Thursday, April 10, 2008
Racial Confusion!
Our almost 4 year old (my baby) thinks he's black. He not only thinks he's black but he tells people he has a black dad in Africa....and his name is Jimmy! (what???)
He's always been my story teller. He can go on and on with the most serious face telling stories so this really shouldn't suprise me. He can tell you about hunting, shooting dangerous animals....anything his mind thinks up at the moment.
He also starts out his stories now by saying "when I was in the orphanage".....
He just cracks me up!!! I'm fairly certain he isn't really confused....just trying to fit in :0
It can be hard being the baby!
He's always been my story teller. He can go on and on with the most serious face telling stories so this really shouldn't suprise me. He can tell you about hunting, shooting dangerous animals....anything his mind thinks up at the moment.
He also starts out his stories now by saying "when I was in the orphanage".....
He just cracks me up!!! I'm fairly certain he isn't really confused....just trying to fit in :0
It can be hard being the baby!
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
M.O.A.T.
I am now officially a "mother of a teenager!!" Yesterday I was at the hospital in Ames giving birth to my first daughter...now she's 13 and almost as tall as me!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE!
You are a beautiful young lady. You are determined. You are a planner. You are creative. You are amazing.
I know this has been a hard 2 months for you. You are the oldest now of 8. (4 sisters and 3 brothers) Life isn't easy....and it's not quiet...and it's not fair. Guess you're learning this early :0 God has a big plan for your life and I can't wait to see what it is! God will use this new experience (do you call adding 2 sisters and another brother an "experience??) to grow you in ways like never before. This is His plan. Sit back and give up the reins and let HIM work.
LOVE YOU MUCH!
mom
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ELLIE!
You are a beautiful young lady. You are determined. You are a planner. You are creative. You are amazing.
I know this has been a hard 2 months for you. You are the oldest now of 8. (4 sisters and 3 brothers) Life isn't easy....and it's not quiet...and it's not fair. Guess you're learning this early :0 God has a big plan for your life and I can't wait to see what it is! God will use this new experience (do you call adding 2 sisters and another brother an "experience??) to grow you in ways like never before. This is His plan. Sit back and give up the reins and let HIM work.
LOVE YOU MUCH!
mom
Thankfulness....
It's amazing how fast time flies when you are not in the "waiting" stages of adoption. The waiting for a referral...the waiting for finalization...waiting for passports...waiting for travel. Time just creeeeeps by when that's what you're focused on. We have good friends who are waiting for their son, Enoch, to come home. Please pray that they will hear the adoption is final SOON! We're so anxious to have him here. Our Liberian kids pray for him every day to come to America.
I can't believe our kids have been home over 2 months now. It's hard to believe we were ever even in Africa!
(and yes Brandi...it's been a month since my last post :)
I started to write down things I'm thankful for with all our kids...just to remind me when I'm struggling with their behavior.
Here are some things I'm thankful for about our Liberian kids:
-I love how they say "thank you" after every meal
(Josie, our 5 yr old, cracks me up with her deep voice)
-I love how they sing...all the time.
-I love how they tell stories using their hands. Marie knows so many stories and songs. I told her she has to keep telling them to Josie so she remembers too.
-I love to hear them pray...it's like a song. The nannies did a great job teaching them.
-I love Marie's laugh
-I love to see them outside riding bikes and playing soccer. I love to see them being kids.
-I think it's funny how they remember songs from movies...they will sing "You've Got a Fren' in Me" over and over!
-I love how they watch out for each other. They really have a sibling bond. I'm so thankful for that as Josie was at the little kids orphanage most of the time.
-I love Isaac's truthfulness
-I love Josie's wink
-I am so thankful they don't seem bitter or angry. They do pray for their pa every night..and ask for his forgiveness
-I am thankful for their hugs, kisses and "I love yous"
-I love to watch them put lotion on their face
-I love how they say "I eat the whole ting!" (I will eat the whole thing)
-I love to hear them sing "You Are My Sunshine"....that just cracks me up!
What we've learned in two months:
It pays to be consistent in discipline. We've seen alot of change. Our biggest struggle was with our youngest (5 yrs) who I'm sure was never told "no". We don't allow the "pout" or "wailing" or when they avoid looking in our eyes when we talk to them.
Keep asking them to eat veggies. Now they love baby carrots and when they came wouldn't try hardly any veggie. We don't complain about food...and life isn't fair.
How I struggle with loving like Jesus! This kind of shocked me. I really thought it would all come naturally. We fell in love with their pictures...and the idea of adoption...but now it's a reality and with real kids.
I have to pray for His love....and His love isn't conditional.
Yes we've had hard days but I must say none of my huge fears adopting older kids ever happened. I think what would have happened if we would have listened to the advice of others? Even Christians? How easy it would have been to say "this is just too much out of my comfort zone". Just listen to Jesus!
The kids have adjusted amazingly well for all they have been through and lost. They really are neat kids! Life is crazy and busy....but God did it all so He will help us.
This has truly given me a heart for Africa. I can't wait for the day when we go back again.
I can't believe our kids have been home over 2 months now. It's hard to believe we were ever even in Africa!
(and yes Brandi...it's been a month since my last post :)
I started to write down things I'm thankful for with all our kids...just to remind me when I'm struggling with their behavior.
Here are some things I'm thankful for about our Liberian kids:
-I love how they say "thank you" after every meal
(Josie, our 5 yr old, cracks me up with her deep voice)
-I love how they sing...all the time.
-I love how they tell stories using their hands. Marie knows so many stories and songs. I told her she has to keep telling them to Josie so she remembers too.
-I love to hear them pray...it's like a song. The nannies did a great job teaching them.
-I love Marie's laugh
-I love to see them outside riding bikes and playing soccer. I love to see them being kids.
-I think it's funny how they remember songs from movies...they will sing "You've Got a Fren' in Me" over and over!
-I love how they watch out for each other. They really have a sibling bond. I'm so thankful for that as Josie was at the little kids orphanage most of the time.
-I love Isaac's truthfulness
-I love Josie's wink
-I am so thankful they don't seem bitter or angry. They do pray for their pa every night..and ask for his forgiveness
-I am thankful for their hugs, kisses and "I love yous"
-I love to watch them put lotion on their face
-I love how they say "I eat the whole ting!" (I will eat the whole thing)
-I love to hear them sing "You Are My Sunshine"....that just cracks me up!
What we've learned in two months:
It pays to be consistent in discipline. We've seen alot of change. Our biggest struggle was with our youngest (5 yrs) who I'm sure was never told "no". We don't allow the "pout" or "wailing" or when they avoid looking in our eyes when we talk to them.
Keep asking them to eat veggies. Now they love baby carrots and when they came wouldn't try hardly any veggie. We don't complain about food...and life isn't fair.
How I struggle with loving like Jesus! This kind of shocked me. I really thought it would all come naturally. We fell in love with their pictures...and the idea of adoption...but now it's a reality and with real kids.
I have to pray for His love....and His love isn't conditional.
Yes we've had hard days but I must say none of my huge fears adopting older kids ever happened. I think what would have happened if we would have listened to the advice of others? Even Christians? How easy it would have been to say "this is just too much out of my comfort zone". Just listen to Jesus!
The kids have adjusted amazingly well for all they have been through and lost. They really are neat kids! Life is crazy and busy....but God did it all so He will help us.
This has truly given me a heart for Africa. I can't wait for the day when we go back again.
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