Just So You Know . . .

. . . We do have other kids besides Ruthie! Yes, it is true. The Mouro household has 5 other children whom we adore and who are getting their equal share of attention even during this tumultuous time.

So . . . Here are some things our other children have been up to:

Jonas is playing baseball and absolutely loves it! He is REALLY good, too! He had his first game last night and his team won! Both times he hit the ball, Jonas would have scored a point, but as he crossed home plate (both times) there was a third out.

Anna continues to LOVE piano, drawing, creating plays, and has an insatiable appetite for books (just like her mother!). Her passion right now is Queen Elizabeth I. When I was 8, I had NO idea who Queen Elizabeth even was! She amazes me . . .

Katria continues to progress in learning to read. She no longer has to sound out every word. I am so proud of this blossoming 4 year-old. Katria is the picture of feminimity. She is usually decked-out in dress up clothes and cannot stand to get dirty. Her dream is to be a mother and she has an entire slew of "children" already with whom she travels, one of whom is a lamb she lovingly named "Nicodemus". Interesting name for a female lamb!

Elyse . . . well what can I say about "Moxie"? She continues to crack us up and frustrate us. She is a bit of a "wild child" and her cuteness does not make it any easier to discipline her. She is Katria's shadow, and follows Katria's every command. However, if we hear Katria crying we know that Elyse is somehow behind it!

Haven is everyone's joy right now. She is a talker and an eater! The FIRST words out of her mouth every morning are "I onna eat!" She will soon be the same weight as Katria (who is light as a feather, and at almost 5 doesn't even weigh 30 lbs!). I asked Haven where mommy's baby was yesterday and she pointed to my belly. Later in the day, I asked her the same question and she pointed to herself and said adamantly "Baby!" Uh-oh.

The "other" children are doing great through all this "battle to attach" stuff. In fact, they have each had their OWN battle to attach--it really is not just parents who need to attach. Siblings need to bond, too. I see the changes in their hearts. Just the other day, Anna said to me, "I used to want to adopt, but I don't want to anymore. I see how hard it is for you and daddy and I don't want to go through that. But . . . MAYBE God is doing all this because He DOES want me to adopt one day and I will already know what to do when I do it!" Such wisdom in her young heart. I know that God uses these trials even in our children's lives to prepare them for their ministries one day! I cannot wait to see what God has in store for each of them . . . how He is going to use this in their lives to bring glory to Himself!

In Christ, Laura