Happy 5th Birthday Natalie!

Is it possible that Natalie is already 5 years old? I can't believe a year has passed and we're back to celebrating birthdays already!

Pancake breakfast for the Birthday Girl!



This is what we called Fancy Birthday Hair. She specifically requested five braids, because she's five years old.

A new bike from Baba and Grandpa! And not just any bike... a Barbie bike! It even has a place on the handlebars for Barbie to ride along.

And then came Natalie's first FALL on her Barbie bike!

Thank you Baba and Grandpa! I LOVE my new Barbie bike!

Three little bikers, ready for a ride!

Celebrating with our special friend, Gaby :)

Finally, we ended the day with cake and ice cream.

See you in a couple of days for Justin's birthday.... then in a couple more days for Scott's birthday... then next month for Lexi's.

Me too, Justin.

It seems like we've been talking a lot about babies lately. Especially about babies being in their mom's tummies. Tonight, as I tucked him in to bed, Justin told me that he had seen our friend's baby at Scott's soccer camp today. (By the way, she's 3 weeks old and just a bundle of cuteness!) Clearly, my kid was enacting one of the trusty "trying to avoid bedtime" techniques by engaging me in a conversation. I was pretty sure I'd be asked for a drink of water next. However, I decided to indulge him for a few more minutes. So glad I did.

Our conversation went something like this:

Justin: Babies are so small. Their fingers and mouths are so small.

Me: Yep, they are. You were small like that once, too.

Justin: My face was so small? And my hands?

Me: Yes, all babies are tiny at first. I didn't get to see you when you were that little, because you were in Russia, but I'm sure you were the cutest little baby ever.

Justin: Mom?

Me: Yes?

Justin: I wish... when I was a baby... I was in your tummy... not in a Russia lady's tummy.

Me: (oh, my heart....) I know sweetie. I wish that too. (Long pause as I try to hold myself together) But God had a different plan for us. An extra special plan, because you are an extra special boy... I love you so much. I'll be your mom forever, okay?

Justin: (looks right at me and nods) Okay.

And I know it is.

---

I've read stories of other women who have had this conversation. I just never knew it would happen to me. And I never knew, how in a split second, my entire heart and soul could fill up with equal amounts of pain and joy.

Pain for Justin, that he lost a relationship with his biological mother. Pain for the woman that will never know what an amazing, AMAZING, son she'll never see grow up. Pain for me, that I missed those first few years of his life. My heart just breaks for everything that's missing.

But somehow... still joy.
Joy that he's our son. Joy that he's ours forever! Joy that this family really was knit together in an extra special way. Joy that God loved us enough to let us be part of something so much bigger than ourselves. Part of a promise. God carried us and comforted us through all of those "missing" years. There is joy in knowing that we can count on nothing less in the days to come.


Not one of all the Lord's good promises to the house of Isreal failed; every one of them was fulfilled. Joshua 21:45

Happy 4th of July!

We celebrated the 4th of July at home this year. A pretty simple day, but it turned out to be so much fun! (Well, except for the part when poor Lexi got her first bee sting!)

Even though we weren't going anywhere, we still dressed up in patriotic red, white, and blue. I sent the kiddos outside to play with little American flags... and then, like an overzealous paparazzi mom, I stalked them with the camera. In the afternoon, the kids christened our big green pool. (For the blog reading faithful, you may note that the "big green pool" is the 2009 version of last year's "big blue pool.")

It was at about this point when Lexi stepped on a bee. Here, we insert about 20 minutes of tears into our otherwise perfect day. After Scott and I did our best to snuggle and soothe her, it seems all it took was a Nemo ice pack and a Care Bear bandaid on her big toe to make her feel better. But then we were back on track!

Scott BBQed steaks and hot dogs for dinner, so everyone was happy... especially Molly, who found a way to sample both. Then we all shared a big bowl of yummy cherries and waited for the sun to set. At the first hint of darkness, we broke out the sparklers... Oh, you should have seen their faces! Awestruck. Wide eyes, big grins. Then, it was finally upstairs to bed, where we discovered we could (sort of) see the fireworks show from a local college. And now, the whole gang is completely exhausted... and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an extra hour of sleeping in tomorrow! :)

Happy 4th of July everyone!

Poor Big Toe! :(

A word of warning. Beware of standing near Lexi when she's waving a tiny flag. You might get popped in the eye. Dont' worry though, she'll apologize. But the really good news is.... she can help you out if you are suddenly in need of someone to randomly scratch your head. Yup. That's our Lexi ;)

Happy Family Day to Us!

July 2.

Touchdown day.

One year ago today, about 4:00 in the afternoon, our plane touched down on American soil. Finally. We were home. Home forever.

We celebrated this evening with an ice cream cake and 5 candles. One for each of us.

I can't believe it's been a year.It's gone so fast. It's gone so slow. It's been amazing and wonderful. It's been exhausting and humbling.

The kids have grown leaps and bounds. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Here's a little excerpt from my journal, just over a year ago:
June 28, 2008....... I so look forward to the day we are all home. I look forward to rocking each of you in the chair, smelling you-clean from a bath, tucking you in under soft covers, smoothing your hair across your forehead, rubbing your back softly. Telling each of you, one by one, that you are loved, that you are special, that God united our family... that this family is yours forever.

That sweet day has become a reality. The day I dreamt about, prayed about, and cried for is finally ours to share. Precious moments again and again.

Still, a lot more "reality" has tagged along too, if you know what I mean ;)

So we continue to thank the Lord for daily grace, work on healing past hurts, and do our best to keep up our end of the promise.