What Adoption Means

We've been talking to Caleb more and more about adoption.  We talk about how we picked him up in Florida, how excited we were when we saw him, how much we loved him, what we did with him, and stuff like that.  We talk about his birthmother and how she loves him.  He always smiles a lot when we talk about stuff like that.  But you never know what he's really understanding or picking up.

We were assigned new home teachers awhile ago and one of them is adopted.  The other night, after the home teachers had visited, Zack had this conversation with Caleb while he was getting him ready for bed:

Zack:  Caleb, did you know that Arlay (our home teacher) was adopted just like you?
Caleb:  Yeah!
Zack:  That's pretty cool, huh?  Do you know what it means to be adopted?  Do you know what adoption means?
Caleb:  Yeah.
Zack:  What does it mean?
Caleb:  It means "I love you!"

It's nice to know the message is getting across. :)

Noah!

Noah has been an Evans for 1 year, officially.

Here are a few videos of the little guy over the past year or so, for your viewing pleasure.

Waving goodbye to Grandma and Grandpa up at the cabin.


Learning to eat with a fork!


Proof that he could say "ruff ruff" and proof that it is completely adorable.


It took him a long time to sign "milk" not because he didn't know how to do it, but because he was so stubborn and would refuse to do it. Now he does it like a champ!


Wrastlin' with his bro.


Every time he'd swing or get throw in the air his legs and arms would scrunch to the left. They still do to this day when he swings on the swings. Yes, my children have adorable quirks.

Can I Go See Him?

This morning we had our family Easter devotional. It started with a song (He is Risen) and then Zack told a condensed story of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection:

"Jesus was crucified. See, here's a picture of Jesus on the cross.

He died and they put him in a tomb.

Look at this picture here. This is the tomb where they put his body.

And then, 3 days later, he was resurrected. That means that his body and his spirit came back together.

He came back to life! He was resurrected!

And because he died and was resurrected, we will be resurrected, too!

Daddy will be resurrected.

Caleb will be resurrected!

Noah will be resurrected!

Mommy will be resurrected!

Grandpa will be resurrected!"

...and so on.

"Jesus did this for us because he loves us!"

Then Caleb, with his hands outstretched in a cupping shape, said, "Can I go see him?"

I've thought about that question all day today. Because of the ultimate sacrifice that Christ made for us, the answer is a resounding Yes.

Because of his atonement, we can live with him again. We CAN go see him.

Yesterday marks the 5th anniversary of my brother, Jeff's, death. I've often wished Caleb's question for Jeff. "Can I go see him?"

Because of the Savior's atonement and resurrection, the answer to that is a resounding yes.

I will see him again.

Lately I've been very aware of the mistakes and sins I make every day. I make so many. And, as a mom, I hurt my little ones when I do it. Never before have I wanted so badly to make those sins go away. Sometimes I don't feel worthy to be with my own family let alone be with Christ. But because Christ conquered death, because he conquered sin, because he sacrificed all -for me- I can repent. I can become better. I can give up my sins and be the mom, wife, sister, daughter and friend that I want to be.

Because of Christ's atonement and resurrection I will see Christ again and I will see Jeff again.

For this I am truly grateful.

"Lives again our glorious King, Alleluia!

Where, O death, is now thy sting? Alleluia!

Once he died our souls to save, Alleluia!

Where they victory, O grave? Alleluia!"

-Charles Wesley, "Christ the Lord Is Risen Today"

Fingerpainting- Cabin Style

What better way to usher in Spring than to post about Christmas goings on?! I know! There's no better way!

For Christmas, the boys got some finger paints. Being the wise parents that we are, and not wanting to get our OWN house messy, we decided the best time to break out the paints would be at the cabin! And it so was the best time! And we didn't even get paint on anything! We think.
Here's the pre-paint picture with the boys all dressed up pretty-like in their "smocks" aka Zack and Carrie's old t-shirts.

Here we are, starting the adventure.

Ah, the joys of paint.

Yes. He tried to eat it.

And we're done! Here's one of Noah smiling...

And here's one of Caleb smiling...

And here's how it ended...