Grandparents are the best!

We have now had day long visits from both sets of Grandparents and both boys are in love! It was a joy seeing Caleb's face light up seeing his Grandparents and then watching Tope as he started to get to know them. We could tell he recognized them from pictures he has looked at, both from the book we sent him while in the orphanage, and pictures we have around our home of the Grandparents. We spent our days by staying home and just enjoying our time together around the house. By the end of both visits, Tope was happy to give them all hugs and big smiles.

We are beyond blessed to have such supportive parents that love their grandchildren with their whole hearts. Words cannot express how thankful we are for the love they share for us and our children. God is good.

Here are just a handful of pics from our days together. I'm sure there will be many more pictures to be taken in the years to come!

Time with Grandpa & Grandma Schack...

Oh these two! They crack me up! Two peas in a pod. :)

Grandpa shoveled a little trail for them in the snow.

Was hard to keep the boys from jumping around!

Finally they were able to take a "silly" picture.

Time with Opa & Oma Ostermeier...

The boys were given early Easter baskets
that included these fun bunny mouth suckers.

Bubble blowing fun!

Lots of down time - always good!
Putting together a Jack Sparrow puzzle

A quick last picture before they were on their way home.

Thanks again for visiting us Grandpa & Grandma and Opa & Oma! Looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

Mara

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To the man who raised our son - In Memory of Pastor Dan

If all of us can only understand what compassion and grace truly mean, this world might be a better place. ~Pastor Dan Montenegro
There is a person I have dreamed of seeing again. I imagine our Tope, ten years older, as a young man, going back to where he was raised the first five years of his life. The walls of his orphanage would take shape and memories would form for Tope, memories that he would both share and keep to himself. We would share our memories too. Memories of when the gate opened and we first saw his face. Memories of the children that surrounded us, watching as he met his Mom & Dad for the first time. Memories of the caretakers that had spent so much time and love on our little boy. And then we would not just see the building, the new children living here, the memories of past and present, but we would see Pastor Dan standing there, standing proud and grinning as he would hold out his arms to embrace our son.
This man. He is kind, gentle, humble. He is a servant …

A feminine touch

How often do you think God looks down upon us and laughs at the things we think and say? I have to think, if I were God, I would be having a good chuckle at least every other hour just listening to my thoughts alone!

Here was His chuckle...

Mara: "I think we are destined for all boys in this house. The craziness of these boys! oy! This is my life."

God: "Lol! Haven't you heard that Everyone agrees that girls are much harder than boys!?!"

Mara: "For certain the only "cute" clothes I will buy will include a collar and buttons."

God: "Hehehe! You do realize that girls don't just need a pair of tennis shoes for the winter and sandals for the summer, right!? They need dress shoes, sandals, tennis shoes, cute boots, real boots, shiny shoes, easter shoes, christmas shoes...."

Mara: "It would be fun to have another female in this house. These boys could use more feminine presence. They are much less crazy. "

God: "You as…

Until we meet again: A Fostercare Goodbye

For baby girl and big boy A -

Here is the time I must say goodbye to you, my sweet, sweet children. For almost four months, you have been a part of our family, a part of our daily life, and a big part of my heart.

Please know I do not see this as a forever goodbye, for I know I will see you again. It may be next month, catching up at the park. It could be next fall, waving in the hallway at school. Maybe we will see you at your next birthday party, and I can see how tall you've grown. Or perhaps we will attend your graduation, and congratulate you on the fine young adult that you are. And in the card I write you, I'll remind you of the the four months we had together, and how you still have a part of my heart.

Although maybe the next time I see you, time will have passed by many, many years. I will be at the store or I'll be walking down the street and I'll think-what a beautiful and confident young woman that is, or what a handsome and kind young man he is. You won…

Waiting Stitches

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