A good winter

It's winter time around here. We have had lots of visitors from the states and enough sickness to last us all year. We have also gotten to celebrate two birthdays. These boys sure do love getting to pick their birthday celebrations. Since we have missed out on lots and lots of years with our boys, each marker like this is especially special! It's a gift from the Lord!

 

It's been pretty cold around here, well at least in our apartment.  Thankfully the sun has decided to come out the past few days and it has been absolutely marvelous!! The children are really doing well. It has been such a neat season of seeing them play together and enjoy some serious quality time. We have enjoyed this season of peace and bonding even in the midst of lots of indoor time. Amen.

 



 

These boys can paint!

I love this picture for many reasons.

These boys love to read.

They love each other.

They love this quilt.

Notice the big, beautiful, bright colored quilt.

This was made by my very talented friend, Sharon.

She sewed this sun quilt for our family!!!

 Every time I see it I think of her love for our family and how the Lord has covered us with His love even during some very hard days. SO thankful for her and her amazing family .Even though we live in different parts of Asia, she has been a remarkable, faithful friend as our family has gone from two to seven in the past few years.

 

A date with my newest four year old!!

Scarfs are key to my winter survival and happiness.

Strawberry shortcake his choice two years in a row.

What most of my days look like.
I LOVE being their mom!!

Daddy time.
Is she really so big that she can put her hair in a ponytail?
 

family of seven

The month of November has been full of travels. I was gone for a week, first time away for me. Painful and sweet! Hubs was amazing and impressed me once again by how he can tackle any challenge. Chris had a trip for a few days and then our family made a trip too.  

 

Last weekend was our family trip. It was a day and half trip. We spent about 20 of those hours traveling. We tell our boys that traveling is an adventure...let's make it fun.

 

We got to talk with people from all over the world.

Had a sweet restaurant lady buy the boys their first sodas. I couldn't tell her they don't drink soda. The boys were pumped.

Gloria received way too much attention from the fellow passengers

All seven of us shared a hotel room.

We watched the Gaza situation on BBC...praying, praying, praying for peace.  sure puts things perspective.

Played at a great park.

Walked way too long in one of the most crowded cities to enjoy some western food.

The kids rode their first double-decker bus and their 57th airplane (estimating)

We spent way too much time in line at the airline counter because some Asian airlines don't understand families with five children.We could only buy 4 children's seat.  TJ actually had to be accompanied by one of their people because we had to buy his ticket separately. On the return flight we reassured them that we (his parents) could take care of him. Seriously!

 

 

 

The journey continues  for our family, but how much growth we have experienced this year! We have much to be thankful for!  He sets the  lonely in families...and heals the brokenhearted.

Happy Thanksgiving.

the day my camera broke

On this day a few weeks back I decided to take an adventure with the little boys and Miss G. We moved a few months back so since this area is new to our family we thought we would check out a nearby park. I stepped in the little store to buy some water and we were met by a man wearing a shirt with TCU on it, the university of several of their grandparents. This day was definitely meant to be!! :)

I really wanted to ask this guy where he got his TCU shirt.
Why didn't I???
 

The shop lady was unclear which bust to take so i then proceeded to ask these ladies.
 After a few minutes of them debating I politely excused ourselves and left them to their conversation as to the best possible route to the park.

We rode on this little ride to get to the bus stop. We have a great admiration for these three wheel vehicles as they can veer in and out of traffic in this big and bustling city.

Excited about our adventure.

Next we rode the big bus.

We arrived at the park to be greeted by these sweet ladies who were dancing their pounds away with some serious east and west movement.
 It was quite a sight.
They were such kind hearts.

This sweet lady really took a liking to Nime.

 

I am pretty sensitive to my children's preferences because of the attention they receive here. We have come a long way, and worked really hard for them not to desire the attention of strangers. They have had to learn that Dad and Mom are the safe place. Great progress is being made and we don't want anything to hinder their trust. For example, if they don't want to be in pictures with people I politely say no thanks and ask the kind stranger to please stop touching their curls. I wasn't prepared for this lady's excitement. I did snap a pictu and then quickly rescued him from her kind affections.

We stopped to help this crew take a picture.
Later on they would offer our boys a snack.
As they sat to eat their little treat I pulled out the camera and it fell hard on the ground.
 Sadness.
 

Camera. you have been good to our family these past few years. It was a token of love by my bestie, Shan, that will forever be remembered for her (and her husband's) generosity. I hope that the local Nikon shop will be able to help you be as good as new. yours respectfully.

Posing for a picture by the green slimy pond.
Can you tell they get tired of my photos??

And the best part of their day...riding the train.

Leaving the park we met this man.
I seriously felt like I was living in another era as we walked passed the river lined with beautiful Asian trees.
Then, I looked a little closer and saw our dancing ladies behind us and remembered that I live in a day where most in our country wear skinny jeans and cardigans and dance to some pretty rockin music.

