Long overdue update!!

How can it be that we are in August already!! What a lovely summer it's been. 

Today I decided to take a few minutes to do a quick update. Mostly photo's.... 

The past two months have been very intense. And seriously, I had no desire to write.

By the end of most days I wanted nothing more than to drop in bed and soak up some QUIET!!

Adoption is beautiful.....And  Adoption is hard. I mean goodness, parenting our bio kids is hard, thus parenting a child with emotional needs who has never functioned in a family setting before adds new challenges. 

I have never felt so inadequate as a mother, or so in need of a Savior as I have in this new season of mothering "twins".  I must say God is so gentle & patient with me and my greatest desire is to mother my children in that same manner!

 

 Steve has been spending a few hours here and there in the evening to work on a tree fort for Derek. (and no, it's not being made of pallet's, those are just there from a makeshift hut Derek had made. The new fort is 7 ft off the ground)

While he works the kids "help" by handing nails and playing in the dirt. They are all filthy till they come inside.

The toddlers often snuggle in this corner of the couch with my phone and scroll through the pictures and video clips I have taken of them. They giggle as they listen to themselves over and over again.

This was Javonn's opinion of his first time at the beach!

 No he's not standing in a corner! I only wanted to capture the cuteness of what it looks like when a 3 yr old dresses himself! And yes, I did change it!

I love this picture! I Only wish that Jadrian could be on it too! I still feel the stab of loss..and wishing for what could have been. Javonn talks about Jadrian when he see's his pictures. He know's that he has a brother in heaven!

Steve is an amazing daddy!! How we all love him!!!!!!!

 Karilee & her pony.... so many happy hours between the two. Just today we added a puppy to our crew. I think it's the sweetest thing seeing a puppy and happy kids frolicking around!

Javonn was extremely fearful of animals when he first came home, but that is all changing. He's still not sure about big dogs, but loves the pony and puppy!

So many happy times together between these two! Kianna can make Javonn giggle like crazy. I think often she's not even intentional about it, he just finds her super funny!

This is one of the toddlers most favorite past times......taking ALL the toys from the toy room and piling them...somewhere....you never quite know where you may stumble across it. It could be on the front porch or in the entry way..... Most times I let just let them have fun because it entertains them for a looong time.

Javonn is completely fluent in English and dosent seem to remember any mandarin anymore!  We are amazed at his speech.... he is so talkative & can say anything! It's darling!

So there's a little peak into our lives.  We are enjoying the remaining weeks of summer and preparing for the new school year. Our garden is yielding abundant yummy fresh produce which we have been enjoying so much!

Love and Blessings....