Update

A relative that I love dearly, and is one of my most favorite people in the world, wanted an update on the children. I thought I'd do it here for ease, other friends and relatives, and for my own personal use.

Hayden (14- birthday 7 June)

Hayden loves anything airplanes and is in the Civil Air Patrol, he is currently working on a test for "Aircraft Systems and Airports" that he is taking next week. He is excited about learning search and rescue, aircraft maintenance, and weather. Hayden also LOVES animals, that is his "thing", and I know will likely choose a career working with them. He particularly loves wild birds. He wants to volunteer at the local wildlife refuge, and is taking a course in biology to prepare for the harder course of zoology. Hayden has a dry wit that cracks us all up, he is wonderful with the little ones and is going to be an awesome Dad. He is helpful, compliant, loving and loves the Lord. He enjoys listening to music such as; Third Day, Chris Tomlin, and Casting Crowns. Hayden is on the bowling league (just qualified for Pepsi!) and is presently joining 4-H so he can show/ train our unruly Golden Retriever.

Kori Joy (13- birthday 24 December)

Kori was adopted 8/02, and is such a JOY! She loves cooking and regularly watches "Emeril Live!" with her Dad. She has several cookbooks and loves to try out new recipes, and has taken cake decorating classes with her sister. Kori has shown ponies in the past, and although we've had to sell our ponies, is hoping to barter some harness driving time from a friend this summer. Kori takes Highland (Scottish) dancing classes and competes 5-6 times per year. Last year she took the aggregate trophy! She loves doing this, and it's been good for her health. Kori's main love is fiddling. She picked up a fiddle about 5 years ago and has not put it down. She plays 1-3 hours per day, and is self-taught. She has an amazing gift, and Nick and I are hoping to give her more opportunities in fiddle this year. Kori is also in AWANA (Bible club) with her younger siblings, and is presently joining cat 4-H to show the older kid's new Ragdoll kitten. She likes pretty things and the color purple. ~smile~

Kristianna (12- birthday 17 August)

Kristianna has her hand in so many things. She loves history and is regularly with her nose in a biography! She knows just about everything there is to know about the presidents and trumps me every time we play the "Patriot" game. She also loves geography (as do all our children). Kristianna is a writer. She has written articles for the base paper, the Old Schoolhouse (online) magazine (re: adoption) and is working on a novel. She keeps her own blog (as does Kori). Kristianna is a voracious reader, and loves anything on adoption. She recently stole my copy of "Room For One More" and read it before I could get it back! She would like to work as a missionary in another country, helping orphans. Kristianna is thinking of becoming a nurse midwife and is clearly gifted in the sciences. She takes Highland dancing with Kori and was moved up from beginner to novice last year! She is also in AWANA and cat 4-H, and is hoping to get some more pony harness driving in this summer. She loves dressing eclectic and the color green.

Both Kori and Kristianna are awesome help around the home, great cooks, and wonderful with the younger kids.

Linnea (10- birthday 16 October)

Linnea was adopted 3/03, and is my sweet heart. She has fetal alcohol effect (which means her mother drank alcohol while Linnea was in utero), which causes her to have a poor memory, and the social skills of a much younger child. It doesn't seem to slow Linnea down one bit! She loves life! She loves to sing, play the piano and her lap harp, dance (is also in Highland dancing), and read. Linnea has done very, very well this year in AWANA and has memorized so many verses that she's already on her third book! Linnea wants to be a Mama when she grows up, a worthy goal in my opinion. ~wink~ Linnea loves pretty dresses and the color pink.

Sara Nicole (7- birthday 4 October)

Sara was adopted 8/06, and is my little wildcat! This kiddo and I had such a rough start, and I could not imagine my life without her. She is amazing, stubborn, smart, sweet, hysterically funny. I cannot wait to see the kind of woman she becomes. Sara loves acting, and does skits on a daily basis with her brother Trey. I am hoping to get them both into community theatre this spring. Sara is learning how to read, and is very good with numbers. She has a beautiful singing voice, and remembers the words to every song she hears! Sara is also in Highland dancing, and moved from primary to beginner this year, I think she will do very well. Sara is drop dead gorgeous, a gift I hope she uses carefully. ~wink~ She's a tiny little package of sweetness. We adore her, she has brought so much life to our family. Sara likes anything fun to wear, jewelry and the color blue. She's in AWANA, and is already on her second book!

Trey Lawrence (named for my Dad, I'm hoping his character is as honorable- 7- birthday 31 December)

Trey was adopted 8/02, and is my baby boy. I love this kid so much, he has been my hardest, by far, but the easiest to bond with. He is darling, half Vietnamese with a smile that melts my heart. Trey is brilliantly smart and will do anything he sets his mind to! He has recently learned to read and can be found curled up with a book on his bed. He loves Legos (doesn't every boy?), and builds the coolest things! Trey is on the bowling league with Hayden, and excited that his average has recently gone up with his new bowling ball. Trey is also interested in the fiddle, and I'm thinking (now that we've rented one for him) that he has this same gift for playing that his biological sister Kori has. Kori has been giving him lessons, and he is picking it up quickly. When their Daddy returns, we will resume our bi-monthly trips to the Old Time Fiddler workshops. Trey is also in AWANA and on his second book, these kids have done so well with memorization!! Trey is an actor, dancer, singer, comedian, and gymnast. He is a good friend, and a gentle brother. He can, and will, achieve whatever he dreams.

Trey and Sara both have an extra helping (or two or three) of energy, so I just keep trying to find ways to harness that into some positive outlets.

Kyla Marie (4 birthday- 12 October)

Kyla Bear! My other October girl! Adopted 8/06, along with her bio sister, Sara. Kyla is amazing, she has come so far this year! When we first met Kyla she was pulling out her hair, non-responsive with blank affect (no facial expressions). Now she is the ruler of our home, speaking in clear, lengthy sentences and letting her demands be known. ~smile~ She joined Highland dancing this year with her big sissies, and is working through a Cubbie AWANA book. She loves swimming, which we used to do on a weekly basis and are hoping to find the time to get back to, and will hold her breath under water. She laughs, plays, loves, dances, snuggles... she is not showing any signs of drug affect (in utero drug use), and is very bright. Kyla loves her Daddy, and the color pink.

All of our children enjoy swimming, going to the lake with Daddy, museums, concerts (classical, contemporary, symphony, fiddle), ice skating, board games, sports, nature walks, sledding, horseback riding, fun foods, visiting with friends, and movie nights.

That's my kiddos!! I am one, truly blessed, Mama. Who would've thought 5 years ago that I would be blessed in this way? As for me, I am busy reading everything I can get my hands on regarding children of special needs, and strongly considering taking some classes to finish my degree in social work. Otherwise, I am happy at home with my husband and children.