Tessa's Preschool Graduation

Tessa's preschool graduation was held Monday, May 12. It was a cute ceremony. The kids sang two songs, "He Saved Us" and "May There Always Be Sunshine" before they stepped across the stage to receive their diplomas. Tessa was the first one who had to go onstage from her class and when they called her name, there was a loooooong pause before she made it onto the stage. She finally went up and posed for a photo with her teacher, Ms. Heather:



I asked her afterwards why she had hesitated to go onstage and she said she was afraid she'd fall. Poor little darling. I'm proud of her for gathering up the nerve to go up and get her diploma! You'll be glad to know she was full of spit and vinegar after the ceremony, chasing a certain little red-haired boy who shall remain nameless (but his initials are Keaton). That's my girl!!

Tessa's Dance Recital

Tessa's tap/ballet class had their end of year recital Monday, May 5. They performed a tap dance to the Jackson 5 song, "ABC," a ballet dance to "Music Box Dancer," and the finale was a daddy and daughter dance to the song "Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman. It's a song about how daddies need to enjoy their time with their little girls before they grow up and leave home -- a real tearjerker for tender-hearts like me. It was a beautiful dance and quite appropriate for the occasion because the dads who participated took the time to attend 4 rehearsals with their little darlings. Of course, Dwayne was the most handsome daddy there! It was hard to get good photos, but I got a few decent ones.

That's Tessa in the middle, getting ready for the first number. Ms. Lisa, her ballet teacher is behind her:



Here's Tessa tapping (at left of photo):



Here's a short movie of Tessa shaking her moneymaker (she's 2nd from left):



That's Tessa in the middle, with her daddy behind her:



Here's Tessa dancing on her daddy's feet:



Here's a short movie of the daddy/daughter dance. Tessa and Dwayne are the third couple from the right:





Here are some photos of our little Cinderella:





Cinco de Mayo was also my birthday. Here's a photo of the girls helping me blow out my candles:



I was so proud of Tessa and Dwayne! Watching the recital made this one a special birthday.

3rd Annual Adoption Day

On March 29, we celebrated our 3rd Annual Adoption Day with the girls. This is the anniversary of the day our adoption was finalized with the court and we were able to take the girls out of the orphanage.

Here's a photo of the girls sitting on Daddy's lap the first night they spent with us:



Adoption Day happened to fall on the same day as Bridget's Spring Festival at school. We spent part of the afternoon there. Here are the girls eating snow cones:



Here are some photos from our celebration this year. The girls each had their own little Happy Adoption Day cake.




It's weird thinking that we've only had them for three years; it seems like we've had them forever. We love them even more than we did then, if that's possible. They are so loving and trusting, despite the hardships they've faced in their young lives. God has truly blessed us by entrusting them to our care.

My New Nephew

Here's a photo of Darin Geoff Sowder, son of DeAnn and Wayne Sowder, born on Easter morning, March 23, at 8:45 p.m. He weighed 7 lbs., 7.7 oz and was 20" long. Isn't he a cutie?

Easter 2008

The day before Easter, we had an egg hunt at our church. Angela, a friend and one of the organizers of the event, gave the girls a large inflated bunny. They loved playing with it.



Here are some pix of the girls from Easter Day:

Saved

Bridget, Tessa and I were baptized March 9. Dwayne also reaffirmed his baptism and we both joined Hope United Methodist Church. We began attending our church Easter Day 2007. Anyone who knows me well knows that organized religion has never been my thing. Becoming a member of a church is a big deal for me, something I don't take lightly. I never thought I needed to be in church, but it has made such a difference in my efforts to live a Christian life.

I owe a debt to my daughters for this positive change in my life. Sometimes people comment to me that Dwayne and I "saved" them from life in an orphanage. The way I see it, it is these two little darlings who have saved me in so many ways. They saved me from a too-selfish life spent mostly pleasing myself. They saved me from my bitterness over not being able to give birth. They restored my faith, which took a beating when I was dealing with infertility. They showed me that even when I was cursing God and thinking He didn't love me because I couldn't have a baby, He had a better plan. I love my girls so much and I know they were meant to be our children. I honestly wouldn't have it any other way. God knew what He was doing and I learned that I need to let go and trust Him and not have to always know why things happen when they are happening -- it will all make sense someday, if not in this life, then in the next.

Plus, I would never have attended Hope Church for the first time had it not been for the fact that Bridget went to preschool there. I had such a bad attitude about churches that it took a church full of caring people, a minister who teaches as much as he preaches, and some rockin' inspirational music to win me over -- no other church would have been right for both Dwayne and me.

I am stepping off my soapbox now to share some photos. Doris took these for us, and she did a great job!

This is me being baptized as Tessa, Bridget and Dwayne look on:



Now it's Tessa's turn:




Here's Bridget:




Here, Pastor Frank makes the sign of the cross on Dwayne's forehead as he reaffirms his baptism vows:



God is good all the time!!

Tessa's 5th Birthday

Tessa had a very special birthday this year. For the first time, she and her Dyedushka (grandpa), who shares the same birthday, were able to celebrate together! He, Babushka (grandma) and my niece Ashley came to spend the weekend and celebrate with us. We had a joint celebration and cake on their actual birthday, March 7.

Here's the cake with a 66 for Jim and 5 candles for Tessa:



Here are Bridget and Tessa with Ashley:



Here are the girls showing off a birthday picture Bridget and Ashley made for Tessa:



Here are the girls giving Dyedushka his birthday card:



Here's Tessa opening one of her fave presents, a Hannah Montana guitar:



Tessa also got a Hannah Montana wig. Here's a short movie of her singing with her guitar:

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Bridget (with Ashley) took a turn as Hannah:



Even Jim got into the act (if anyone wants to use this photo for blackmail purposes, you can click on the small image, make it larger, then download a hi-res image . . . hee, hee, hee):



On Sunday, Tessa, Bridget and I were baptized and Dwayne reaffirmed his baptism and joined our church.

The girls posed with Babushka (aka Granny-Pop) and Dyedushka before church:



After church, Martha, Sandy, Stephanie, Hannah, Allie and Brock came by for a 2nd birthday celebration. Martha made Tessa a Hannah Montana cupcake cake that was shaped like a guitar:



Of course, there were more presents. Here Tessa sits on Hannah's lap while Allie, Brock and Ashley watch her open a Hannah Montana singing doll (yes, ole HM was very popular around our house that weekend):



It was a very fun weekend and we were so happy that Jim and Tessa got to celebrate together!!