Here are a couple of pics from the last few days. Hopefully I'll have more soon; I've realized I haven't done a very good job of keeping my camera handy in the last couple of months!
Sunday, May 16, 2010
New Pics
Check out the sidebar; I finally added our two new additions to the "Pure Joy Kids." I also gave them blog pseudonyms like the other children have. I guess if I really wanted to be cautious, I would go back and change all of the earlier references to their real names, but I don't think I will. I intentionally used their real names in the beginning because I wanted you all to pray for them by name (and please keep doing that, by the way!) I do need to update some of the older four children's pictures; Boo's is new, but the others are from last summer!
Here are a couple of pics from the last few days. Hopefully I'll have more soon; I've realized I haven't done a very good job of keeping my camera handy in the last couple of months!
:)
Here are a couple of pics from the last few days. Hopefully I'll have more soon; I've realized I haven't done a very good job of keeping my camera handy in the last couple of months!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Am I PREGNANT?!
I was asked that question three times last weekend. (Got your attention, didn't I?!) The first time, I was in a doctor's office on Friday morning. The doctor was considering prescribing an antibiotic for a presumed infection, so he asked me the obligatory question about possible pregnancy. The appointment was a last minute thing, so all six children were with me. Yoseph was on my lap, crying and smelling suspicious. Mihret, Boo, and Sunshine were all either pulling toys out of the toybox on the floor, or zooming around the very small room with said toys (sorry if it appalls anyone that I let them play with those toys; it's a survival technique), and Sweet Pea and Tiger were trying to read despite the noisy atmosphere. I'm not confident that this particular Doctor is very understanding of some of our family's choices, so when he asked the question, I just looked around the room, looked back at him for a long moment, and murmured, "no."
The second time, I was in the emergency room later that same night. Nope, it wasn't an infection after all. It was a kidney stone. Ever had one? Let me tell you how it feels. Well...hmmmm....it was like... Okay I don't have a vocabulary of awful enough words to describe the pain. Jim had to put all six kids in our enormous bus of a van and haul us all to the ER. A couple of hours later I was wheeled into a room for a CT scan, and again, the question. (Again, obligatory since I was about to subject my body to harmful rays). This time I just moaned, "noooooooooooo." (I would've said anything to get that scan done and get some more drugs.)
It was the third time that got to me. Sometime Saturday morning (in somewhat of a drug-induced stupor, as I was still dealing with the kidney stone), I had a quiet moment with Tiger. The night before (watching me writhing in pain, driving frantically to the ER where I threw up repeatedly in the waiting room, and then going home to bed while I stayed at the hospital) had been a bit traumatic for the children. I asked Tiger if he had been scared. I was surprised when he said no. (I was scared!) But I was more surprised at what he said next. "I was hoping you were having a baby." (Okay, he didn't exactly ask me if I were pregnant, but it's close enough). This time I was stunned. I was caught off guard. I was feeling quite vulnerable. And as a result I was able to really feel what I hadn't felt the first two times I heard the question. I felt a little sad. I think he knew that I couldn't really be having a baby. But on some level I think he let himself hope. Maybe just because it was a better option than whatever else he might have imagined might be wrong with me. But at least partly because he loves babies. He loves having a "big family." I love that kid. Sunshine came in and admitted that she had hoped the same thing (they both might need to learn a bit about gestation; I'm not being vain, but I do NOT look pregnant!) Sweet, sweet children. I've thought a lot about those comments over the last couple of days. And I know that (as far as I can discern) there are no more pregnancies in my future. I've worked through that a lot, just between me and my Father. But what I really, really realized as I thought about Tiger's comment was that children are a blessing from the Lord. Oh, you've heard that before? I know, I have too. I've read it, I've said it, I've thought I believed it. But let me just tell you that the last six weeks have been HARD. There's a good reason why I haven't posted on this blog since the day we got home! I'll go into all of that another time, but for now let me just say that children are a blessing. All of them. All the time. Because God said so. I am blessed beyond belief by these six, and I was so glad to know, when my heart responded to Tiger's comment, that I really believe what God said. Oh, how I am blessed. Although I truly don't wish I were pregnant, I savored the bittersweet feeling of sadness for a moment because I was glad I could recognize the gift it would be if I were. I am so glad that we stepped out and walked where God led us. And how I hope we never miss an opportunity to do so. Yes, it's been hard, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. And it thrills me to know that Tiger sees the blessing too, and yearns for more. More of God. And yes, even more children. (I wonder how many grandchildren I might have one day?) YES, Lord. Right now Yosie is sound asleep; cuddled up with Tiger in his bottom bunk. And Mihret is in her bed with Sunshine's favorite stuffed animal tucked in beside her. We are not the same family. And yes, it's still hard. It's easy to write sweet platitudes while the house is quiet and everyone but me is sleeping. But...we're not the same family. And I'm thankful.
(One more thing; I cannot tell the whole "kidney stone" story publicly without thanking my precious friend who sat in the ER with me for hours so that Jim could take the kids home to bed. God has blessed me immensely through you again and again. Thank you seems inadequate, but...well, you know!)
