Thankful Thursday

I am thankful for the experience I have had with being a host mom.  It has been such a different experience to what I expected but in a better way.  There are times I am challenged beyond what I think I can handle and then somehow things are worked out and I am amazed with the results.  It has been really rewarding to get to talk to someone about their day who is at the maturity level higher than a 6 yr old.  It makes me very excited to see the life experiences and perspectives that my children will have when they are Chantal's age.  I am not her mother - we could never replace what her parents mean to her but that isn't what we want.  We are glad to be part of her life and hope that this is an experience everyone will have fond memories with the rest of their lives.

 [Chantal having her first smore and finding it delightful and sticky]

 [Chantal at Halloween as a sumo wrestler - it turns out she is eating way too much of our fatty American foods!]

 [Our princess Corilynn at Halloween - its a Southern Bell costume but she insisted she is a princess]

 [ Of course Darth Vador was there to protect everyone - Lyman was probably the happiest boy alive to get to have this costume]

I am thankful for Ruby and her silly smile.  She loves to look at me and start laughing.  I don't know what is so funny but something is and I cant help but laugh too when she shares with me her delight.  I am thankful that she is learning to walk.  I was not excited for her to crawl so early several months ago because I thought it would mean she would walk soon and then I wouldn't have my little baby anymore.  But she is growing up a lot more and almost 11 months- tomorrow actually - and I am ready for her to make that next developmental state.  I am thankful for the fun she has in the bathtub.  She loves bath time more than any of my other kids did and they really loved it.  She splashes constantly and smiles and giggles as she keeps being amazed at the feeling of the water as she touches it.  I love it.  It is super fun to see her find something so fascinating and interesting.