Once upon a time....

Flash back to 1999, we were a family of four. Happy in our new roomy house and comfortable in our ways. A few years later, the Lord blessed us with an additional little package, little boy #3. Now we were a family of five and sure that would be the end. As time moved on, so did we. The Lord used the time that passed to open our eyes to His will. Several years ago, Bob and I individually heard the call to adoption. It has been a long "pregnancy", but during this incubation time, the Lord has brought us to where He wants us to be. Spring 2010, we traveled to Ethiopia where two little angels were waiting for the Lord's timing - to become our children. Now we are home and can't imagine life any differently! What a blessing to be in His will.

Galatians 4:5 says "God sent Christ to buy freedom for us, who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as his very own children." We are just following his model. A Perfect picture of salvation.

Friday, January 21, 2011

HOPE

Our girls have been home for about 11 months now and Nardos had a moment of remembering last Thursday. She, at bedtime, suddenly started talking about things she remembered. I think she was finally feeling safe an vulnerable enough to open up. Beti was nervous, because she knew how hard those memories can be ~ even if they are good memories. And they were good memories. But, as she tried to settle down to go to sleep, she started to cry. I took her to the couch and asked her what was wrong. She said she missed her "Mommy". My Mom passed away three years ago, and that gave us common ground, so I told her that I missed my Mommy too. It was so hard to know what to say. We know so little about their circumstances and I didn't want to say something that wasn't accurate or helpful.

I knew that they had attended church with their family and that they came with a good understanding of spiritually related things, so I asked her if her Mommy loved Jesus. She said, "Oh, Yes". So I carefully proceded with "the Bible tells us that one day, all of the people that love Jesus will be together again." I wanted to be careful in my offer of Hope. She is young and VERY concrete ~ also not very patient! So, I told her that it would be a long time and that we had to be patient and trust Jesus to take care of the details, but that He promised it ~ therefore it will happen. She had some questions, but eventually perked up and with a smile said, "I have two Mommies!"
We cired for about an hour on the couch and several times since then. I told her she didn't have to cry by herself ~ she could come and I would cry with her anytime. A few days later, she was super sad and we had a chance to talk about how I was sure that her Ethiopia Mommy missed her too, but that she wouldn't want her to be sad all of the time. Sometimes, we get sad, and it's ok to be sad, but then we have to choose to let it go. She was responsive to that.

Now, when she mentions this topic, it sounds like this:

"What if my Mommy gets to heaven and doesn't have enough clothes?"
"Will we all stay in the same house?"
"I can't wait for you to meet her."
"I want your Mommy to meet My Ethiopia Mommy!"
"We are going to have so much fun!"
"What color will my coat be? I want pink with Princesses on it!"

My typical response is, "We will have to trust Jesus to take care of that detail."

I try hard to keep the answers real without crossing any biblical lines. Some people might think I am giving her false hope, but this hope is very real. It's just so hard to wait!

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Snowflakes!


Yep – a snow day again.  Today was a day for snowflakes.  A little tissue paper, a lesson on fractions and “voila” SNOWFLAKE.  We had fabulous time.  A few paper snowmen were created (which will likely become notecards in the future – aren’t they cute!?).  An opportunity came up to discuss the uniqueness of each snowflake and, in addition, each person.  I just love having and taking the chance to tell each of my children how unique they are and that each special cut, in character and body, was specially selected and made by God.  As they strategized on each of their snowflakes, how to create a new and beautiful snowflake, we talked about how God picked each “shape” found in them.  Every day the world tells them they are not good enough, not big enough, not special enough.  But my God says otherwise.  You are special.  God made you that way!  Celebrate the beauty.









Celebrate!

Monday, January 10, 2011

Snow day!

A few days ago, Nardos declared that Ciera (her cousin) told her that if we get snow, we don't have to go to school.  I clarified that sometimes that is true, but not always.  Well, the weather cooperated with her theory and we ended up with a Snow Day!  Great, I though, this will be a hard train of thought to change.

So, after getting all 5 kids suited up and explaining to the girls that even with all this stuff on the snow will get on your face and on your wrists and ankles AND it will be cold, they headed out.  They played outside for quite a while.  There was MUCH giggling and squealing.  Enjoy the pictures.












Happy Snow day!

I'm in real trouble - we just got news that we are having another snow day tomorrow!

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

That finger chain mess on our Christmas Tree...well, I just couldn't bring myself to throw it away.  So, I got out  the biggest crochet hook I have and created a blanket mat for Peanut's kennel.  He looks thrilled, doesn't he?