SIX MONTHS HOME

It is hard to believe 6 months have flown by since we brought Betty and Jeri home.  It has been amazing watching them progress from toddler stages of actions and behavior to that of 7 and 9 year old little girls, all in the matter of a few months!  They went from playing games such as the Memory Game, Chutes and Ladders and Candy Land to games like Battleship, Phase 10, Life and Skipbo.  They went from barely being able to balance themselves in the water to obtaining their green band at the YMCA that allows them to swim in the deep end of the pool and not have a parent attending them!  They went from riding tiny tricycles and scoot along toys at the church playground to riding bicycles without training wheels.  They went from speaking very little English to speaking complete sentences and and cracking jokes using play on words.  Sad to say, they have lost their Amharic language though.  Betty grew 2.75 inches and gained 6 pounds.  Jeri grew 2.25 inches and gained 12 pounds.  They both grew in clothing sizes and shoes!

Their personalities have become more apparent too.  Betty is a vivacious, very stubborn, determined little girl.  She wants to be able to do everything the big kids get to do and is highly competitive.  She has a bright, captivating laugh that everyone loves.  Jeri is my little helper.  I can always depend on her to do something for me and she loves to work beside me in the kitchen.  She is kind and giving but also has a mischievous, playful side to her too.  Betty is a deep thinker and very fearful of loss.  Not surprising since she has seen much loss in her short life.  After seeing a movie where a character died of a heart attack, she told me that she would do all the work so I would not have to work hard and have a heart attack and die also.  One day I was explaining something about the Revolutionary War in America.  The next day she said "Let's pray that there is not a war here again so we don't have to leave our house."  It is usually a day or two later that I find out something I said or something she heard elsewhere has caused her worry.

Both girls are very frugal with their money.  They get a small allowance and instead of spending it on instant gratification, they keep saving and saving it.  Betty did break down once and spend hers on some candy.

Both girls are shy around others but have come a long way in using social manners.  They earned points for each effort of politeness and then we had a "Kid's Night" party when they reached their goal.  They had been wanting a kid's night for some time because they thought it unfair when they had to play outside while David and I had a few date night dinners at home.  We made a menu and waited on them while they enjoyed their favorite foods.  I love to here Betty's little "You're welcome" behind me when a stranger has thanked her for holding the door open.

They are both smart as a whip.  They catch on to games in no time at all and are easy to teach.   Betty will be attending a cottage school two half days starting next week.  Jeri is still on a waiting list.  I will be using the "Five in a Row" unit study with her at home.

The girls have had a taste of camping this summer, ranging from primitive, dispersed camping, to a national park to a state park with toilets.  They did great with all three.  They have become pretty good fisherwomen too.  Just last week they caught several little sun fish by fly fishing at a local lake.  Both girls also did wonderfully in the car for a 2 day drive to visit David's parents.  They were great travelers.  Last week they enjoyed a visit from my parents.  They were sad to see them go and could not understand why they could not stay forever.

Betty celebrated her 7 year old birthday in August.  She was so excited and exclaimed "It is the first birthday party I have ever had!"  Jeri will celebrate in September.

We have been truly blessed by these little girls.  God certainly knew what He was doing when He selected them for our family as their personalities blend in so well.  They bring us great joy.

Jumping on the Salt Flats

First roasted marshmallow.

Betty's birthday

Our little dare devil!

ADOPTION DAY!

On Tuesday, June 12th, we went to court for our U.S. re-adoption.  The judge finalized everything, changed the girls names to Kathryn Jerusalem and Rebecca Bethlehem and changed their ages to 6 and 8.  This will enable us to receive a correct U.S. birth certificate for both girls.

We celebrated with an Adoption Day Dessert Party that evening at our local neighborhood park along with friends and family who journeyed with us through the process.  All the kids had a great game of kick ball. 

Both girls are doing well in all aspects of family life and learning English.  They certainly keep us busy!  They just finished their first 2 weeks of swim lessons and are ready to move up to the next level.  They finished their handwriting book, have almost finished a year's worth of first grade math and are 1/2 way through their "Learning to Read in 100 Easy Lessons" book.  They are eager, bright students!

