Bonaire!

We had a fabulous spring break on the island of Bonaire. What an amazing and memorable week. Along with us on the trip were, Kyle and Audra, Kyle's parents Bill and Janet, and our friends and dive experts, Tammie and Tracy.

We stayed at a beautiful resort that Tanner had figured out in no time. He knew where everything was and walked around like he owned the place. He made friends with everyone there, including all the animals! He liked waving and signing hello to all the iguanas, hermit crabs, birds, crab and fish. He enjoyed knowing where to go, who was staying where, and leading us all around.

We saw amazing and beautiful things while scuba diving and Tanner had a great time with Bill and Janet while we were diving every morning. Tanner absolutely loved snorkeling and seeing all the beautiful fish and coral.

Tanner behaved so well all week. We couldn't have asked for him to be any better! We were so thankful that he didn't have any migraines (he had one the night before we left which reassured us that he probably wouldn't have one while we were gone).

One of Tanner's favorite activities was watching the cruise ships come and go every day. He never tired of watching them and loved explaining how the ropes came out, hooked up to shore and how they pulled the ropes in again to leave every evening.

The Walsh's and Tanner visited a group of people with disabilities one day. There were many crafts that they made, and Tanner was convinced he needed a painting of "the sunset, the ocean and the sand." There's a picture below of him with the lady that painted the picture. He is so proud of it, he carried it with him everywhere!

Well, I could go on and on, but, the pictures say it better! Here are a just a few!

Waiting

Wow - it's already March! We've had a busy few weeks that included a marriage retreat for parents of adoptive children and a visit from our friend Charity (pictures are of Charity's visit). We had a great time with her here and Tanner was very disappointed when she left (in fact, he woke up at 4am the night after she left and signed that he missed her and wanted her to come back). The trip was too short, but, memorable.

One evening this week Tanner was in the dining room while Jon was at a meeting and I was in the kitchen. He came to get me and urgently told me to follow him, then banged on the window and was signing "look outside, look! The sky is pink, the sunset in the sky!" He was thrilled to be looking at the sunset and we went outside and enjoyed the sunset together! The next morning he was just as excited to enjoy the beautiful sunrise. What a great reminder from Tanner to be thankful and enjoy things that we often don't even think twice about!

In less than 2 weeks it will be spring break and we will be enjoying a trip to Bonaire! Tanner is excited to use his new passport and go to a different country. We are going with friends and looking forward to seeing the Caribbean both from on top and underneath - while scuba diving! We're excited to go somewhere new and experience it with Tanner (he's not old enough to dive yet, but maybe snorkeling :)).

Tanner has continued having migraines. Two weeks ago we ended up in the ER because his vomiting from the migraine wouldn't stop. They were able to give him IV meds to stop the vomiting and the headache. Last week the neurologist added a new medicine that will hopefully help.

I've heard the song "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller a lot on the radio lately (from the movie Fireproof). I hear it and often think of Tanner and that it feels like we're always waiting. Waiting for answers (that may never come), waiting for him to feel better, waiting to see if he gets worse, and so on. The song reminds me to worship, and through the pain and waiting, continue to be focusing on our Creator and remember that He knows and is with us while we are waiting. It also reminds me that I don't need to just be waiting, but, enjoying what we have while we're waiting. In case you haven't heard it, here are the words from the song:

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

Health Update

Our latest update isn't the greatest one. Tanner's headaches have been getting worse. The migraines seem to occur much more often. He of course is an amazing boy and still rarely complains. He wants to do everything and doesn't let the pain stop him. Today, he didn't want to go to school and that told us a lot, he NEVER wants to miss school.

At this point no one really has any answers and there's not much we can do. It's of course, very difficult to watch him suffer and we wish there was more we could do. It makes us fearful for the future, but, we are so thankful for such a strong little boy, because he tolerates things so well, it helps us continue to go on.

Thank you for your love and prayers. We rest in remembering II Cor. 12:9 " 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."

4 years ago....

Four years ago today, our lives changed forever! We were home in the early afternoon waiting impatiently. We were waiting for CPS to come and bring 2 children to our home. Two children we'd never met, one we couldn't communicate with, and they were going to be left at our home for us to care for! We were anxious, excited and scared! Then soon enough, Alexis and Tanner were here, Tanner came in with no shoes (because he kept taking them off in the car). Alexis would turn 5 the next week and Tanner was 3.5. We showed them their room, and whenever we would look at Tanner he would sign "I Love You" because that's one of the only signs he knew and he used it whenever he thought he would be in trouble! Less than 2 hours later the caseworkers left and there we were with 2 children!!

We never imagined that they would both stay for almost two years, nor did we ever dream that one of them would become our son! What a change the last 4 years have brought! Many blessings, fears, sadness, uncertainty and mostly more love than we could have ever thought possible!

What a mighty God we serve!

Here are a couple of pictures from that day.

The frozen tundra.....aka a visit to Michigan

We are back home from a great trip to Michigan. We went for a late Christmas celebration with my family and a 90th birthday party for my Grandma DeKorne. We had a restful time and enjoyed spending time together. We played the Wii, played outside (a little bit, but, not too long since the highs were about 20 degrees!), had Christmas and mostly had fun being together. Tanner loved being with his cousins. We were also able to see my dad sing at a concert (with the Calvin College Alumni Choir), which was a real treat.

Tanner is doing ok. He's had a little trouble with headaches again this week at school. He gets weepy and grumpy but always keeps going! We talked to the neurologist just before we left and we've increased his medicine again, so, hopefully that will start working in the next month or so.

Here are a few pictures from our trip.

Tanner with me & my Grandpa DeKorne

"the girls" celebrating Grandma DeKorne's 90th birthday
(me, my mom, grandma, Kristi & Julie)

Ryan, Matt, Lilly & TannerTanner and great-Grandpa Lenger laughing together when the chair fell over!a visit with my grandma & grandpa Lenger