JEREMY

It is finished!

One thing to know about adoptions is that it always seems like there is "one more process" to go through or one more paper to fill out.  Even when we thought we were at the end of it a year and a half ago there were still "more of this and that" and "wait another year for one more thing" before it's all completed.

Well, Friday AUGUST 20th we walked into the US court room, 

 said "I do" and the judge made it all official and complete.  

Not only is Jeremy always and forever recognized as one of the Youngs, he is also a US citizen.

Our judge was super nice.

We were thankful for the family members who sacrificed their time to come and support us and for those who wished they could be there.

Jeremy's cousin Edie on the left and his Grandma in the back...

Another wonderful grandma....

Jeremy's uncle and Grandpa...

His cousin Emery, Aunti-lolo, of course his sister and also his uncle...

Another picture of Emery 'cause she's just SO cute!

Already being a year 3 months since Jeremy's been home we no longer first think of him as the little guy we adopted but as...Jeremy.  I don't know how much that makes sense....but I guess it's not that we forget that he's adopted, it's that THAT is not what defines him to us anymore.  He's JEREMY, full of energy, curious about everything, always has something to say or ask (his nick-name: walkie-talkie), when he gets excited he gets loud...I mean LOUD and overflowing with excitement!  It just pours out of him.

This is our Jeremy.  This is who we love!

FAMILY NIGHT

Every Tuesday night is our Family Night.

We make it a point to spend time laughing and enjoying each other.

Last night we played a new game together...a twist on the old time game of Uno.  

It was fun and crazy.

 Then we dished up some super YUM ice cream.

 Jeremy decided it was better on his face than in his tummy:

While the kids got ready for bed,

Andrew entertained us with some AWESOME juggling:

 (our air conditioner doesn't work very well..thus the boys often go shirtless...personally, I think Andrew just likes to show me how studly he looks)

 And, if you've never heard the story, the first time Andrew and I ever met he was juggling rubber chickens...a whole 'nother story for a whole 'nother post.  :)

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 This morning the kids biked to school for the first time:

 They were so excited!  Biking on their own is a sign of responsibility.  Joshua is great at taking the lead and watching out for his sister.

 Jeremy misses his brother and sister.  
He watched them ride away as Daddy followed in his truck to be sure they crossed all the streets safely.

I let Jeremy ride his bike in the front while I did my Bible study on the front porch. 

It was a beautiful morning.  

When we went inside, I took a nap while Jeremy watched a little TV show.  
Then we spent some time going over our letter of the day "Hh".  

Now we're eating lunch and the day is only half over.  I've got a lot to do but little energy and motivation to do it!  They're not things that HAVE to be done, just what would be good to get done, so it's okay.

First Day of School

The kids are off to school.  

The first time in our lives that BOTH of the older kiddos are in public school.  Last year was Joshua's first year, this year is Angela's first.

5th Grade:

Angela was excited about this new adventure.  But today as I left her in her classroom I could tell she didn't want me to leave.

3rd Grade:

I thought that I would cry today.  

So far I haven't.  Maybe I'm too tired to cry.  :)   Joshua was up super early this morning out of excitement. 
I am sad that I cannot homeschool them this year.  We had hoped that the answer to my headaches and exhaustion would have been solved by now.  But alas, here we are still on the investigation.

I have loved teaching and seeing each child's mind develop and grasp concepts.  There are many things to discover in God's world and it has been wonderful that I've been able to experience it with them.  I will miss that dearly.

This year I get the awesome fun of doing as much as I can with Jeremy.  I will guide him through Kindergarten.  This week is our preparation and planning and then next week we'll start full steam ahead.  My energy level is often low and I still need lots of rests so we'll see how it all fits together.  I can't believe how quiet and calm he it is just him and I. 
I'm looking forward to this next year.
New challenges for all of us.  It's a good thing.  New challenges bring new adventures.  Hard things can be good when we let God use them to purify us and mold us into His will.

health update

Went to the nutritionist.

Nothing new.  Nothing has changed.

Every day I am still exhausted.  Head in such a thick fog I can barely think. 

More tests.  At least they're not painful tests!  Just spitting in tubes and such.  :)

Every test I take I learn more about my body and the crazy way it functions.  Although I do not have to stick to my food deprivation diet strictly I am still avoiding as much of those foods as possible.  This will continue to give my body the greatest opportunity to be strong.

Isaiah 35 (condensed)

The wilderness and desert will be glad

...and will rejoice and blossom like the lily

...it will blossom profusely and rejoice with rejoicing and shout of joy

...they will see the glory of the LORD, the majesty of our God.

Encourage the exhausted, and strengthen the feeble

...."Take courage, fear not.  Behold your God will come with vengeance; the recompense of God will come, but He will save you."

Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf will be unstopped.  Then the lame will leap like a deer, and the tongue of the dumb will shout for joy.

...waters will break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.  And the scorched land will become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water.

...the ransomed of the LORD will return and will come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads, they will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

Is there ever an end to feeling miserable?  
Besides in heaven?  
Here on earth will I ever feel good again?

Physically my body feels like a zombie (dead, yet walking around) but my soul has been redeemed through Christ's sacrifice, and my spirit is ALIVE.

My body is a desert scorched and dry, but because of the power of God, His Living Water has been poured out to me.    

God, my Father, is my light, salvation, my shepherd, my hope and joy.

My sweet mother-in-law gifted us with a creative covering for shade in our backyard.  

It is a great spot for many of my plants that need shade.

Then another person gave us a patio table and chairs.  

We are SO thankful for such kindhearted generosity!

We love being in the backyard...playing, eating our meals, reading...any reason we can think of!

TATE

Isn't this the cutest picture EVER?!

This is my nephew, Tate.

I loved being able to see him, kiss him and play with him!

It was great catching up with my sister and brother-in-law too.  Kentucky is too far away.  I wish we were closer to stay in touch better.  So I treasure these moments dearly!

The next couple days are devoted to recouping from the trip.  Although I was only gone for 4 days I missed my family SO much.  My husband was super great and surprised me by cleaning the house and stocking the fridge before I got home.  He's amazing.

On Monday I go in for a doctors appointment so I'll update you on that next week.  My headaches and exhaustion are very much the same.  No change.

Next week is our last week before school starts.  This year both of the two older kiddos will be going to public school (last year it was just Joshua).  I will miss not having them here.  I love how helpful they are.