8/29/11 - Ryan's First Day Back at Preschool

Ryan was excited and ready to start back to preschool this Monday. He is in our district's preschool program and has the same teacher as last year.

New outfit for the first day back:
And not to be outdone by his brother, also a "posing" picture:

Coming out the front door:

Waiting for two school buses:

Here comes Ryan's bus!

We have the same bus drivers again this year - yeah!

And though it's hard to see, there's a little face looking out through the window at me saying good bye!

I thank You Lord that Ryan has the opportunity to be in this preschool program again this year and I praise You for the wonderful staff who will work with him. I ask that you would grow his confidence, his ability to understand, call up, and use this crazy English language, and his smile (if that's possible!). I thank You that Your plans for him are also for good, to prosper him and not to harm him. I thank You that You will never leave or forsake him. Watch over him and keep him and his happy soul in the palm of Your hand.

8/25/11 - First Day of Kindergarten

John started kindergarten this week!! And to say he was excited about it would be an understatement!

First day of school new outfit:
(do you kind of get the sense he loves posing for the camera?)

Brothers:

Coming out the front door to wait for the bus:

Waiting for the bus:

Here comes the bus: (yes, I do document everything!)

Getting on the bus:

and driving away:

Please watch over my child Lord as he goes into a new world of wonder and excitement and hurt and discovery and disappointment and imagination. Thank You Lord that Your plans for him are good, to prosper him and not to harm him. Thank you Lord that you will never leave him nor forsake him. Please watch over him and his heart and keep him in the palm of your hand. May he grow and learn and continue to be filled with joy and wonder at this world and all Your blessings!

8/20/11 - 18 Months!

I can't believe it's been 18 months since we stepped off a plane at O'Hare airport and walked down a flight of stairs to see - literally - a mob of our friends and family running toward us!!

But then again it seems like the boys have always been here and I have a hard time remembering what life was like before them. Their arrival and being an overnight Mom to two boys who move has definitely been the biggest challenge but certainly the greatest joy.

The first days home - February 2010:

18 months later - August 2011

Incidentally, now that the boys have been home 18 months - the time frame our international agency America World requires parents adopting children over the age of three to wait - we can think about starting the process over again!! Hmmmm . . . . .