I am interrupting my blogging break because...
Three years ago today, my brave men (Dave and Will) received Kate Emerson Ru into our family.
our family.
Will and Dave anxiously awaiting Kate.
Here is big brother Will.
It has been a blessed three years. It is a true miracle how God blessed the road to Kate. She is such an incredible ray of sunshine in our family. She makes us laugh every day.
In the past, we have had a celebration on our Forever Family Day (April 4th) which is the day Kate came home and we were together as a family of five. However, after reading about how celebrating these days might actually make a child feel more different in a family like ours, I am having second thoughts. Nonetheless, these days will always be very special in my heart.
To read more about the day Dave met Kate, read here and here.
I am so sorry that you have that blasted bug... feel better! It was not fun. Congratulations on your 3 years! Kate is a love and just precious and how I am laughing at that picture of Kate and big bro Will!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat sweet memories. I remember that day like it was yesterday and looking at Will's picture, he sure has grown up!!! I too am thinking about not putting so much emphasis on forever family day, but it is a special time for us and since Darci is the only child at home I think we might be able to celebrate it without a whole lot of hoop lah without making her feel extra special.
ReplyDeleteHappy Gotcha Day, Miss Katie Ru! Kim, I hope you feel better soon. I have been sick too..went to the dr today...upper resp infection, most likely started by seasonal allergies. I'm on some heavy antibotics so hopefully I'll be well soon. The Dr. said that this year, because of our wet winter will be a tough allergy season. She has me now taking a allergy pill every day! Hopefully I won't be so sick going forward! I had a small fever as well. Take care of yourself!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, Will looks so young in the photos!
Norah
I am loving getting to know you and your family! I must say that picture of Will and Kate made me giggle a bit. You can see how he is trying SO HARD!
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better... my foot is only a bad sprain. But it still hurts like the Dickens!
So sweet and amazing that it's been 3 years already! She's a perfect fit for your adorable family!
ReplyDeleteFeel better soon!
Janet
Hope you feel better! Ugh. Children are such a gift. Wonderful pictures.
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry you are sick and will pray you are better soon.
ReplyDeleteHappy Gotcha day to sweet Kate...
Oh, Kim.... we are oh, so blessed...
Love,
Daleea
Happy 3 years my friend..
ReplyDeleteHugs..
Love ya..
Happy 3 years! I hope you're feeling better soon. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteGin =)
Happy Gotcha Day! What a blessing and ray of sunshine Miss Kate is. I hope you are feeling better soon and staying hydrated!
ReplyDeleteOh I remember reading and following along. We were getting ready to go to China ourselves to bring Clara Beth home. Hard to believe it has been three blessed years!
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon.
Hugs,
Robin
Happy Gotcha Day!!! What an exciting day!!! I get chills just thinking about LiLi's Gotcha Day. It trully is amazing to think about how far we have all come.
ReplyDeleteHave a great day and enjoy it anyway you want!!!
Sharyn
So sorry you are sick. Hope you are well soon.
ReplyDeleteAmazing how she still looks the same....absolutely adorable!!! Your family is blessed. Very blessed!
Awww, what a huge change in that beautiful girl in just 3 years! & look how tiny Will was!?! What a special day for your family it will always be.
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon!
You have a beautiful life full of blessings :) Thanks for sharing it with us!
ReplyDeleteGod always knew Kate was a Peanut!!! How good He is!
ReplyDeleteHope you're feeling better soon, those bugs are miserable.
Feel better soon and Happy Forever Family Day!!!!! Give me a ring when you are feeling better.
ReplyDeletei remember the first day i found your blog. i think you might just have been the first blog i had read chronicling the adoption of your precious little girl.
ReplyDeleteit has been a JOY to watch your family blossom!
blessings to you today sweet friend
& maybe inlaw ( wink )
xo
feel better pumpkin!
ReplyDeleteHappy Gotcha Day! I can't believe it has already been three years! Your family is sooo blessed!
ReplyDeleteFeel better! I think it's so great and kind of you to adopt a child into your family. You can never truly imagine how much you have blessed this child with your love and promise of security. I think celebrating "forever family day" is fine, but have you considered changing the day? Celebrating it on April 4th might make the child feel more different, but if you just celebrated it on a random day such as family day, then I think it could be quite special.
