I am Back

I took a break from the computer for 2 weeks it was great I only checked my email didn't blog or read blogs or FB. It took me a while to figure out what to do with all the time that I was spending at the computer but I found time to read and play with the girls more, get outside more. Unfortunately my house did not magically become spotless, I think I am waiting for the kids to get back in school before that will ever happen. But it was a nice break.

Summer is almost gone we are wrapping up the last few activities before the kids head back to school in a week, where did the summer go?? We took family pictures today, McKenzie leaves soon and wont be back until the middle of December so I wanted to up date the pictures before she goes. She is starting her senior year in college, applying to her masters program and basically just growing up and turning into a wonderful person not that she wasn't before but she is almost an adult ready for life on her own, I have a feeling that her time in our home is slowly coming to an end and she will be on her own for good before too long.

All the other school age kids are getting excited to go back to school it will be a little weird with just Avrie home all day with me I can't wait she is a funny little thing and we will have a lot of fun! Both girls are growing up and getting so much bigger! Time is going by way too fast Avrie keeps telling people that she is "almost 4" I keep telling her to enjoy being 3!

Miss Independent

Avrie likes to do everything for herself from getting dressed to going to the bathroom, getting water from the fridge, and now she has found a few more things she "thinks" she can do on her own. She was so happy to show me that with the help of her stool she can open the microwave.....

Work the toaster...

Cook things on the stove top...

And wash her hands (or play in the water) "all by myself!"

I wish I could stop time for a while I love having a 3 year old in the house she is so much fun!

Home for 6 Months!

I still remember this day...it was the first time I met Destina, her personality came shinning out and she was such a fun little girl. That was June 2008 over 2 years ago! She taught me a lot about living in the moment and being happy even in difficult circumstances.

Today she is still that happy little girl that I met in Haiti except now she has a few more expectations, and she is healthy and feeling loved and secure in her "new world"! My favorite part of the day is first thing in the morning they wake up and come get in bed with me and we cuddle and talk, she tells me stories of Haiti and we have some really good conversations. When she first came home it was pretty awkward for her to show real affection, she would give anyone a hug, but it took her a while to tell us that she loved us and for her to give us kisses, now she gets mad if we are hugging and kissing on Avrie and she doesn't get her share!

This was in October of 2009 and I was so happy at how healthy she looked, I had hope that I would be bringing her home and that she would survive.

Now that she has been home for 6 months it just seems so normal that she is running around the house, she is feisty and has an attitude but she is also so sweet and loving and still loves to cuddle and give lots of kisses. She is smart and talking up a storm it is kinda funny when she gets mad at someone and starts telling them what they did wrong in a very loud voice. She loves having so many people loving her and playing with her!
I am still grateful and amazed EVERYDAY that they are home, that they are safe, and that they are doing so well! We are truly blessed to have them in our life, it was worth every heartache, every piece of paperwork, every prayer offered, every minute of the long wait.