Cousins from Colorado

All 8 Sanchez kids


Roland and his brother, Ron (see any family resemblance?!)

Roland's brother and his family are spending the week with us this week. They drove out from Colorado for Ron to attend an engineering conference here in Spokane. It's the first time they have all been here. The cousins are having a great time together-swimming, sleep overs, capture the flag, Riverfront Park, etc. It's been a blessing.

Junior Camp

We spent this past weekend at Riverview Bible Camp with the 3rd through 6th graders from church. Roland taught 4 times on the topic "The Transformed Life". It was a great weekend. We were all able to be there as a family-the 3 older kids in cabins with other campers and Roland and I and the twins in our own cabin.

Here's a few clips.

This one is of Claire being launched about 20 feet into the air.



And here's one of Roland being creative in order help the kids understand God's word more clearly.

The question

"So how's it going with the girls?"
It's a question we get asked often...but I always hesitate before I answer...What do I say?
"It's wonderful...they're eating well, sleeping well, responding to authority and discipline. They're sweet and funny and affectionate--during the day. They make us laugh. They've bonded well with me and the other kids."
OR do I say,
"It's terrible...the girls completely shut down when Roland is around. They won't go to him or smile when he's home. At times they run in the other room when he comes home from work, cry or scream when he asks them to come to him. The girls' response to daddy brings us to tears--often."

Cherry Picking

The kids and I picked 20 pounds of cherries at a little farm just south of Spokane. Had a great time! Some members of the family did a little more eating than picking...

A gift we almost refused...

We love seeing the girls' personalities coming out more each day! They are like a gift given to us by the Lord and we get to unwrap a little more each day and see the unique way God has knit them together. Thank you God for your amazing gift!

Ashley and Claire

Who needs lots of toys when you've got a laundry basket and an older sister to push you around?

Elbows...?

We were told on the way to the orphanage to pick up the girls that they didn't do much hugging, kissing, or high fives with the girls, but instead did "elbows". Don't know how it got started, but we saw them do it with many of the kids and adults there. Now we get it all the time.

"Elbows" is a very versatile thing...from our observation it can mean...
"I'm sorry", "Hello", "Goodnight", "I'm happy to see you", "I like you", "Don't give me a spanking please" or "Nice to meet you".

More smiles...

Water fun!

I went outside to water my flowers this afternoon. Emily and Ashley soon followed and this is what happened next!
I love these pictures because it is the first time I've captured them smiling on camera.

Sisters!

What more could 2 big sisters ask for...than 2 little sisters to rock before naps?
And what more could 2 little sisters ask for...than 2 big sisters to rock them before naps?

More to be thankful for...

We have so much to be thankful for. It's hard to know what to update-need to do it everyday...

The girls love reading their books and being read to
They aren't crying much when we put them to bed
They let us rock them before nap and nighttime
They are sleeping through the night and not wandering the halls at midnight :)
They are signing "More please" at the table when they want something
This morning they signed "more cereal please"
They sign "dirty", "duck", "ball", "bath", "cry", "toothbrush", "fish", "coins",
"clean", "bike", "milk", and others
There's less pointing and more smiling throughout the day

Would we trade our dream for His...

Here's a slide show that captures the reason why we went to the Philippines. We chose the song "Somewhere in the Middle" by Casting Crowns because it depicts the wrestling of our hearts for many months...Could we let go of our own plans for our life and embrace God's plans for us? Would we trade our dreams for His?
So glad we did...

You can also click on: http://www.photoshow.com/watch/GD7rj6WX

Little by Little

Though Emily is supposed to stay in her own crib she's been sneaking into Ashley's crib during the night


We have been told by other adoptive parents to look for the little things (the very little things) each day with the girls that might encourage our hearts, so here they are...

Both girls signed "please" today at breakfast
They are sleeping through the night (once they finally get to sleep)
They overcame their fear of going in the backyard.
Ashley finally submitted to me after a 70 minute temper tantrum (discipline, love, repeat...)
There have been a few spontaneous smiles throughout the day
They are eating well
Ashley signed "eat" when I told her it was time to eat last night