Simple Amharic

I decided to order a book and CD called Simple Amharic Language for Adoptive Families by Amy Kendall.  It contains hundreds of helpful phrases and words to learn such as "This is your brother", "snack" and "Let's get dressed".

Eager to learn the language of their new (future) siblings, my kids ripped open the package, played the CD and flipped through the book.   What is the natural, first thing that my little darlings chose to memorize?  It's pronounced, LIB-seh lie ah-tish-NAH.

Translated:

"Please don't go potty in your pants."

Hilarious.

(at least it was to a 9 and 11 year old)  :)

June Update (a little late)

As we have moved forward into the heat of summer, our number on the waiting list has stayed the same.  It's a double edged sword, I've learned, as you get near the top: on the positive side, we are in single digits in the top 10.  Since we began at #27 eleven months ago, we have made some progress and #8 feels encouraging.  On the downside though, a month (or a few) can go by with no movement and people waiting for just one child can get referred AFTER us....while we stay at the same number.  (Because we are waiting for two children, our wait has been longer than others.)

I had a friend from church last week, baby son in her arms, stop me to ask if I would photograph her son.  As we were chatting, she said she remembered when she and her husband first announced she was pregnant, Ryan and I also announced we were adopting.

And there she stood, cuddling her adorable, 7 MONTH OLD baby.

And there I stood.  

No little one in my arms.  

No toddler tugging on my dress or crawling around my feet.

She was very empathetic as she talked with me about the difficulty of waiting so long for something.  The reason it is so difficult is because its such an unknown time frame.  Our agency does its best to give us estimates of how long the process takes, but not having an actual end date has been tough.

There is no due date.  

There is no inducing two weeks-later plan either.

It's totally unknown.  

Ever since we began praying about adopting, our hearts have grown to love these family members we don't yet know.  As we prepare our older two for the changes, we discuss and imagine what life will be like everyday with 'the littles'.  Who will take them in the hall if they are crying during church?  Where will they sit at the dinner table?  Who will sit next to whom in the car?  We basically think about them being with us and anticipate their arrival into our family every day.  

Every. Single. Day.

So as you can imagine, praying, dreaming, and longing for these little people and not knowing when they are coming is difficult!!

So as I wait for the God's perfect timing, I am brought to my knees for several requests:

- that God works in my heart to wait patiently and with a grateful heart.  It's easy to feel discouraged, focusing on what we don't yet know.  I want to keep my mind on all of the blessings - they are numerous!!

- that He has a hand of comfort on our little ones.  My heart already breaks for the pain and loss they are experiencing.

- that God gives our family of four precious moments together before we become a family of six

Thanks for listening and thank you even more for praying for our family!

And Then She Was Nine

It's beyond hard for me to believe that my little girl turns nine today.  She has been an amazing bundle of love and fun for our family.  It seems like just yesterday she was sitting in the grass, blowing spit bubbles at me. :)

I don't know if it's having a big brother or what, but she's always had a special affinity for super heroes.

She has her own style.  Don't tell her what to wear.  Don't show her how to wear it.  She will come up with her own way of wearing whatever she chooses.

This manifests itself in what she can do as well.... independent, she usually wants to do things herself.

Occasionally, she allows someone to help her.

She is a laugh-er.  She absolutely loves to laugh and make people laugh.  As I went through all of my pictures of her (hundreds and hundreds), it was hard to choose because there are so many of her with a blissfully happy, smiling face.

She holds a fierce LOVE for her daddy. . . she adores him.  

She's always had a deep, contemplative side to her. . . 

. . .with moments of crazy, sprinkled in.  

As I've watched her grow into her beautiful, nine year old self, I've been blessed to be her mom and I'm so lucky that she's my daughter - one of God's greatest blessings, for sure.  

  She enjoys caring for and playing with little ones, loves her friends and has a knack for remembering details in any situation. As I see her heart of compassion for others blossom, I'm excited to see what her future holds.  I pray as she continues to grow, her heart continues to seek to know our Father and that she will be a blessing to others as much as she has been a blessing to me!  

 Happy Birthday Sweet KJ!!  We love you!!