January 2012

We are in the middle of January 2012 already! How can that be? I never thought we would still be on this earth, that this year would even have come, that time would still be clicking.

But....here we are and.....

it's a joy starting a new year with my wonderful family, seeing them change and grow and fall in love with Christ more every day. My oldest "college" boy, who is being a witness to those around him every day. My second and third child, getting excited to go to camp, for their first time this summer! It seems that Garhett was just talking about his first year of going and now he will be in Texas and Ohio this summer.

Change is good, but it's also bitter sweet. Oh, to keep them all with me until Jesus comes again, is my prayer. I will not give up on this prayer...my hope is still in Him.

In the mean time, while we wait for our Lord....we will prepare for His coming, in music, worship, prayer and study.

This is Mitchell's new pride and joy! He started violin lessons just before Christmas break. He hasn't stopped piano, he has just added another instrument. He is so excited! I love hearing the children's music throughout the day!

Along with Mitchell starting, Tori, has been helping Ellie start her violin. Garhett and Mitchell have been teaching piano to the twins, since this last summer. I was wanting them to have a grasp on the piano before they started a different instrument. Nathan, has now decided he would like to continue with piano next year, with the famous Mrs. P**lson, and Ellie will take violin from her as well. So this means....five hours a week at music lessons, not counting choir practice! What a blessed mother I am. I LOVE hearing my children practicing...give me all the squeaks and off-notes you can! I am so encouraged by their hard work. It will pay off some day and I am already seeing it!!!

We were invited to a friends' house to enjoy an Ethiopian dinner! We had so much fun! When we got to their door, there was a sign, which read, "Welcome to Ethiopia!" There were pictures of the country and it's flag. When we walked in, there were smells that were very familiar, coming from their kitchen along with Ethiopian music. It was so wonderful and we are so blessed to have friends who think of doing special things for our family. This meant so much to our son Seth and to us. Our children often remind each other that we are half Ethiopian and half American!

There was injera (which is a staple in Ethiopia and is used in place of utensils), lentil stew, garbanzo stew, both served over long grain brown rice, tomatoes and a salad. This was very authentic. We were all dressed up, sat on the floor and ate with our hands. The kids had a ball and so did the parents!

Seth, I noticed became rather quiet. While tucking him in to bed that night I asked him what was wrong. He broke down and told me he missed his friends in Ethiopia. The smells, music, feeling of being there, opened up his memory (which he has tried to lock away). There was one friend in particular that he has spoken of, Ama**  (Rhett and I met him when we were there). He also was in the process of being adopted and I was able to tell Seth that he isn't in the orphanage anymore either. He has a "forever" family and some day, if he has Jesus in his heart, we will get to talk to him again!

Adoption is a wonderful thing. We are all adopted and it's in God's plan for ALL of us! It is the very way He chose us to come into His family! God says, "...He places the lonely into families." (Psalms 68:6)

It isn't always an easy road, there's hurts and tears that need to be talked through and cuddled and hugged, but the reward is great! If He sees fit for more children to come into our family, I will welcome them with open arms!

"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from Him....Happy is he whose quiver is full of them!"

Psalm 127: 3-5