Update on Us

Well Thanksgiving has come and gone.  The trees are up... yes I said trees, the house is decorated with lights thanks to a great hubby who spent the whole day on the roof last Friday.  I think the neighbors thoroughly enjoy watching him all day.  It's become an annual thing that he climbs on the roof and decorates while the neighbors regularly come outside and check up on him to see what he might do.  AJ and Selam were so interested in daddy on the roof.  Selam would run out the front door to try and see him then through the house and out the back door.  It was super cute to watch her watch him. 

Jenna and Selam are doing great in school.  The teachers say Selam has begun raising her hand during class to try and answer questions.  They feel like this is a big deal b/c it shows she is not afraid to speak English and is really starting to participate more in the class.  AJ has done really well in daycare.  The director told us last week that he is starting to get the hang of the routine and is doing much better at knowing and following the rules.  Both of the kids have really gained strides in their English abilities and communicate in almost all English with us.

Jenna continues to be more and more patient with AJ and Selam and thanks to our wonderful church and the kids lessons there revolving around "fruits of the spirit" we have been able to really encorporate what our lives should be like with each other during the tuff times.  Over the weekend Selam and Jenna really spent some great time playing together.  They have played together well before but this play was much more interactive and cooperative.  They seemed to be really enjoying each other's company which Bryan and I were so pleased to see.  A couple of times I even felt bad for our little guy b/c he almost seemed to be left out.  My momma heart really kicked in at that moment and I found myself wanting to swoop him up and give him lots of love!  Also another great sign that we are all bonding more!!

A little funny - the weather was great this weekend so the kids played outside a lot.  At one point I was in the kitchen cooking lunch and I heard this rustling around underneath the bay window in the kitchen so I went outside to see the girls with big eyes and racing hearts (you know that sort of "oh no she's going to see look") and then found AJ crawling out from under the bay window covered in dirt and cobwebs.  Seems the two girls got together and found a toy under there they wanted that we had lost a while back and sent their little brother in after it.   Yes I would say we are definately becoming a family a little more each and every day.  We gotta keep a better eye on those two girls now - no telling what they might have their little brother into tomorrow.

We hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are getting in the Christmas spirit!
Love to all,
Kim

P.S.  We recently had family pics taken hence the new photo at the top of the blog.  Enjoy!!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving friends!  Probably my last post this week as we wrap up work and hang with family.  Things are going pretty good... I will give you all a good update once we get through the holiday weekend.  For now something fun!  The kids have been talking about food a lot at school this week b/c of Thanksgiving and in Jenna's 1st grade class their writing assignment was to create their favorite family recipe.  It was too cute not to share.  Enjoy and have a blessed weekend.
Love to all,
Kim

250th Post

Wow!  Post #250.  I didn't feel like I could let this moment go by without documenting it.  250 posts = a long time, a lot of things I've had to say, a transformation in my heart, and a long journey in the adoption world + a now crazy life with 3 kids, a dog, a cat, two hermit crabs and 1 guppy fish.  LOL

This blog started out as a way to document the journey of our adoption but it's turned into so much more.  My mind dreams up ways it can be different on a regular basis, ways it can be more.  I am anxious and excited to write 250 more posts.  To have 250 more entries of life, love, family, friends, faith and fun!

I would love to hear from the readers of A Blissful Heart!  Leave me a comment and feel free to put a link to my blog on yours.  Here's to another entry.........

Love to all,
Kim