We may or may not ever be able to make an announcement that "we're pregnant"...but we have come to understand that the blessing is the fact that however parenthood happens, it is a miracle! ....... Now we have been home with our precious blessing from Russia since August 2007. Join us on our fun and crazy ride that we call "life with this child of mine."
Monday, May 05, 2008
Congratulations!
I have no brain power today...I am physically and mentally drained, so I am not going to write a whole lot. I do, however, want to tell you what we did this past Saturday.
We were joined in Montgomery by Nathan's parents, grandmother, sister, brother-in-law, niece, and my parents, 2 brothers, aunt & uncle...for the purpose of witnessing Nathan walk across the stage to receive his Master’s in Criminal Justice.
This has been a LONG year for Nathan, and I am unbelievably proud of him – he has persevered through doing schoolwork while we were in Russia (both times!!), as well as with the addition of Iliya to our family. Iliya and I (and the laundry – haha) have remained Nathan’s top priority…yet he worked most nights – well into the night, and kept his GPA very high.
As you can imagine, seeing him walk across the stage gave me a definite sense of pride!
"Dada! Hat!" (Iliya's own words)
yep, that's my (little) boy, with his finger in his nose!
Nathan & his grandmother
proud parents
with kristy, patrick & natalie
the fam together
with my parents
natalie & iliya, playing with johnathan
After the graduation ceremony, we went to our hotel for a BBQ (pulled pork) dinner. It was very nice to spend time together, and we were glad that we didn't have to go to a restaurant, since restaurants do not ususally provide a good atmosphere for visiting with in a fairly large group.
riding on a luggage cart (ride compliments of my brother, christopher)
somebody wanted cake before it was time (guess who!)
immensely enjoying the cake!
Our hotel room did not have a bathtub, so we had to improvise. We were concerned that Iliya would be afraid of the shower, but he had a wonderful time - first, playing outside of the cooler, dipping his toys in...and then he decided to get in.
He enjoyed it so much that - the next morning - he asked to take another bath in the cooler.
12 Comments:
Video Archives
For your viewing pleasure, click on the title to go to the video
*The Road Home*
*Eating (in Russia)*
*"More"*
*a Video for my sister's class*
*on a Friday afternoon*
*The Dog*
*Selecting a Book*
*Doing Dishes*
*Elfin' Great Moves*
*Christmas 2007*
*Family Fun*
*January 8, 2008*
*Dinner Time Fun*
*Spring Break 2008*
*Trip to the Zoo*
*123’s*
*Leap Day Fun*
*Comparison – 1st Trip*
*Comparison – 2nd Trip*
*One Year Later*
*At the Beach*
*The Wheels on the Bus*
*Canoeing 1*
*Canoeing 2*
*Canoeing Story*
*Ring Around the Rosie*
*The Road Home*
*Eating (in Russia)*
*"More"*
*a Video for my sister's class*
*on a Friday afternoon*
*The Dog*
*Selecting a Book*
*Doing Dishes*
*Elfin' Great Moves*
*Christmas 2007*
*Family Fun*
*January 8, 2008*
*Dinner Time Fun*
*Spring Break 2008*
*Trip to the Zoo*
*123’s*
*Leap Day Fun*
*Comparison – 1st Trip*
*Comparison – 2nd Trip*
*One Year Later*
*At the Beach*
*The Wheels on the Bus*
*Canoeing 1*
*Canoeing 2*
*Canoeing Story*
*Ring Around the Rosie*
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Brouillette Family
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Margaret
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The Marlowe Family
Allison & Stu
Rhonda & Brian
From Dad
Olive You
Kate
Come Undone
Adrienne & Jim
Becky & Keith
Troy & Rachel
Sira
Ana & Russ
Suz
Lauren & Marco
Lauren & Marco - Life w/ Cupcake
The Next Step
Carey & Norman
The Ginsbergs
Shane & Kathy
Nancy & Brian
Unexpected Miracles
Joy & Gerard
Leslie & Bryan
Jane & Jim
Chris, Danica, & the twins
Jane-Jane
Sean & Robin
Jaime & Suzanne
3 Journeys of the Heart...
Lea & Paul Pisarik
SAHM at last
Katie
Kev, Jen & Drew
A Growing Boy!
Referral Picture
Trip One - March 2007
Database Pic #2
Trip Two - July 2007
November 2007
January 2008
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Happy 3rd Birthday!!
Quotes
"When I was very young, most of my childhood heroes wore capes, flew through the air, or picked up buildings with one arm. They were spectacular and got a lot of attention. But as I grew, my heroes changed, so that now I can honestly say that anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me."
~Fred Rogers
"I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be." ~Robert Munsch
"Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but its the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning" ~Hope Floats "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"
~Fleur Conkling Heylinger
"The real issue in life is not how many blessings we have, but what we do with our blessings. Some people have many blessings and hoard them. Some have few and give everything away."
~Fred Rogers
"When I was very young, most of my childhood heroes wore capes, flew through the air, or picked up buildings with one arm. They were spectacular and got a lot of attention. But as I grew, my heroes changed, so that now I can honestly say that anyone who does anything to help a child is a hero to me."
~Fred Rogers
"I'll love you forever I'll like you for always, As long as I'm living My baby you'll be." ~Robert Munsch
"Beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but its the middle that counts the most. Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning" ~Hope Floats "Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"
~Fleur Conkling Heylinger
"The real issue in life is not how many blessings we have, but what we do with our blessings. Some people have many blessings and hoard them. Some have few and give everything away."
~Fred Rogers
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Joy
Congratulations to Nathan!
Blessings to you all,
Pam Parker
Great idea with the cooler! Way to think out of the box. Ok, maybe not of the box, but in it. You know what I mean. :-)
As you were celebrating your Master's, Earl and I were celebrating our "40th" Anniversary Luau party. Two great mile stones for us both.
We are so proud of you all.
Earl & Carolyn Nelson