My weekly check in...

Some random news from our place....

Samuel's doing well despite having SIX teeth coming in at once. We started a Kindermusik (why is it spelled with a K? It bothers me!) class this week. All I can say is that it has confirmed that my calling in life is not to teach preschoolers. The teacher actually said several times "Please tell your feet to walk!" Who says that with a straight face? I was trying not to laugh through the class and Samuel was eating it up! He loved the cheesiness, so, yes, we'll be going back even if it involves singing about a dog while rolling on the floor.

We've had a couple of fun family happenings. My sweet cousin, Jenn, got engaged! We're really excited for her! My brother and his WIFE got their wedding pics back and they are very fun. Here's the webpage for anyone interested: http://www.versluisphoto.com/. I'm not sure if this is legal or not, but here's one pic that Blair sent out:

And here's Samuel in his new shirt courtesy of Aunt Blair!

Not much else to report- just taught my third week of class at the community college. It is so EASY compared to high school- no attendance, no discipline issues and the motivation level is so high! Don't get me wrong, I love high school students, but this community college stuff is great! We're praying about what to do next fall. Part of me would love to be back at my old job/school, but the thought of working full time and leaving Samuel just kills me. I know that so many moms deal with this dilemma, but I now understand it. Part time would be ideal, but isn't easy to come by! I should be good at waiting on the Lord and His plans after all of the waiting in Guatemala, but it still is a challenge to be patient!

Have a great weekend!

17 Months

Can't believe Samuel is 17 months now! A year ago I was consumed with the A+ Review at work and praying that somehow I'd be able to foster in Guatemala. And now here we are.... :)

We spent last weekend in St. Louis visiting Jimmy's family as well as Tiffany. The new fire truck toy is courtesy of Uncle Russ and Aunt Heather- Samuel is loving it! I taught my first night class last week and it went ok. Teaching a 3 hour block is a new challenge, but it felt good to be back in the classroom.

This past week I got asked my first awkward adoption question. I'm sure it's the first of many. Someone asked me jokingly "So who does he look like? I'm not sure!". This person knew Samuel is adopted. I wasn't sure of a good response so I just laughed awkwardly. It's not that it bothers me that Samuel doesn't look like us- I mean, really, no one with our DNA would have those amazing eye lashes or skinny legs! However, it does make me wonder if that is what people are noticing and thinking about when they see us together?

That's all from here- have a great weekend! We are doing a babysitting swap with some friends so we get a date night one night and then watch their little boy the other night!

Welcome Home, Otoniel! (and some other pics!)

Introducing- Otoniel Huff!!
If you've followed our adoption story, you've heard me talk about our "Guate Gang" here in KC- the five families who have all walked through this adoption process together (and all share the same agency). The Huff's just brought their precious guy home Sunday night! Is he adorable or what? I had the privilege of meeting him in Guatemala in June. The Huff's had quite a crew at the airport and they were all smiles (well, ok, in the picture below Otoniel and his brother Keegan look exhausted, but it was late at this point!!).

We are so excited for the Huff's! Four of the six children being adopted by our little group of friends are now home. Please continue to pray for Paulo and Caterin. We want them home soon!! Below are a few pictures of Samuel from the past couple of weeks.

Hitting the playground last Friday when it was almost 60 here!! Almost felt like Guatemala (on a cool day!). I think this picture could be great to pull out when Samuel and Erick are about 16 :).

Jimmy with Samuel and Marlie (the precious little Duggin girl!) sporting the Scottish hats- who knew we had two!?

A blurry pic of Shane, Marlie, Jimmy and Samuel

I think Jimmy had more fun than anyone else. At the end, Erin and I were having to drag the dads off of the play equipment :)

Samuel's first (non-grandparent) babysitters

Thanks, Aimee and Christine!!

All's well here. I teach my first class this week. Samuel is officially WALKING! He just took off this weekend and is doing great. We're headed to St. Louis this weekend to see Jimmy's fam. That's about it from here!

2009!

Happy New Year!

2008 was one crazy, hard, amazing year. I can't believe it's over. I can't believe we have a son, I can't believe Jimmy and I survived almost eight months of separation and I can't believe I lived in Guatemala for almost eight months!

Someone once made the comment to me that because I'm a Christian, my life has been "boring". I think I felt insecure for a moment, but then I realized that this person and I just had very different definitions of what is "boring" or "exciting". I'm going to be 30 next month (yikes!) and in the 15ish years that I've had a relationship with the Lord, I can say life has never felt boring. 2008 was no exception. I am so thankful that the Lord continues to challenge me to trust Him more and while that challenge can be hard, it is exciting, rewarding and completely satisfying. Can't wait to see what 2009 holds!!

I have to admit that blogging has become a bit of an addiction for me. When I was in Guatemala my younger brother lovingly gave me a hard time about how much I blogged and I promised him that I wouldn't be one of "those people" who blogs about normal life. But here I am... back from Guatemala and back to "normal" life... and still blogging. I love reading other people's blogs. I love Google Reader! I love staying in touch with the amazing people I met in Guatemala and other friends.

For example, we had some great friends in town this weekend- the Duggin's. Jimmy made the comment that we feel like we're up on their life because we read Erin's blog... and it is kind of true! Speaking of Erin- she took a couple of adorable pictures from our Armstrong/Duggin weekend. Check them out on this post. Thanks for coming to visit, Duggins! We love you guys!

All's well here. I start teaching one evening class next week at the community college. I'm really excited to be back in the classroom. We'll see how it goes! Samuel is doing well. We went to the doctor today because I thought he had an ear infection. The ears are good, but the bit of redness on his um, man part, earned him an antibiotic. Guess we'll be scheduling his circumcision pretty soon!

We have been so blessed by the adoption ministry of a nearby church. They helped us financially with the adoption and have an adoption "support group". A group of ladies from the church even made Samuel a quilt when he got home! Anyways- they just got the website up for the ministry- it's called the Adoption Resource Foundation. Check it out and see the cute picture of Samuel that made the site!

I was planning to post a few more pics from the holidays and Billy's wedding, but my laptop is still waiting on a new hard drive, so I haven't gotten to it yet.

Hope 2009 has started well for you all!!