A Trip to the Movies

This past Saturday the five of us went to a movie theater for the first time together and saw Paddington.  We sat in the 4th row so Noah could see really well and near the aisle for easy escapes to the bathroom.  Armed with popcorn, M&Ms and 3 waters I snuck in (the prices are ridiculous), the kids sat thru the entire movie.  There were a few parts that mentioned orphanages and abandonment (which we were not prepared for) but Noah seemed to enjoy the story.  It's crazy to hear these details/language in children's movie and used so casually...anyway, it was a fun family outing and one we had promised for many months.

Eleven Months As A Family

Yesterday our (new) social worker from Lifeline came and completed the 1 year post placement report for Noah.  She was at our house for about 4 hours interviewing Luke and I and observing the children.  We've gotten to know her pretty well in the past few months as she works for the agency that has Sadie's file so she has written our (new) home study in Florida.  And I'm happy to report that after 11 months we did finally leave Noah (for 2 nights) with paternal grandparents and he had a ball.  He didn't slow down enough to miss us and had no trouble going to sleep at night. Here are some shots from their adventures-

 He has only experienced one night terror lately and we are seeing much less self-soothing (sucking fingers to go to sleep).  He is proud of his fish and looks forward to feeding them each day.  He loves the new trampoline outside and continues to ride his bike often.  Preschool is going very well and we anticipate he will have no trouble adjusting to a full day of (free) VPK this Fall at the elementary school his big sister goes to.  Noah loves the church we attend in Florida (City Church)  but does still ask about Browns Bridge-what a testament to the foundation that was laid thru volunteers in his class.

Noah is excited for Spring and has asked to play a sport-likely t-ball or soccer.  He continues to enjoy household chores and be so helpful it's really just amazing.  He loves doing puzzles, Play-Doh and Legos too.  He can recognize almost every letter in the alphabet and numbers 1-12 on his own.

I would describe him as an eager child.  He's happy and joyful everyday.  This summer we plan to move he and Beckett into a room together as we prepare for Sadie becoming a part of our family.  It's hard now to talk about one without the other, really any of our 3-they are thick as thieves and although it can be very chaotic and there are still fights-our children are so much more compassionate because they have each other.  I plan to update again at Noah's one year anniversary of joining our family in February and then either transition this into a family blog or focus solely on Sadie's blog (http://givehopeforsadie.blogspot.com/)

T-shirt Fundraiser for Sadie's Adoption Costs

We are now selling Hope For Sadie t-shirts to help with the costs associated with Sadie's adoption. Designed by the talented Wendy Hudson Martin and printed byFund The Nations, the short-sleeved shirts are $20 each and $3 shipping (local free delivery to Tallahassee, Macon & Cumming). Available in adult sizes S-XXXL, the shirts are 100% pre-shrunk cotton

To purchase please either comment below or email hopkins_sc@yahoo.com We will be selling these for the next few weeks and hope to order and deliver in February. You can pay with cash, check or money can be sent thru PayPal to either of us...it's all going towards the adoption anyway 

THANK YOU to everyone that considers purchasing a t-shirt in support of Sadie's adoption! Fundraising is NO fun but helps ease the financial burden ahead

*If you don't want another t-shirt but still want to contribute we'd LOVE that too

Reflecting on January 2

It's not a day you celebrate-the day your (adopted) child was abandoned, left outside and found alone.  We haven't even explained it to Noah yet; there's really no need at this point.  He hasn't asked about his birth parents.  His early memories are mostly positive of life at the orphanage especially the love he received from Bethel.  

He was found on January 2, 2011 in Zhengzhou, China outside of the gate of the Zhongyuan Chemical Science Technology Center.  On the same day, he was sent to the orphanage by a policeman.  He was estimated to be almost 3 months old.  We have never shared the pictures from his intake.  They're very special and were given to us by Show Hope after Noah's adoption was finalized and he came home with us .  He was so tiny.  We read in his finding ad that he was wearing a red coat.  Last February, when we visited the orphanage, the director gave us a fuzzy hat and said Noah had it on when he arrived.  He told us it was one that apple farmers might put on their children.  Noah saw the hat and thought it was silly.  I believe one day he will cherish it.  It might be the only part of his birth family he ever knows.  

Luke and I talk often about Noah's birth parents.  You, see, WE are his forever parents.  We are the only ones he has ever known and lovingly called Mommy and Daddy.  We don't know why Noah's birth parents chose to leave him.  And as ugly as this might sound-we don't really care.  Of course I am sad for them and I choose to focus on how happy Noah is, the joy he brings to all of our lives now and the miracle of adoption that God orchestrated through us.  We are still amazed he has been our son for only 11 months now.  Every January 2nd will be different from here forward.  The day Noah became an orphan holds a lot of sadness in it but not for us.  We are grateful to be on the other side with him.  We know that God had a plan for our Noah and they did not end on that cold day in 2010.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!