First Time For Him

Friday was a great day. We  celebrated  Max's 6th birthday and there were many first involved in this. It was his first birthday in the US, it was his first birthday outside of an orphanage, It was most likely his first birthday that he even knew was his, and it was his first birthday as our son. A great day of first for our son.

Max also had his first Thanksgiving on Thursday.....Wow!!! He loved all the excitement involved in the final touches on all the food, and bringing it to the table, he was so giddy and very excited. He knew that this meal was different. We took time to give God thanks for all the blessings, for everything, then we served Max, he loved it!!! He was grinning, and savoring every bite. It was a joy, to see him.

Happy Birthday Sweet Max Man, We Love You!!

Blessings,

Bill & Sheri

Brady's Day!

Today, we are so thankful that 18 years ago, our son Brady was born.

 It is hard to believe, he is 18 today.....time does go by quickly!

Brady has been an amazing young man, he has a desire to live for the Lord, he is a blessing to his family!

Happy Birthday Brady!! We Love You Son!!

Brady and his friend Samuel (they are so young here)

They have been good friends for a long time. 

Getting ready to ride

Brady and Samuel

Brady and his sister Sarah.

 Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

Brady and Samuel

Shooting at the Puyallup Fair!

Boy Scouts

Brady and his Scoutmaster

Brady, Samuel & Dereck

Mini Golfing with his brother Bryan

Brady with his new brother Max

We are so happy to have been blessed by our son Brady, we are looking forward to his future and what the Lord has in store for Brady!!

Your Face

When I see your face, there's not a thing that I would change, because Max, you're amazing just the way you are!!!!!

Max is doing well, he has now come to each family member by choice, when we call him. 

He seems to be VERY happy.

He loves his brothers and sister.

He loves to be held now, we try to hold him and love on him as much as he lets us. He is a sweet child, and he has a fun personality. He is a beautiful young man, and we are so blessed!

He has such a fun laugh, and a smile that is so contagious. He loves water, all water, when we go out into the rain, he loves to feel it on his face. He loves showers,....and He loves puddles, when he finds them

and can get to them!

He seems to like church, it is so precious, when we are praying at church and at home, he tries so hard to close his eyes. He loves his Wednesday School Class (like Sunday school) He knows right where his class is.

He is such a smart young man, we can not wait to see what God has planned for Max, it is our prayer that Max's life will give God glory!

To have been given the privilege to raise a child that has Down Syndrome has been a huge blessing for us. He is indeed a greater blessing to us, than we could ever hope to be to him.

He is so amazing, I say that a lot, but truly, he is so AMAZING!!

We Love you Max!

The above picture was taken by some sweet friends of ours, they offered to take our first family pictures with Max. They did an awesome job!

Thank You Henson Family!!!

Bill & Sheri

Family Fun Pictures

Wow.....it has been awhile since I have updated our blog. Needless to say, we have been very busy. Doctors appointments for Max and Dental for Sarah(she broke a tooth, actually, Max hit her jaw with his head, in an upward motion....ouch) We have had a lot happening, we are all doing well and Max is really settling in. We had family camp just a couple of weeks after we got back, and we also took Max to the zoo!

There is a lot more to say, but we are getting things ready to go for family pictures tomorrow. I am so excited, Max will be in our pictures...sometimes I look at him and think to myself...he is here :) He is home where he belongs!!

Max is learning to hug us, he is so cute...he holds his arms out, that is a hug, he does not wrap his arms around us yet, but we don't mind. Today, he gave me four kisses, he just softly puts his mouth to my cheek, then he giggles. He is so AMAZING!! We are so thankful for our little boy!

So here are some pictures, I will write more later.

He was so excited the day we arrived at family camp, he did not know what was happening, but his brothers and sister were so excited that he was also excited.

So happy to see each other!

Obadiah, one of Max's friends.

This pictured should be turned, Max found water, he LOVES water!

Max and his friend Obadiah, they are so cute!!

Zip line....Max was watching and he knew it was his daddy, he turned all the way around to watch dad go by..

100% Boy, he found the only mud puddle at family camp!!

Then he found a sprinkler...

He did not want to leave the sprinkler.

Kitchen Duty at camp!

He kept up like a pro!

Ezekiel, one of Max's friends

Getting ready to hear preaching of the Word of God !

Max loved the camp fire, we had to keep him in the stroller.

Brother and sister, she was happy Bryan was there to help!

Dad followed her, he wanted to be able to encourage her...she did have a moment up there when she was scared.

Aunt April, so much fun!!

Looking at the Waterfall

More pictures soon of the Zoo and Max's first time to the State Fair.

She Has a Family, Please Help

Amanda Has a Family!!

I am helping a friend, so take a look and please help if you can.

Below is a write up, I have desired to help other families on their journey, we are very excited to help the Evans Family start their Adoption Journey to get Amanda. They have their first fundraiser going right now, so please take a look!

Bill & Sheri

Hi!  My name is Lauren and my husband and I have just started our adoption journey. (www.yourlovewillcarryme.blogspot.com)  We are in the process of completing our home study, and our sweet girl, Amanda, has just moved from the waiting child list to the MY FAMILY FOUND ME LIST!  Can you hear my excitement?!?  :)

Anyways, we need to get moving on our fundraising, and since I'm a Scentsy consultant, we thought we'd try a Scentsy Fundraiser first!  All proceeds from my business will be going towards her adoption.

If you like candles, you'll LOVE Scentsy.  If you love candles, you will be ADDICTED to Scentsy.   

Here is the write up I posted on my blog:

When you start the adoption process, Reece's Rainbow highly recommends starting an adoption blog to help get the word out about your rescue mission to save the world, one child at a time.

After all, how else are we going to beg ask politely for money to bring this sweet girl home.  The costs?? ( Or as one great blogger calls it, RANSOM)  Approximately $30,000!

I know.

We are a little stressed about that, but we also know that our God can handle anything.  We will be doing fundraisers to help raise the majority ALL of the money.  As soon as we can, I will have a button on the side bar, which will allow for tax-deductible donations to be made just for Alaina.  The money goes towards her adoption, and her adoption only.

For starters, I am having a Scentsy (naturally) fundraiser for our sweet pea.  It starts today, and ends on my birthday, the 26th.  I make 25% off the sales, and the entire 25% will be used towards her adoption.  We have about $950 in costs coming up soon, and my goal is to raise half of that!  If the party totals $2000, I will earn $500!  I know it's steep, but I want to at least try for that.  Please, spread the word, share my blog, and get your birthday, anniversary, just because, I'm sorry, I just want to help, I love Scentsy, Christmas shopping done!!  Click on this link to shop the fundraiser party on my website!  https://laurenevans.scentsy.us/Buy?partyId=51217273  It will help save a little girls life, plus your house will smell good and you won't have to clean anymore because your house will smell clean, thus giving the illusion of a clean home.  Am I rambling yet?  Oh, and Scentsy just came out with a new catalog, and fall/Christmas scents...you have to check it out!

Oh, and I should mention, for a lack of confusion, we were told to use her RR name, Amanda, so that there is no confusion as to which child we are trying to adopt.  We are still naming her Alaina, but for fundraising we are calling her by her RR name, Amanda.  :)

If you are interested (please) in helping us bring Amanda home you can shop her fundraiser by clicking on the link below.

 https://laurenevans.scentsy.us/Buy?partyId=51217273

Any questions, you can email me at laurenjo26@yahoo.com.

Blessings,

Lauren, Adam, and family