Yep, little G and I were also present. Thankfully, she is quite the fan of the ergo. Me too!!
We rode a taxi to hurry back as the Bigs were almost home from school. So grateful for the time I have each day with the Littles.
 

Everyday is quite the adventure living here with our big, little family.
The Lord is using it all for His purposes.
I must find the joy and contentment in living in His presence and goodness.

New beginnings

The house is quiet and it's light outside. My hubs took the kids outside to enjoy this georgous, sunny day. Although I enjoy these rare moments of quiet I would much rather be watching my darlings riding their bikes, playing with sticks on this Sunday afternoon. These past two days I have had a fever and stomach bug. Yuck!  thankfully I am the only one, which is not abnormal around our house. Solomon said yesterday, “Mommy, I am so sorry you are sick, I don’t know why you get sick more than us.” It’s so true.  We are grateful that the Lord has given health to our children and blessed their tummies with some serious good bacteria in their guts.  Me, on the other hand, I guess I am needing to up my yogurt intake.

The Bigs started school this month. It has been a great thing for everyone involved. We truly feel blessed that our boys can attend this school surrounded with terrific teachers and children from all over the world; although, I think our boys might be the only ones from Africa. Sad. We are hoping that will change in the future! It has been a good beginning with only a few hiccups. As with any new transitions some will be affected more and the waves come crashing around their tender souls. Our hope truly is in the Anchor of our soul...that He takes the broken and is making all things new.

 

His first sentence.
 Translation: "I know Jesus is God".
We might just have a theologian on our hands.

I could stare at this sweet face all day.

my little sugar
I love that this boy will randomly just walk up to me and give me kisses and hugs and tell me that I a good mom.

3rd Gotcha Day for E & N.
The kids sporting their traditional Ethiopian outfits.
We followed this with their choice of a McDonald's celebration dinner

He went swimming! One of our greatest days yet.
This boy has my heart.
 He daily seeks the Lord to change Him and chooses to love others with his entire being.
He is the best big brother i have ever known.
SO thankful and humbled that the Lord would allow us to raise such a special one.

Hubs is not one for cooking except for breakfast as of the past year so when he came up with the idea to make brownies for my birthday, it was quite sweet.
They were quite yum!

Our little ballerina.
She loves to stand on her tippy toes!
Cutest thing ever.

Her ten month photo shoot.
These next two months better go by slow.

 

First day of school!
Can you tell they are just a little excited.

Life is not easy for our family. Thankfully, I sense that there is a new work in all of our hearts that I am loving We all have our moments of selfishness and heartache, but lately I have noticed that many of the issues we are dealing with are just boys being little boys and parents being imperfect people and not about the pains of adoption. I would say that means we have taken several steps forward. YAY!!




Um...everyone being pretty compliant to Mom's request for a Monday picture



OK. never mind i think we are finished.

This was supposed to be a 30 minute quiet time
Guess he was a little tired today.
Kellye, notice we are still enjoying this book!!



This girl has got some skills.
One of her favorite things these days is pushing the ball across the floor.
Her Daddy has already said that football is out of the question,
and basketball is a maybe as long as she doesn't play feisty like her Momma ;).



She has got some great big bubba's. They sure love little G...and boy do her eyes light up when they give her attention.
Notice that adorable little hand holding his shirt
Makes my heart smile.



I love how hard he works and the creativity he uses when building Lego's.
I am never in question as to what he might want for a gift.

Family Pix!

For those of you who will not be making a visit to our home.  Here are the pictures we will soon be putting on our walls. Today we got our curtains up and some deep cleaning accomplished, so I am hopeful that day will be soon.

Thanks to my wonderful big sis we were able to capture some sweet moments on camera. Getting family pictures taken was one of those things I had in my heart, but knew it was one of those things that would be hard to get done. I don't think I had even spoke it but of course my sis is just like that. We are connected.  She knows me well.  During one of our visits she surprised us with having one of her friends come over in between the swim party and steak dinner. It was our family, my parents, my sisters and their families...and just some of my favorite memories EVER!!. I heart my family!

NINE years baby!!
Love this man!

a few favorites

These were from our time in the States!

Sweetness.

A little glimpse into our life.
Beauty.
Peace.
Rough Waters.
Stronger Family.
Repeat

Daddy Love
Sidenote: Notice the vest on Nime. Now i may not have the best taste in style but I would not have put these two together. We are not sure how this vest got on him becuase when we dropped him off at Sunday School  he was not wearing this. Either--
A. He wore it the week before and took it off for some reason, so his teacher had it there for him the next week

                                    B. He thought this looked like hia new vest and told his three year old friend to hand it over.  

                                    C. His parents were way too tired and stressed and don't have a clue as to what actually happened.
                      As I was packing I am pretty sure I counted 5 vest... we were only supposed to have 4!      

We LOVE the beach.
Even if the wind was so strong we could hardly stand up.