Rachel is now 9 years old...CRAZY! She is still taking Dance lessons and loving every minute of it. She's in her first year of Tap and her 3rd year of ballet. She memorizes bible verses like a champ for AWANA and for school. She's becoming so capable of doing so many things. She really helps around the house with cooking and cleaning and taking care of Gracie. She is still very very organized with her plans (just like her Mama). Her dream is to be a dance teacher and to do something involving journals....she Loves journals!!! We have been able to have some very serious conversations lately, some real heart to hearts. She is a very responsible, caring girl. It is a treasure to be her mom.
Brady is 5 1/2. Not my baby anymore. He's so crazy excited about Kindergarten. We waited another year because in CT he could have started at 4 yrs old. I am so thankful that we did. He loves his preschool that he's been in for 2 years and between that and what we work on at home, he's finally starting to understand so much. He's getting his letters and numbers down and just has a curiosity about learning that he didn't have last fall. He still keeps all his toys in perfect order and needs to know where all things are at all times. He LOVES having a clean room and he can entertain himself for hours. Imagination to the sky. I will miss his little squeaky play voice when he is older. He is a very compassionate person. It is a treasure to be his mom.
As we transition into each phase of childhood it is always sad to say goodbye to the last, but always amazing to be a part of the new. I learn so much from them and from having to look further into my own heart so that I can be a better mom, leading them down a path that will hopefully, someday, lead them to their own path of walking side by side with the Lord, and even somedays just to be carried by Him. Thank You Lord, for these treasures of Yours that you've loaned to me for a time.
We went with Gramma to Harkness while she was here. It was a nice outing. We got to walk and the kids rode their bikes and Gracie got to be outside...her favorite place! We had a great visit with Gramma that week...it just always goes by way too fast. Happy days!
Easter eggs, Easter egg hunt, dinner with family and friends, Gramma's wonderful company, and just a wonderful day!!!! But most of all, My savior who died for me and Rose again so that I may live!!! Thank you Jesus, Thank you Father for giving your son, Thank you for my family and loved ones....
My mom wrote me a poem when I was nine years old, it hangs on my wall even now. It ends with the phrase "For after all, she is "only" nine." That was always the joke with my mom because I was the baby and she was always making excuses of why I didn't have to do certain things (which worked nicely for me) and at that time....I was only 9! Well, now my baby is "only" 9 and I can't even believe it. Now she will probably have a different story because she is the oldest and she has always been VERY capable of many things, so she probably wishes I would let her out of doing things because of her age:) I am so proud of her....she will always be MY baby!!!
He's finally here! Precious and beautiful! I know this has been an emotionally exhausting, joyful, scary, and absolutely amazing experience for Jody and Shannon. It has been a great priviledge to have been through 2 adoptions now. Renee and Brandon had the same experience just a few years ago when they adopted Reese. Now, I am only the Auntie, so ofcourse I haven't experienced it to the fullest like they have, but as close as our family is, it is such a big deal to all of us. To experience the love that one can have for someone so different, so far away, someone we don't even know yet is so amazing. I am so proud of each and every one of my neices and nephews. I love the relationship that I have with each one of them and I love what my children learn from each one of them. We live so far away, but the love between all of them is so precious...I look forward to one day living close enough to be a part of some of the every day events in their lives....but until then......there's phones and computers and planes and trains and automobiles!!!!!!
