A YEAR OF KASEN!!

I can't believe he has been with us a full year.  I think I will always be amazed at his transformation.  How this little boy has gone from speaking only Russian to speaking fluent English and learning how to read and write is one of the most remarkable things for us to watch!  He went from living in an orphanage and had no idea of what family life was like to being a sweet, compassionate and loving little brother and son.  He's adjusted to life so well you'd never know that he hasn't been ours all along.

Kasen's first drawing of his family

We had a great party for his birthday and to celebrate his being home a year with good friends and family.  As he sat there at our table outside looking at everyone sing him Happy Birthday I can see a confidence in him that wasn't there before.  He has friends, family and he knows he is loved.  As I tucked him into bed he said "Momma thank you for letting my friends come play with me at my house and with my family."  He said more than once over the celebrations of his birthday "this the most specialist birthday ever."  Those are the type of statements that make our hearts swell.  God has blessed us with the opportunity of seeing how far love can take a person.

I am posting a video of his Gotcha Day (we like to call it Dima Day).  It is long but I tried to subtitle some of he sweet things he said on that day.  Just like the birth of my biological children it will be a day that I will always cherish and hope the details never fade away.  (please ignore my insanely cajun accent while saying "kooshut" which means "eat" in Russian...guess a true Cajun can't talk about eating without letting the cajun twang slip out)

We also made this video about his coming home to the song "Home" by Phillip Phillips.  The words of this song could not have applied better.  I really think he wrote that about adoption ;)

Hold on, to me as we go

As we roll down this unfamiliar road

And although this wave is stringing us along

Just know you’re not alone

Cause I’m going to make this place your home

Settle down, it'll all be clear

Don't pay no mind to the demons

They fill you with fear

The trouble it might drag you down

If you get lost, you can always be found

Just know you’re not alone

Cause I’m going to make this place your home

He has seen this music video and LOVES it.  Every time it comes on the radio he gets excited and yells "Mom, it's my song!"  The kids all smile when he does that.  Without a doubt the thing that has blessed us the most is when we're driving down the road and I hear his sweet voice sing at the top of his lungs "just know you're not alone...I'm gonna make this place your home" I don't know if we will celebrate "Dima Day" every year.  We don't want to always remind him that his past is different from the other kids.  We'll let him take the lead on that one.  But this one....this one is super special and we are happy today!