The girls are still very shy around other people and we have instituted a reward system for using polite manners with others.  They are beginning to do much better using social skills.  It is hard to believe it has been 4 months since we brought them home.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord endures forever.  Psalm 138:8 

A HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

It has been 3 months since we picked up our newest family members in Ethiopia.  My heart overflows with such joy from our newly expanded family this Mother's Day.  Surely God has similar feelings when each one of His adopted children comes home to live with Him and His Son.  I'm so thankful He has grafted these special girls into our family tree.

Our family is truly a blended family with 2 stepchildren, 2 biological children and now 2 adopted children.  I believe the Lord looks down and smiles because His own Son had a blended family too!  Jesus, had a stepfather, Joseph, and had biological 1/2 brothers and sisters and has adopted brothers and sisters from those who have received His gift of salvation through His grace.

My family blessed me with a delicious breakfast in bed this morning and beautifully drawn Mother's Day cards.  I also smell the delicious aroma of Peanut Butter Cake that they are baking for me this afternoon.

I love the unity of brotherhood I have seen in my children.  My ten year old son's little white hand holds the small brown hand of his sister as we walk.  My twelve year old son had fun putting his little sister's hair up into pig tails before church today.  I love the sounds of the kids working together as the girls willingly join their brothers in completing their chores.  I love the sound of laughter ringing out in our back yard as the children play kick ball together in our back yard.  I love seeing my boys adore and enjoy playing with their new sisters.  I love our "new normal."

I feel so undeservingly blessed that our transition has gone so well.  The girls seem to have attached, bonded and have fit right into our family.  It is not at all what I was prepared for in adopting older children.  I feel blessed when their little arms give me big hugs and treasure our bedtime routine as they giggle and snuggle into me as we read books and sing silly songs like Peter Cottontail.  I feel grateful as they so willingly and happily join me in kitchen work such as grocery shopping, cooking, setting the table, and dishes.

It has been amazing and fun watching the fast transition from preschool level behavior to behavior that is more fitting their age.  They are now learning boundaries in respecting other people's things.  It has been amazing how fast their grasp of the English language has progressed.  It seems that they understand so much of what we say and are even making complete sentences of their own.

It seems the girls are feeling safe and secure.  Jeri felt safe enough the other day to say "I don't like this family" when she had a day of not getting what she wants.  She certainly hasn't acted like she doesn't like us and was snuggling up into David's arms 10 minutes later.  I think she just felt safe enough to express her feelings of frustration.  Jeri has also been trying many new foods this past week and liking them.  I believe she was so picky before because it was one aspect of her life that she could control when so much change was taking place in her life.  It is hard to know what all they were told about life in America before coming here.  I'm sure they have had to adjust their expectations.  I know they are disappointed we don't eat beef every night!

The girls have also been doing well in school.  They both finished all the chapters in their math book on addition and are ready to move on to subtraction.  They are both reading simple sentences in their reading lesson book.  They love to sit and color, cut and paste during their free time.

We took the girls swimming one day and they enjoyed it so much we have joined the YMCA again.  They beg to go almost every day.  In June they will start some swimming lessons.

I started the girls on an allowance because they were begging for everything in the store and candy each time we went.  Now I simply tell them to bring their money if they want anything.  It is funny how they don't want to spend their own money!  Jeri has saved $14 now and Betty $12.  It certainly put a stop to too much candy.

Of course, everyday doesn't look picture perfect.  We live on the imperfect side of eternity.   There was a day when I put too much into one day, my cell phone disappeared, the front door was wide open when we got home, dinner was late and we still had to make it to Stephen's art show.  The girls are very sensitive and when they saw big tears dropping down my face, they scurried to clean up the dishes  so mommy wouldn't have to.

