{ 17 }

'Tis the season at our house.... the birthday season!   We have three birthdays, a "gotcha day", Thanksgiving, and Christmas... all in a three month period.  Whew!
Justin is now 17.   Seventeen???   Seriously?   I'm speechless.  How is it possible that we have a 17 year old son?

His friends decorated his truck (I should say, the truck that dad lets him drive!) at school and filled it with balloons (apparently the truck was stuffed full of balloons when he first opened the door).

One of his friends gave him 2 goldfish.  Points for originality, but I am curious to see how the new owner keeps up with the maintenance.  ;)  Jason and Sarah were very interested in watching them eat the fish food.

Happy birthday, Justin!  You are a fine young man who loves God and strives to do what's right.  You are so smart and funny-- there's never a dull moment at our house!  You are a great example to others.  We are very proud of you and love you!

Has it really been *three* years?

From the first time we saw your sweet baby face, we knew you were the daughter we had been praying for. 

And this knowledge brought us amazing peace and comfort as we waded through paperwork and hoped and prayed that the process would go quickly and smoothly.

Ten months later,on November 2, 2008,  we were overjoyed (and a little overwhelmed!) to finally meet our daughter!  We were so excited that I could barely hold the pen to write things down that your foster parents were telling us!!  You slept through our arrival and only woke up when we were leaving New Day Foster Home.

Your foster mother told us that you were busy, smart and quite stubborn.  She emphasized that you were very busy.  We nodded our heads and smiled... after all, we were the parents of four boys! We felt like we were experts on busy toddlers.     

But in all honesty, we were surprised just how busy you were, from the very beginning.  

Busy, fearless, and very outgoing.  You loved your bath, you loved the buttons in the hotel elevator, you loved all the people we met. 

You loved the hotel swimming pool and were not at all happy when I held on to you in the deep water!!  

You loved Ike, our amazing guide.

And you loved Daddy, from the get go.   Daddy was completely smitten as well.   ;)

We had a wonderful experience in China, and I still think about our trip all the time.  

And I am humbled by the incredible gift that we have been given.  I am humbled and grateful for the gifts of five beautiful children.

One of the greatest pleasures in my life is to watch you experience and enjoy new things for the first time.

Happy forever family day, Sarah Mei.   We. love. you.

Fall favorites

This beauty (a treat from one of my students) is not just a carmel apple, but a carmel, chocolate, cinnamon covered apple.   My very favorite treat.  It's downright sinful and oh so good.   I was just going to eat half of it, but ended up eating the whole thing in one sitting.  (I had some help from Jason, as he was the only kiddo home at the time--which was probably good timing on my part!  ;)

Last weekend, we went to Grandad's and Grandma's property and had a fun afternoon of 4 wheel riding and campfire cooking.

And the light was perfect.   I love the fall, with its golden light and beautiful colors.

 Happy, happy kids.  (safety disclaimer- we had helmets)

Sharing a blanket with Granddad.  Sarah loves her grandparents, especially her grandpas.  Even when we first came home from China, she would happily sit on grandpa's lap.  I think it might be because her sweet foster parents in China were older.  She remembers that first bond.  We're so grateful for that.   

 Evan goes for a ride.

The campfire.  Jason and Sarah (city slickers who have limited experiences with campfires) were frustrated when the smoke changed directions and got in their eyes.  

A fun day and a much needed break.