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The last few weeks have flown by due to track and functions that we've gone to.  The track season is almost ending, which I think Dima will be bummed as he has really enjoyed being on a team.  He also mentioned the other day that he was bummed school is going to be over soon!  He has come so far from the night before school and he was so upset about going to school! We have all come so far in just four months.  I think back to when we first got home and how things have changed.  Dima is a different child.  He has gained confidence from conquering his fears.  I hope that he continues to push himself when he faces his fears.  He has become much more calm in situations that before would give him anxiety.  I remember the first few days of school when he forgot his watch as we are pulling out of the driveway and he insisted on going back to get it.  Now he just shrugs and says not to worry about going back to get it. 

Communication has gotten so much better.  We pushed him from the beginning to open up to us if he was upset so he wouldn't shut down.  Now if he gets upset, he will talk to us about what is wrong.  He also used to get upset because he didn't understand.  Between school and track, he can now understand a lot.  He still has a hard time being able to say exactly what he is feeling but he can at least say a word or two now to explain.  We had a campfire the other night and Dima asked what were we going to do with the campfire.  We said we were going to enjoy the warm fire and talk.  He did not shut up for that 2 hours!  We laughed while Dima told us the things they would do in Ukraine, mostly just typical boy stuff.  He told us what some of the really bad kids would do and how much the teachers would use hitting as a punishment.  We learned a lot about Dima in those 2 hours.  It still amazes me as to why he chose not to do those really bad things.  What made him realize right from wrong?  He had no family that ever came to visit him.  He had no one to go to after he would have "graduated" in 2 years?

When we first decided to have Dima go out for track, we thought it would be good to give him something to do after school.  We did not realize how much it would help him.  His confidence has tripled! He has a time with his peers to practice listening and speaking English outside of school.  It also gave him a sense of belonging with being on a team that you can't get any other way.  The coaches and kids have been so supportive and often cheer for him when he is running his events.  He is no longer the orphan at his school and looked down upon, he is just one of them.

This weekend will be my very first Mother's Day! The last few Mother's Day have been extremely hard for a few reasons.  The obvious reason was because I was not a mother, but the other reason was because if I would have had my baby, it would have been due this month.  I would get anxious before this day and depressed.  I would wonder why I wasn't able to be a mom. Now I understand that God had a different route for me and has blessed me in so many ways that I often feel like I have to pinch myself.  Dima has been amazing and such a joy to have as a son.  He has brought Dusty and I even closer than I would have imagined after being together for almost 20 years!  Now I am looking forward to Mother's Day with a smile instead of tears.