Back from Vacation

Well, we're back from our family vacation and getting back into a summer routine...which will soon be interrupted by the back to school routine. After Tabitha returned from Word of Life summer camp, she spent one day at home unpacking and re-packing for a three week adventure on the road.

We flew to Philadelphia and met the Everitts. We visited typical Philly landmarks: cheesesteaks, Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, etc. We spent one evening in Quakertown, and then headed for the shore in Ocean City, MD. We spent 5 days playing with cousins. T was finally able to meet her Uncle Brian, Aunt Amy, Uncle Matt, Aunt Jenna, and the last 6 cousins. There was 19 of us in one house and it was filled with constant activity. After the 5th day, we said goodbye, got up at 3 AM and head back to the Philly airport. We caught a plane to Phoenix, AZ. After racing through the PHX airport, we met the Alexander/Montgomery side of the family on an airplane bound for Honolulu, Hawaii!

When we landed on Oahu. We were tired and sleep deprived. We had just enough energy to eat  dinner by the pool and watch our fist Hawaiian sunset. The first 6 days of our Hawaii vacation were spent at Disney's Aulani resort. Beach, pool, snorkeling, and sightseeing (Pearl Harbor, Kauloa Ranch, and Polynesian Cultural Center) filled our days. Mal celebrated her 30th birthday, and we watched the fireworks on the 4th of July on the balcony of our condo over the Ko' Olina bay. Absolutely the best fireworks!

On July 5th, we flew to Kauai (a more rustic and natural island). For that week, we enjoyed the nature and AC-less wonders of Kauai. We learned how to surf and zip lined in the mountains. It was a fun time with family, and we had many memories that will last forever. We made it home to Tampa late on July 12. We were more jet lagged coming home than going out. T slep until 1:00 pm the next day. It took Mal and Kev at least 3 days to get back on EST.

Mal wasn't home for very long before she jumped on a girls' cruise to celebrate her's and Stephanie's 30th birthday with Kamden, Jodie, and Amanda. T. and Kevin had some quality father-daughter time and a Busch Gardens trip.

Now, were' enjoying the final days of summer. T starts cheerleading camp and volleyball practice next week in preparation for the upcoming sports seasons. She's finished her summer reading projects and is enjoying a little "pleasure" reading before her school work starts to flow again.

We asked her what her 7th grade goals were. After some contemplation, her response was....

1. Make straight As
2. Make the Volleyball team, Basketball team, and Cheer squad
3. Make a basket in a real game. :)

We'll see what this new school year brings us, but we're excited to our first full school year as a family of 3. God has blessed us with wonderful memories and the means to have these special experiences.

Pictures below. Sorry, they are out of order, but you'll get the picture of the fun we had. :)

Everitt Siblings in OCMD

 Family Picture of Mal's 30th birthday

 Learning to surf at Poipu Beach

 Pool Fun with the older Everitt cousins

 Mammaw's grandkids and Great grandkids at Disney's Aulani

 Pearl Harbor- USS Arizona Memorial

 Just getting to Hawaii and very sleepy

 Learning to Paddle Board at Kauloa Ranch's "Secret Beach"

 Meeting Mickey and Minnie at Aulani

 Zip Lining in Kauai

 Trying out Snorkeling

 Family picnic in the infinity hot tub overlooking Ko Olina Bay

 Paddle Board Champs

 First Hawaiian Sunet

 Watching the sun with the younger Everitt cousins

 First Family pic in Hawaii

 T's Pals

 Kev documents his summer of visiting both major oceans

 Dare Devil Child

 Besties were fishes in the pool

 Learning a tune on ukelele 

 I think our only sister picture on vacation

 Liberty Bell!

Visiting movie sites from famous movies filmed in Hawaii

The Life Book

This summer we've taken on the project of chronicling T's life story in a life book. Most children have the blessing of a baby book that their parents take the time and effort to journal their major mile stones. In the life of a foster care child, they may not have this special blessing. A life book is a way to preserve what memories the child has.

We've been working diligently on each page. We were lucky to find a pdf document on an adoption forum that has pre-done life book pages. It makes it easy for us, so we're not starting from scratch. T can fill in the pages with her memories. We're thankful for the road map others have left for us who have traveled down similar paths.

We try to complete a page or two each time we sit down. We've learned more about our girl each time we do this. Some times, it's painful. There are tears, and other times it's joyful looking back at her memories. My heart breaks at many of the memories she has lost (in trauma and age). We had to leave a whole page blank because we have no information on early years mile stones (first steps, first words, first hair cut, etc.). No baby pictures or even elementary pictures. The earliest picture we have is from when she was 10 years old (leaving 5th grade). It just reminds us how important it is to preserve the memories of now.

There are some days that she just doesn't want to do work on it or wants to give up. It's a delicate balancing act that we're playing in encouraging her to preserve the memories and not push her too far into past. At this point, it has been successful, and today she was able to write two letters (one to Bio Mom and one to Bio Dad). She expressed her feelings, hurt, and disappoint (as much as a 12 year old can). She ended each letter with her prayer for them. It amazes me how forgiveness has such a healing effect on the soul. A beautiful picture of Christ's sacrifice for the forgiveness of our sins.

