Emma as Scuttle

This week was so exciting because it was play week for Emma.  It was so, so great to watch her get so excited for her first real performance.  From auditions to practices to dress rehearsals, she loved every minute.  Last week she came home from school and said that she couldn’t believe other kids were saying that they couldn’t wait to be done with it.  She wanted it to go on forever and can’t wait to get to high school where they get to do two plays a year.

I think I might have been more excited than her!!  I love watching her grow and find her talents and things she’s passionate about.  This year brought two activities for her.  Volleyball and theater.  I love watching all the kids find things they love and that bring them joy.

Emma did great in all her performances.  She really got into character and made people laugh.  And who knew she could sing?!?  She did it with confidence and fun.  We were very blessed to have many people come and support her and she got loud cheers for curtains calls.  It was fun!

Emma has such an amazing, giving, servants heart.  This is one of the things I love the most about her.  But it can also be a burden sometimes.  She never wants to do anything for herself and I try to teach her it’s ok to just go have fun. I mean come on, the girl gave up her 12th birthday to pay for a single parent Christmas party which now has become an annual event!   I believe that is why I was so excited to see her have fun with this.  She lives a life much different than other people her age.  More serious.  She’s seen and experienced things other kids haven’t.  From foster care, to going to the orphanage in India, to living the daily life here with siblings with difficulties.  Sometimes (a lot of times) our biological kids get lost in the shuffle.  She had true joy in this experience…. just for her… just for fun.  Yay!!

Laila update:  We have had a few great days!  Her ultrasound did not show anything wrong with her kidneys.  That was great but I was frustrated, not knowing where to go from there to help her.  And then she just started doing better all on her own!  We have been able to steadily increasing her feeding rate during the day which has helped the night rate decrease.  With feeding her less at night I’m wondering if that is helping her overall body to feel better; less digesting and processing.  Whatever it is, I’ll take it and hope it stays!   Matthew 8:13 “Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.”  I got a full night’s sleep last night!  Third one in the last two months!  Laila was even doing good enough that we took her to the play both nights.  She would yell “there’s Emma!” when she saw her on stage :)

This week begins birthday extravaganza at our house.  RJ, Laila and Jackson are all within a week and a half of each other.  Busy, busy!  And baseball has started for Jackson as well.  These kids keeps us busy and on our toes!!