside of the visitor center.  She has such a  peace about her. Mana is so Christlike in so many ways.  I admire her strength to live in a boarding school and not have a mother.  She has inspired me to be better.

 We made signs for my friend Annikas fundraiser.  My friend has cancer and I was in charge of the fundraiser.

 My beautiful daughters.

 At the farm

 temple square

 I loved it I got to go with my sister Rachel and her family.

 I love this pic.  She is so special to me.

 Brylee on her first day of school

 feeding ducks

 turkeys

 Lagoon WICKED

 Colossus

 Dinosaur museum

 the farm

 I know it seems strange to some people.  But... one month living with someone you learn a lot.  Living with Mana every minute was wonderful.  She has a special gift of loving others.  I know most of you know I get attached to people.  I have a hard time saying goodbye and I can't let go easy.  But... this was even more so with Mana she has filled a special place in my heart forever.  She is my daughter from Japan and I do believe fate had a hand in this.  Not having a mother made it even more important to me to make sure she knew the sense of a having one in a home.  I love her smile, her laugh and her fun side.  She opened up a lot after the first week and she bonded with each of us.  She will always be in our lives and I hope and pray to hug her again someday.  I hope she can live here and go to school one year.  I hope our family can travel to see her in Japan someday as well.  I will love her to Japan and back and to the moon and back forever.

 Our family reunion in SLC this year.

I love this saying because it fits us so well.  I never thought initially having a foreign exchange student would have an impact like this to our lives.  She is my daughter and I love her.