Christmas

Christmas is such a wonderful time of year!

I love the spirit of joy, and the memories and thinking about the first Christmas.

And this year is so much more exciting because we have two new little people to celebrate it with us!

 

Today we went out to buy a Christmas tree. 

When we told Kaden that we were going to get a tree, bring it home and put lights on it,

he looked at us like we were crazy, but soon got really excited.

This time last year my parents plan to adopt hadn't even been announced, and now they've been home for almost 2 months!



He wasn't to sure about it:)

 

 

1.5 Months

Time is going by so quickly...

Kaden and Bethany have been home 1.5 months as of Thursday.

Kaden is speaking in half English sentences.

We are speaking half Lingalan sentences:)

Bethany is 6.5 months old already!

 

We kept thinking Kadi would come out of the "honeymoon stage" and start "acting out", but so far is never has. 

He is so funny, and smart, and he loves us.

 

He has said next to nothing about his life before coming home, but I was a part of one conversation we had.

We were going on a walk around our neighborhood, our walks are very slow these days with a lot of stopping to talk, look, listen, and even find a pet in the grass:)  Anyway, were about 15 minutes into the walk when Kadi stopped and looked up into the sky. 

"Kadi coona avion," (Kadi is up in the airplane) he said pointing to sky.

"No," I said, "Kadi aya."  (kadi's here) 

He looked at me for a second and then said

"Momma, Papa, Baby Jilma, Kadi avion."  (they were in the airplane)

"Yes.  Momma, Papa, Baby Jilma and Kadi were in the avion."

I pointed into the distance.  "Kadi coona, (kadi was there)  and then Momma, Papa, Kadi, and Baby Jilma went in the avion, (moving my hand like an airplane) home to Brittany, Brandon and David."

Kadi stared for a minute and then repeated what I said with emphasis

 on the long plane ride, and then looked at me. 

 "Home to Brittany." he said smiling."

Home the Brittany.  that makes me smile.

 

Bethany is doing very well too.

She is starting to babble, saying "da da da," although I'm trying to get her to say "ba ba ba" for Brittany.  It hasn't worked yet:)

She has two cute little teeth, starting on solids, and sleeping through the night most of the time.

She is a very sweet baby, but insists to be held most of the time. 

We are trying to take care of her beautiful African hair, and I've tried to braid it a few times.  I failed, but I'll keep trying:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



My Math Buddy

I have the best math buddy!

 Because I do my math on the computer, I am able to hold Bethany for most of the lesson, but it normally puts her to sleep after about 30 minutes:)

 

Every day for the past week and a half, I've taken a picture of us doing it together. 

Notice how different she looks in all of them.

This is definitely one of my favorite things about homeschooling!



Meet Joey

Our family just expanded!

Meet Joey:

 

 

He's not much to look at, but a very nice first pet!

 

The only problem is he's shy... which is not a good thing when his owner wants to show him off to his Momma and Papa!

 

He has buddies too. 

Like Big Joe, who is a very large worm, or Freddy the rolly polly and his friends.

There is also a yet-to-be-named snail to keep him company.

Yep, Joey is a very nice first pet!



Kadi's First Ice Cream Cone!

Out of all the videos we have of Kadi, I think this one is one of the funniest!

Some of our cousins came to visit us for a few days,

and they gave him an ice cream cone - his first!

the video says it all!

Even the Moon and Stars Praise Him

So many things in Creation beautifully display the hand of God.

Such a as sunrise,

or a baby's first laugh,

or a waterfall at the top of a mountain.

 

Lately I have been very interested in the stars.

Combine that with my growing love for photography and photo editing, plus a favorite Bible verse and what do you get?

Well, this:

 

 

One Month Home + My Thoughts

It is late Friday night; Kadi is settled into bed,

and Bethany is finishing a bottle.

The older boys are reading the Bible with my dad

as I type this up.

We have just finished watching a Vegetales video after enjoying a delicious dinner

some friends blessed us with.

Early tomorrow morning begins my end-of-season soccer tournament.

As I sit here simply sitting and enjoying the night, I think about yesterdays anniversary.

Yesterday marked one month that Kadi and Bethany have been home.

One month from the day our lives changed.

The day I finally got to hold my baby sister,

The day I saw my little brother for the first time in person.

And that makes me think,

what if we never did it.

What if my mom and dad never answered God's call for our family to adopt?

Or didn't wait for God's timing?

Where would they be?

How would the way we look at things be different?

How would the choices we make be changed because we are starting to see the bigger picture?

How would the way we view life be different?

I think that every family that has adopted can tell you that it is not always fun.

kids act out.

they disobey.

But I also believe that if you asked any adoptive family if they had the chance to go back and change things, and not have chosen to not adopt, they would not hesitate to say

"Of course not."

It is worth every struggle.

The good moments make up for the bad ones.

It takes patients, lots of it. and it takes even more faith,

but God is always faithful.

No questions asked.

 

So what about you?

Is there something you think you should do,

but feel it is too big for you?

Give it to God.

He will work out everything, always.  If you are His child, he will always, always, always be there.

For big things, or little.

 

Here is a video I made in honor of the 1 month anniversary.

Enjoy!