More children coming home!

We are overjoyed that this week there are 4 families in Kigali adopting their children from Home of Hope (E & Zeke's former place of residence) and an additional 5 families that anticipate travel before the end of the year!!

"Relgion that our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: that we look after orphans and widows in their time of distress." -James 1:27

Maybe you aren't called to adopt a child into your home, but please consider this commandment of our Father. You can support the fatherless through prayer, financial support, Operation Christmas Child (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/), or mission work. There are 143 MILLION ORPHANS worldwide. I wish that I could put into each of your brains the vissions of Etienne and Zeke's old life; that you could hear yourself the sound of the children playing alone in HOH, or see the rows and rows of tiny cribs. November is National Adoption Month and our family will always be called to spread James 1:27.

Etienne's 1st (3rd) Birthday

Today we celebrated Etienne. We had several varying dates for his birthdate, and we chose November 24. He chose some monkey themed plates, so mama made a monkey cake. It was just family and we all know he had no idea why he was the center of attention, but he enjoyed the spotlight. For the first time, Etienne was able to say "Mine!" to a toy, and we were happy for him to have something that was his for the first time in his life.

I found myself emotional today as I rocked Etienne, thinking of the first 2 birthdays of his life. My tears were that no one knew it was his day, no one kissed him or made him feel extra special on those days, or any other day.

Etienne got a big wheel motorcyle and much of his excitement was over assembling it with his daddy. He also loved his cell phone and his toy crane. Not too mention the 2 slices of cake!

Its not just for wrestlers anymore...more honesty!

So last week Molly got this cute little circular mark on her cheek. It got bigger and brighter and then I realized (gasp!), she had ringworm. All moms know this is almost as devestating as if your kid was the one in class with lice. Molly's teacher insisted that she didn't get in at school, so I, having too much nurse practitioner access, began to do some digging. Turns out most African kids are carriers of ringworm (also known as athlete's foot or jock itch), they just don't display it. Or if they do, it is in the form of bald spots. Have you all seen Zeke's head?! We looked closer and our little man does indeed appear to be the responsible party, in true Zeke style. Now the whole crew is being treated, everything is disinfected and we aren't contagious anymore. And Zeke got his first haircut! Blake saw him and said, "He looks like Grandpa!" We had to share the lookalikes.

So much...

"His anger is but for a moment, and His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but JOY comes with the morning." -Psalm 30:5

We are a happy family of 6!!!!!! God totally knows what He is doing. If we had come home happy and adjusted, if we had slept from the beginning, if Zeke had not screamed for 4 weeks, I don't think that Ryan and I would feel the depths of love that we feel for our boys. I am not sure that we would see how truly miraculous adoption is if we hadn't struggled.

Getting real...

So I have been forthcoming with the reality of transition and adjusting in adoption. The truth is, although when I met Etienne and Zeke I KNEW they were mine, the instant bond and unconditional love wasn't entirely there and what I felt wasn't what I thought I'd feel. I was trying to force feelings that can't be forced. This has been a source of confusion and constant prayer. And something people just don't talk about. Yesterday, in the middle of the mall playground, I fell in love, head over heels, unconditional, move the earth kind of love. With Zeke and E. I was watching Blake chase Zeke and Etienne, all 3 of them laughing and I couldn't get over how beautiful and perfect they each were; totally a rose colored glasses, mommy view! I was taking pictures, crying and laughing and realizing that it finally happened. I love all my children with the same, constant, unconditional love. Ryan and I always tell our kids that only God loves them more than we do. All four.

"Mommy, can I have the moon?"

This would be the question Etienne asked us tonight in the car. Lots of giggles from his family and Zeke just laughed cause the gang was. Happy sounds. More updating tomorrow with pics.

"Mommy, can I have the moon?"