This is the place where we are have documented the road we have walked in order to adopt our four children from Brazil and the road we are now on as a family. We are keenly aware that adopting is not just a process we've chosen to go through, but part of God's plan for us and for our children. May He be glorified through the process and through our family!

Friday, August 20, 2010

Some big news

Parenting is hard work.

That's the big news.

I think everyone in our family has had about enough high-quality, low-key togetherness for one summer.  We're all starting to get a little itchy and impatient with each other.  We've been working on teaching our children the importance of exercising patience and using kind words... while modeling patience and kind words as we teach them.  Not an easy mission.  As with so many aspects of parenting, this most recent adventure has brought many of our own humbling imperfections to the surface.  How can we expect our children to learn from us when we clearly have so much learning to do ourselves?

I'm starting to think that the answer has everything to do with a verse my dear friend Sue reminded me of today after the cats and dogs got the better of me and I sent everyone to bed very early.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  1 John 1:9   Can I even begin to forgive that much?  Will my children learn to forgive from my feeble example? Grace, Kim, don't forget about grace.  Grace and perspective.  I've got to train myself to remember the grace that got us here.  Look at these beautiful children!


Thursday, August 12, 2010

Our baby is 5!

We celebrated Brayan's birthday this weekend.  There were presents, there was swimming, there was cake and there were surprises and lots of smiles.  Still can't believe our baby's 5!

Just Silly

We happened upon this goofy and memorable experience today after a picnic on the green with papai. The director of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra was directing a Vuvuzela Orchestra on the town green. It was an event sponsored by the Arts Council of Greater New Haven and was quite a hoot.


 Here we are on our way up to the stage to get our vuvuzelas. (right around the 22s mark)


 And here we are at the final performance. :) 


 And here is some local news coverage of the event: (we make a brief appearance at about minute 1:48)