Clarks Choosing Joy: 3 Years in the USA!

We had our 3 year anniversary of "Gotcha Day" for Josh & Cate. Josh was in the midst of a baseball tournament so the team helped him celebrate.

We tried to explain the tradition where a 1 or 2 year old gets to put their face in the cake and get all messy. Josh did not think that sounded fun and at that point Coach Stewart picked up the cake and threw it on Josh. Josh took it pretty well and Coach Stewart was very kind in helping Josh clean himself up in the bathroom. We assured Josh only because the coach loved him would he do this. Maybe a strange tradition for sure!

Later on we celebrated with both Josh and Cate by going to their favorite restaurant Yeng Chin's and then having ice cream cake.

Wow 3 years! Sometimes it seems like they just got here and sometimesit feels like we've known them for ever. I guess when a child is "born in your heart" (name of a website by another adoptive family) it is forever! Once again we stress the slogan "Families are Forever" Just as God adopts each of us into his kingdom we feel honored and blessed to be called to adopt Joshua Ramon and Cate Ramona into our family.

We try to drive down to Indianapolis every chance we get to see our new grandson Konrad. We know he is growing leaps and bounds everyday and we want to cherish all those newborn moments as much as we can.

Of course we love our Carmel grandson too. Nolan Denham Clark is so much fun for Josh and Cate.

Josh and Cate are great in the kitchen. We needed some chocolate chip cookies so the baking began.

Josh and Cate have both been going to summer running which is helping them get in shape for Cross Country in the fall when school starts. During the week we have the usual activities ..... visits to the lake cottage ,chores around the house, and lunch with Grandma Joan.

Cate has been involved for 3 weeks at an art camp at St. Francis University during the mornings. She had her final art show this past Friday. Daddy plus Grandma and Grandpa were able to attend. She really loved the art classes. Her friends, Elise and Sabine, attended also plus she made new friends. What a fun 3 weeks for her.