It has been an adjustment getting used to four kids again too.  We have the typical squabbling that happens between 4 kids.  My brain is often over taxed and hurting from all the noise and the attention demanded from me from so many family members and often all at the same time.  I will find myself walking to the pantry or somewhere and not remembering what I went to get or do.  I've accidently left the dog in the car for several hours on several different occasions.  Fortunately it was not hot.  I broke down in frustration and tears the other day because of the feeling that I am not able to listen to anyone very well at all because my mind becomes so numb from all the input and I have so much to do to keep the ship afloat.  The clutter that results from more people has been difficult too.  I keep trying to not let it bother me, but that is hard for someone who used to be a neat nut.  It is difficult to find time alone.  Don't feel bad if you haven't received communication from me.  I sit down at my computer and within minutes there are little warm bodies surrounding me with eyes peering over my shoulders.  I've already shooed people away from me this afternoon several times.  But each day gets easier as we establish routines and boundaries and establish expectations.

I've always found that saying "yes" to the hard things God calls me to do have been so worth it.  The blessings far outweigh the hardships and He has always been right by my side walking me through each step of the way through the times of famine and the times of plenty.  I look forward to reaching new summits.

"He makes my feet like hind' feet, And set me on my high places."  2 Samuel 22:34  

Family at Easter

First carousel ride

A mother's love

Dressed up Ethiopian style

Brotherly love

Happy kids hiking

Fun at the park

ONE YEAR AGO

On April 16th, one year ago, the good Lord showed us our new daughters' sweet faces on the "waiting child" list for our agency.  We were taking our last training class and a couple said they were adopting a 7 year old girl that was on their agency's waiting list.  I had looked on the waiting child list previously but it had listed only boys.  That day we went home, pulled up the waiting child list and there were our girls!  We knew right then that they were the ones God had chosen for us.  Since our adoption was on hold for medical reasons, He even held the girls for us for another month until we were allowed to proceed.  Truly a miracle when you look at these cute girls and have seen how fast other cuties have been snatched up!

cy

THE CROSS

What happens when we lay our time, talents, resources, and lives at the cross?  Joy, great joy!

On a Friday over a thousand years ago, Jesus willingly laid His life down for us at the cross.  Great joy resulted from His sacrifice because He not only took our sin for us but conquered death when He rose from the grave 3 days later.  Because of His sacrifice, those who believe and put their faith in Him are blessed by the Father.

Through our adoption we have laid ourselves, our resources and time at the cross.  What has been the result? Joy, great joy!

What a blessing it is when:

• The head and arms of little girls snuggle into me as I read them bedtime books.
• A little girl's eyes light up in the morning as she jumps into my arms exclaiming "Mommy!"
• Another little girl teases me as she puts on her new glasses and says she sees two mommies!
• A tiny little chocolate hand slips into mine as we skip along singing "Skip to my Lou my darling."
• Two eager learners complete a few weeks of school lessons in one week.  
• Small things that we take for granted bring such great delight to our girls.  
• I hear the sweet rhythm of their precious feet moving to their favorite workout DVD.
• Laughter rings out at our dinner table.
• Little girls proud to be wearing their beautiful dresses accompany us to church.   
• I see how much our boys enjoy and adore their new sisters and help take care of them.
• We play the game of matching for the millionth time and peals of excitement still ring out when they find a match.
• Sweet little voices sing "You lead, I'll follow...."
• Four little helping hands eagerly help me with setting the table, cooking and dishes.
• Two little girls fit so beautifully into our family.
• We see God's faithfulness and provision in bringing these two girls into our home.  

My BSF teaching leader dropped by to visit and gave the kids a gift of eggs and a dying kit to make Easter eggs.  The girls enjoyed making their first Easter eggs.  The Easter egg signifies new life.  God has certainly provided a new life for our girls with our family.  Adoption is such a beautiful picture of what God did for us on that Friday a long time ago.  I thank God for the new life He gave me when He adopted me into His family through the blood of His Son on the cross.

What will you bring to the cross this Good Friday?  Jesus is willing to take your sins, your sorrows, your failures, etc. and give you new life.  He is enough.  He is eager to take your life, your abilities, your resources and give your life purpose and meaning.  He is enough.  May you experience the richness of God's beautiful blessings this Easter season.

