Another great week!

We are praising God every day for his continued blessings. We're having such fun with Daniel. Sure, he is pushing our buttons, we run out of patience at times (he heard Jason's alarm and got up at 4:30am the other day - yikes!), we have plenty of things to work on (throwing toys! throwing anything!), he does wear us out but as I type this I really have to stop and think about what tough things to list. For the most part, 99.9% of the time, we are counting our blessings. He is such a joy to us - so happy and fun! We feel so honored that God has chosen us to be the parents of this special child. He is very loving. We give (and receive) hugs and kisses all the time. Now that he has learned 'I Love you!' we get to hear it all of the time. What a treasure!

We went to Indy this weekend to visit friends. We attended church with them this morning and the pastor was talking about praying the same prayer every day for his little girl. Not that she would make good grades, or be healthy, or find the right mate, but that the love of Jesus would capture her heart. That really spoke to me. That just sums it all up. I have so many prayers for Daniel but that really covers it all. If he would be completely captured with love for Christ and all of his energy and excitement would be focused on God - what an amazing boy, kid, teenager, man he would be. He could accomplish so much for God. I am really excited to see what the Lord will do in Daniel's life. He has brought all of us together in such an amazing way and I know He has big plans for this little boy.

Hearing that pastor talk about his Godly mother also challenged me. I need to be that kind of mom for Daniel. We have been solely focused on surviving this transition and helping him learn English - he has so much to learn. But first and foremost - above his colors and numbers and his name - he needs to learn of Christ and how much He loves us. That is so much a part of Jason and me but it's a whole new concept for him. He knows we hold hands and pray, but I am sure he doesn't know what we're doing. It blows my mind to think about the big responsibility we have - not to be good parents but to introduce him to Christ. There is nothing more important. WOW! He has no idea! Lord, please help us! Give us the right words, the right moments, to help him understand and point him to you!

OK - let me step back from my BIG picture, overwhelming moment and share some cute photos...

More Father's Day pics:

First Boat Ride (Belle of Louisville):

Petting a shark! (Whoa! He was so brave!)

First Roller Coaster ride:

And - more singing......