More Crazy Days

It’s the 5th of July and everyone’s doing well. We spent almost a whole afternoon with the Havens yesterday and the fireworks were probably the hit for everyone except Emory. Little Annie was so brave! I think she’ll do well with next year’s fireworks. The kids had sort of a slumber party and to them, it was pretty fun. The hit of the slumber party was the “poolhouse” and the flipflop pool thingy. What a 4th of July it was! We’re looking forward to my and Aunt Elyse’s birthday this coming 30th of July and Cousin Joshua’s birthday on the 23rd.

Anyway, today and yesterday Mama stays home and the kids are excited. Friday the kids had pictures and they were awesome! Katie started watching “The Fox And The Hound” but soon stopped for a special reason [ which I’ll tell you later]. Soon I started watching it until we decided to color. Anyway, the special reason was the toys in the room where I had pictures for graduation and Mrs. Suzie went with us. When Mama came, we were in the room with Mrs. Suzie. Afterwards, we went to Kathy’s for dinner. The boys sat next to each other and had a blast doing that. These days were fun and we’re looking forward to our trip to New Hampshire!

Love,
Ryan

……. And now, the rest of the story…..

July 4th weekend has been a fun time in our house. Lori has tried to work from the house a lot more while she plays catch-up to prepare for our vacation. We have all enjoyed it. We got to sit with a ton of friends for the fireworks and the kids really loved it. Alex seemed tired but he didn’t cover his ears as he used to. I am afraid my little man is growing up WAAAAAAAYYY too fast. Before that, we spent some time with the Havens family. Matt, Valerie, Ryan’s VBS Group Guide Jen, Annie, and Emory allowed us to intrude on their celebration and share in the festivities. It was very nice to have as many adults as kids. I am sad to say that there is no legal way to keep my parents and have Valerie’s dad adopt me, so I guess I’ll have to savor the memory of that ribeye for a long time! Anyway, I can’t speak for anyone else, but I left there with a full stomach, no hair, and a patriot soul.

Here are some pictures, once the weekend is over, it is time to get everything ready for
NH, MA, and the OUCH convention!

Eric

A little Independence Day trim

The family at SBU for fireworks

Emery shared his fireworks and smoke bombs

By His Name, I am free.

I am free. His Love is greater than anything I will ever face.
There is nothing in my life that means anything without Him. I would trade it all to know and be known by Him. When I tempted to fall back into bondage and put back on the chains, all I have to do is call on His Name. Nothing can hold me - fear and death will not conquer me. By His Name, I am free.

Happy Birthday Alex!!

Happy Fifth Birthday Alexander Fisk!!! My charming, stubborn, snugly, red-headed angel that can do complicated math since age four (including multiplication) but has just this week finally agreed to poop consistently in the potty chair.

I am so thankful for your sweet angel smile and your wonderful laugh. You have taught me more patience and a lot about Wipeout. I will never ever forget the first time I heard your cry and the first night of your life, just me and you snuggling in the hospital bed. How perfect you were then and now...We love you forever.

Kindergarten Graduation and SUMMER!

Ryan had kindergarten graduation last week. I thought it was a silly idea really until I went. Yes, I cried. It was really cool - the kindergarten and eighth graders were graduating. Ryan won "Character Awards" for Knowledge and Enthusiasm.
They showed a little slideshow for "then and now" and I flashed forward about ten years when I'll be watching him graduate from high school. My little man....

So now it's the last few days of school...you can all pray for Eric. He's the best Dad in the world and is planning for a fun summer. All three are in T-ball/baseball and Daddy is co-coaching the little ones' team. We plan a lot of lake and pool swimming and a long overdue summer trip to Massachusetts to play with cousins.

Some Pictures

I miss them already!










Here are some trip pictures. It was an awesome time. I miss these guys already.

Shhhhh, she's sleeping.....

