One Happy Family

Our summer with Maeve went so fast! It's hard to believe fall is already here. Though Maeve has only been home for four months, it seems that she has always been with us and we now can't imagine life without her!

We had a lot of fun this summer going to the pool, spending time on the ball fields with the boys and welcoming the many family members and friends who came to meet Maeve. In September, we had Maeve baptized and we were just thrilled at how many friends attended the service, in addition to our families. Everyone is still so excited that she is home and is doing so well.

We recently went to Colorado Springs. Dave had an Air Force Academy Alumni Baseball Reunion there, so we made a family trip out of it so that we could see our dear friends, the Blocks. The kids all had so much fun...and by kids I am including my husband and all of his college buddies! What a hoot to see all of those guys playing baseball at the Academy again! I have to admit, for a bunch of "old guys", they still got it!

The morning after we got back from Colorado, a reporter and photographer from the Quad City Times showed up at our house to do a feature story on international adoption and my non-profit organization, Raising Hope International. (Okay, I knew they were coming but I still felt like Carol Brady on the episode where she wrote down the wrong time that the camera crew was coming to their house and she answered the door with her hair in rollers!) My friend, Cristi, and her three girls (all from China) came down from Dubuque for the interview as well. Luckily, the girls were the stars of the show. Maeve is now a celebrity in our town of Moline. She really hammed it up for the camera! (I know, hard to believe). What a different life she has compared to just a few months ago! What a different and blessed life we all have because of her.

Collin and Brennen are still wonderful big brothers and they are more excited than anyone with each new word she learns to say and with each new step she takes as she learns to walk. She loves both of them so much and she gets so excited when they come out of school each day. When I tell her, "it's time to go get the boys from school," she goes and gets her shoes and brings them to me! She can hardly wait to see them.

I will try to post more pictures after Halloween, but at the rate I am going, it may be Thanksgiving before I post again! Thanks again to all of you who check in to see how we are doing and for your interest in our blog!