Two years ago today

Taken May 12, 2010 Galveston Trip
It was two years ago today that officially Andrew and Kathlena became Shiflets. Time has passed so quickly and those two tiny Russian speaking children have blossomed into two confident, loving, adorable little kids. This second year has been a year of really getting to see a deeper level of their personalities emerge and take shape. With the addition of another younger brother there was a new time of bonding as the six of us experienced the birth of Calvin together. Watching Calvin grow through my pregnancy and as an infant has given us many occasions to speak about life and their adoption. The questions of where they were born and how have come up and we have chosen not to romanticise their past, but to be honest. Simply, much we do not know. Just like times in our lives when the Lord chooses not to reveal how or why something has happened, but we are to trust in faith knowing that He is good and His ways are best we are teaching our children (all of them) to accept that sometimes there will be no answers this side of eternity. What we could share with them as appropriate for their age we have been honest with them about. One thing for sure that we talk about is the amazing journey through faith that the Lord took us on to bring them home. The joys of seeing them for the first time, the pain of leaving them and the faith that the Lord would reunite us in His perfect timing.

It has been especially sweet to talk about those first few weeks with them and hear their side of the story since their English has broadened and matured to where they are able to better articulate what they remember. Of course most of Kathlena's memories are pictures and video she has seen, but that is okay as she is learning from hearing the story of love that joined us together. Andrew remembers snapshots of things and feelings of excitement over having a family...you can see it in his face when he tells the story of seeing us for the first time and leaving with us never to return to the orphanage. He was asked one time by some friends what his favorite thing about Russia was. His answer was simply, "meeting my parents". Wow! I am not sure I will ever grasp what that feeling was like for him. I know for me it was one of the happiest days of my life.

We spent the day together and had the opportunity to have dinner at a friends house. They too are adopting from Russia. They have a 14 month old son waiting for them now and Lord willing they will be bringing him home in little over a month. It was such a joy to share in their journey and see them meet their son for the first time...brings back sweet memories. We rejoice on this day for what the Lord has knit together in our family and for our dear friends who wait to bring their son home also.

We also talked about another family in our church who is right now in China with their daughter whom they will be bringing home soon. Adoption is something that is talked about frequently in our home and church and I am grateful that our children will grow up knowing many children who have been adopted from foreign lands and right here in America also.

While we have had struggles over the past two years too, the Lord has extended us much grace and continues to do so day after day as new things unfold. I love all of my children and treasure these days I have with them. I know they are but a vapor and before long their childhoods will be distant memories. How thankful I am to be their Mommy and to spend my days with them...a job I would not trade for anything else in this world.

Our Family Day Anniversary

Today

One year ago


One year ago

A whole year ago today Andrew and Kathlena became Shiflet's. It seems a lifetime ago. They have changed so much that I hardly recognize them from their pictures only a year ago.
Andrew is so bright, inquisitive and helpful. He has a generous heart and is very protective of his sisters...especially Kathlena. They still have their squabbles like all siblings, but he always thinks of her when he gets a treat and is ready to share. Andrew can count to 100 and is on the verge of reading...quite amazing considering he has had to learn so much with one eye patched mostly and a whole new language. He loves to see how things work and to build his ideas in the wood shop with his daddy. He is also quite the little theologian as he has memorized over 50 questions in the Catechism For Young Children. He has an incredible capacity to memorize songs also. Some of his favorites are In Christ Alone, Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent, Psalm 1, and Jesus Thank You to name a few. He also has a real aptitude for music particularly the piano. He has learned to play by ear. He can play parts of Beethoven's 5th symphony and the songs he hears Emily and J.Michael practice. Despite a challenging year with his vision he has coped and excelled in all areas. We are so glad to have his surgery soon and he is too. We have so many more experiences and opportunities to grow together in the upcoming year. We love you our sweet son.

Kathlena is a completely different child from the frail little girl we brought home a year ago. She is beyond blossoming. I could never have imagined in those early months that we would be where we are now. She is so smart, happy, beautiful, strong, confident, and just a joy to be around. I look at her early pictures now and really see her sadness. I didn't see it then, but after seeing her now it is so apparent how her former life had robbed her of her joy and being the vibrant little girl that she is. Praise the Lord for freeing her and giving her to us. She is mommy's little helper and loves to play with her brothers. She can keep up with them whether it is on bikes, running and playing in the yard or playing nerf or cap guns. She is quite the rough and tumble and loves every minute of being outside. She has even gotten a little tan, but then living in Houston how could she avoid it! Her growth has been phenomenal as she has gained over 10 pounds and grown 2 1/2 inches in a year. Her hair is long, thicker and curly...just beautiful! I have to say that her smile and that laugh can make the sourest attitude melt away. She is our sweet little cutie whom we love so much and we are so blessed to be her mommy and daddy.

