2008 Wrap-Up

There are only a few days left in what has been our busiest year ever. I like to think that we have fallen into a routine now and that we have sailed into smoother waters...with four children in the home, it is unlikely we will not be hitting high surf every now and then...but...we have our life jacket and He will get us through it all.

December is nearly over and I wanted to catch up on all that has happened...Ruthie and Rusty got their first report cards of the year...Ruthie made straight A's, principle's list, and Rusty made straight E's, except for art, which, uh, it's art???? I emailed the teacher to find out what all went into this grade...art is subjective, right? She assured me that he is well behaved and hard working and that he earned that V! Ok, well, what do you have to do to earn an E? Whatever, we'll take it. Both of the kids are working in the highest reading groups and participating in what is called super star math...I'm a proud mama!

I went to EPCOT to sing in the Disney Candle Light processional and earned two free tickets to any park. In 2009, Disney is giving every FL resident a free ticket to any park on the their birthday so, we will use those and take each of the kids to the park of their choice for free on their birthday, and for two of them, one of us will also get in free. I'm looking forward to this as something different and a good way for each child to have a full day of being the center of attention!

Adam and I had our TENTH anniversary. We didn't celebrate it yet but the plans are in the works. On the eve of this decade of devotion, I rolled over in bed and heard a loud popping noise in my neck and could not turn my head for 24 hours...we did manage to one thing on the big day...Santa...now I know why there are so many June brides. There is absolutely nothing going on in June.

Ellie met Santa for the first time ever and he scared her! Not really but she cried...until he pulled out the candy canes and then she vaulted herself straight into his arms. She sat on his lap for a good five minutes, clutching her candy cane and investigating his face. As to the other three, I fear some of the magic has been lost as none of them wanted to sit on his lap and tell him what they wanted because, "he is not the real Santa." Huh?

Ruthie sang in both our Christmas Cantata and our Christmas Eve services at church and she had a small solo which brought tears to many eyes. With her moving onto the competition squad in gymnastics, this may be the last year she is able to commit to individual parts in shows like this since require additional practices that will conflict with her gym time...one of those things we really had to think about but believe that in time, we will know which path to take...for now, she is loving gymnastics and really doing well.

Ellie had her first Christmas and was completely adorable opening her gifts...her favorite was probably the new little tricycle...it has been in the middle of the floor since she got it and every time she gets on it or walks past it, she announces, "mommy, that's my bike!" Other favorites include her dolly which she has named Allie and the sunglasses that were in her stocking. The other three made out like bandits on the DS games but otherwise, Christmas did not get out of hand with too much "stuff" this year and I confess that although I always experience that little let down right after the last gift is opened, it was nice this year to not have piles of "stuff" to find places for.

We initiated a birth search for Ellie's birth family. We know their names, have their address and a lot of other information adoptive families from Russia don't always get. So, it will be easy for the searcher to find them but we don't know if they will cooperate. We hope to gain information about the area she is from but especially pictures, maybe a letter and possibly a video of her birth family including her biological sister. All of this to be held for her until the time she is mature enough or begins to ask questions about them. The searcher said that almost always, the families are relieved to know that the children have a home and to see pictures of the child and want the child to have something from them. We sent pictures of her with us as well as a letter thanking the family for the gift of Ellie. I had to refer to her in the letter as Vika and that was a little strange. Writing the letter brought forth a lot of emotions that I will save for a later post...

So, what's left? We have initiated the BIG after Christmas clean out and that will take weeks...we have New Year's Eve with our friends and then...2009...another year...the year of the 1/2 marathon...10 weeks to go!

Happy New Year! Go Light Your World! Love, The Jergers