Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! My day started with coffee & the newspaper in bed! Grace bounded in a little later and started a pillow fight. After getting ready for church, Kevin snapped a picture of me with all FOUR kids.

(See me holding Bella's picture)

Samuel and Grace made me very cute booklets in school to give me on Mother's Day. I asked Elizabeth to write me a poem or essay. She started looking for a Bible verse and found this one in The Message:

"Anyone who robs father and mother and says, "So, what's wrong with that?" is worse than a pirate." Proverbs 28:24 We both had a hardy laugh over that one! (Ahoy there, matey!)

After church, our family and our friends Mike & Cindy went to Wendy's for lunch. We had a fun time actually "sitting down" in a restaurant instead of just driving through--who cares that it was a fast food stop!

Now I am off for my Mother's Day afternoon nap. I'll update about the rest of the day later.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...... I LOVE Mother's Day......

Hi, I'm back and rested! (Now I probably won't be able to fall asleep tonight, but, oh well, I got a great nap during a thunderstorm...I just snuggled in, ahhhhhhhh!)

My parents came over and Kevin grilled steaks for the guys and chicken for the girls. How Yummy! Then, the girls went for a power walk.

What a great day! Thanks, Kevin and kids for making it such a nice day! Love, Mom

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day! My day started with coffee & the newspaper in bed! Grace bounded in a little later and started a pillow fight. After getting ready for church, Kevin snapped a picture of me with all FOUR kids.

(See me holding Bella's picture)

Samuel and Grace made me very cute booklets in school to give me on Mother's Day. I asked Elizabeth to write me a poem or essay. She started looking for a Bible verse and found this one in The Message:

"Anyone who robs father and mother and says, "So, what's wrong with that?" is worse than a pirate." Proverbs 28:24 We both had a hardy laugh over that one! (Ahoy there, matey!)

After church, our family and our friends Mike & Cindy went to Wendy's for lunch. We had a fun time actually "sitting down" in a restaurant instead of just driving through--who cares that it was a fast food stop!

Now I am off for my Mother's Day afternoon nap. I'll update about the rest of the day later.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz...... I LOVE Mother's Day......

Hi, I'm back and rested! (Now I probably won't be able to fall asleep tonight, but, oh well, I got a great nap during a thunderstorm...I just snuggled in, ahhhhhhhh!)

My parents came over and Kevin grilled steaks for the guys and chicken for the girls. How Yummy! Then, the girls went for a power walk.

What a great day! Thanks, Kevin and kids for making it such a nice day! Love, Mom

Our Special Gift

Tomorrow is a day to celebrate mothers! We ALL have our mothers to thank for giving us the gift of life. As a mom, I was given a very special, unexpected gift over 9 years ago--a beautiful baby girl named Grace, who just happens to have Down syndrome. I don't understand why she was given this little something "extra", but I do know that our family received an "extra" blessing when God granted her to us. God continues using Grace mold our characters to be more like his son Jesus.

However, most people would not agree that Down syndrome could be a blessing. In fact, over 90% of parents who find out in utero that their baby has Down syndrome will go on to terminate their pregnancy.

This makes me so sad. I wish all people could know Grace, and others like her, to see how valuable and loved she is! Why are we such a 'throwaway society'? If someone does not look perfect, is too old, or their bodies don't work, we think they are of no value. However, God our Father loves and cherishes each precious life He has created.



The verses most often used to demonstrate God's value of life comes from Psalm 139:13-16. Please allow me to share them with one small change; I will insert "Grace's" name into the verses instead of "you" to show how God's Word is alive and personal:

"I praise you because Grace is fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Grace's frame was not hidden from you when she was made in the secret place. When Grace was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw her unformed body. All the days ordained for Grace were written in your book before one of them came to be."

These verses are such a comfort to a parent of a child with special needs. They can be a comfort to all of us when we are questioning our value and purpose in life. God values all life and has a plan for each and every one of us--even if we are blessed with a little "extra"....

