Maddox Then and Now

One year ago last week, we went to St Petersburg, Russia to meet a little 14-month old boy.  From that first meeting, we knew this was the son that God had planned for us.  And, one year later, the evidence is just to overwhelming to deny.  Looking back, the last year has been a whirlwind of changes in our lives yet God has faithfully guided us through it all...even when we doubted.

He was a scared, sad, little guy that we couldn't get to smile over the course of the 6 hours we spent with him over 2 days' time and would spend 45 minutes savoring every last crumb of a cookie.  I can remember thinking to myself...how am I ever going to get through to this little boy.  Yet, I knew in my heart he was meant to be a part of our family just as much as Emma, Geneva or Jackson.
Of course, all kids grow and change, but we believe that little boy that we met 12 months ago is a distant memory in so many ways...he is still inquisitive and observant, but it isn't centered around self-preservation. 
Some of other qualities that served him well in the orphanage are still there...determined, strong-willed...a survivor...however, those (when shaped and molded) will serve him well in life.  He has learned to be a part of a family, to share, to show affection and caring
We know over the course of the next 2 months we will be thinking a lot about our trips to Russia one year ago.  Day to day, it is hard to see the changes but looking back it really is amazing how far he's come.

THEN                           

NOW

Bike Accident #2

Geneva is always trying to keep up with Emma and do the things she has done...well this time, I think we all wish she wouldn't have.  The other day Britt and the girls went for a bike ride, but everyone didn't come back on their bike.  While going down a small hill, Geneva crashed and it was a BIG crash.  As she tells it, it goes something like this:
"I was going down the hill and I felt the wind whipping past my ear and that distracted me.  I took my hands off the handlebars and the front tire started to go like this (imagine her holding her hands out and shaking pretend handlebars) and then I just had a very big, big, big, big, big bike crash." 

It caused quite a bit of scraping, bruising, a swollen cheek and lip and bumps.  She knocked out her loose tooth (thank goodness it was already loose and ready to come out) and cracked her bike helmet.  She was a trooper when getting patched up. 

Now 2 weeks later she only has a few scabs still healing on her hands and is back on her bike.  No more keeping up with Emma please Geneva...atleast not when it comes to bike accidents  :)

Sometimes it's the littlest things that make a good homeschool room...

When I started homeschooling, I never would have thought that a pencil sharpener define my obsession for a time, but it has.  While in Topeka, we had an old-fashioned metal pencil sharpener that was attached to the wall in our pantry left by a previous owner.  We used it alot, but never really thought much of it.  Then we moved and the pencil sharpener was left in Topeka (by accident).  We had a little hand one that worked for a while, but was a real pain overall.  So, I bought a "heavy use" electric one to get the job done...we go though alot of regular and colored pencils around here and need a sharp tip.  Well, after 2 months of use by this family..the "heavy-use" sharpener had had enough.  Oh, I took it a part twice and used the opportunity to show the kids a small motor and how one gear made another gear turn that made another gear turn...you get the picture.  Each time, I thought I had fixed it only for it to break within a day.  After the third time, I had had enough.  So, after much complaining about the quality of products made today, I settled on an all metal one like we used when I was growing up.  Britt, ever the caring husband, picked just the right one  at the office supply store yesterday and it was mounted that very evening.  There were many smiling faces today when they wanted a sharp point on their pencils and that made a very happy mom and teacher.