Life With Micah

It is so hard to believe that just a few short months ago we were wondering if we were going to get to keep Micah. From the time we adopted Isaac, we knew we wanted to adopt again. We did not mean to wait so long, but it was just never the right time. We always thought we would hold out for a girl. With the boy gene being so prevalent and all, we suspected that was the only way Sarah would get a sister. This adoption just kind of happened. When we agreed to what we believed was a no brainer adoption we had no clue what we were in for. It is a good thing we cannot see the future, we would have probably never done it! God keeps us blissfully ignorant for a reason. He needed someone to fight for this child. I was blessed to be able to be in Hawaii for his birth and even spent a lot of time in the hospital with him. The laws that forced us to stay in Hawaii for 2 weeks(Not that I had to be forced in the middle of the winter!)were such a blessing. It allowed us to spend a lot of unexpected time with the birth mother and we bonded in a way that no one expected. Micah was the perfect baby. Keep his belly full and his bottom clean, and he is happy. He has a very high pain tolerance. He rarely cries when he is hurt. This is good and bad. He has been banged up pretty bad, but we never knew what happened because he did not cry. He has a great smile. He is almost always smiling. Well, except when he is screaming to the top of lungs because he is mad at his siblings or the dog. He is staring to talk and loves to give kisses. If anyone ever questions the attachment of adopted children, look no further. He is so attached. He trembles sometimes when he thinks I am going to leave him or a stranger walks into our home. He is a fun kid. We love him so much. I cannot even think about what would have happened if we had had to turn him over to the state. People question the way we did this. Some say we were crazy to do a private adoption. Maybe so. But, maybe it takes crazy people to fight for these little guys who don't have a voice.

Life With Isaac

November is national adoption month. I honor of that I would like to write a little about my two beautiful adopted boys.

I do not even remember what it was like before Isaac came to live with us. It seems like life for us started the day we walked into Bethany Christian Services to meet this little 1 yr old, about to turn 2. He was beautiful and his smile was contagious. It still is. He had no clue who we were or how his life was about to change. In a months time he had gone from his mother and through 2 foster homes. We played with him in what would be their small "lobby" I guess. We were with social workers and his foster mother and her children. One of us would play while the other went back to be interviewed. Within a few days we went to visit at the foster home. And then we took him for the day the next Saturday. The foster mother had been training him to call me Mommy Julie to transition since he already had a "Mommy." He called me Mommy the whole day and screamed and kicked and cried when we had to leave him that day. It was the hardest thing I think I have ever done. He was MY child, but it was not legal yet so, we could not keep him over night. I had to leave him knowing he needed me. It was great that he was already bonding, but awful to leave him. The agency pushed everything through to not prolong this for him and he was in our home a week later. He was full of energy. He was like one big ball of impulsiveness just waiting to get into the next thing. He has continued with that impulsiveness. While that makes his life difficult, it is also the thing that brings us laughter and makes life exciting. He is a sensitive young man. I believe this sensitivity makes him hurt more, but it also makes him love more.(Well, except for maybe his brother.:)) I was talking with a friend recently. She made the comment that we really do not make differences between our adopted and biological children. She spends A LOT of time with us. She would know.:) I told her as crazy as it sounds, I forget he is adopted. He is just our child. We just love him!

This has become so long. I will share about Micah tomorrow.

He is Reading

Zachary has been reading a few words for a bit now. But, yesterday we came to the page in the curriculum that presents the child a certificate for the words they can read. Bruce was taking a 5 minute break from teaching, so the entire family gathered around for him to read the words. He was so excited, grinning from ear to ear. I wish I had taken a picture. Bruce proceeded to take him downstairs and read the certificate to his class of students waiting for him to start teaching. When I start to get overwhelmed sometimes, it is always such a joy to have days like this. I really would not have wanted anyone else to take that moment away from me and share it with my son. I love being the one to see the light bulb go off and experience these exciting times with my children.

Menu

The time change and the crisp fall air always put me in the mood for two things. My electric blanket and heavier, warmer meals/soups. Here is our menu for the week.

