One year ago today, we arrived home from Vietnam with our sons in tow. I truly can’t recall feeling happier (or more exhausted :)). The whole lot of us~Keith, Amanda, Annie, Susie, Sam, Eli, and I~were finally in the same hemisphere together and, as corny as it sounds, we knew our family was complete. For those of you who followed our travel journal while we were in Vietnam, you’ll understand when I say that this first year home with our boys has mimicked our time in their birthcountry: overwhelming love and joy grounded by threads of grief, anger, and frustration. Even through the hard times, there is no doubt that we belong to each other, we love each other, and we’re growing and healing together. As we celebrate our first anniversary as a whole family, we are looking forward to all the years, days, and minutes to come!
Here’s a little peek of the boys over the past year…

:: Referral Photo dated December 20, 2007 ~ This was the first of more than 100 photos we would see of Sam and Eli in our grueling 10 month wait to travel; we fell in love with those little faces the moment we saw them ::

:: October 12, 2008 ~ First sight, first hugs ::

:: October 13, 2008 ~ Last moments, new beginnings ::

:: October 14, 2008 ~ Studying the 'new family' album just before our Giving & Receiving ceremony ::
Home at last…

:: Fall 2008 ::

:: Winter 2009 ::

:: Spring 2009 ::

:: Summer 2009 ::
And finally, all of our kiddos…

:: From front left ~ Sam, Eli, Amanda, Annie, Susie, Ellie, and Dave ::