School is underway!

I know! We are so weird! 

Yes, indeed. School is underway and going smoothly.

Here are our "Beginning of the School Year" pictures:

Here they are in age order: 9, 7, 6, and 2-years-old

Knowing that we will be traveling to China to get Samuel at the beginning of the traditional school year, we knew we had to start school early. But, knowing just how hard jet lag and transition are, we decided to begin as soon as possible--to lessen the stress on the other side of the adoption trip.

Just a side note, the adoption trip--with all of its tremendous amounts of stress, sickness, etc.--cannot compare to the transition time coming home. It.is.HARD! Just sayin'.

Goin' in with our eyes wide open!

"God Has a Plan"

I think I've written here about Andrew wanting to be a missionary to Asia. He doesn't know which country in Asia yet, just that God wants him to go to Asia.

Just now, Andrew told me: "Ya know, Mom, God has a plan for me. Ya know how I am so skinny? I think God made me to only eat a little bit, so that the people won't eat me. Ya know the people that eat other people? Well, when I tell them about Jesus, they will see that I am so skinny and have no fat on my body, and they won't want to eat me. God has a plan in this!"

Gulp.

Big Boy Bed and Favorite Book

In order to prepare for Samuel's arrival, we moved Daniel into the bottom bunk in the boys' room. However, Andrew longed to sleep WITH Daniel, so we took the bunk apart and placed the beds side by side.

Daniel has now successfully transitioned to his "big boy bed", but I don't believe in all the times he has fallen asleep on his own, that he hasn't had least one leg over a rail or between the slats in his bed. (He he)

Also, Daniel has chosen his first favorite book. He carries Biscuit around, sleeps with the book, and can listen to it read numerous times in one sitting. (And, of course, Daniel brought his book to me to read twice while I was writing this post. J)

It's precious to see little ones fall in love with books!

Daniel enjoyed his first "Independence Day"

"Independence Day" gives me the goosebumps!

To know these children are free in so many ways...

I get all choked up!

The celebration was so wonderful,

Daniel fell asleep in my arms IN the pool!

God bless all those who have fought and continue to fight to make and keep us free!

An Undeserved Vacation

Another gift!

May I just add here: people have told us that if we keep adopting, we will rob our other children of the extra "fun stuff" they deserve.

Sorry, but for us, the needs of orphans come before "fun stuff".

However, God has GRACIOUSLY seen to the care of all of our children. They have been blessed as we keep our eyes on what God has told us to do: adopt orphans.

So, with that, I wanted to share that a precious lady, Sandra Tabor, gifted us with an 8-day vacation at her timeshare! We were amazed at the thought that someone would even think about the desire to get away from the stresses of adoption paperwork and the work-world; to pull away and find some rest!

On the first night we arrived at the timeshare, I felt like stress was literally OOZING out of my every one of my pores! I felt tight muscles relaxing and a feeling of rest began to come over me. It had been a long time!

We pulled away from most of everything and tried to live without a clock. How strange! How wonderful!

We spent our days reading, swimming, playing miniature golf and board games, coloring, and putting together a large puzzle. It was a time of really special bonding!

Here's a summary picture-style:

Derek had his birthday while we were on vacation:

Cherish trying to golf around the little ones:

Daniel golfs by throwing the ball in the hole:

The littles got tired of golfing.

Daddy used the clubs (plural) he was holding to golf "better".

Cherish patiently tries to golf around all the balls and the cute little guy:

Time to just sit, tickle, and snuggle:

Kisses and hugs:

Complete!

Nap time? No problem.

Sleep whenever you'd like, little guy.

Last night sleep-over in the living room watching a movie:

Thank you, Sandra, for the gift of rest, recuperation, and bonding time. ❤

God bless you!!