Brett is 9 years old!

It is not a coincidence that I am finally getting around to writing this post on December 17th.  I do believe that the strongest memories are feelings.  This morning I woke up remembering the feelings I was experiencing exactly 9 years ago, the morning of the day we were going to meet Brett.  Elated, nervous anticipation.  Sure that at any moment, I was going to wake up in my own bed, still waiting to become a mother.  But I didn't wake up in my own bed.  I woke up in a hotel bed in Augusta, GA and we were hours away from meeting our son.  This weekend, we canceled our travel plans due to deep cold, blizzard conditions.  Nine years ago, we had driven for 3 days on slick, icy roads.  Nothing was going to stop us from uniting with our soon-to-be son.




And in what feels like a flash, Brett is 9 years old. He stands 55 inches tall and he has passed his last car seat on to his sister. We did not know the path that was laid before us when the adoption agency called with a "healthy baby boy", but, now even more than then, we know that Brett Theodore is "God's gift" to us, and we embrace the calling of being "God's gift" to him.

Brett, 3 years old

Brett is enjoying the 3^rd grade. His favorite class is gym!  He also likes art, STEM, and the various projects they do in science and social studies. Brett takes swimming lessons and also participates in basketball.  In his free time, he enjoys doing craft projects, playing with his brother and sister, and playing video games.  In the warmer months, he loves to ride his bike and play football or baseball with the kids in the neighborhood. 

Brett is a helper and a gift giver with a big heart.  He loves to prepare and eat food!  He loves mac’n’cheese and mashed potatoes.  When I asked him what kind of birthday cake he wanted, he said one word – “candy”.  So I made him a chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting and covered it with chocolate and Reese’s!

Brett really wanted a $200 robot dog.  We found a cheaper alternative.  It has a dancing mode, which is very amusing!

We had a few grown-up friends and family over for dinner, and our baby-sitter Bonnie surprised us with her ukulele playing of "Happy Birthday".  Papa and MeeMaw took him to Pizza Ranch and he picked out a Lego set and inventions kit. 

The following weekend, we took the kids to Monster Jam at the new US Bank Stadium.  It was a lot of fun!