The Homeschool Adventure

September 3, 2019 Michelle Cuthrell

We had been praying about what to do for Superhero 4 for months.

Our sweet-and-spicy Energizer Bunny graduated in June from the children's center, where he received the very best PT, OT, speech and educational services for 18 months of his life. And although this motivated little man moved from a 1.5-year-old developmental level to a 4.5-year-old developmental level in several fields during such a short period of time, he was still noticeably (and understandably) behind his peers.

At kindergarten registration day at his big brothers’ school last spring, we sat next to a child who could read sentences from the packet instructions to his mama.

We still couldn't identify five letters.

The preschools we contacted couldn't accommodate a 5-year-old boy with mobility issues and medical needs.

The tutor we loved was already booked for the fall.

Our boy was old enough for kindergarten, but at only two years home, we felt like, even in the talented and capable hands of teachers we knew and loved, with only two years of exposure to the English language under his belt, he might just drown.

Which left one other option …

The Introvert Who Wasn't: Celebrating Two Years Home

August 15, 2019 Michelle Cuthrell

I remember being concerned.

We had already received pre-approval to make the 3-year-old boy with the 5 million dollar smile and the monogrammed “C” on his shirt our son, and we had submitted an update request to learn more about this child who would soon share our last name.

At the time, we knew three things:

1. He had cerebral palsy.

2. He supposedly had cognitive delays.

3. He was our son.

So when we received the Bridge of Love update on this little guy a month after receiving our pre-approval, I could hardly click through the email fast enough.

His hobbies and interests and personality and passions were this beautiful and mysterious gift I couldn’t even wait to unwrap, and as I read each sentence over and over again, I felt God just intertwining my heart with his. I felt so hopeful and at peace about the way I imagined this little personality integrating into our home.

Until I saw them — the words that terrified me and made me wonder if we really had heard God correctly in the first place.

“Quiet.”

“Very shy”.

“Extremely timid.”

“Will not initiate contact with other kids.”

And I knew it.

He was going to die.

Orphanage life was not going to kill this beautiful, bashful soul.

Our loud, rambunctious, Nerf-playing, floor-wrestling, family of anything-but-respect-your-own-space-and-quiet brood of boys was.

God's Best-Kept Secret

December 31, 2018 Michelle Cuthrell

We had just returned home from two-plus weeks in China.

We’d fallen in love with the boy we called Superman on Christmas Eve of 2012. And on Christmas Eve of 2013, we were in a hotel in Guangzhou, China, holding that precious superhero in our arms.

It may have taken 12 months for God to officially write this boy into our family’s story, but it took less than 12 seconds for all of us to fall head over heels for the vivacious 2 and a half-year-old who already felt like he’d always been part of the family.

Because I’m slightly obsessive about pictures, announcements and communicating fun news as quickly and loudly as possible, I had scheduled a photo session with our dear friend Sarah the week we returned from China.

I didn’t want Superman to waste one more moment than possible viewing pictures in our home that didn’t include his precious face.

And so, on New Year’s Eve 2013, our new five-person family gathered at a local park in the fog and the rain to capture the beautiful redemption story God had written.

In Superman’s life.

In OUR OWN.

It's a GIRL!

December 11, 2018 Michelle Cuthrell

I thought it might happen after we had two boys in our home.

Or maybe after we brought home the third.

Or maybe after hosting the girl with the sparkly extra chromosome who turned our worlds upside down.

Or maybe when God called us to a fourth and we began yet another adoption journey to China.

But four little boys and one big one in this house later, this girl has so far remained the singular queen of the castle.

Until now.

Because friends, after nearly 15 years of marriage and more poop jokes and toilet seat urine-crashing clean-ups than any one person should ever have to endure in one lifetime, I get the privilege of sharing with you for the first time ever today news so big that we had to tease it on our annual Christmas card.

IT’S A GIRL!

A Black Belt Heart

December 2, 2018 Michelle Cuthrell

He set the goal when he was 5 years old.

He’d attended his very first belt testing as a Tiny Tiger at our local martial arts studio, and Superhero 2 fell in love with the discipline and values and challenge of tae kwon do.

“My goal is to become a black belt by the time I’m 10,” he told us following that first ever belt test where he traded in his white belt for one of yellow color.

For the last four years, this dedicated superhero has attended tae kwon do class after tae kwon do class, training up to seven hours per week this summer in order to meet this goal he set for himself before he could even tie his own shoes. He’s attended seminars and trainings and bo staff classes and local tournaments, and we’ve watched as he’s grown not only in competence, but in character.

And last night, at the age of 9 ½, he traded in the 10 different belts that went before this one and achieved a goal he set almost half his lifetime ago.

Last night, Superhero 2 became a black belt.

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