christmas 2010

Trying to get a photo of all five of my kiddos was more difficult than I thought!! I love these silly kids!

My sweet little Les*otho Love has been home with me for over a month now! He is wonderfully active, loud, smart, funny, loving and just a bunch of fun for us! Les*otho is a tiny country located within S Africa. The people are beautiful and gracious. I was gone for 18 days, which was difficult, but gave me and my little guy some great bonding time! Les*otho is a tiny adoption program with only one agency representing the US. If you are interested in adopting from Les*otho, please e-mail me!!

leaving on a jet plane

I'm leaving to pick up my precious new son in 16 days! I can hardly believe it. I have been waiting for this time for over two years. I got a decent price on flights and hotels and just have to pack. It will be REALLY hard to be away from the rest of my family for 18 days, but I am really looking forward to using that time to bond with my new little guy. I have packing lists, flight itineraries, adoption papers as well as a bunch of clothes, shoes and underthings for my boy in a small area in my bedroom. I need to get it packed!! I am traveling with others, but we haven't ever met in person! Hopefully it will be fun!

photos for Kabelo

Finally, after working on this adoption for more than two years, I believe it is almost complete! My little guy will hopefully be home sometime in August or September. We sent a small package to him which included photos of our family. I pray that this little boy will not fear us and that he will integrate into our family. I pray that his little mind and heart are at peace for the trip home. We have been having a family debate regarding his middle name. I like Joseph...the other kids do not! So far, they have suggested: Mandela, Lamar, Bamlak, and a boatload of others...I'm not sure who will win!

The Past

Last year I hired an Ethiopian searcher to find out anything I could about my children's past. Unfortunately, I knew little to nothing about their previous life before they came to our family in 2006. My daughter, once she acquired some English, was able to give us some details that ultimately led to the searcher finding people that knew them in Ethiopia. I would encourage anyone that does not know the details of how their children came into care, to fully exhaust all options to find that information. I was very confident that they came into care from necessity and I was correct. I would love to take my kids back to Ethiopia some day to meet the people that took care of them until they came home to us.

Receiving these baby pictures last year was one of the big highlights of 2009. I NEVER thought I would have precious baby photos of them.

Ten Things That Make Me Happy

My top 10 things are:

1. my children- L, G, M and B- at 19, 15, 13(ish) and 8, they keep me on my toes

2. going to church on Sunday- I am learning so much and it feels good to know that I
am forgiven and loved

3. photographs- I love to decorate my house with memories of our lives

4. reading adoption blogs- I have been SO inspired by so many families who have chosen to adopt

5. my brother's laugh- he is so inspiring to me and his laugh is loud and strong

6. sleeping in- rarely ever happens

7. sand between my toes- there is no better way to relax than to sit on a beach

8. the smell of my little boy's curls- they are soft and smell delicious

9. cold, crisp sheets and my down comforter- I love a cold, cold room and that yummy blanket

10. getting together at my mom's and seeing my nieces and nephews- I have 4 nieces and 4 nephews, 2 of my nephews are adopted!

Crazy Love

I am stepping out on a ledge here. In response to the Crazy Love post at "aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com" I am writing this entry. I have recently come to know God and have been attending The Creek for almost a year now (9 months) with my family. I don't tithe 10%, but am working on increasing what I give to my church. After all, my church gives so much to me each week. I sponsor a Rwandan mother and her children through Women for Women also, which was done in response to a challenge given to me by my church. I'm reaching the "toddler" stage in my journey of faith and am so happy that I started this walk.

I have never been a person that is comfortable asking for help. I am adopting for the second time (3rd adopted child, child #5 for our family) from Les*otho, which is a beautiful country embedded in South Africa. I will have the money necessary for the second half of the adoption expenses(once my tax check arrives!), but need some for the travel and expenses while there. I don't want to put everything on credit cards. I have a son in college, a daughter in high school, two children in elementary school and my new little guy will go to preschool once he gets home to us. This will be an added expense for our family that we haven't had since before the recession. My little boy is three years old and is beautiful! I wish I could share his photo here, but not until the adoption is done!! Adoption, for me, means that we get to care for this baby, this little boy, because that is what people are supposed to do- care for orphans. It means we get to experience all of those miraculous firsts with another child. We get to see how love and a family can restore a little human's spirit.

I am really wondering to myself why I felt compelled to update my GREATLY neglected blog yesterday...funny how things like this happen!! Please pray for our family and that this child, whose name means "gift" comes home to us soon. It's been such a long journey to get to this place. Thank you!!

l love blogs, but not so good at them myself

I read so many wonderful blogs. Blogs about adoption and serving God and blogs about great moms with wonderful children. I aspire to have a great blog, but just can't seem to find that much to write about. This is our life. We have been blessed by God, by adoption and I try to be the best mom I know how to be.