Ever since Zakeya (4 yrs old) came home to live with us, she has not been ticklish. Instead she gets this distant look on her face and hardens herself, will not smile, will not laugh.
We've been praying for her to let down her walls, and for the Lord to immerse her in His love.
She made a decision to be baptized yesterday and today ... SHE IS TICKLISH!!!!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Are you sure, you don't want ... just one more?
This blog entry has been removed. This makes me very sad .....
I posted it so that other mom's across the nation would have SOMEONE they could relate to. And instead, I have been judged by it ....
As adoptive parents, we have all these books recommended to us on the kids, how to help them adjust, how to help them attach, how to help them connect, but there is no one out there who is honest enough to say what the adults might be going through and that it's OK. I had done just that ... on purpose... to try to help someone else... and now I am being judged by it.
People don't really want you to be honest. Then if you are, they label you and put you in a box.
I feel my trust has been violated. Makes me not want to share here anymore.
My life has always been this: to comfort others with the same comfort I myself have received. That comfort has not come from "the professionals", that comfort has come directly from God Almighty. And I willingly expose myself so that others might find the same comfort and healing I have found. That is who I am and why I was made. I will continue to do this for the rest of my life. But maybe not here and not today.
Can I forgive? Yes I can. But, my trust has been violated.
I posted it so that other mom's across the nation would have SOMEONE they could relate to. And instead, I have been judged by it ....
As adoptive parents, we have all these books recommended to us on the kids, how to help them adjust, how to help them attach, how to help them connect, but there is no one out there who is honest enough to say what the adults might be going through and that it's OK. I had done just that ... on purpose... to try to help someone else... and now I am being judged by it.
People don't really want you to be honest. Then if you are, they label you and put you in a box.
I feel my trust has been violated. Makes me not want to share here anymore.
My life has always been this: to comfort others with the same comfort I myself have received. That comfort has not come from "the professionals", that comfort has come directly from God Almighty. And I willingly expose myself so that others might find the same comfort and healing I have found. That is who I am and why I was made. I will continue to do this for the rest of my life. But maybe not here and not today.
Can I forgive? Yes I can. But, my trust has been violated.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
The New Normal
Well here I am. We survived. The first month was incredibly hard ... kind of like having 3 new babies that don't stay in the crib. I was very sick for the first 2 weeks, which made it harder.
I have been WAY TOO busy to sit at the computer. They keep me busy all the time! With spring here, there is much I want to do ... start our vegetable garden, clean out the weeds and plant flowers, build my white picket fence, make soap and get ready for the Farmer's Market, finish taxes (oy vey) .. but I can hardly see the floor in my "used to be cleaner and semi-organized" house. Every day it looks like a tornado came thru! Mess everywhere! Why do kids throw everything on the floor?!!
Someday I just leave it all behind and go outside and prepare the garden. I built some raised beds, started tilling around the soon to be white picket fence for herbs and flowers. But I just can't seem to get on top of anything! When will things become normal again?!!
Actually it took about a month and now we call it the "New Normal". I love my new kids, but being honest I spent some time the first week, greiving over the loss of the old normal, things will never be the same ... we are now a bilingual, multi-racial, blended family ... and it is all good. Somedays are hard, some good. Everyday is FULL. No chance of boredom here!
The kids are learning English and I am learning Orominya. We are communicating very good with what we have to work with. Lately, they are beginning to share some history and included in there are many heartaches. I'm so glad we know the Healer of hearts. They are Christians! So very cool! They sing Christian songs in their language, remind us to zalote (pray) when we forget, before eating. They learned "Jesus Loves Me" very quickly.
They have very tender hearts, but also a very stubborn streak, in each one. Like normal kids! Remember when your mom used to say, "Eat your food, the starving children in Africa would be happy to eat ANYTHING!" It's NOT true. They are as picky as any kid.
