Picture Of The Day

We're getting ready to drop this treat off at a neighborhood friend's house.  She and her family are returning from a longer trip later today.

#lovetodosmallactsofkindness

The State Of International Adoptions

If you're looking for a concise version of what is happening with international adoption in the US these days, check out this current article from The Federalist:

http://thefederalist.com/2018/03/19/bucking-trump-deregulation-agenda-state-department-chokes-international-adoption/

Rex Is Nine

Time keeps marching on and our middle kiddo has suddenly turned nine.  He's grown up a lot over the last year, not just physically, but also emotionally and socially and we couldn't be prouder of his progress.

To celebrate, we invited family and friends to a pool party.

Happy birthday, Rex.  

You're everything we could ever want in a son, 

devoted and hard-working, 

affectionate and fun-loving.  

We couldn't imagine our life without you.

We love you.

A Dollar Earned

Home school provides a great deal of flexibility, so Ella was able to take on her first paid job this week which means she's learning some valuable life lessons.  She's a seasonal Mother's Helper watching our toddler cousin while his mom does some spring cleaning.  She prepared for the job by understanding the expectations, asking me a lot of questions about how to make it a fun and safe time for our youngest cousin, and even tapping into the knowledge of her OT.  She packed up a bag of tricks each day from toys to books and did her very best to keep the little guy happy.  She took constructive suggestions after her first day on the job and implemented them today.

Ella was very proud to have earned her first dollars.

"Gentlemen, you may think it is a very little thing, and in these days it seems like a trifle, but it was the most important thing in my life. I could scarcely credit that I, a poor boy, had earned a dollar in less than a day and that I had earned it by honest work. The world seemed wider and fairer before me. I was more hopeful and confident than before."

-Abraham Lincoln

Haushaltstag

In East Germany where I grew up, women (and sometimes single dads and husbands whose wives were ill) were given one paid day off work per month to take care of their household chores and other family-related tasks, such as doctor well visits or car repairs.  It was called Haushaltstag - housekeeping day.  When I looked around our home earlier this week, I knew Ella and I needed to have a Haushaltstag today.

So at 8:45 after we put Rex and Emilia on the bus, we set off to work and completed the following tasks by 1:00 pm:

1) pick up all bedrooms
2) three loads of laundry, including sheets
3) sweep and shine hardwood floors in all bedrooms
4) cook our weekend dinners
5) vacuum all rugs
6) sweep downstairs floors
7) mop kitchen floor
8) clear off dining room table
9) clean guest bathroom
10) pick up family room and playroom
11) clear kitchen counters
12) deep clean kitchen sink and surrounding area
13) quick pick up in the basement

We also put in 40 minutes of neuro-developmental therapy and took a lunch break.  We feel pretty accomplished and are watching a movie now to reward ourselves.

IAC Results Sessions 417-419

The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 417 which was held on January 11, 2018:

1) Spanish dossier from November 2011 referred a female child aged 5 years and 11 months

2) French dossier from October 2012 referred two sisters ages 5 years and 2 months & 6 years and 2 months with features in health status

3) Dutch dossier from January 2013 referred a male child ages 4 years and 4 months with features in health status

4) Italian dossier from February 2017 referred a female child aged 8 years and 1 month with features in health status and a family history

5) US dossier from June 2017 referred two sisters aged 2 years and 11 months with features in health status

6) US dossier from January 2018 referred a waiting child (#3161) with a profile on the MOJ site

7) US dossier from January 2018 referred two waiting children (#2725 & 2726) with profiles on the MOJ site

8) US dossier from January 2018 referred a waiting child (#3254) with a profile on the MOJ site

9) US dossier from January 2018 referred two waiting children (#3400 & 3401) with profiles on the MOJ site
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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 418 which was held on January 18, 2018:

1) French dossier from October 2011 referred a male child aged 4 years and 10 months

2) French dossier from March 2012 referred a male child aged 2 years and 7 months with features in health status

3) French dossier from June 2013 referred a female child aged 1 year and 7 months with a family history

4) French dossier from October 2013 referred a male child aged 4 years with features in health status

5) Spanish dossier from November 2014 referred a male child aged 3 years and 3 months with features in health status

6) French dossier from November 2017 referred two brothers aged  10 years and 3 months & 6 years and 11 month with features in health status and a family history

7) US dossier from January 2018 referred two waiting children (#396 & 3508) with profiles on the MOJ site
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The following referrals were issued in IAC Session 419 which was held on January 25, 2018:

1) Greek dossier from December 2011 referred a female child aged 1 year and 8 months

2) Italian dossier from February 2012 referred a male child aged 7 years and 6 months

3) Italian dossier from May 2012 referred a male child aged 6 years and 10 months

4) Italian dossier from April 2013 referred a male child aged 8 years and 6 months

5) Italian dossier from July 2013 referred two brothers aged 6 years and 6 months with features in health status

6) French dossier from November 2013 referred a female child aged 1 year and 6 months with features in health status and a family history

7) Italian dossier from June 2016 referred a male child aged 2 years and 1 months with features in health status and a family history

8) US dossier from January 2018 referred two waiting children (#3016 & 3043) with profiles on the MOJ site

9) US dossier from January 2018 referred a waiting child (#3278) with a profile on the MOJ site

To My Daughters On International Women's Day

*Reposting from 2015*

Be strong, but not rude. 

Be kind, but not weak. 

Be bold, but not bully. 

Be thoughtful, but not lazy. 

Be humble, but not timid. 

Be proud, but not arrogant. 

Have humor, but without folly.

- Jim Rohn

by Erin Hull Photography

First Grade Friends

Emilia's teacher sent me an email yesterday to let me know that Emilia's friend G. had won a Lunch With The Teacher.  She was allowed to select two classmates to share this prize with her and she chose Emilia and A.  Miss M. told me that these three kids have a very special friendship and it warms my heart to see Emilia so relaxed and happy in the company of her first grade teacher and friends.  It means so much to know that Emilia is accepted and valued by her peers, regardless of the challenges she may bring to social relationships.  The children who can look beyond those challenges and recognize the spunky, funny, bright girl Emilia is are remarkable and their kindness will ripple through Emilia's life forevermore.