Oh How I Love You

Matt and Briley gave Barry and I a photo shoot for Christmas, they wanted to have new pics with their new sister.  A few weeks ago we set out to a beautiful pasture with our precious photographer Britney Smith.  Briley sent me a few teaser pictures today.  Oh how I love these people, each one so special, each one so different, each one so uniquely made.  God has blessed my life with a family so amazing, so special, and as I look as these pictures I can't stop smiling.  Oh How I Love You, ALL OF YOU.

Back To School Bash

We celebrated being back in school at the Back to School Bash!  Fun night!

A New School Year Begins

They had to have the "posed" picture

Kenley

Tatum

Ready to get busy

First day of first grade was an exciting day.  The girls have the same teacher this year and they are both very excited about being together.  Right now they are sitting next to each other in class, this may not last :).  They love each other so much.  It amazes me, not that they love each other but, that the love came so quickly and it is so real.
It has been 7 months since we brought Kenley home.  It seems like she has been with us always, yet the time together seems so short.  She is such a fit for our family, her siblings are in love with her and she loves having a family.  She has come so far.  Her English is improving.  She understands most things unless it is something she has never heard in English. She did call a carrot at dinner a rabbit, then laughed at herself.  She is growing in strength and understanding.  She has a great personality and she is a little mischievous.  With her English improving, she has begun to talk about her life in China.  We are thankful God brought Kenley to us.  What a true miracle, His will for our family and His power can not be denied. 

Kenley's Baptism

Kenley recently was baptised during our Sunday worship service.  It was a special day for our family.  A special day of being together and celebrating not only Kenley's being a part of our family but, a day of celebrating our publicly giving Kenley to our Lord.  We have prayed for Kenley before we even knew who she was or what her name would be.  The moment we knew she was ours we gave her to God, she is His child that we have been given the honor of parenting.  Thank you God for children, for the children you have blessed us with, and for Kenley.

God's Heart: Adoption

I Don't Know Circus

We planned a family trip to the Circus this past weekend.  As we talked about going to the Circus, Kenley said I don't know Circus. 

Kenley's new saying is I don't know_____.  It is great to hear her express what she doesn't know or what she hasn't experienced.  We did our best to explain to her what she might expect to see at the Circus.  It was a great time not only watching the Circus but, watching Kenley too.  To watch her jaw drop, to hear her say how did they do that and to see her laugh with excitement over a new experience was a special thing. 

It seems like Kenley has been with us for so long but it really has only been a few short months.  We look forward to all the great first for Kenley and to help her know______.  Know whatever it is she doesn't know.

The Backyard My New Favorite Room

My favorite room in the house right now, is not exactly in the house.  My favorite room is just out the back door.   At different times there are places I enjoy more in our home.  The past few months it has been the backyard. It is my new favorite room. Our family has always enjoyed the outdoors whether it be at a ballgame, working in the yard or playing in the yard.  So, it is no surprise that the backyard would be the place I find myself most these days, with the people I love most.