You finished your first (half) year of school! Sixth & a half grade is in the books and you have come SO FAR just since January when you started. For a girly who had never been to school AND needed to learn English at the same time...Mila, I am so very proud of you! You now know all your letters, colors, numbers and shapes. You can recite the days of the weeks AND months of the year in order. You could barely hold a pencil 34 weeks ago, now you are writing your first and last names and starting to sound out words. You are so eager to learn and are THE social butterfly at your school. I sent this picture to the Sisters at the orphanage and they are so proud of you too <3
Your communication has really blossomed this week. You are actually using more Albanian but the amount and depth of what your communicating has grown. You had had a rough morning and later that day I thought I'd try to ask you why you had been sad (just like with your brother, I talk to you like you I would anyone else but don't always expect you'd know how to respond). Your lips pursed sideways for a moment then you said "Morning? Oh...sleepy girl. All better". I was a bit shocked! Not only were you able to comprehend an abstract emotional concept, you were able to apply a past tense to it AND a reassurance of a resolution. That's kind of a big deal. I'm so proud of you! You are also answering open ended questions like "what happened at school today?" and "what do you want to do later?" I ask your brother exactly 50,000 times per day where his shoes are, but you can tell me right away that your water bottle is in your room or the car or in your backpack. What a fun new trick in our household!
Isaac:
You are a first grade graduate! I actually got a bit teared up when I picked you up from school this week. You have come SO STINKING FAR this year emotionally, physically and academically. Of course, I have a copy of all the official ways you aren't keeping up with your peers, but you and I also have a whole list of things you can do now that you couldn't do in September or even in February! One of those things was reading out loud to your classmates. Your teacher strategically scheduled you for the last week of school and you knocked it out of the ballpark! You are ready for second grade in all the best ways.
Me:
I had an ending this week as well. After five years of working for a large health care system in the Puget Sound, I stepped down to help build up some new programs with a smaller organization in town. I am excited for the season that lays in front of my little family as I will get to work on health care projects that I am passionate about and partner with some pretty amazing ministries in the area as well. And while I will technically be working more, I will have extra flexibility to meet my family's needs. For this I am so very thankful. God is caring for us well.
Looks like the Lord provided us a summer nanny! Miss A did a test run with us this weekend and everyone was breathing, even smiling! when I returned from a haircut. Miss A has experience with Special Olympics and adoption families and is starting her studies to be a pediatric nurse; I am hopeful that she will be a part of our lives for several summers to come.
We are off on a road trip this week! A bit different than last year---that took us through Albania and Greece. This year we'll have the excitement of Eastern Oregon, Washington and Idaho!
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