Article and Video on the Growing Orphan Movement…And Some Controversy as Well

Article and Video on the Growing Orphan Movement…And Some Controversy as Well

Well articulated. Thanks Jedd!

How would you like to be in the deer stand with this?

Too funny :) I'm sure they didn't scare off anything.........

Little man's latest English words...

1. "I lub it!"   translation: I love it....when cheering on Air Buddies playing soccer.

2. Baby Josiah one big. I two big. Mommy 51 big. (after telling him he was too big for me to carry) Thanks.

3. "Mommy, your pace pretty. (your face is pretty...after telling me that I am 51 big).

4. "Daddy car go?" "Mommy car go?" ....when he wants to go somewhere....anywhere.

5. Baby grapes....yuck....this was after being fed blueberries by a friend :) HA HA!

6. Mommy....pox!!!!!!!!! After seeing a dog outside.

Not bad for two months home :)

Family Pics and Fall Festival

Funny story about the boys' costumes....they were both supposed to be ninjas, but at the last minute, Little J's mask was missing (imagine that). So we were scrambling to find something creative. We have had this fro wig forever and decided to make him Lenny Kravitz (not that we promote his music...) Little J didn't even know who he was, but I thought it was funny. He greatly enjoyed being a rock star. None of the kids at church got it, but the adults thought it was funny, too. M took her camera. We have some pics of I and his buddy that are great. I'll try to post them later today :)

Big J's Hunting Adventure

232 yard shot! Way to go!!! Wyoming will never be the same :)

Happenings at Home

 Happy Birthday :)

Lovin' Big J

 Last meal as a family of seven (sushi!!)

 Our family came to visit this weekend! Happy Birthday to our sweet niece and to Granddaddy!

 Gotta love these boys! I woke up to heart shaped pancakes :)

 The pumpkin patch :)

 LOVE Rochell!!! Our first visitor. "I" was practicing Tae Kwon Do.

 Little J and ML lived in the same orphanage in Ethiopia. They have really grown! Love them :)

 First craft.....this hat was done without my supervision.....not too shabby.

 With Uncle Steve

 More sweet family!

Lovin' from Mommer

Singing :)

Incredible testimony

Quick update

I know....you want pictures :) Later, I promise....

Just to let you know after taking two days off last week to recover from jet lag, we returned to school on Monday full force with a four year old in the mix. We've also been to the doctor, started vaccinations, been to the university pediatric dental clinic, determined that his brown teeth are just stained NOT decayed (yippee!), had nitrous oxide for one icky tooth that had to come out today, puked in the car on the way home from the dentist and the happy gas....sleeping well, eating everything in site.....singing in Amharic, yet skeptical of the world except for those in our home, been to church twice (one fair experience, one good), had our first popcorn and movie at the house, loves the trampoline, and ALL his siblings. Mom and Dad aren't too shabby either.

I've taken lots of pics, but I'll have to post later :)

We are doing well. Only a couple of meltdowns. I'm a little tired, but overall, I cannot complain :)

Thank you for praying for our transition!!

Day Three home :)

 I love this pic!

 First time sliding!

One thing I learned....very long post

I wrote this during our last flight home.
"This is what I have learned,not what I have mastered. I am utterly helpless. I could not blink without God causing me to blink. I couldn't take one breath of air without Him opening my lungs and filling them with the oxygen that He has provided. I am utterly unworthy. I am not worhty of being born in America to parents who love me. Not worthy of being introduced at a young age to the Gospel. Not worthy to be married to a strong, faithful, God-fearing man who loves me and cares for me. Not worthy of being a mom to six incredible kids; all who are so different with such different stories, hopes, and dreams. Right now, I sing in my heart, the old hymn....I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene and wonder why He would love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean....how marvelous, how wonderful, and my song shall ever sing, is my Savior's love for me.

This week we have watched God's hand guide every aspect of our journey. Lots of travel troubles, UGH. Through it all, when I would feel anxiety welling up in my heart, I would hear Him asking me, Do you trust me? Do you really mean all the things you say to everyone else? Do you trust me to work out circumstances according to My plan, not yours? Do you recognize that you are not in control? Over and over, I know that He was and is telling me that in good or bad I must choose to trust that this journey is HIS. This journey of the life that He has planned and intended. I don't always react the ways I should to difficulties (just ask David). I still get very anxious, want to control situations and people, but honestly....deep within my soul, I do trust Him. I may not like the plan, but I trust that He has ALL worked out. I'm in a plane right now on our last leg home from bringing home our boy. We are surprising the other kids with an early flight home. Soon we will be the eight of us. Our boy is sleeping peacefully. He fully trusts us as his parents. We know where he is going. We know what is in store of the other end of this plane ride. We had a plan to bring him home. Everywhere we've led him, he has willingly gone with a smile on his face, hand held out to take ours. Fully trusting. May I be the same with my Heavenly Father who has the plan."

Psalm 34:8-11
Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. Fear the LORD, you his saints, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD.