Thorburn Family

 A shot of Lydia, doing a great job in the office for Rich.  She is spending a lot of her summer doing invoices, estimates, writing paychecks, and balancing the business checkbook.  Since she is our “sedentary and visual” child, this works quite well for her (and us!).  :^)

 “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”  Ecclesiastes 3:1 

After a very eventful couple of weeks, it’s time to “gather our skirts, and shut the doors.”  Just for a little while.  You know we all really like the exciting stuff  :0)  The adjustment period for Benjamin is setting in, and he is best served by staying home, limiting visitors and appointments, and simply tending to the basics of being a family.  We cancelled all appointments for this week and got the quilt out!   So, if you don’t see us a while, know that all is well, we are just wrapped up in a blanket together somewhere, probably reading a book or teaching Benjamin songs :-).  

A few days ago, we mailed some announcements for the arrival of our new son, Benjamin, mostly to our not-local friends and family members.  We listed our blog address on the announcements, so we expect we’ll have more people than usual hitting the site in the next few days (and here you are! :^).  Please scroll down to see more pictures of Benjamin, and we’ll be posting some more fun family pics and video soon, Lord willing.   In the meantime, we want you to please take notice of an important need that a 14 yr old boy has for a new kidney.  My original post on it is below, a few spaces down (so scroll down!!).  Since that post, Samuel has been released from the hospital and is getting stronger in preparation for (hopefully) a new kidney transplant.  It cannot be emphasized strongly enough that he needs a kidney, and getting a kidney means that someone needs to choose to be tested to see if they are a match.  The process is simple and can be done in your local lab. A kidney transplant is simply the difference between life and death for many people like Samuel Smith.  Please consider whether you might be able to help.  Scroll down and read below.

 Joy inexpressible.  Each day our love for Benjamin deepens.  We are so thankful for the children God has given us to raise.  It’s a very precious time and words don’t seem enough. 

They may not look just alike, but they are brothers nonetheless!  The John Deere shirts make it so  :^) 

The last week has been a delightful whirlwind enjoying our precious new addition to the family.  I can’t say our hearts have ever been more full :^)  Benjamin is doing well.  He’s keeping a regular schedule, eating a TON.. loves yogurt and raisins especially.. all healthy stuff.   The amounts he is eating at this point are pretty incredible but he needs it..  He will be 5 yrs old in September but sits below the 5th percentile for height and weight in boys of his age (despite birth parents that are reportedly fairly tall).  He is wearing 2T size for clothing.  On Monday, he will get tested for a variety of things that could contribute to small stature.  He could be so small due to being underfed/malnourished, or a due to a disorder, or both.  Benjamin also sees a dentist this coming week, and next week we will meet w/a special education team to review plans for some specific therapies from which he’ll benefit. Ben is just full of squeals, giggles, hilarious statements, questions, hugs, kisses, and ENERGY! He fits right in with our very active and not-too-quiet family!   This past week, our house has gotten super messy :), things are behind, we are still not fully unpacked.. but we have enjoyed each other immensely and are praising the LORD for all He has graciously done.  We were also blessed by meals from some friends all week, which was a great help. We’ll try to get back to “normal” next week and start our summer schedule on Monday. We’ve got more pictures and possibly some video to post very soon, so check back.Psalm 139: 13-14  ”You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.  Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”   Our greatest desire for Benjamin and all of our children is that they will grow up to know and love the Savior who created them, and ordained every moment of their lives, for His own glory.  <scroll down to read about Samuel Smith who needs your help!  We don’t want his situation to get lost in our adoption posts> 

We arrived home with Benjamin late last night.  Here is a photo from the Manchester airport, where he played with his new race car on their nice, empty floors in the middle of the night!  Everyone is doing well, we are bonding, and just very tired.  We are thankful to the LORD for all He has done.  More soon!