Our Special Gift

Tomorrow is a day to celebrate mothers! We ALL have our mothers to thank for giving us the gift of life. As a mom, I was given a very special, unexpected gift over 9 years ago--a beautiful baby girl named Grace, who just happens to have Down syndrome. I don't understand why she was given this little something "extra", but I do know that our family received an "extra" blessing when God granted her to us. God continues using Grace mold our characters to be more like his son Jesus.

However, most people would not agree that Down syndrome could be a blessing. In fact, over 90% of parents who find out in utero that their baby has Down syndrome will go on to terminate their pregnancy.

This makes me so sad. I wish all people could know Grace, and others like her, to see how valuable and loved she is! Why are we such a 'throwaway society'? If someone does not look perfect, is too old, or their bodies don't work, we think they are of no value. However, God our Father loves and cherishes each precious life He has created.



The verses most often used to demonstrate God's value of life comes from Psalm 139:13-16. Please allow me to share them with one small change; I will insert "Grace's" name into the verses instead of "you" to show how God's Word is alive and personal:

"I praise you because Grace is fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. Grace's frame was not hidden from you when she was made in the secret place. When Grace was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw her unformed body. All the days ordained for Grace were written in your book before one of them came to be."

These verses are such a comfort to a parent of a child with special needs. They can be a comfort to all of us when we are questioning our value and purpose in life. God values all life and has a plan for each and every one of us--even if we are blessed with a little "extra"....

GraceSpeak

Grace makes us laugh everyday, especially with her own “language” or GraceSpeak! Here’s the English language according to Grace:

Pretzel hot rod – pretzel rod

No rain, no paint?!? – Said as we drive past the 'scary' car wash!

“kdik,kdik” -- tickle tickle

Two minutes! – (while holding up two fingers) She says this whenever she wants us to wait for her to do anything…

My turn?--her way of asking if it is her night for DreamCatchers t-ball!

Yes or No? – She holds up both hands and we are supposed to touch the hand that represents “yes” or “no” —but, she always holds the answer “she” wants out closer to you and the other far back, so you can’t reach it to try to get the answer she wants!

Black or grey? – to ask which car we will take

Blue candy – Dove chocolates

Swimming, shower? – When she wants to go to the YMCA

Sissybeth – Elizabeth

Daddy, you pooped! – ummm, "poofed"

GraceSpeak

Grace makes us laugh everyday, especially with her own “language” or GraceSpeak! Here’s the English language according to Grace:

Pretzel hot rod – pretzel rod

No rain, no paint?!? – Said as we drive past the 'scary' car wash!

“kdik,kdik” -- tickle tickle

Two minutes! – (while holding up two fingers) She says this whenever she wants us to wait for her to do anything…

My turn?--her way of asking if it is her night for DreamCatchers t-ball!

Yes or No? – She holds up both hands and we are supposed to touch the hand that represents “yes” or “no” —but, she always holds the answer “she” wants out closer to you and the other far back, so you can’t reach it to try to get the answer she wants!

Black or grey? – to ask which car we will take

Blue candy – Dove chocolates

Swimming, shower? – When she wants to go to the YMCA

Sissybeth – Elizabeth

Daddy, you pooped! – ummm, "poofed"

Adoption Update

Hello All!
Just a quick post today to give an update on our adoption journey. Our dossier is done (Yay!) and ready to be sent to Bella's country. Once it arrives there, our facilitator will translate it into Russian. After that, it will be ready to be submitted to the department of adoption after which we will be invited over to Bella's country to hopefully receive her referral.

So, in summary, the next step big step the submission of our dossier. The question is when this will actually take place? Bella's country only accepts submissions for younger children on Mondays. And, because last Monday and the next are holidays there, the earliest date for our submission is May 18th. However, there are several families "in line" before us--so, it could be May 25th or even June 1st. Either way, we trust God for his timing in it all!

Bottom line, Bella will be home this summer, Lord willing!

Also, we were so blessed this weekend to receive a generous donation from a family at our church. We were left speechless--which is a rare thing for the Burckhards! It is very humbling and so very hard to be gracious accepting such a gift. Then, yesterday a sweet cousin of mine called and also wanted to make a love gift to our adoption fund. We were overwhelmed once again! What words can we say to let you know how much this means to us! Thank you to all who are partnering with us to save this little girl and give her a "forever family".

Love, Paula & family