I have a lot of things I want to remember about this time with Tate! So this post will be all about our precious boy.

We have been having a heat wave here.

It had the boys looking for ways to cool off and have some fun!

Tate doesn’t seem to be afraid of anything, and loved playing in the water on the slide with the middles! It wasn’t Tate being in the water or on the slide that surprised me that day, it was that I was out of his sight the whole time they played this way – which was over an hour – and he never came to make sure where I was! Usually, if I am even behind a closed door (umm, like the bathroom door!) it upsets Tate terribly.

A week ago Thursday, I sent Addie Mae up to the attics (which are really two large storage closets in the guest bedroom) to see if we had a second bed railing. We did, and so when she brought it down, I set it up on Tate’s bed. Tate saw me doing this and asked me something in Chinese. I don’t know what he said, but I pointed to him and told him that it was his bed. He was SO excited! He started jumping up and down! That night after baths and pjs, Tate took my hand, took me to his big bed and pointed to it and said “Tate, night, night!”

He hasn’t slept in our room ever since. Tate has been in his big bed, sleeping all night long, staying in his bed and calling for one of us when he wakes…….can you believe how easy this precious boy is????

I finally gave the boys haircuts this week. They were long overdue!

Tate had his first haircut by me! He gave me a talkin’ to the whole time in Chinese, but sat still and loved looking in the mirror when I was finished!

Tate fell in the bath tub Friday night, which split his lip and knocked his front tooth loose. There was SO much blood! His cute smile is a little crooked now.

Oh, buddy, I am so sorry!

I found this photo of Tate in the dresser next to my bed. I had printed it off our agency’s waiting children list way back in the spring of 2014 before we had headed to China to bring Eliza home. Blake and I were so taken by this little boy they had named “Benny”, and his smile pierced our hearts. We printed the photo to look at as we prayed for him! When I found this photo yesterday it just filled me with such awe. Tate, you were in our prayers and on our hearts a long time before we could even do anything about it. And now here you are! OUR SON! HOME AT LAST!!

Here are some facts about Tate:

*He is fearless.
*He is almost always smiling!
*He loves yogurt, milk, eggs, and fruit snacks. And soup!
*He loves to be held by his Mama (that’s me!)
*He can count to four (in English!) with finger motions.
*His favorite thing is to do chores on the farm feeding and watering the animals!
*He goes bonkers when his Baba comes home.
*He has a loving, sharing, sweet spirit about him.
*He is very calm.
*He is a good sleeper!
*He has a lot to overcome medically.
*He loves to sing!
*He loves to help.
*He is a precious gift from God.

Tate has been home for four weeks. FOUR weeks! Just in the last few days Blake and I have felt a “settling” of sorts in Tate’s spirit – and also in Eliza’s spirit as well. Tate’s arrival has been very, very hard for Eliza. I will not be sharing specifics about Eliza’s challenging struggles, but I will say that the Lord used an awesome gal at the hospital to show Blake and I that we need to get help with Eliza’s sensory issues and we are doing that. We are excited to continue to be used by the Lord to help our sweet baby girl heal.

Tate is being used by the Lord for Eliza’s sake too. He has taught her SO much….as she mimics him….and we are so thankful that Tate’s behavior is a good thing to mimic! Eliza and Tate’s relationship is SUCH a beautiful thing.

It was only a few years ago that Blake and I knew there was something more. Something more the Lord wanted us to do. So we sought the Lord. We heard His call, and we obeyed. We believe that we are living out His will for our lives!

I am here to tell you, there is no better place to be than in the middle of God’s will.

“Behold, children are a gift of the Lord…” Psalm 127:3