IT'S OFFICIAL...

AND WE HAVE THE PAPER TO PROVE IT!!!

Today, the children received Certificate of Citizenship as well as a nicely, written letter from the President!!! They actually became U.S. Citizens June 19th when we arrived in Atlanta from Bogota. We are 3 days shy of being home for 1 month! And it has been an exciting, fun-filled journey with a few challenges along the way...we are so absolutely blessed. God is GOOD!

Tonight, Diego got out of the bathtub by himself while we were all in the den and surprised us, by streaking and then mauling me with his water-soaked little body...it was hilarious!!! He makes some of the funniest faces!!!

I believe it was 2 nights ago that Andrew & Tatiana were playing with Tatiana's plastic tea set that our cousin had got her. They were secretly filling the tea pot with Diego's bath water. It was time for Diego to get out of the bath tub. I noticed the bath was minus a significant amount of water...I just assumed since it wasn't on the floor that he must have unplugged the tub...well, Ben checked in on the older two and discovered the HUGE water spot on Tatiana's bedroom floor (about 4x5 area was drenched with water that they had poored out!)!!! What was not so funny, was when they tried to blame Diego! Poor Diego...he gets blamed for lots of things...being the baby...

The children have had some difficult behaviors that had and continue to be addressed, but for the most part are adjusting well. Their personalities are blossoming as they have become more secure and grounded in their new home.

Tonight, the two boys were found in their closet...their feet were sticking out of the closet with a sheet over them; Ben had assumed they fell asleep in the closet. The last two nights we have found them sleeping together...it is so sweet. He came to get me and said, "You gotta see this..." It was funny. As we tiptoed in their room, Ben pulled the sheet off their heads and they sat up and yelled!!! It was so funny!!! We had thought they were asleep...(it was an hour after we had put them down for bed!) Moments like these are so precious...

I went back to work today. Ben worked a half day and then kept the kids the remainder of the day. Tatiana will start Pre-school August 6th along with Andrew in Kindergarten at Orange Lake Elementary. They are excited. We were practicing saying their full names tonight at the table. Benjamin Diego Wood, Tatiana Elise Wood, and Andrew Steven Wood...then they would point at us and say our names...Their English vocabulary is growing; we are impressed how much they have learned. They are very smart children.

Well, I should start another load of laundry before I'm off to bed...lots of clothes & dishes...and more clothes & dishes...I told Ben I wanted to do this again...they are so precious...I can't wait to see their story unfold! Thanks to all who have joined us along this journey!!! God bless you all!