We're in China.....

on paper anyways.  Dossier was sent last Friday and it was delivered to the CCCWA today.

Noelle Hope,

We are coming, sweet girl.  We really  are.  We as a family pray for you every day.  You are so much of a part of our family already. 

Your brother is very concerned about where you are going to sit in the car.  There is plenty of room and I promise it will be all figured out by the time you get home.

Your sister Reagan has recently decided that she doesn't want you to sleep in another bed, she wants you to sleep with her in her bed.  Between you and me, it's not gonna happen but we'll let her think that I'm "thinking about it."

Your older sisters have so enjoyed being older sisters and are overjoyed that there will be one more sister running around entertaining them.  They are pretty cool sisters, I think you'll dig them.

Your Daddy and I look at your picture every single day.  We absolutely cannot can't wait until the day we get to look into those eyes in person and as of today, we are one step closer.

With love from across the ocean,

Mama

Of all the Children in the World....

He chose her for me

And her

And him

And her

And her

Happy Mother's Day to Me!

My Boy, His Heart and My Guitar

I recently celebrated a birthday and it happened to be on a Sunday.  That same Sunday also happened to be Redemption Sunday at Sunday School for Mason.  Through out the month the children have opportunities to earn tickets by answering questions correctly, being good listeners and so on.  On the first Sunday of each month, known as Redemption Sunday, they get to redeem their tickets for prizes.

When  I got to Mason's class he came running to me with a large box.  I couldn't see at first what he had but he quickly turned it around so I could see it.  It was a guitar.  I cringed.  He already has an electric one....why the need for one more??  But before I could think any further he shouted,  "Happy Birthday, Mama!"  He had traded 75 tickets for this guitar.  He did not buy anything for himself.  I love this boy of mine more and more everyday.  I love his heart.

 And I love my guitar.....

Small Accomplishments, Huge Joy

Last week we met with Reagan's IEP team to discuss placement plans for next year.  It's pretty obvious to Dan and I that she is not ready for 1st grade.  Reagan has made huge strides this year but we feel that if she were moved up to 1st grade she would be lost and constantly trying to catch up.

I have lost a lot of sleep worrying about what was going to happen next year.  I spoke with many friends and friends who are teachers about the possibility of Reagan repeating kindergarten and they all told me the same thing....it's not going to happen and to get ready to fight for the repeat.

I started contemplating homeschooling and looked into private schools as I just don't have the fight in me.

But last week's meeting had an unexpected outcome......
We met with seven people: her specialists, her teacher, and school administrators and they were in all in agreement- BEFORE Dan and I even mentioned what we wanted to see happen next year- that Reagan should repeat kindergarten!  There was no fight.  I couldn't believe it.  It's unheard of for a child to be receiving the type of services that Reagan is receiving and in kindergarten to be held back.  God is good.

Reagan's teacher has five skills she would like to see each student perfect by the end of the year:
1.Write their first and last name without backwards letters and capital letters and lower case letters where appropriate.
2. Know and say their phone number with area code
3. Know and say their address – house #, street, city, state and zip
4. Know and say their complete birthday
5. Tie their shoes independently

Reagan is working on making her S not look like a 2 in her last name but the girl is so close.  I know that she will get it any day now.

When I need some quiet time all I have to do is get out scissors, tape and paper and Reagan will entertain herself for awhile just cutting and taping paper.  Yesterday was one of those days and so I got out the quiet time supplies.

She came over and tapped my shoulder and said, "for you" and then handed me a folded and taped up letter with MAMA written on it!  She wrote Mama all on her own!  I have tears just writing this down.  I learn daily that there is much joy in the littlest of my girl's accomplishments.

She is far from knowing her phone number, birthday and address and to be honest, she most likely will not know them by the end of the year but she knows Mama.  And that is huge.

(When I told her that I could not wait to show Daddy what she had done she asked for help writing Daddy on it)