One year home, an amazing feeling!

 So August has come (and gone) and school has started back. Max is a grown up 4th grader this year, this will be his last year at the elementary school. Next year he moves to the middle school across the street! I can't believe it!  Emma is in 2nd grade and loving her new classroom. It seems just like yesterday we were bringing her to Kindergarten. But this year it is Samuel that we are bringing to Kindergarten. We are so blessed with a wonderful Kindergarten teacher who has been all of the children's teacher thus far! She is an amazing woman, and knows our family pretty well! I was a little worried about starting Samuel as he is only 4, and only made the cut off by a few weeks. He was so excited and cried when he didn't start with Max and Emma. She feels he is ready and so we trust her opinion!!! The great thing is, she has been in the middle of our family during our adoption planning, waiting and traveling and is very helpful with Samuel explaining to his friends about his baby sister and why she doesn't really look like him.  We LOVE Mrs. Moore!!!!!!

So in the mean time, Khari and I are staying busy with house work, grocery shopping and all sorts of fun house stuff!
The big kids have all signed up for soccer this fall, so we will be practicing and gaming quite a bit!









            So time just seems to be moving so quickly and we were at Occupational therapy one day her therapist says to me, well Khari is making me sad! I said, why? She replies, she is testing at around 20 months on her skills (she is only 18 months) and it is time for her to graduate. I am so stunned at this point! With PT, I had one week to really think about this, here she is just springing this on me! But, I am so happy!!!! She will have graduated all of her rehab services before the official day we have had her home for one whole year!! I am so amazed by her and all of East Tn Children's Hospital Rehab center. She has really come a long way! So here she is saying goobye to Ms. Katie!! We can't say thanks enough!

Since then, Samuel has learned to ride his bicycle with the training wheels off. Why not? He does everything else that Max and Emma do, might as well join the club with the bicycle! He is so excited about his upcoming birthday! Hopefully he will be getting a new "big boy" bike!

So the big thing is this! We have officially been a family of 6 for one whole year. When we came home I was completely overwhelmed. I was wondering what God had planned for me, for our family, for Khari. I can't believe after making it through this whole adoption journey safe and sound that I still was questioning my faith after we had made it half way around the world 2 times and back home with our tiny sweet girl! Looking back on one year ago today, I can see. God is good all of the time. We don't have to be perfect. We can't be perfect. But I was being obedient. I was listening to the call he had given us. I am so amazed by God's overwhelming love and care for his children everyday, and our family is such a testament to his love. No we don't always do things right, yes we have to try very hard, and things are a little chaotic most of the time. But this past year has really given me perspective on what is important in life. I feel so blessed to have the family we have! I am so glad God chose us to be Khari's family. I am amazed at how he pulled her through, and how she is such a gift to us all!

 I know her Enat would be amazed by her the same way we are!

 So just a thought about where we were last year, I was starting to watch fall football with our family and I was so consumed with worry for Khari that it wasn't enjoyable. This year she is all decked out in her Vol's outfit running around and full of life. I can't believe I ever doubted that God would take care of her, that his plan is always bigger than my plan, I am human, I am a sinner, but I am forgiven!!!!

Blessings from The 6 McQuilkin's!!!!