Settling In

It's been over 3 weeks now since we've been back and things are going great. We have our moments, as any family does, some maybe unique to adoption, some maybe just pre-teen and sibling things. Gertrude really likes school and she has a wonderful teacher. She also is riding the bus now and buying some school lunches. She is feeling like an official American student now! Her English teacher, who she sees every day for 45 minutes, said she is doing GREAT. She did not expect that she would be able to read as well as she does already. She has a ways to go, but she is very smart and very eager to learn. Fortunately, Gertrude is the only student in 4th grade at her school that needs the "English as a 2nd Language" sessions so she has one on one time with the teacher, Amy. Amy has one class at another school with 8 students in it. So, we are very blessed here too.

We are going to Michigan for spring break to visit my mom and family. They have never met Gertrude and have not seen us in over a year so this will be a special trip. Only us girls are going. Scott has to stay home and work (a man's work is never done)!

So, it is hard to believe it is finally over. I was just telling Scott this morning that it is so nice not checking the e-mail, looking for a note from our attorney to find out if court has happened for a parent, or if it's time to travel, etc. etc. The uncertainty and stress of that is now finished. Now we can work through the stress of having a teen-ager and one soon to be!

Gertrude has a very sweet spirit and she has a natural love for and interest in God. It is wonderful to see. She even reads her Latvian Bible on her own sometimes. She has been asking when she can get baptized, and we explained everything to her as far as what Jesus says about baptism. Her birthday in September is on a Sunday this year, and she wants to get baptized on her birthday. She thinks that will be nice to have two "births" on the same day.

She and Tena do great together and Tena is a wonderful big sister. We are so proud of how well she plays with Gertrude and how patient she is ( she loves Gertrude very much but she is "little sister" after all) and little sisters sometimes require big patience! Tena has shown great responsibility and maturity regarding her big sister role and in other areas as well. We are blessed with two beautiful and special daughters. Thanks again to all of you who have been supporting us in many ways throughout our whole hosting/adoption process.