We have a huge paradigm shift going on here. They LOVE to work (hoji). If you are doing something and don't give them a job, they are hurt. "Me no hoji?", with a very sad face and tears. Out in the garden, Dibora does a mean hoe. She told me she and Zakeya both worked in Kamashi in the garden. They were probably only 2 & 3 years old. Such a huge difference with our kids in America.
This has been an incredible ride, a white knuckler at times, but I wouldn't give it up for ANYTHING! God is good, all the time.
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hands have provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
I'll be back, the next time I come up for air!
I have been WAY TOO busy to sit at the computer. They keep me busy all the time! With spring here, there is much I want to do ... start our vegetable garden, clean out the weeds and plant flowers, build my white picket fence, make soap and get ready for the Farmer's Market, finish taxes (oy vey) .. but I can hardly see the floor in my "used to be cleaner and semi-organized" house. Every day it looks like a tornado came thru! Mess everywhere! Why do kids throw everything on the floor?!!
Someday I just leave it all behind and go outside and prepare the garden. I built some raised beds, started tilling around the soon to be white picket fence for herbs and flowers. But I just can't seem to get on top of anything! When will things become normal again?!!
Actually it took about a month and now we call it the "New Normal". I love my new kids, but being honest I spent some time the first week, greiving over the loss of the old normal, things will never be the same ... we are now a bilingual, multi-racial, blended family ... and it is all good. Somedays are hard, some good. Everyday is FULL. No chance of boredom here!
The kids are learning English and I am learning Orominya. We are communicating very good with what we have to work with. Lately, they are beginning to share some history and included in there are many heartaches. I'm so glad we know the Healer of hearts. They are Christians! So very cool! They sing Christian songs in their language, remind us to zalote (pray) when we forget, before eating. They learned "Jesus Loves Me" very quickly.
They have very tender hearts, but also a very stubborn streak, in each one. Like normal kids! Remember when your mom used to say, "Eat your food, the starving children in Africa would be happy to eat ANYTHING!" It's NOT true. They are as picky as any kid.
We have a huge paradigm shift going on here. They LOVE to work (hoji). If you are doing something and don't give them a job, they are hurt. "Me no hoji?", with a very sad face and tears. Out in the garden, Dibora does a mean hoe. She told me she and Zakeya both worked in Kamashi in the garden. They were probably only 2 & 3 years old. Such a huge difference with our kids in America.
This has been an incredible ride, a white knuckler at times, but I wouldn't give it up for ANYTHING! God is good, all the time.
Great is Thy faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness
Morning by morning new mercies I see
All I have needed Thy hands have provided
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.
I'll be back, the next time I come up for air!
Monday, April 12, 2010
Jet Lag
Oh My Gosh ... Will I ever function again? I can't believe this jet lag! I am overwhelmed and exhausted and there is so much to tell, but where to start. The kids are great, beautiful and ours.... that's all I can say today. More later when I recover....
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Time to Travel !
Well, at long last we have recieved our approval to travel to pick up ALL THREE of our children!
We will be traveling to Addis Ababa through Dubai. Our whole family needs your prayers for protection. Already this week, days before we are leaving, our oldest daughter Bethanie, broke her arm.
:(
We are SO EXCITED! We will post pictures and more info when we get back and we are able to catch our breath!
Thanks again for all of your support!
We will be traveling to Addis Ababa through Dubai. Our whole family needs your prayers for protection. Already this week, days before we are leaving, our oldest daughter Bethanie, broke her arm.
:(
We are SO EXCITED! We will post pictures and more info when we get back and we are able to catch our breath!
Thanks again for all of your support!
Zoo with Sue
Some of the older kids got to have an outing with the director, Sue while she was in Addis Ababa. What a treat! Here is our Gezaw and Dibora! I LOVE her hair!
The girls meet their new brother!
Girls, this is Gezaw. Here is your new brother. Why don't you come over here and give him a hug?
What ... and get Boy Cooties?
Zakeya's face is priceless!
Friday, March 5, 2010
We Have a New Son!
This is Joshua Gezaw Matthew.
Joshua means "YAHWEH is Salvation."
