Fathers Day

OK, so I have been terrible about getting to the blog which in many ways is a great thing as it means we are just business as usual.  It has been 13 months since we brought Kayleigh and Michael home with us and we are doing our usual things.   Work is work, wife and kids, karate and dance, skool (yes I spell it wrong on purpose....), friends and activities, etc etc.  I find that a seven day week may not always be long enough!  I find that there is little "me" time but considering I get to spend so much with family, I can't complain :)

K & M continue to flourish here in their new family, although I wouldn't really call us new in some regards.  While most people in adoption, especially with adopting older kids, would tell us we're still early in our journey (and they are correct....) it just seems like normal life to us.  Both kids are warm and sweet, give big hugs, and we have many laughs together.  They seem to love their life here and being a part of our family.  We feel the same!

Being a dad is pretty much about as good as it gets.  I have always adored and treasured our 3 domestics (as I call them ... ;) and get so much joy from adding to our family.  I love having daughters and adding a 3rd one the mix has been so wonderful!  Having a son was tremendous, and adding another son (plus some much needed testosterone to the family dynamic....) has been amazing.  There is so much power in being a dad to shape and guide a child's life, and it is truly a privilege to get to do that.  There is no better job in the world.

We still keep in touch with folks back in Ukraine, so with sadness recently we heard that one of the kids from Kayleigh's graduating class has passed away from an accident.  Lives without direction seldom go well and unfortunately some don't end well, or tragically end early.  The statistics for the fate of un-adopted kids are sobering and saddening.  Kayleigh was in a class of 30 students, who upon graduation of 9th grade would age out of the adoption system and be on their own. 

She was the one who made it out before the last bell rang (last class of the year....) and got a family and a future, a dad and mom, brother and sisters, love and laughter.  That is the best Fathers Day present of all :)