LIFE IS GOOD

Life with our new family is good.  Life is often chaotic, noisy, unorganized, challenging, tiring and the house is messy.  But life is good.

Today I woke up very, very tired.  The weekend had not provided much rest after my first week of being on my own for meal preparation and grocery shopping.  (I got spoiled by all my terrific friends and am so appreciative of all the help during our transition.) The time change did not help matters either.  It thankfully did keep everyone asleep during my devotion time though.  I prayed Paul's prayer in Ephesians 3 and it did wonders in giving me the right start to my day.

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

It is only through His strength and His power that I am able to do immeasurably more than I thought I could do. This prayer changed my perspective, gave me new strength and we had a wonderful day.

The girls are doing so well.  They are still laughter, fun and giggles and lots and lots of energy.  Of course, David has already taken them fishing and Jeri caught the first fish!  This past Sunday David took them running on a trail, then to a park and then did a work out video and they were all laughter and giggles and still not ready to go to sleep in the evening.

Sunday we also took them to church for the first time.  All week they pleaded to wear some beautiful white dresses my sister game me.  I kept telling them they had to wait for church on Sunday.  Saturday we went to the store to pick out some white shoes for Betty.  It was amazing how particular she was about her new shoes.  They didn't have the right size in any of the shoes she liked so we left the store empty handed.  I was surprised that she did so peacefully.  Later we stopped at another store and found the perfect pair.  Sunday they proudly wore their new dresses to church.  They looked absolutely beautiful.

Saturday David and the boys were out so I took the girls to our only Ethiopian restaurant in town for a dinner of Injera.  I must say our date was much pricier here than in Ethiopia!  Jeri has really been missing her Ethiopian food though and is very reluctant to try American food.  She likes her food berbere spicy!  I have found that she does likes taco soup and chili which has a little bit of the same spice flavor.  She sprinkles everything she eats with extra berbere spice.  I am quickly running out of the spice I bought in Ethiopia!  It is helpful too that both girls love most fruits and vegetables.  They fight over broccolli like it is candy!

Today we met at the park with two of the girls' friends who are from the same care center in Ethiopia.  Betty and Jeri were so excited all morning before meeting them for our picnic and afterwards asked over and over if they could go see their friends tonight too.  I am looking forward to an evening with other adoptive mothers from our agency this Thursday.  It is cool that we have a new community of friends and support from other adoptive families.

The wrist x-ray did age Betty at 6 and Jeri at 8.  We will now try to get their birth certificates changed when we do readoption through our state's court system.  They will turn 7 and 9 in August and September respectively.

Betty had an x-ray done on her previously broken arm and it has healed satisfactorily.

Both girls had an eye appointment and poor Jeri is terribly near sighted.  The doctor said her field of vision is only about 3 feet in front of her and she has to put a book right up to her nose to read.  She picked out some frames and we are waiting for them to be made.  Won't the world look different to her when she puts them on!  The membrane walls in her eyes are also very thin from being so near sighted and she will have to be dilated annually to make sure she does not have any retinal tears.

Hair is still a challenge.  My friend suggested I buy a hot comb to help with Jeri's thick, very curly hair.  It did help tremendously in spreading the oil through the hair and making it soft.  We only had a short time for hair styling when my friend came so we did some twists all over Jeri's head.  I don't think it is her favorite style.  I prefer the french braiding but it is very time consuming.

It is incredible how quickly the girls are picking up on English and how easily we communicate.  I have been told that they both will quickly lose their language at this age even though they still speak to each other in Amharic. 

Michael and Stephen have been great with the girls.  They get a little upset when they get into their things.  We had to put door locks on their bedroom doors.  Stephen loves to play with little kids and is great at entertaining them and Michael is my mature, responsible guy who helps me out.  They actually listen and obey him. 

Well it has taken me two days to write this post so I better sign off before it takes three!

Blessings!