I think that was a bit "rambly", but hey...I haven't written anything in 6 weeks! I'll leave you with a picture we took on Easter Sunday. In Ethiopia, one wears traditional clothing on Holy days. Nothing makes a white kid look whiter than standing next to an Ethiopian and wearing African clothing, huh? But seriously, aren't they all so beautiful?
Blessings!
The second time, I was in the emergency room later that same night. Nope, it wasn't an infection after all. It was a kidney stone. Ever had one? Let me tell you how it feels. Well...hmmmm....it was like... Okay I don't have a vocabulary of awful enough words to describe the pain. Jim had to put all six kids in our enormous bus of a van and haul us all to the ER. A couple of hours later I was wheeled into a room for a CT scan, and again, the question. (Again, obligatory since I was about to subject my body to harmful rays). This time I just moaned, "noooooooooooo." (I would've said anything to get that scan done and get some more drugs.)
It was the third time that got to me. Sometime Saturday morning (in somewhat of a drug-induced stupor, as I was still dealing with the kidney stone), I had a quiet moment with Tiger. The night before (watching me writhing in pain, driving frantically to the ER where I threw up repeatedly in the waiting room, and then going home to bed while I stayed at the hospital) had been a bit traumatic for the children. I asked Tiger if he had been scared. I was surprised when he said no. (I was scared!) But I was more surprised at what he said next. "I was hoping you were having a baby." (Okay, he didn't exactly ask me if I were pregnant, but it's close enough). This time I was stunned. I was caught off guard. I was feeling quite vulnerable. And as a result I was able to really feel what I hadn't felt the first two times I heard the question. I felt a little sad. I think he knew that I couldn't really be having a baby. But on some level I think he let himself hope. Maybe just because it was a better option than whatever else he might have imagined might be wrong with me. But at least partly because he loves babies. He loves having a "big family." I love that kid. Sunshine came in and admitted that she had hoped the same thing (they both might need to learn a bit about gestation; I'm not being vain, but I do NOT look pregnant!) Sweet, sweet children. I've thought a lot about those comments over the last couple of days. And I know that (as far as I can discern) there are no more pregnancies in my future. I've worked through that a lot, just between me and my Father. But what I really, really realized as I thought about Tiger's comment was that children are a blessing from the Lord. Oh, you've heard that before? I know, I have too. I've read it, I've said it, I've thought I believed it. But let me just tell you that the last six weeks have been HARD. There's a good reason why I haven't posted on this blog since the day we got home! I'll go into all of that another time, but for now let me just say that children are a blessing. All of them. All the time. Because God said so. I am blessed beyond belief by these six, and I was so glad to know, when my heart responded to Tiger's comment, that I really believe what God said. Oh, how I am blessed. Although I truly don't wish I were pregnant, I savored the bittersweet feeling of sadness for a moment because I was glad I could recognize the gift it would be if I were. I am so glad that we stepped out and walked where God led us. And how I hope we never miss an opportunity to do so. Yes, it's been hard, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. And it thrills me to know that Tiger sees the blessing too, and yearns for more. More of God. And yes, even more children. (I wonder how many grandchildren I might have one day?) YES, Lord. Right now Yosie is sound asleep; cuddled up with Tiger in his bottom bunk. And Mihret is in her bed with Sunshine's favorite stuffed animal tucked in beside her. We are not the same family. And yes, it's still hard. It's easy to write sweet platitudes while the house is quiet and everyone but me is sleeping. But...we're not the same family. And I'm thankful.
(One more thing; I cannot tell the whole "kidney stone" story publicly without thanking my precious friend who sat in the ER with me for hours so that Jim could take the kids home to bed. God has blessed me immensely through you again and again. Thank you seems inadequate, but...well, you know!)
I think that was a bit "rambly", but hey...I haven't written anything in 6 weeks! I'll leave you with a picture we took on Easter Sunday. In Ethiopia, one wears traditional clothing on Holy days. Nothing makes a white kid look whiter than standing next to an Ethiopian and wearing African clothing, huh? But seriously, aren't they all so beautiful?
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Thank you
I don't have the time or the energy to write a real post right now, but we are home! I just want to thank everyone for your love and your prayers. They carried us across the Atlantic, through the week, and back home again. I hope I am able to share more soon, but meanwhile...here we are all at home together at last.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Homeward Bound!
It's Martha again. Susan emailed this morning.
At this moment, it's nearly 6 p.m. in Addis Ababa where Jim, Susan, Mihret and Yoseph are at the airport awaiting their 10:30 p.m. flight. They arrive home early tomorrow morning. Let's all pray them home.
I can't begin to imagine what the next 48 hours will be like for Mihret and Yoseph - traveling by plane for hours and hours, met by the enthusiastic smiles of their 4 new very blonde siblings, coming "home" where home still has snow on the ground. Oh Lord, would you help them grow to rest in your perfect ways.
