WELCOME TO IHOP!

International House of Polk! We've had a CRAZY wonderful week around here! Chandler's facebook post just sums it up: Went to school with a Rwandan, came home with a Korean! I'll try to explain:
Tuesday was the kids first day back at school from the break. We had spent several evenings with our good Rwandan friend, Felix, over the past 2 weeks and Chandler wanted him to come to school with her so he could see what an American school looked like! Not only did she take him to her classes, he got to be the speaker at chapel!

 He did an AMAZING job telling the kids about his story from the genocide. It is an INCREDIBLE story! We were so blessed to get to spend time with him and get to know him better. We look forward to seeing him again soon and maybe getting to meet some of his family members soon!

 We took him on a tour of the school and while we were looking in on some classes the principal pointed out the new foreign exchange students we have from South Korea. I mentioned to her that we had emailed a request to host one of the students in our home but had never heard anything back (I figured they must have known us and said Don't give the Polk's one!!). Anyway she couldn't believe it and asked us if we would still be willing to host one! Jeff and I looked at each other and said SURE!:) SO Paul came to live with us THAT DAY!:) I RAN home and got all of Parker's clothes out of his room and literally threw them on Patton's bed. I put new sheets on and Paul had himself a room! 

 He is just a doll! He speaks very good English (or should I say "speaks English well??:))and is really funny! He talks non stop! (don't tell the other host parents but we totally got the coolest one!) He gets along great with the kids and honestly it's been a pretty easy adjustment. We are probably even nicer to each other now because he is here!:) It's a lot harder to yell at your kids when you have a little 11 year old Korean student looking at you! On the second day here he noticed that we have COWS in the field next to us! He thought that was really cool! He thinks our car is HUGE, he thinks we are SO busy- because we are, and he will try anything to eat. I don't think he's had his American name for very long because sometimes I say his name 3 or 4 times and then he's like oh yeah, that's me!:) And the kicker was when Parker said "Hey Korea- want to go outside and play? Oh I mean Paul??":)

 He loves to play Wii with the kids and is really good at Just Dance! (I have to sneak pics of him because he gets embarrassed!)

 The Stites kids came over and played soccer with him!

 Tonight we got to skype with his mom! We were all stuffed into the craft room so we could watch. They were talking and laughing and we kept thinking- what in the world is he telling her?? Mom- these people are CRAZY!!! Probably.

 I'm sure we'll have many more adventures with our new "son"! He even has a "P" name so he fits right in with the boys! He's met all of the cousins and my mom on this side of town (except Bret) so I'm ready for him to meet the rest of the Polks!

We have also been making BIG plans for the summer!!! I am SO excited! More to come on that! We're dreaming BIG and trusting the Lord and it feels really good! I am so thankful to have an amazing husband and kids!! Can't wait to tell about the kids "presentation" they made for us- but it will have to wait! Gotta go iron 4 uniforms!