Monday-Shephard's Pie
Tuesday-Vegetable Beef Soup and Bread
Wednesday-Roasted Chicken and Potatoes with Asparagus
Thursday- Leftovers and Loaded Baked Potatoes
Friday-Dinner with friends
Saturday-Sabbath Dinner-London Broil and something else

What is on your menu?

Great Reminder

Bruce is sick and decided not to go to church today. I was very tempted not to go as well. Our kids will finally let us sleep in a little and that sounded heavenly this morning. Well, my oldest had other plans for me. He comes running into the room,"We are going to be late for church, Mom!" Thus started the little devil and angel debate in my head. To go or not to go... The angel won out and we went. Isaac has not always loved church, and I am thrilled to get this reaction from him. So, off we went. Our Sunday School class has been going through TIm Keller's book The Reason for God. We were reminded that when God calls us, through His Word, to do things which are culturally difficult to do, it is to strengthen our relationship with Him. When He tells me to submit to my husband, it really has nothing to do with my husband, but everything to do with my relationship with God, and in turn my relationship with my husband. I am struggling with a few things lately that I just cannot let go of. This was a great reminder for me this morning. I know what to do. It may not make sense to me, but it does to God.

What are You Up To?

So, we are finishing our first quarter. It seems like we have not done much, but when I sit down to remember it all, well, I guess we have been busy.

We are fully into the swing of homeschooling now. I think I finally have a system for Isaac. HE is working into being more independent. He takes four online classes. HE LOVES them. The teachers are great. They definitely offer him more than I could with all of the little ones running around.They teach him, he gets a homework list, I work through that with him if he needs me to, I check his work, and he then turns in what is due. He has had to write 2 papers and is working on his 3rd for his writing class. He has created a travel brochure enticing families the New Switzerland for Literature class and he has reconstructed the Matthew for History. I tend to put projects off for the older ones because of all I have to do with the little ones. Thankfully, has to turn things in for a grade, by a certain time. He is taking piano lessons and in a choir class. The choir teacher puts on an incredible musical every year. This year it is Pirates of Penzance. Isaac is going to be a policeman. My goal for Isaac over the next few weeks is to help him become more organized.

Sarah, is my self learner. I work with her and teach her everyday, but most of the time she has it figured out before I am done. She LOVES to read and could read all day. We have done a few Literature projects and she helped her brother with his ship since they are studying the same history. She spends a lot of her time writing a book and designing clothes. She is actually pretty good, if I may say so myself.She is very into the violin. She takes private lessons and this year has been blessed with the opportunity to be in an orchestra class. She is loving it. Her goal when she picked up the violin a few years ago was to play in a symphony. She has not lost that dream. So, she loves the orchestra class. She takes the same choir class as Isaac. My goal for Sarah over this next quarter is to beef up her projects.

Zachary is loving Kindergarten. We are working on a pumpkin lap book right now. I found this great company that sells everything you need all put together in a kit. I do not have to do anything. They even make your copies and and fold your folder for you. They are a bit costly, but I saw them at a homeschool convention and they had boxes of clearance kits for 50 to 75% off. He is learning to read quickly and his favorite subject is math. He also loves the fun co-op we go to. He takes violin, but sports continue to be his thing. In his free time you will most likely find him skateboarding or shooting hoops. My goals for him are to do more hands on activities.

As a family we have done a few local field trips and read fun books and made some fun and educational meals. We are spending a few days Thanksgiving week at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. We will tour Jamestown as well. They just studied Jamestown so that should be fun. Also, the co-op we are in does a feast for each time period represented. The families who are studying the time plan the feast, but everyone brings food. Since we are studying Explorers to 1815, we are planning a traditional Thanksgiving Feast. It should be fun. The kids will bring projects that they have done to present to the group and they can also take a minute to recite anything they are working on.

That is a quick glance at our first quarter. What have you guys been up to?

Convicted Once Again

Okay not convicted that way! We are doing a couples study at church. Once again I was reminded of my legacy. I forget from time to time that a legacy can be good or bad. It was pointed out to me that everyone has a legacy. It may be good or even bad, but there is one left. I have been told this many times, but a reminder is always nice.