So, what has been going on in our lives.
Rachel is in 2nd grade this year with Mrs. Keffer and is doing fantastic. I can't say the same for first grade. While I loved her teacher, Mrs. Kennedy, Rachel just really struggled with the work, social life, routine, etc. I knew there was a disconnet somewhere when she struggled putting a pencil to paper. If you've talked to this girl, you know that she's smart, witty, highly verbal (beyond her years, really!), intuitive, funny, etc. that I knew something wasn't right when she couldn't get her words on paper. She struggled with reading and writing that it was causing her undue stress...us as well! It broke my heart and frustrated me a that same time, with the meltdowns she had over homework. I can't tell you how many tears she shed (me as well!) when it came to homework. Finally, after conferences in November, we knew she needed to be tested for a possible learning disability. Low and behold, she definitely has a learning disability and even is considered gifted with her test scores. Sort of knew this, but it was nice to get the validation through testing. Rachel started her Learning Support class in March of 2014 and after a year, she is doing amazing! She is reading on grade level and can now write a sentence without the meltdowns! Her confidence is growing and the teachers couldn't be more pleases. I am so proud at the hardwork she put in and where she is now. Listening to her read makes me smile and even brings me to tears. Her handwriting, in one month of starting support, has did a complete turnaround. When I looked at the difference between the two, I was in awe! She even qualified for Occupational Therapy helped with these tasks. I am so thankful for her teachers and support because I don't know where we would be today without them!
Rachel is a very active sweet and sassy girl at 7 1/2. She is creative, smart, sweet as they come. She definitley challenges us to be better parents with her strong-willed and sometimes defiant personality. Dave and I have had to dig deep for support and encouragement to parent our beautiful girl. We are getting there and I do feel like things are improving. God chose us for this job, so now it's our job to learn to do it well. Rachel is busy with running club on Tuesday's, Spanish Club on Wednesday's followed by piano lessons with Ms. Ginny. She has dance class on Thursday's and they are now gearing up for their recital in June! She recently joined the Clover Buddies with the 4-H club in Collegeville which meets once a month. For some reason, she has this desire to learn more about planting, sewing and knitting. I'm hoping the 4-H will give her those skills she is desiring to learn. I'm hoping I can learn right along with her!
Can you believe Jake is in 11th grade this year? I still don't think I've come to terms with the fact that he'll be a senior next year and then off to college he goes! He's 17 years old now and driving and has a part-time job with Chick-Fil-A! My boy is growing up way too fast. He is a remarkable young man who makes me proud. I think I need to tell him that more often! Jake has a lovely girlfriend, Hannah, who seems to be perfect for him. They have had a couple of ups and downs, but they always seem to find their way back together. I wouldn't want to be a teenager today with the demands that are placed on them today. My little boy is driving too! Talk about a whole new realm of worries for a parent. He is driving well and wants to drive whenever he gets the opportunity. He even wants to drive when it's just him and me going to an appointment or whatnot. I sometimes wish there were breaks on the passenger side of the care for parents!
Jake had a trying year and half with 2 knee surgeries and then hurting his ankle...all from playing basketball. We are hoping that he is finally recovered. He did play a little bit of basketball this past winter and you can tell he's hesitant and I think still fearful of getting hurt again. Hopefully he'll gain confidence has he conditins and strengthens. Jake also returned to playing baseball last summer. Hoping he'll keep it up this summer as well. A coach did just reach to him recently about playing for them, so I'm hoping he takes them up on it! Jake is doing okay in school...solid "B" student. He's incredibly smart and I know he can do better but for some reason there is no fire under that butt of his! I'm praying it's just being a teenager and that it'll "kick in" for him. He tells me that it'll be different when he's in college. But don't they have to develop their study skills and habits now? According to teenagers, parents don't know what they are talking about because we were never teenagers ourselves. Hmm. He's is a great kid and is respectful to adults and is likeable by everyone. He has a great character about him that is attrative. I pray that he follows the path that God has before him and that God will always help him make the right choices. So far so good! I'm blessed to be Jake's parent and look forward to watching him grow into the young man God has called him to be.
Dave and I are plugging along as parents. Between working, parenting, activities and whatnot, we don't have a lot of time for much else. We are going away this weekend to a couples retreat, Together Called 2015, for parents who have adopted. It's a retreat for parent to reconnect as a married couple and to connect with other couples who have adopted. I am really looking forward to it. My introverted husband is doing it for me, but I'm praying he comes away from the weeknd renewed as a husband and father and me as a wife and mother.
Can't believe we are about to enter April and to celebrate Easter. We are headed to North Carolina this year, not only for Easter, but to celebrated the adoption finalization of our little nephew, Lil' Marion. This has been a long process for my sister, Sandra, and her husband, Marion. Lil' Marion has been a part of the family since day one and of course we don't need court documentation telling us he's family, but unfortunately, it's a process that has to be done. We are looking forward to seeing the family and spending time together to celebrate and connect. It'll be a fun experience coloring eggs with all the cousins together and waking up to Easter baskets. Hoping we all make it to church as well to celebrate the reason for Easter.
Our Christmas Family Photo -
picture taken in October 2014
Jake and Hannah