Gezaw is Amharic and means "Take Authority over him."
Matthew means "Gift of YAHWEH."
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Kutless - What Faith Can Do
Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
Overcome the odds
You do have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes and make a new beginning
Anyone can feel the ache
You think it’s more than you can take
But you are stronger, stronger than you know
Don’t you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard
Impossible is not a word
It’s just a reason for someone not to try
Everybody’s scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It’ll be alright
Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
Overcome the odds
You do have a chance
(That’s what faith can do)
When the world says you can’t
It’ll tell you that you can!
I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do
That's what faith can do!
Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Wait Upon the Lord
Well, we had our long awaited big, huge, Benefit Concert last night. The time of worship was great, Leon was great! The Lord's presence was there with us. But less than 50 people came. Thunk.... VERY depressing.
But God still has a plan, that just wasn't it. We hadn't made any travel plans yet. So we talked with our director this morning, (thanks Sue). And then we prayed.
In my heart, I heard the Lord say, "Wait upon the Lord. You'll renew your strength". So we looked it up in the Bible. This is what it says:
"But, those who wait for the Lord, who expect, look for, and hope in Him, shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles mount up to the sun; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired." Isaiah 40:31 Amplified
God sees the whole picture, we don't. For some reason, He wants us to wait and not go yet. If we had received all the money we needed at the concert as we had hoped, we would be leaving in 2 weeks. But that door has been closed now. This way, we have to wait for God's perfect timing and trust that He knows what is best. So we have decided to wait until March 4th to see if Gezaw's case passes court.
If he does, we will pick up all three kids together, probably the beginning of April. A month later for the girls than we had hoped ... :(
If he doesn't pass court on March 4th, I will probably fly ALONE (Oh My Gosh...) at the last minute :{ by March 7th and pick up the girls and take them to their original March 11th Embassy Appointment. Talk about stressful. Then Charlie will fly later when Gezaw's case does pass.
We hope it doesn't happen this way, as Charlie admits, he needs me there since I've been doing all the paperwork and I need him there so I'm not scared to death and having panic attacks.
So, we started out stunned and bummed today, but now I'm experiencing His peace. We are trusting that God is in control and He has a plan.
After everything last night, we still received $1300, which is really incredible and we are very greatful. With this new plan, we still need about $8000 to complete all three adoptions and pick them up. So you can be in prayer about that for us.
But God still has a plan, that just wasn't it. We hadn't made any travel plans yet. So we talked with our director this morning, (thanks Sue). And then we prayed.
In my heart, I heard the Lord say, "Wait upon the Lord. You'll renew your strength". So we looked it up in the Bible. This is what it says:
"But, those who wait for the Lord, who expect, look for, and hope in Him, shall change and renew their strength and power; they shall lift their wings and mount up close to God as eagles mount up to the sun; they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint or become tired." Isaiah 40:31 Amplified
God sees the whole picture, we don't. For some reason, He wants us to wait and not go yet. If we had received all the money we needed at the concert as we had hoped, we would be leaving in 2 weeks. But that door has been closed now. This way, we have to wait for God's perfect timing and trust that He knows what is best. So we have decided to wait until March 4th to see if Gezaw's case passes court.
If he does, we will pick up all three kids together, probably the beginning of April. A month later for the girls than we had hoped ... :(
If he doesn't pass court on March 4th, I will probably fly ALONE (Oh My Gosh...) at the last minute :{ by March 7th and pick up the girls and take them to their original March 11th Embassy Appointment. Talk about stressful. Then Charlie will fly later when Gezaw's case does pass.
We hope it doesn't happen this way, as Charlie admits, he needs me there since I've been doing all the paperwork and I need him there so I'm not scared to death and having panic attacks.
So, we started out stunned and bummed today, but now I'm experiencing His peace. We are trusting that God is in control and He has a plan.
After everything last night, we still received $1300, which is really incredible and we are very greatful. With this new plan, we still need about $8000 to complete all three adoptions and pick them up. So you can be in prayer about that for us.
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