From a Prayer to a Family

A year ago today we were praying for my sister and her husband as they were in Colombia picking up their children. They came home with our family and it has been one amazing year! They've gone from speaking Spanish to speaking and even reading English. They've both had first birthday parties, first Christmas, first prayers and first understanding of Jesus. First fun dip, first pop rocks, first new shoes and first toys of their own. First winter and first snow, first time sledding and building snowmen in their first back yard of their own in their first house that isn't shared by several families. While they've had a lot of firsts and have learned SO much this year...and they've taught us a lot along the way. It is facsinating to watch Johan pick up on not on English but on humor and sarcasm and inside jokes. He is hilarious. It has been equally fascinating to watch Dayana make advances in school. She is reading more each day and even figured out the word precious tonight without any help! They are precious. They both have grown like crazy, it just does my heart good to see their little jeans getting shorter and shorter...and then to see them get new longer jeans...that get shorter and shorter. :) Love it. Tonight we celebrated that God was so gracious to turn their prayers into a family of 4.

The theme of the evening was "1" and the colors were all of their favorites, Purple for Lynn & Dayana, Brown for Trevor and Orange for Johan. They had a blast with their grandma and grandpa and enjoyed climbing on and flipping over their grandpa. C even got in on that action. :) They LOVED their "1" balloons which later turned into bee stingers (sometimes on the back, sometimes on the front) and after that a Christmas tree and just before we left, a puppy dog.

The balloons also framed the "stage" for one of their many "shows." They often put on shows for us when we get together and while we're never sure if we've actually seen "the" show - we do always find ourselves entertained and trying to contain our laughter as Dayana directs the other two and starts over repeatedly as they get confused with their lines. Eventually all 3 start to get flustered with the costumes or props or both and are all done performing and just wanting to play again. Their personalities always come out and while they are having a blast (for the most part-until the end :) we are having a blast watching them and listening to them practice in the other room. We can remember doing shows as children too, apparently, being the youngest, I once had it in my script to kiss my cousin's toe ring. I don't remember that but Lynn does. I'm hoping it was Amy who had that role - if it was me...eww.