The Middler is 8!

Our middle child, Marco, turns 8 tomorrow. How could it be?! It seems it was just yesterday that we made the decision to grow our family through adoption. After prayer, research, and a leap of faith we decided to pursue an international adoption.

As I type, Marco is sitting in the dining room reading "Henry and Mudge" to me. Our sweet little Guatemalan blessing is turning 8, and I can hardly believe it.

To help in celebrating his birthday, Marco is Star Student in the coming week. He had to complete a poster for the event. Here is how he completed the assignment:

*I am 4 ft. tall and I weigh 48 pounds. My hair is black and my favorite color is red. I am 8 years old and my name is Marco.

*When I grow up I want to be a policeman.

*Three wishes: I wish I had my own monkey and snake. I wish I could be a Star Wars character. I wish I was on a swim team.

*A few of my favorite things: bananas, shrimp, swimming, coloring, and Star Wars.

*Things I don't like: broccoli, honey, bees.

He also drew his family and provided a portrait of himself in an intense pose holding a lightsaber (see photo above).

Our boy - oh how I love him!

Tomorrow we celebrate Marco Vinicio - all 8 awesome years of him. One family tradition is to chose whatever you wish for dinner on your birthday. Marco's request: steak, corn on the cob, watermelon, and shrimp. Long gone is the hot dog or cereal request for the birthday dinner!

So thankful for the miracle of adoption and for the courageous woman who made a difficult choice for her newborn son. We will respect and love Marco's birth mother for the rest of our lives.