Tuesday, June 28

What is going well. . .

Sometimes you just need to go around the table and speak out what it going well.

Galeta has been home for 3 weeks now and all 7 of us are in the midst of major change, transition, adjusting, sacrificing. . .it has not been easy for any of us. Here's 6 of the 7 of us. . I was taking the picture. I love how everyone is connected. . touching. . holding hands.


So this evening we went around that table and each said what we were liking about the summer. We reminded each other that there were some good points to our summer days.

Here are our answers:

David: the pool, especially the fact that we now let him ride his bike up there by himself

Anna: she said David stole her answer. . she too likes the freedom of riding her bike up to the pool

Jonathan: He liked the thunder and rain. . which Rob pointed out was a good thing since he used to be so scared of the thunder. He also said he likes the painting we have been doing.


Brooke: playing with her friends at the pool and the fact that she and Anna get to homeschool Galeta and Jonathan

Galeta had a list of 4 things. We were amazed he understood the question. This is what he said:

"bike, pool, outside, hungry, oranges, bananas, raisins, all done"


It made me cry. He was saying he likes his new bike that is his very own (he no longer had to ride Jonathan's), the pool, going outside, and when he is hungry he got his choice of oranges, bananas, or raisins. All done meant he had nothing more to say and it was my turn.


Su: I hate to admit that it took me longer to come up with an answer than the kids. I was glad I was #6 and had a few minutes to think. I had 3 things on my list:

1. the older kids have really rallied and helped out tons with Galeta and Jonathan. . they take them outside to ride bikes, jump on trampoline, walk the neighbor's dog. Anna and Brooke homeschool Galeta and Jonathan teaching them their letters and sounds. . .even come up with lesson plans the night before. . like they had the boys flip thru magazines and cut out all the "G"s they found.

2. I was thankful for friends dropping off groceries and meals. . .giving me one less thing to think about. . .and a little adult interaction in the day.

3. I was thankful for the summer months where Rob is able to come home 30 min-hour earlier than usual. Making it until 5pm is a lot easier than making it til 6pm.

Rob
: I think we never got to him. . . by then I think Galeta was on his 2nd helping of dinner, J had spilled his water, and Anna and David were in need of a ride to youth group. . .and that is exactly why it is good to remember what is going well.

8 comments:

  1. I love this. The Soutters are awesome. :>)

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  2. Su, Thank you so much for sharing your blog with me! I smiled and cried as I have read your recent posts. Galeta is such a handsome little man! I shared part of your blog with Coy and he said, "I'm 6 1/2 too." I will be praying for you all during this special bonding time.

    I also really like your water paint idea! We are going to the mountains next week, we may have to try that out!

    Congratulations to your beautiful family! Lindy

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  3. Such a beautiful family...praying for you during that adjustment period.

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  4. just a note to say hello because i was thinking of you. i went to your adoption blog, after not visiting it for a few weeks, and once again, i cried reading it. so so beautiful!!

    i just admired your new family photo, taken by you (my life story! based on my family photos, i don't exist!) and i thought of something funny my dad used to say. my sister is 2 1/2 years older than me. my brother is nearly 10 years younger. he was the "40th birthday surprise" as another friend used to say. my dad always said my brother was the 5th child, they just didn't have a 3rd and 4th. and i was looking at your photo and how everyone lined up in their heights. and i thought, well, duh. of COURSE galeta was out there as your son all along! j-boy was your 5th child and you were missing your 4th!

    xxoo

    liza

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  5. What a wonderful post...and an excellent reminder. :) Yes, I too have been prompted this week to recount the things for which I am thankful...those things "which are going well."

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  6. I came to your blog by way of another's blog. What a handsome family. I hope you are all well - since adoption and since the storm passed so close to you. We also adopted a boy from another culture and language. It is really interesting to watch them develop and change. It happens so quickly. I'd recommend you record his voice as often as you can.

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