Happy Easter

Ok, so it has been a while since the last post. It has been almost two weeks but it seems like months ago. We have been very busy, but healthy. I have been traveling a lot for work and between soccer and baseball and science fairs and Awana and Easter Treks and Parent/Teacher conferences, there just has not been much time to sit down at the computer and let everyone know what is going on.

I had to go back through the photos to remember everything that has happened since I last posted. Pictures from the snow storm as well as Coy's big performance at CBS were items that I forgot.

Stacey and I have begun to work on Coy's annual report that we owe to the Ukraine Consulate in Chicago. Today, I went through some of the paperwork, digging out information that we need to include in the report. It is hard to believe that it has been a year almost since we adopted him. The one year anniversary of when we first met Coy is just a couple of weeks away. I have to admit, that just looking at some of the important papers (adoption certificate, court decree, birth certificate) brought back a rush of emotions for me. Coy seems happy enough now but I can't help but wonder what emotions he might feel later when he reads what we knew about him. We can only hope that we can prepare him and let him know that he is as much a part of our family now as anyone else and that we love him and we are glad to have him here with us. We also need to convince him that he is here for a reason and that it was not luck or happen stance that he ended up here with us. I believe that it has been just as much for our benefit as it is for his. People have often told us how lucky Coy is to be here and that is true but Stacey and I would both say that we are lucky to have him. He brings a balance and a perspective to our family that we can't help but appreciate. It is hard to be greedy or selfish when you imagine what those children that are still in Ukraine, or other parts of the world are having to endure.

The Easter season is going to be the last "first" for Coy. Actually, the Derby will be the last "first" for Coy, but I'm not really going to count that.

Stacey bought a dozen "Resurrection Eggs". She hid them inside tonight and let the kids find them. She then lead them through a devotion as each egg had an element that described the Easter story. Caleb and Katie both knew almost every detail but Coy probably did not. I know that we talk to him about pieces of it and we read stories to him about it and that they teach him about it in Sunday School, Honeybees, and CBS but this Easter season will be pretty much the first time that Coy hears the Easter story. I don't know how far it will sink in with him but it sure makes an impression on me when I watch him listen and try to imagine what he is thinking.

OK, he is probably thinking -"Where is the candy?" but I will give him the benefit of the doubt and hope that he is thinking "I am so lucky to have Jesus".

Something funny that Coy says sometimes after church is that Jesus is coming to our house. He says it with such enthusiam and conviction that I wonder if he is disappointed when Jesus does not physically show up at our house. We try to explain to him that Jesus lives in our hearts and that he is with us in spirit but I am pretty sure most 3 years don't grasp that. Hey, I'm 36 and I have to convince myself that I kind of understand it almost everyday.

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine" You shine on Coy, you shine on. And keep on Shining till Jesus comes big boy, keep on shining. I love seeing your not so little light shine.