1 Day from 2 Months

I cannot believe that it has been two months since we have been home with the kids. It really feels as if they have been with us forever. Like they were our children from birth but they just got lost for awhile!! These kids are amazing!!! They are adapting to school, church and family life. We have had battles and times when I want to pull my hair out but then things happen that uplift me and give me strengh. God shows me why we are doing this everyday. A few nights ago I looked out the window of our home after a pretty stressful day, to see my husband teaching our new son how to play baseball. It then occurred to me that Jayse would never had that experience or a father to call his own both earthy and spiritually, if we would have not listened to our calling. We are blessed, and will continue to be blessed as long as we live on this earth for God and listen when He speaks.

God Bless you All!! Todd & Lori

Back to work

This was my first full week back to work since bringing the kids home. I took them to morning daycare at the school early thinking it would be confusing for them. When we walked in, they seen a few of there classmates and said "bye mom" so off to work I went. They have been getting up, dressing, and fixing their own breakfast while I get ready for work. So the week went well as far as going back to work but we had a few disciplinary actions take place. Both kids were grounded for the first time. For three consecutive days NO TELEVISION, NO MUSIC AND NO BIKE!! Honestly they took it pretty well and amazingly survived without those things. We had our first death since they came home this week as well. Both kids had rabbits and Jayson forgot to put one back in it's pen so it became a dog toy!!! It was Alison's bunny. Jayse wanted to blame it all on our dog Jack but I told him it was his fault for not putting the rabbit up so he was feeling pretty guilty while watching Ali cry! Today I recieved an email that Jayse was saying no to the teacher repeatedly and refused to do school work so now the grounding will continue for him and we will reward Alison for her good behavior. Sure that is going to go over well. Until next blog...

Here are a few pictures from Easter at the grandparents. They had a blast! Things are going well. It has it's challenges and sometimes you want to scream but when you see the progress the kids make daily it makes all the bad melt away. I know that there has been alot of talk concerning the child that was sent back to Russia. This is a horrible thing to happen because it could hinder the chances of further adoptions in Europe. However, I can also understand how the family felt. After you return home with your child/children it sometimes feels as if you are all alone. If you have difficult situations happen it can really wear you down. We had such a situation last night and I was so upset and worried about the future. But God reminded me that He is with us and will always be with us through this process. What Jesus did for us what not easy either, was it?? These children belong to my Savior and He had entrusted Todd and I to raise them in His name and honor Him always! This is what we will do and when the days are not so sunny we will PRAISE HIM THROUGH THE STORM!