Lori and the kids are asleep on the eve of Mother's Day here in Kansas City where we have had 2 awesome days in a reunion with our adoption travel group. They are an awesome bunch. We grew very close in China as we traveled through the adoption process together. At times, it was like 1 big family of 4 kids and 8 parents and an Uncle (not Tom.... Mr Li) who helped us along in the process. Honestly, they are like family to us. Today, after a day of eating and playing together, we swam in the pool and it was so much fun. We had the entire pool to ourselves after a short time and got a chance to continue our enjoyment of our (family) reunion. Had you observed from afar, it would have been very tough to know whose kids were whose because everyone was interacting with each other with such love and joy. I took a moment last post to wish a Happy Mother's Day to a few people and I'm gonna do it again.

Janet: Thank you for hosting. Today in the pool should be the kind of tribute that makes a mother proud. Joy was so amazing with our little Katie and Julie with her little sister Jenny. We all know how tough siblings can be with one another but your girls have been amazing with each other and all the other kids. I wish i could make a tape of Jenny's laugh, it is just awesome and she has such joy in her life that she uses it often! I hope you have a joyous Mother's Day.

Tamara: Your kids are so amazing. Nathan has been outstanding with Katie and the others. I was worried he would be bored because he was so much older than the other kids, but he has done a great job having fun with the kids and putting up with Tom and I. Logan reminds me so much of our little Alex. What a character and what energy. He is just awesome. Little Sarah....what a sweetheart. I wanted to cry seeing her by the pool today wanting so bad to get in but that feeling went away when she soon after smiled. Yes, I am listening to Hall and Oates right now! I hope Mother's Day in Kansas is great for you. You deserve it.

Jackie: OK, there aint many who will put up with me and my incessant(ly bad) humor. Dylan has grown up so much. She is a little princess yet she is still a doll. I think she will be an amazing big sister. We are so glad you guys are finally living out your dream to spend Mother's Day in Kansas with 10 kids. I put on a little Kool Moe Dee to get me in the mood to craft my Mother's Day wish for you..... "I go to work.... like a friend..... when i call at 7am you gotta love the tones ringing your ear .... aint no reason for voicemail...... aight I send a text.. what you say, your phones not there.... you left it in the yard back of the house....." Happy Mother's Day.

Lori: I already wished you a happy Mother's Day but I tell you what. I can't thank you enough for your parnership and love. For your heart and your head. It allows you to know enough to be an amazing provider and healer but also you have enough love to love me and kids with such zeal that we know you will always do your best for us in every way. Our kids are amazing and they love you so much. I love you so much. Happy Mother's Day.

To the biological mothers of our adopted children: Thank you so much. We can't know what you went through but we know that you gave up months of your life carrying and delivering our precious children. You sacrificed for 9 months to bring our children into this world and we can only guess that you have suffered being apart from them. We are blessed by your sacrifice and we acknowledge your pain. Wherever you are, I wish you peace, joy, and His love in your life. God bless you!

Mike, David, and Tom... maybe I'll say something nice about you in a future post but for now.... it's all about the moms!!!

Mother's Day is coming

With mother's day coming up and things being so crazy I thought I'd take a little time to wish Lori a happy mother's day before I forget. Mother's are a special breed and the moms in my life have all taken their job to excellent heights through different methodology. So, I will pay tribute to the mom's in my life by telling you a little about what they mean to me or have taught me.

My mom: She showed me that being a mom is a 24/7 job even when your kids grow up. She has always been all about her kids and she puts a lot of time and emotional effort into us. It has to be hard these days since Jona nd I are both grown-up and very busy for her since she vested so much effort into us and we are unable to reciprocate with as much time as she puts into us.

My mother-in-law: She has always treated me as if I was one of her kids and she is a constant reminder to me of the power and strength you can get through prayer.

Lori: She works and works and comes home to chaos. She is not a person who usually likes chaos or clutter yet she has to come home to it every day. She also has to deal with the difficulties of being a working mom. Yet, the kids are little Loris. They love their mom and they love to say the things she says and do the things she does.

Anyway, thank you to all the moms out there (especially to the moms of our kids future spouses)
for their hard work and love. You are all appreciated.

Lori, I love you and I hope you will have an awesome mother's day.