us -- an introduction

Adoption. Faith. Family. These are the topics I feel led to write about this month. It's pushing me very far beyond my comfort zone. Since I'm sharing pieces of my heart, I thought perhaps I should introduce those who inspire me to celebrate the moments. I asked them each to draw a self-portrait. (Of course, Andy refused to draw...but he did color. Don't tell the kids, though, because I insisted they each make their own!)

 Andy and I have been married for nearly 13 years. He's worked at the same company, a sawmill, for 20 years...beginning as an after school job when he was in high school. He gets to work inside and outside, a combination of desk work and hands-on work. Andy and I met on a blind date and I was never (not-ever) going to marry that Ayres' boy. He was too wild.

After much waiting, we finally brought home our first child. Through a domestic adoption, we adopted Sam at birth. He was born in Ohio. Although he was the first of our children, he is the youngest of the four. He is a first grader and loves: skateboarding, building (with Legos, dominoes, tinker toys, train tracks, Lincoln Logs, or anything else he can get his hands on!), soccer and baseball, video games, writing, and books. He is an avid reader and averages at least 4 chapter books -- cover to cover each week, in addition he reads articles in train magazines, picture books, and a variety of nonfiction texts. Sam's word for 2013 is faith.

When Sam was two, we adopted our daughters, Hannah and Stephanie. Hannah was six when she came home and is currently 11. She is in 5th grade. Hannah loves horses, art, crafts, and sewing. She can make practically anything out of duck tape. When Hannah grows up she wants to be a teacher. She loves to read ("Romance is my favorite," she admits with a blush). Hannah's word for 2013 is confidence. 

Stephanie was four when she came home. Now she is nine and has started to "hand-down" her jeans to me. She loves sports, playing hard, and puzzles. Steph has red hair and the stereotypical personality that comes with it. She believes it takes pink and sparkles to be considered fully dressed. Stephanie is in third grade. Her latest read was Because of Mr. Terupt and she deemed it the best book ever. Currently she is reading the first Harry Potter book at the recommendation of Jordan. Her word for the year is thankful.

Jordan is the latest addition to the Ayres' family. He joined us on January 23, 2013. Jordan is seven and in second grade. As his self-portrait portrays he does have big, beautiful brown eyes and a great sense of humor. (He thinks the blue spiked hair is funny since in real life it is black with tight curls.) Jordan is athletic and has a kind heart. He loves food, especially chips and dessert. Like all of the Ayres, he is an avid reader. He is currently loving Harry Potter and is considering a Harry Potter birthday party later this month. 

Our family was built in an unconventional way, and yet we were made perfectly for one another. It's a family of bold personality, lots of laughter, and a bit of wild. Apparently I was wrong all of those years ago. Andy wasn't too wild...I just wasn't crazy enough. Thankfully time changes things.