3 months today...time flys!

Andrew like his Dodad(a.k.a. Dewey) and Aunt Susie loves
bubbles. Wow! that is a really big one Andrew, good job!

I can hardly believe it has been 3 months since Andrew and Kathlena were officially ours. It seems so long ago yet such a short time...3 months. We are growing together as a family each day and getting to know each other deeper with every new adventure together. It is sweet time at 3 months as they are becoming so much more settled and more of their little personalities are emerging.

Andrew is now speaking many English phrases in context and beginning to speak where others-not just his family-can understand and converse with him. He still speaks some Russian sometimes; it's harder to tell if it is Russian or heavily accented English word he is trying to say. Often if he is in a hurry we will hear certain words in Russian first as it is still what comes to mind quickest.

Andrew loves trains, especially Thomas, although Diesel is his favorite. He loves to put the brio train track together with his big brother. It is great for both of them as they grow their relationship together. Andrew also loves music and is very fond of Hank the Cowdog songs...go figure when it is J.Michael"s and Emily's favorites too! He and big brother are becoming good friends. It has been an adjustment for both as J.Michael has given up a lot of his time and space for his little brother and it has been a sacrifice on his part...a good one though. J.Michael is becoming quite the good "coach" helping his brother grow and be part of the family. Andrew too is helping J.Michael to be patient and become a good teacher. How thankful I am that they have each other.

Andrew also has his Mom's and big sisters (well, all of us Shiflet's and Davis's really) love for animals...while he was terrified at first he is now a regular bug and reptile collector and mammal holder like the rest of us. (See photos below of tadpole catching in the backyard...he was so excited to see a "baby" frog). While at Nana's he caught a big toad in his bug collector (with mom's help...he says "no touchy Andrew" but liked watching him in the cage)

Andrew with a newborn kitten at Uncle
Todd's.

Introducing "Senor Whiskers" the newest addition to the barn cat clan of the Davis ranch.
Emily also loves to work with Andrew teaching him to sing hymns. I am amazed by Andrew's great interest in books. He likes to "read" the pictures and tell you the story and has begun to recognize English letters and their sounds. I think once we get his vision stable he will be reading in no time. He is so smart and has already overcome so much...he is definitely a survivor. We know that along with the survivor skill comes some hardness but he seems not to bear this mark with his sweet nature. Only time will tell how deep those marks are and we trust in our heavenly Father to heal them and give us the wisdom to help Andrew as he matures.

Andrew catching tiny "pinhead" sized tadpoles...what a great
exercise for his eye with his patch! He loves frogs too!

Everyone (well almost, Kathlena was napping) trying to catch all they
can and put in the bucket as we need the "poo wah", pool for swimsuit
as Andrew calls it.

Emily thanks for the macro tadpole pic...great job!

Andrew's catch and release toad.

Kathlena has become this ball of energy that you are just drawn into that makes you laugh and smile. Her cuteness could melt the hardest of hearts. She is truly a happy child...so different than when we first met her almost 7 months ago. Her middle name Hope embodies the Spirit of adoption. All the worries and concerns we initially had about her have now passed and all we see is this beautiful, happy, precious little gift from the Lord. She is growing and developing so quickly. She parrots everything we say...especially big brother Andrew. We continue to see much progress with her by using opposites to help her develop ( ex. Kathlena-small, Daddy-big) and it seems she is now where Andrew was verbally (English) around week 2-3. So, she is catching up quickly. She is almost potty trained again too! Although we have had some ups and downs with sleeping through the night this past month, this too seems to be going back to normal. She has only been mildly sick once so we feel she is very healthy and building up her immunity. Even after being at the State Home School Conference...no one got sick...Wow! This was a good test and we passed with flying colors.
Kathlena is Mommy's shadow and loves to do whatever I am doing. She also spends time following big sister Mimi around too. She loves to be our "helpoor" as she says. She is another home maker in training. Here is a recent pic of her and Emily working together to mop the kitchen.

Great job girls! It looks fantastic. Thank you for
how you joyfully serve your family.

Andrew and Kathlena with the baby goat,
Happy. They loved feeding him, but Kathlena
kept a healthy distance the rest of the time.

"Yeena" holding her kitty at Nana's. Mom said, "Nice

try...Emily tried the same thing but kitty's stay at

Nana's no matter who claims them!"

Kathlena with Uncle Todd...she wasn't too sure about holding the

kittens at first. She loves her Uncle Todd so if kitty's are okay with

him they were okay with her.

Here's a video of A and K feeding the goat with
their Babushka-Nana. Thanks Nana for keeping

Happy til they could come see you...I know you

are ready for him to go back to the herd.


In another 3 months I can't even imagine how they will have changed. At six months we have a post-placement report, the first of 4 over the next 3 yrs. I think we will have plenty of pictures to choose from to send to Russia!