6 Months

It is so hard to believe, we met Isaac 6 months ago today! It seems forever ago sometimes, he has just always been a part of our family, but mostly it feels like just weeks since we were in Rwanda. Isaac is now 18 months old and we have been with him everyday for the last 6 months. On that day in May we had only seen his picture for the last 2 hours and had only barely figured out the way the dates are listed in Rwanda, to know he was 12 months old not 15 months. We had been so excited to find that he celebrated his first birthday that week, on the day we arrived in Rwanda! We were finally able to drive up to the blue gates and wait for the Sister to bring him up the steps for our first time to hold him. We had just spent 4 days working towards this moment. We had been to the Ministry for several meetings, we had been to the US Embassy for a notary and on that Friday we finally received our referral in the Secretary of the Minister's office. We were surrounded by our new friend, and power of attorney, and 2 very dear friends we had made on this journey. We all gathered into a tight circle to open the envelope and see Isaac's picture for the first time, I think all 4 of us were crying at this moment we had waited for. We cried together a couple long days later when we were privaleged to see their daughter's face for the first time as well. We are forever thankful for the wonderful trip to Africa. There were many hard times, so many amazing, beautiful, miraculous times, we are forever changed. Our happiness is beyond description at now having our 4 children gathered together in our home.

I remember all the months I would walk into Isaac's room and gaze at his empty crib, awaiting that day he would be sleeping in it. It was especially hard, as the months of waiting stacked up, when I would sneak one last peek at the kids sleeping and see the last bed empty.

But now, today, 6 months after we first saw him sleeping in our arms, he is sleeping so peacefully every day in that bed. We praise God for His abundant blessings in our lives, that He would allow us to know this special boy as our son.

Here is the first day we met

And Isaac today, getting in the Christmas spirit

We are so excited as we look ahead to the next 6 months and our family's future, being all together!

Sheri

Halloween

We had a great time last night. The kids loved their costumes, they loved getting candy and stopping to eat dinner in the warm indoors. It wasn't very cold really, just some wind sometimes. They didn't let things slow down enough to get chilly anyway. The big kids RAN from door to door while we pushed Isaac in the stroller behind them. Isaac didn't really know what to think but did watch all the many kids in costumes going by. I'm not even sure he really appreciated the candy, he only ate a couple m&m's and was done, crazy, I am sure it was the fatigue of last night, he will be all over that candy soon!

Jacob-Plo Koon (Jedi Master), Camryn-Padme Amidala (while she was Senator), Bailey-Ahsoka Tano (Jedi Padawan), Isaac-Yoda (Grand Master)

Happy Halloween!

Sheri