The Amazing Parts...

Ladybug and T1 at Hershey Park

T2 LOVES having Ty teach him big boy things...he craves Ty's attention

Um, Ty...I think you need to STOP growing LOL!  Poor Ty could not fit his head under the roof.

There are many amazing things about adopting children...

especially foster children.

But for me

the most scrumptious part of all

is watching my older children benefit from it

just as much as the little ones.

When we first started the fostering process

Brian and I had many, many discussions

and sleepless nights about how it might 

negatively effect Ty and Ladybug.

At the time we started fostering they were 12 and 10...

a long time to be a sibling set of two.

We thought the adjustment for them might 

possibly be a catastrophe.

But we kept a close eye on them

and while it wasn't always peaches and cream,

they adjusted well and it wasn't long before 

we couldn't remember what life was like without the twins.

♥♥♥

We went to Hershey Park this past weekend 

for our very first overnight family vacation

with all six of us.

I was expecting the teens to be grouchy about 

lunch with Santa

and roll their eyes at having to wait for their little

brother and sister

to ride the kiddie rides.

But instead I was so delighted when 

I saw both Ty and Ladybug anxiously volunteer

and participate in making this trip extra special for the twins.

And in doing so,

they themselves had a great time,

enjoying watching their brother and sister

experience rides for the first time,

a hotel for the first time,

a cloth napkin for the first time...

It's interesting...

when people find out that the twins

were adopted out of the foster care system

they burst with admiration and tell us 

what we are doing is amazing and saving the twin's lives.

But the truth is

Ty, Ladybug, Brian, and I are blessed

to watch these two little miracles grow

and learn and develop unique personalities.

They have changed and touched our lives in a way

that no one could ever possibly understand 

unless you are an adoptive family.

Yes, we may have saved them,

but they have also saved us.