Well we are back to school in a little less than two weeks. Gage being the "rules" kid that he is is ready for that! He starts middle school this year! Mom's not ready!!!!!! I think that he is! We are excited for him though. We have really stressed to him that he will really have alot of new responsibilities this year. No more one teacher for the whole day! He really has had a great summer going to camp, spending some time with Gi Gi and Poppa and with Dad. He enjoys his time more and more with Elisha the older he gets! He loves to play Elisha in Madden 09.He and Elisha are very excited the 2010 is out. We are trying to teach him that "we" have to save up money for the things that we really want and that there are also things that we need. He has REALLY grown! He is in a size 12 now and I believe by Christmas he will be in a size 14. He is almost as tall as I am. Elisha and I have been able to spend some time together this summer since we have been working 10 hr days. This has really been a welcome to our busy schedules!We will no longer do that after this week! Yay! Well enough for now! Tired! Need to go to bed!

April Showers Bring BASEBALL!!!!!!!!!

Gage started baseball this year and LOVES it. He has not complained one time about practice or going to the game. I am so glad that we finally found something that he loves to do and that he and his daddy love doing together. Gage plays left field and has really gotten the hang of things. His coaches can't believe that he has never played before. God has blessed him with such a wonderful talent. We finally won our first game on Thursday night! GO REDS!

We went to the nursing home yesterday while daddy went to the A-Day game with Brian. They had a blast. Gage always wants to take Miss Mildred something on nursing home day. He really didn't like to go to the nursing home when he first came to live with us but now he really loves it. He randomly asks me what's her name you know at the nursing home.....it starts with a M (he remembers her name now) during the middle of the week. God has really blessed us with a magnificent boy! He would be perfect except for the 5th grade ATTITUDE that I am beginning to see is prevalent in every kid that age! When he knows that it's time to go he wants to know of we can leave early to go get Miss Mildred a bow, head band, bracelet, or stuffed toy. What a blessing it is to see a child that age love that way!

My parents went to Branson this week so we got stuck baby sitting! It was fun having Scarlett and Lucie around to play with Maxx, Charlie, Copper and Lillie. They had a great time! Mom called everyday to tell me what they had done and dad called daily to check on his babies(by the way if you don't know my dad....this would be his dogs....not his daughter, son in law or grandson). We missed them on Easter, but video taped Gage hunting Eggs for them.

Gage spent a week with Gigi and Papa for Spring Break. He really went over there to spend a few days...he wouldn't come home and my dad wouldn't give him back! They had a blast. They went fishing and to the park at Sherling Lake two days, fourwheeler riding, and cleaned up the yard. HMMMMMM why won't he help clean up at home....HHHHHMMMMMMMM! ( - = He loves that Papa and wants to spend LOTS of time with him! He can't wait until this summer when he will get to spend some time with Grandma Rose and Grandpa Rodney as well as Gigi and Papa.
Well as always...Continue to pray for us as we always pray for you!
God Bless!
Anne Marie

Long Time!

I know....I know!!!!!!! You are all yelling at me! Sorry ( - = We have been a little busy around our house since Christmas! January began with signing papers and when I say papers I mean PAPERS! With all of that taken care of we received a phone call from our DHR worker with a scheduled appointment for Gage's finalization of his adoption! Little did we know that that day was going to be a VERY long VERY happy day! After the proceedings we went back to DHR to celebrate Gage having a forever family! My camera died so my mom took most of the pictures! (Mom I love you alot....could you send me the pictures?) When we got home and got ready to go to WOW Wednesday we were surprised by our wonderful church family(and when I say family I really do mean family...Thanks you guys! I don't know what I would do without you) with a party for Gage! You all really have no idea how much that meant to us as a family! After that we were preparing for our first LONG trip as a family! Gage hates to travel so I was really wishing away the fact that the trip was 10 hrs 1 way! Gage did GREAT! He never complained. He mostly played his "DS" and slept! We got to hear so really great lessons and learn all about L1 (Love God) and L2 (Love others) These were the Elements of living! We are grateful that we had such a large group from HXR go to Winterfest. We really had a great time of Bonding and Spiritual Growth! Guess that I better go for now! Please continue to pray for us as we pray for you!