Rattins living Coram Deo

Gracie got her casts off - after two rounds of casting after botox injections in mid-September. 5 weeks in casts! Now she has new AFO's (Ankle Foot Orthotics) and finally a "Benik" brace for her right hand. The effect is amazing with her right hand! Now that she doesn't have to fight the wrist, she is able to use her fingers a lot more! I'll post a better video of Gracie and her letters. Many people complained that she didn't really perform up to par in the video that I posted... It was a little complicated managing Ana in the background, videotaping, keeping Gracie engaged, AND presenting the letters... oh well! She really does better than that video shows. For now, a little photo shoot of my girls today...

I've been excited to figure out that Gracie knows her letters! She's in kindergarten, will turn 6 in December and she knows her letters pretty consistently (if she's focused enough) - very exciting since being able to read and spell will open a whole new world of communication for her!

Our books this month include: "Moja means one - Swahili Counting Book" by Muriel Feelings "African Animals ABC" by Philippa-Alys Browne "We all went on Safari - a Counting Journey through Tanzania" by Laurie Krebs and Julia Cairns Ana has started talking about "Uganda" and "Africa." It's very cute although I'm not sure she knows what she's talking about! She does mention Africa anytime I look at a map...

November is orphan/adoption month.  This coming Sunday is "Orphan Sunday" - here are some resources you can access to promote adoption and support of orphans worldwide! http://www.orphansunday.org/

A friend (Andrea Bean) wrote this beautiful post on her blog.  I still feel that call to adoption so strongly and I'm curious to see what God does in our lives.  I would love to adopt many more children and serve as a medical foster home in Uganda... but what I long for above all else is whatever brings Glory to God! I couldn't put it better, so here is Andrea's writing: "I read this scripture yesterday: “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” (John 14:18)  I remember during the year before the boys came that there was this cry that arose in my heart. It felt something like the feeling in a dream when you’re running slow motion. “Hang on!”, my heart cried, “I’m coming, I’m coming for you. I’m on my way.” So when I read this scripture yesterday, I felt like this was our Heavenly Papa’s cry throughout the earth echoing in my heart (and MANY others’ hearts) for ALL the orphans in the world. “Hang on. We’re coming. We won’t leave you as orphans. There ...

Gracie got to have two field trips last week BEFORE she got the flu.  The first was with her kindergarten class to the fire station and I got to chaperone.  That was so fun! Gracie was VERY into doing what all the other kids were doing and was very curious about the fire trucks.  She loved getting up inside the trucks! Her second "field trip" was an in-school field trip with her resource room class, exploring fall! By then I already had the flu so I didn't go to that field trip, but she apparently had a blast! :)