I recommend the life book process for adopting families. It's so important to have a story for each child to tell. It provides a little glimpse of their past (even if it's painful). It tells them who they are what they've made it through. A story of strength, resilience, and triumph. Even in those painful parts, God was there loving, guiding, and protecting. 

More updates on life:
1. School is out. T is diligently reading (with much prompting from mom) her summer reading books (school and mom assigned :)). I believe T's words were, "I wish my mom wasn't a principal." HaHa! Sorry, girl!

2. She leaves for Word of Life Camp on Sunday to spend a week learning from God's Word and having a blast.

3. We leave for a long family vacation with both sides of the family the day after she returns from camp.

4. T earned 6 academic achievement certificates at her end of the year awards ceremony.

5. T was released from adoption transition counseling! She loved her counselor, and she was a great support to our family. Thankful for the mental health professionals that invest in adoption and foster care (not an easy field but thankful for them).  

6. T's hair is final long enough to straighten. She has been begging for months. We absolutely love the curly hair God gave her, but we indulged the teenage whom. It turned out very cute!

7. T went to her first Rays game on Monday night with her dad, Gigi, and Papouli. 14 innings and didn't fall asleep. Developing a love of the game like her dad! 

April!

We totally feel like the parents of a preteen. The eye rolls, drama, deep conversations, and energy fills our house. It's totally fun! No complaints from us!

The month of April brought about a busy schedule for the family. Tabitha starred in the school play with a lead role! It was a play centered around the life of Daniel. Practicing lines gave us a great opportunity to teach more scripture and life lessons. It's amazing to watch her absorb the Truth and make it her own. 

She also attended her first athletic banquet and was honored for her participation in cheerleading and basketball this past spring season. Doing her hair, make up, and dressing up was a blast! She loved the pampering. 

Most parents always have a tinge of sadness to watch their little girl grow up. However, coming into her life at 12 years old, we only find joy, excitement, and relief as we watch her blossom and grow. She is a typical preteen that loves life, and her past is only a small portion of who she will become. Every new step of growth brings a little sign of relief to know she has moved past the hurt. It is evident as conversations about her first 12 years flow freely without the awkwardness and pain that used to be associated with those memories. Don't get us wrong.... those ugly memories and hurt still rear it's  head from time to time. However, as we write this, T is in the back seat of car singing Matthew West's song, Forgiveness. It's amazing the healing power that forgiveness brings. God has given her a hope and a future and is not a slave to hurt! 

Updates:

1. She earned an "excellent" rating on her  photography entry in the fine arts competition.

2. After two failed attempts by the state of Florida to work with New York, we still have not received a birth certificate with her new name. We're on attempt number three. Hopefully, this is the charm.

3. T is signed up for three different summer camps am excited for our 3 week family vacation. This is her first experience on a real family vacation.

4. T was able to meet more of her PA family: Aunt Sue, Uncle Walt, Kristen, Bryan, and Walter while they were down on vacation in Clearwater. 

Our Life in Bullet Points

Our Life in Bullet Points for the Last Month

* T dives into school: 2 science projects, country project, state project, book report and photography project consume our time. She is now in the midst of standardized testing this week.

* Discover that T has a little knack for photography

* Disney trip with Uncle Rob, the boys, and Mom-Mom & Pop-Pop

* Mal's school wins FOX 13's COOL SCHOOL of the week!

* T's Spring Break: Phillies game with Gigi, Papouli, Mammaw, and Maddox, Mosi with Papouli, Universal trip with Mom and Cayla, and Batting cages with Uncle Rob & Dad

* T has her first experience at a youth discipleship retreat!

* 5 trips to the doctor for T's allergies and chest colds

* Dentist trip and came home with two cavities and a good lesson on flossing. :)

*  Easter festivities with the family including T's first trip to Kobe Japanese steakhouse

* T gets pedicures with Auntie K, Auntie Steph, and Mom.

* She started earning allowance for house chores. Rolling in the dough!

* Reading and Full House becomes a new love for T.

* Kev and Mal hit the road with the teens of the EDGE with many adventurous activities.

* Kevin gets his braces off in a few weeks!!! Hurray! Big accomplishment for a 29 year old! :)

* Looking forward to our amazing summer of traveling and family time!

* FINALLY got all of that crazy adoption paperwork filed in some organized manner! It's amazing how so much paper work can be accumulated in just 12 years of a child's life, but it never scratched the surface of who her soul and who she really is!!!

Tabitha's entry in photography contest

PROJECTS GALORE

Disney with the Everitt Boys

Universal Islands of Adventure Trip!

On the way to "Rooted"

Girls Night Out with EDGE Girls

Hanging with the EDGE

T is reading like a Pro!

Loving Full House

Helping Maddox dye eggs

Easter Basket

Easter Dress

Annual Family Easter Pic

 

Organization!!!