Our Miracle Baby turns "8"

On August 7, 2002 our biggest blessing arrived in the smallest package...1 lb. 10 oz...BJ came into this world 3 months early...3 months, 3 NICU's & a move to Indiana later...he finally came home!!!

Thanks to the prayers of countless friends & family our tiny baby, grew & grew...it has been a long road...but God's faithfulness & BJ's amazing progress has been soooo humbling!

In 2005, BJ's best buddy joined our family & we had our move to Michigan!BJ graduated from preschool.Enjoyed T-ballAnd he continued to grow in wisdom and stature!
He graduated from more intense speech & now is just continuing some speech at school.He graduated from a wonderful year of Kindergarten. Loves basketball, bikingSwimming And now has graduated from 1st grade

He got to play on the All-Star team this summer

And he loves his Mom & Dad & brother & sister

So tomorrow he turns "8"...he wanted cupcakes with a lot of M & M's


And to go "Glo-Golfing"
He's the best oldest brother!!!

Tears fill my eyes as I've went through the pictures of BJ growing up, each milestone we hit does that to me. I think I would be that way a little just because he's the first one hitting these steps, but as I think back about all the things we didn't know if he would ever be able to do...they really are a BIG deal. And they are also a BIG deal because we believe in a really BIG God who answered A LOT of prayers...and today he stands like a real "man" in our living room...it is sooo humbling!

He has a precious, tender heart that comes from the Lord. He perserveres through struggles with such a good & thankful attitude. He is a blessing to all those that know him, and we also believe without a doubt that God has actually brought each person into his life to encourage him & love him on this amazing journey of the past 8 years!

Here's a piece of the prayer, I pray with the boys at night, it seems so fitting today...

May you grow up to serve Him all of your days,

May He lead you & guide you in all of your ways,

May He bless your future with friendships that last,

May you cherish your youth & not grow up too fast...

As you rest in God's care I will rest too

Knowing that Jesus is watch over you. Amen.

Here's 1/2 way to his 16th birthday...

Acheivments & Fun in the Summer

Last Friday, we did our 12 month post-placement report, our last one with our Social Worker that needs sent to Ethiopia & we celebrated at "Five Guys"...great burger & fries near the Social Worker's office...especially special because Dad & I ate at "Five Guys" as our last American meal in the DC airport on the way to Ethiopia...neither of us had ever heard of it...but we enjoyed every bite...it was a fun way to start & end our blessed journey!

OK, do you see a little resemblence between Ellyana & I? It was a far stretch for Brian to see too, but maybe the face shape a little, the shape of our eyes when we smile, the curly hair...or maybe just me trying to look like my little beauty queen ;)

Last stop at the Social Workers office :)

BJ enjoyed playing in the All-Star tourney...here's a pic of him in the catcher's gear...he's growing up...its been so great to have him around this summer, can't believe I have 2 kiddos heading to Elementary School in the fall!!!

We loved having our friends over for a backyard "swim" party...we are so thankful for the good friends God has placed in our lives!

And here it is, the boys turning in their Summer Reading Program logs to get their Certificates & prizes, lots of books have been read to get here...all of it being made extra special because the Children's Librarian is also our dear neighbor!

We are so thankful for the blessings of summer...friends, fun & some FREE TIME!!!!

We did a lot of this...

We got back from a WONDERFUL vacation with my family...
Ellyana decided from the 1st moment in the pool that she wanted to swim by herself...so with enough gear...she did...it was darling to watch her heading around the pool...

She may have been trying to avoid this ;) Zach & BJ totally loved the pool also...it was so nice to have them as independent swimmers (without floaties!)
Precious picture of the kids headed back from the pool, Zach & his dear cousin Mycah sharing a towel...they were 2 peas in a pod the whole time!We enjoyed the beach every day & in the evening we headed down to watch the sunset & the kids loved doing smores!Sister playing in the sooty sand by the fire, right before she headed into Lake Michigan...fully clothed! She loves the water, and she loves sand too (she fits right in our family!)

Buddies...A few times "out" to get ice cream...

And too many of these to count (especially without great results)...our attempt at an updated family picture...

Our kids

And a "grandkid picture"...this is all the cousins, including our newest little boy cousin, just 2 weeks old...my sister-in-law got some better pictures, but its fun to see them all together!!!

What great memories of being together & having fun! Thank you so much, Mom & Dad!

What have we been up to!!?!

An amazing visit from Bliss the Clown (aka Aunt Heidi)...the T-ball team loved her!

The end of school, how do we say it another way, it felt like the craziness of the holiday season...here's BJ's end of the year program
Somebody LOVES ice cream at BJ's school's Ice Cream Social (french fries, potato chips, ice cream are some of her very favorites...can you say All-American?...and also she LOVES fruit, just like Zach!)
Displaying his magnetized boat at the school Open House night Darling dress from my aunt & uncle when they were in Hawaii...she didn't want to sit on the front step...she'd rather be on the run

Grandpa & Grandma K were here for the boy's T-ball trophy night

"Sister Bear"all dress up in cleats, hat & Zach's sweatshirt

And then the very busy week of Vacation Bible School, I wanted to get them all in their VBS t-shirts...its hard to get them to all stand together...and well, it seemed fitting to get the picture in the van since it seemed to be where we were a lot of the week

And off to Brian's family, with lots of celebrations & fun (I did lose my camera for a big chunk of the weekend so here are a few shots)
The boys having fun


"Doing corn", 1st year we were there for the big event...Zach did not understand why he couldn't eat the corn right as he husked it

Fun with cousins at the pond

We are CELEBRATING summer & summer break around here, I have been looking forward to this for a long time!!!!