7 months!

Seven months ago our boy came home.  I have treasured our time with Caleb but I will always miss all the firsts that happened before he came home.  His first tooth...first word...first time sitting up...first time walking...first birthday...I think you get the idea.  However, we were given a gift from Caleb's foster family that I will treasure forever.  His foster family sent pictures...I mean a lot of pictures of our boy.  Pictures from his first birthday, pictures of him as a baby, pictures of his time with them.  What a gift to have these pictures to have a glimpse of his life before coming home...to see that he was loved and well taken care of.  Here are some of my favorite pictures of our boy before.

 Caleb and his foster dad

 Caleb and his foster mom

I will be forever grateful for the love and care they gave Caleb before he came home but I am most thankful that he now calls me mommy!

Happy 7 months at home Caleb!

Thankful Thursday

 This Thursday I am thankful for:

~My nephew Joe...he just shipped out for a year long deployment.  Please pray for him as he protects our freedom.  I am so proud of him and can't wait until I see him again and can give him a great big hug!

Here is Joe and Claire when they met for the first time!

 Here is the same young man ready to fight for his country.

 This picture was taken today as he said goodbye to his siblings.

I got this picture off of Joe's facebook page..this says a lot about the young man that he is..

Heavenly Father,

Watch over Joe and his unit.  Keep them safe from all dangers.  Go before them and help their missions to be successful.  Give them courage and Your peace.  Wrap Your loving arms around Joe and let him feel Your presence in all that he does.  Dear Lord, please bring him home safe to us.  In Your Son's precious name, Amen

This will be going up at our house for Joe.

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday I am thankful for:

~Claire's adjustment to kindergarten.  You know as a mom, I worry.  I know crazy but I wondered would the kids in her class accept her. Would they see her for the fun-loving, goofy girl that we all love or would they see her as different?  Would they see her as the girl that does sign language and not want to be her friend?  Well, I am thankful for her adjustment and for her new friends. 

~I am thankful for the scene I witnessed at the fall festival at school.  We walked up to the school and there were a lot of kids already there playing games.  Suddenly, I hear several little girls yell "Claire!" and they run up and wrap their arms around her.  Then one of the little girls goes on to tell me that she has a sign language book so she can learn to talk to Claire.  Boy, did this do this mom's heart good to witness this scene.  Thank you, Lord, for letting me see this window into my precious girl's day at school!

Claire and her class on a recent field trip

~Pumpkin patches! I love going to the pumpkin patch in the fall. I love the crisp air and enjoying the outdoors.  The patch that we went to has rides, goats, and pig races just to name a few things!

Claire is on the swing going backward

 Caleb was more interested in the hay than in the pig races!

 Grace, Hunter, Ryan, Brianna, Caleb, Nicholas, Claire and Abby

 Caleb feeding the goats (he called them cows!)

 Claire feeding the goats

 Claire enjoying the airplane ride!

 Caleb waves at everyone while going around and around!

 My blessings!

 Our gang!

 Claire!

 Caleb!

~For husbands who will take time off of work to go on a field trip with his favorite kindergartener!

 Gary and Claire

 How about this one, Dad?

 Nope, this is the one!

 At home ready to decorate it!

 All done!  Claire is proud of her monster!

What are you thankful for?

Happy sweet 16 Brianna!

What a day of celebration we had yesterday!  I'm not sure how it happened but my original baby turned 16!  Wasn't it just yesterday that we brought home a 5 pound 10 ounce beautiful baby girl?  It sure seems like it was yesterday and yet 16 years have flown by. 

Brianna, your dad and I are proud of the young lady you have become.  We love your beautiful spirit, your love for Jesus, your love for orphans, your love for your siblings and your love for your friends.  We love your crazy sense of humor, your competitive nature and your willingness to work hard and keep trying even when it isn't easy.

Brianna and her friends

 Caitlin, Brianna and Maddie

 At the restaurant

The fruit bouquet..the one thing she really wanted for her birthday

 Brianna with her new keychain!

Brianna's chariot for the day!

 After lunch, they changed for a trip to the mall!

Everyone in..off to the mall!

 Smiles, smiles everywhere!

 Nicholas and Ryan

 Grace and Hunter

 Claire even had a turn for a ride!

At the mall, they had a scavenger hunt.  They had to take pictures with each item they found.  Plus each item on the list had to be found in the color purple!

 Purple socks!

 Purple sunglasses

 Purple high heel shoe..bonus points if someone is wearing it!

Purple gumball

 Purple necklace..bonus points if it had a peace sign!

 Purple board game!

 Purple tie..bonus points if it had stripes!

Happy Sweet 16, Brianna!  We love you!