Mihret and Yoseph, for you:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
At this moment, it's nearly 6 p.m. in Addis Ababa where Jim, Susan, Mihret and Yoseph are at the airport awaiting their 10:30 p.m. flight. They arrive home early tomorrow morning. Let's all pray them home.
I can't begin to imagine what the next 48 hours will be like for Mihret and Yoseph - traveling by plane for hours and hours, met by the enthusiastic smiles of their 4 new very blonde siblings, coming "home" where home still has snow on the ground. Oh Lord, would you help them grow to rest in your perfect ways.
Mihret and Yoseph, for you:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord. "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
An Update from Addis Ababa!!
Hi! This is Susan's friend, Martha. Susan got a message to me this morning asking me to update her blog. What a privilege! (Especially since I'm sure there are many - like me - who have been by here multiple times everyday holding their breath for some news from Susan and Jim.)
I'll share what I know.
Yesterday (Tuesday) was "Gotcha Day" - the day Jim and Susan not only met Mihret and Yoseph for the first time but also took custody of them. Emails from Susan yesterday before meeting the children, revealed an overflowing heart of faith and hope, an awe of God's goodness and a stomach full of butterflies! ;-)
Much later in the day - after they had put Yoseph and Mihret to bed - I heard from her again. She was struggling to express her emotions in written words. It's completely understandable as I can't imagine how you put into writing those emotions you experience when you see/meet your children for the first time. I hope one day she'll try to do so for all of us here. She said that both children were struggling some with the adjustment and that Mihret finally fell asleep as Susan whispered prayers to their Heavenly Father in her ear.
Today was their Embassy visit which I'm happy to report they cleared. It was a long and tiring day for all 4 of them as it sounds like there wasn't much sleep for anyone last night. It's night there now and I'm praying that they are all resting peacefully.
This morning was the first time since arriving in Ethiopia that Susan and Jim were able to talk with their 4 children here in the states. Apparently, they have tried before but the folks on the state side couldn't hear them. They have been relying heavily on email and text to communicate with their 4 sweet children waiting at home for them and Susan's sister, the "wonder aunt", who is managing 6 children, 2 dogs, and 1 guinea pig, and a RAT single-handedly this week.
They are also experiencing a power outage today - the first since their arrival. I'm told power outages there are quite common. I don't know if we'll get any additional updates from them until the power is back on.
Edited 3/5 as I miscalculated exactly how many children and critters "wonder aunt" was managing this week!
I'll share what I know.
Yesterday (Tuesday) was "Gotcha Day" - the day Jim and Susan not only met Mihret and Yoseph for the first time but also took custody of them. Emails from Susan yesterday before meeting the children, revealed an overflowing heart of faith and hope, an awe of God's goodness and a stomach full of butterflies! ;-)
Much later in the day - after they had put Yoseph and Mihret to bed - I heard from her again. She was struggling to express her emotions in written words. It's completely understandable as I can't imagine how you put into writing those emotions you experience when you see/meet your children for the first time. I hope one day she'll try to do so for all of us here. She said that both children were struggling some with the adjustment and that Mihret finally fell asleep as Susan whispered prayers to their Heavenly Father in her ear.
Today was their Embassy visit which I'm happy to report they cleared. It was a long and tiring day for all 4 of them as it sounds like there wasn't much sleep for anyone last night. It's night there now and I'm praying that they are all resting peacefully.
This morning was the first time since arriving in Ethiopia that Susan and Jim were able to talk with their 4 children here in the states. Apparently, they have tried before but the folks on the state side couldn't hear them. They have been relying heavily on email and text to communicate with their 4 sweet children waiting at home for them and Susan's sister, the "wonder aunt", who is managing 6 children, 2 dogs, and 1 guinea pig, and a RAT single-handedly this week.
They are also experiencing a power outage today - the first since their arrival. I'm told power outages there are quite common. I don't know if we'll get any additional updates from them until the power is back on.
Edited 3/5 as I miscalculated exactly how many children and critters "wonder aunt" was managing this week!
Friday, February 26, 2010
THEY'RE OF!
At about 11:00 this morning, my Mom and Dad left for Ethiopia! It,s hard to believe that just about 5 or 6 months ago, we didn,t even know about our children, but it is not hard to believe that God has brought us through this whole adoption process. It is going to be a beautiful moment when I see them for the first time. Anyway, my Mom and Dad are on they're way to Ethiopia, but they're flight was cancelled, so they are only about a third of the way there. I would like you to pray, if you aren't already, for my Mom and Dad while they fly to Ethiopia.
I'll keep you posted, Sweet Pea.
I'll keep you posted, Sweet Pea.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Sweet Pea's first blog post
Hi! Sweet Pea here. Today my Mom taught me how to put posts on the blog so that I could post while she is in Ethiopia. What you are reading right now is actually my first blog post ever. So, anyway, I hope I'll be writing down what's happening - in Ethiopia! (If my mom and dad are able to call and tell me what's going on!) You'll know just about everything thats going on on the other side of the world. Things like meeting our children or visiting the care center. Anything exciting.
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