First portraits as a family of 6

Because someone is gonna not look or have their eyes closed...

Daniel:

Andrew:

Hope:

Cherish:

Daniel:

Andrew:

Hope:

Cherish:

Look how hard Daniel is saying "Cheese!"

 Daniel:

 Cutie pie!!

The $9.05 Update

Cherish used her remaining $9.05 Christmas money to buy Valentine's gifts for her family and relatives. ♥

God bless her sweet heart!

My first note from Hope!

I have begun writing Hope notes in her journal and reading them to her--since she can't read.

She decided to write me a note!

"Mom

I Love You

Thank you for cleaning today

I appreciate all your help

Love,

Hope"

The sweet child painstakingly wrote each letter of the note and gave it to me--not even knowing what it said! (It was one of the notes I had written her.) Hope didn't know which note said what; all she knew was that the notes each meant something special to her.

So, she wanted to gift me with something special, too. My heart was really touched!

A Psalm

Again today, Cherish sat and wrote a psalm in just minutes. This just poured out of her:

"Oh, my God how majestic You are. Your words are comforting. Your world is amazing. And oh, how I cannot wait until I am standing in your presence. You are my Lord, My God, and I shall not fall against Thee. For You deserve the glory, honor, and praise. You are the glory and the power above all. Through You all can be saved and through You all can come to Christ."

Again, she doesn't know I copied her psalm here. It's just that she is so tender, and I want to remember her heart like this!

And, while I am on the subject of Cherish, here are some behind-the-scenes stories:

Cherish received a $25.00 gift card for Christmas. While she was out shopping, she stopped to rest on what she thought was a little stool. It was not. It was a little table and it gave way under her.

She felt horrible and bought the broken table with her gift card. $22.47. Out of $25.00. We took the table home to daddy, and on the way home she talked about what color she wanted to paint the table--for Andrew!

Little did she know that daddy and mommy could eventually find a use for the little table, and daddy had really been wanting to learn how to work with wood. So, we surprised her by buying the table from her in cash.

She went shopping again, and bought a few more items. She took the remaining $9.05 home in her purse.

Later, we found a sweet little box outside our house on our little porch. On the box was a note written: "To: Derek, From:?". Inside was $9.05 and a note stating an "anonymous" person wanted to help with our adoption.

Mommy guessed who that "anonymous" person was and spoke with her privately. She broke into tears. All she wanted was to bless daddy without him knowing it was her ♥.

Daddy gave the money back--with lots of hugs and snuggles.

Shortly thereafter, she presented the family with a "Family Appreciation" card stating she was buying the entire family desserts at Chick-fil-A. She planned the outing, and off we went. Even though she desired to spend her Christmas money on us, we did not let her pay.

The child's heart is SO tender. SO thoughtful. May God bless her!

My First Psalm

God, You are my salvation.

In You alone I can do all things.

Through You only I shall dwell.

By Your blood I will stand in Your presence.

You, oh my Lord, are worthy to take the throne.

You are worthy to have all the praise and glory.

For You are worthy over all nations.

(I, Julie, saw Cherish sit down and type this out in about five minutes. She doesn't know it, but I just had to copy it here.)