ReplyDeleteAnyways, I started a blog that I think you might like. It combines fashion and giving back to charities. Each week, I will give away 1 designer dress (this week it’s the Pink Adelson Shift from Lilly Pulitzer Spring 2010) to one lucky follower, who raises awareness of the blog's selected charity through various ways such as tweeting about it or commenting with an interesting fact. I am planning on raising awareness of adoption in the future on my blog. I am currently also giving away some great Lilly stationary items too. Please check out my blog at www.shop4charity.blogspot.com because doing good is chic!
Kim - so sorry you are sick :( ... love seeing these photos of Kate, Will and Dave. Congratulations on your Forever Family Day!
ReplyDeletexo
Feel better!
ReplyDeleteAmazing that it has been 3 years. It's amazing how much all of our children have grown and changed over those 3 years. The big boys who travel (your Will and my Matthew) have changed even more than the little girls, I think! Matt wasn't all that big then...just 15 and hadn't hit his growth spurt yet. Doesn't even look like the same person now...about 6'2" and towering over us!!! What good brothers they are!!!!
Love it! Sweet Will with Kate screaming. So cute. I can't believe how much he's grown in 3 years!
ReplyDeletePoor Kim...you have just battled sickness for too long now...Lord PLEASE heal this Mommy!
ReplyDeleteWe celebrate this special day in our hearts and I write about it on my blog but Lottie just doesn't like to talk about it yet and Emma Jane...well...Emma still has no clue. Seriously, we tell her and talk about it some when Lottie brings it up but she doesn't seem to have any questions....yet. I have read your story before but I will read it again after the girls go to bed.....what a blessing you are to each other....God is so perfect.
P.S. I do think this is a day that they will be important to them. I would love to hear what older adoptees say about this....because in my heart it is such a special day....it is no different than the day my older children were born.
ReplyDeleteSOOOO precious looking back at those pics of Kate, Dave, and Will. You all make such a special and amazing family!!! Hope you feel better soon- stomach bugs are the absolute worst.
ReplyDeleteWhat a happy day for your family! I hope you're feeling better soon.
ReplyDeleteDear KIM
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to are sick again! This year you have really battled, some sickness, with not only you, but the children, as well:)) NO FUN!
God truly moved, interceeded, and bleesed, and completed, so that, you would be a family of FIVE!
These pictures, are just so wonderful, to look back, on and yet, WHY I Will never Know, but it always hurts me too!
I guess that is because we HOLD one dear to hearts, that has been adopted as well!
She is so beautiful, and has a brother named, Will as well!
I pray when you BLOG again, you will be better I pray ,this weather, will clear up ,in the states a,nd every one will be well again:)
Celebration or none , Kate will forever, hold this day special, in your heart ,just as the birth, of a child does!
GOD is so good ,and tender, in mercies ,and loves , each one of us too:) just as if we were HIS very OWN!
God bless all FIVE, of you, and I do HOpe by NOW, that you are feeling better!
God Bless you all this Easter Season
Blessings! Cindy
what a great memories of five wonderful years. Congratulations on five beautiful years together.
ReplyDeleteKim,
ReplyDeleteI would love to hear your thoughts on celebrating becoming a family.
Maybe you're re-thinking it because it might make Kate feel different than Will and Harry.
If you have time, e-mail me.
Kristi
Happy, happy, Forever Family Day!
ReplyDeleteYes, that will always be a beautiful day to remember!
(hope you are feeling better too)
Alyzabeth's Mommy
What a wonderful blessing to your precious family! Saturday was our EllaKate day but we were away from home so I haven't posted yet. Blessings to your sweet Kate- she is just a doll!!!
ReplyDeletewe are rethinking it too.... our attachment specialist(who is a colleague of Deborah Grey) frowns upon it and anything that you would not do with a biological family (like adoption specific life books).... she especially does not like doing the all adopted chinese play groups.... something i have had to come to terms with.
ReplyDeleteNevertheless, it is a special day and one we will celebrate in our hearts forever. I think the more healthy we become in our attachments we do tend to forget these days so don;t feel badly about that! Your just a normal family! Congrats on that!
Happy 3rd Kate day!! :) I think it's definitely worth celebrating. It's hard for me to think otherwise, as it is such a special time. She did come into your family differently, and I think it is worth celebrating. But I'm interested in learning more as to the contrary. Though I think Kate comes from a very well-rounded family and celebrating the day she became part of your family is definitely a worthy celebration!!
ReplyDeleteBlessings and Hugs,
~Tanya
p.s.>> feel better soon. we just got over that sickness bugg here, too!