Friday ~ last day of school

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  Our oldest son finishes first grade today. He is growing up. We are so blessed to be his parents. We struggled for 10 years to have a baby. Finally, we decided to adopt. From the time we entered the adoption agency to the time we left the hospital with Grant in our arms, was the length of a pregnancy (9 months). We met Grant a month before he was born. His birth mom and dad chose us to be their baby's parents. What a gift of love they gave us! The four of us chose his name. Grant ~ "to bestow a gift or keep a promise". It fits him perfectly. He is a happy, healthy, and active boy. He loves his family, our dog, our cats, science, math, the civil war, sports, chess, and Wii sports. He makes us smile every day.We could not imagine life without this precious son of ours. We thank God every day for him. I am so thankful that his birth mom chose to give him life. I was in the delivery room when Grant was born. I wiped tears falling from her eyes. I wiped my own too.
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  Psalm 126:6 "Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy (and lullabies)".

Embracing Spring and captured moments

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  These photos capture a moment in time. Our chilren grow up so fast. If I could hold time in a bottle, these are the moments I'd cherish. They have such a delight in nature. Flowers grace their grubby, little hands each Spring and Summer and end up wilting in little jars all over our home. Free gifts from children are the best, aren't they?Max studies the plants and decides what they are all about. Sometimes he'll be inspired to draw what he finds in our bog and yard. Dandylion fluff is the best! Make a wish and blow your dreams into the future. By the next week we'll have yellow flowers scattered in our yard, ready for more flower chains and if they last long enough, more fluff again!Charlotte is all girl. She is strong and bossy with her three brothers and loves them so.  She would rather wear brown than pink, but she is into anything Hello Kitty. She loves kittens, hamsters and bunnies. She is begging us to get a bunny for her. Grant is in his imaginary place where knights and soldiers and sword fights live. This Spring he has discovered the Civil War and wants his birthday cake to "be a Civil War cake". I'll have to get creative and hopefully the cake will match the idea he has in his head. Ben is our kind soul. He has an emotional intelligence rarely seen in children. He is tender and kind and loves dogs. He draws dogs with hearts. He sleeps with his stuffed dogs, has puppy pictures and dog books in his special place by his bed. Ben is a dog boy.

We welcome Spring. We embrace the rain and warmth, but most of all, we are thankful for the gifts God has given us...Grant, Max, Charlotte, and Benjamin.
What are the times you'd like to capture in a bottle?
(All photos by Jeremy or Ava ~ thank you!)