Our Adoption Journey

Christmas Love

2011-12-18T22:21:00.002-05:00

What a difference a year can make! I seem to remember writing a similar post two years ago, when Caleb had been home for one year. And here I am once again, amazed at what a difference this past year has made in Noah's life and in the life of our entire family.

A year ago Noah was a scared, sad child who could not even communicate with our family, other than nodding his head or pointing. A year ago I was a scared, doubtful mom who could not communicate with my new son other than nodding my head or pointing. We were kind of in the same boat, and we really didn't know what we were doing, all we knew is that God would somehow make a way for the child he had blessed us with to feel the love we wanted to show him. Little did we realize that Noah had even more love to show us! And now, a year later, L-O-V-E pretty much sums it up. It took time for all of us, as we thought it would. Love did not come "naturally" at first, and it did feel awkward for a little while- kind of like just going through the motions. But God did something supernatural and created a love in all our hearts for one another that is as true as any love I have ever known. A miracle, indeed.

Caleb will always be my "baby", as I guess every first child is to their parents. I can remember holding him for the first time, just like it was yesterday. His smile and personality won us all over from the start and still does! He will always hold that special part of my heart.

But Noah has taught me what it means to be resilient and strong. To put it in the words of singer/songwriter Sarah Groves, his courage asks me, what I am afraid of, and what I know of love? Just think about it- Here was a child who was living on the streets with no parents, he gets taken to an entirely new world with people he doesn't know and can't communicate with, he gets taken to doctors and poked and prodded, all the while not really knowing what is going on because of the communication barrier. He mourns for his home and all he ever knew, for his family, and again can't express it to the people he should be able to confide in- his parents. In my opinion, he had every right to be angry, distrustful, uncooperative, etc. I probably would have been, and sometimes, I was (that is embarrassing to admit....) all of the above. But instead Noah opened his heart, his mind, and his spirit to his new life and family. And none of us could have imagined what an amazing child he was all long! I know I am his mother, but when I think of all he has endured in ONLY SIX YEAR OF LIFE, I think he is the most remarkable child I have ever known. Sensitive, funny, kind and brave, and very loving, despite the loss he has experienced, God has restored his heart, and he is so able to love. We are so in awe that God would entrust Noah to us.

It seems fitting that Noah and Caleb both came home around Christmas time, as that first Christmas was the most awesome expression of God's love for us- that he would send His only Son to show us what love is all about, knowing that ultimately His son would suffer rejection and pain that no man has ever known. And that because of that, we would have the ability to be adopted into God's family. We CAN be called the children of God.

This Christmas we celebrate the miracle of the adoption of our two sons, and the amazing love that God has given us all for one another. But most importantly, we celebrate the miracle of the most precious baby to have ever been born. Our Saviour, Jesus.

Does This Blog Still Work?

2011-10-03T21:31:00.004-04:00

Wow....does this blog still work? Almost two months with no news posts!!????

Well, truth is it works just fine, but this blogger has also been working full time, and that has proven to leave little time for blogging!

The last two months have been a whirlwind, to say the least, and things finally feel like they might be falling into place....maybe! How do all you working moms do this??!!

First- the boys love, love, love school, which is a huge blessing! They have made new friends, are learning tons, and are happy to go to school, most mornings, which makes mommy happy, because I don't think I could leave them if they were crying! Noah actually read me a book tonight- that's right, the child that has only been speaking English for 9 months read me a story- it is amazing! And Caleb uses such big words now- tonight at dinner he asked me about pyramids! Amazing children!

Second- my job is going pretty well. I am catching on pretty fast, and learning each day how to manage my home, family, and career....and church, and homework, and preschool choir, and soccer...okay, I am stopping there! I still really miss being at home, but for now I am doing my best to bloom where I am planted. Zack has been a huge encouragement to me during this time....he helped me hang in there through the toughest times!

Third- the boys are playing soccer and they love it and so do we! Noah scored his first goal a few games okay and it was really exciting!

Fourth- we are moving....again! Staying in London but moving to a home that we are so excited about! It is a foreclosure (you know we could never buy a "normal house") and I consider it to be such a blessing because it has everything we could ever need and has room to grow....in case we do that! There will be more pictures to come in the near future!

That's a pretty quick update, but I fear that any future blog posts may resemble this one until I can carve out some more time for blogging.....unfortunately it has fallen down pretty low on the priority list!

One final thought- God's mercies have flowed bountifully to our family over the last couple months, and I just want to praise Him for that!! We could not have made this transition without Him!

2011-08-11T21:10:00.007-04:00

This week was a huge week in the Caldwell household because.......Noah started Kindergarten!!!! His first day was Wednesday and he was ready to go! Here he is with his new backpack (loaded down with pencils, crayons, scissors, etc.) He had a great first day and even got "super" stickers on his work! He is in for a great year.

Caleb starts preschool next week, and is equally excited about beginning school, especially the fact that he will be going to the same school as his big brother. We were able to meet both of their teachers and visit their classrooms earlier in the week for open house, and I admit, there was a moment while I was speaking to Caleb's teacher that I began to tear up and could have lost my composure....but, I held it together :)

Both our boys have grown up in so many ways. Caleb, because he came to us so young, will always be my "baby", and so to see him now moving from staying home with me each day to spending his days in preschool and essentially this part of our lives coming to an end is a bit bittersweet. And then to see Noah embrace school, with all the newness and changes he has experienced in his short life- it makes me so proud to be the mother of this remarkable child. Most of all, it has reminded me to treasure each day with my boys, because time does not wait.

Adding to this huge change for our family is another big change for me- the blessing of a job with the Kentucky Department of Corrections as a Probation and Parole Investigator. When I first heard the details of this position this past spring, I truly felt as though this was the job God had in mind for me. It was a long wait for the job to become available, to interview, and then finally to be offered the position, but it was worth the wait, and as usual, God's timing is just right. I was able to spend the entire summer with my boys, and will also be able to see them both off to school before I begin working next week. Zack also began a new job last week, and is really enjoying learning the ropes. Once again, God has provided for us in a way that only he can, and in a way that truly brings us to our knees in awe that he would be so gracious to our family. Not only has he met our physical needs through providing us both with jobs, he is also reassuring us that he will provide us with the strength and grace as our entire family transitions into a new phase of life.

We give thanks to him, for lessons learned in how to trust in his goodness. We are blessed more than we could ever dream, in abundance, or in need. Our short time of uncertainty seems to pale in comparison to the challenges that many face even at this very moment- the thousands dying in Somalia and those who lose loved ones because of war. Sometimes we wonder why God doesn't answer our prayers, but he is meeting our needs in ways we could never imagine- by teaching us how to hope, trust, and depend in him and him alone. What greater blessing could we have than to know the God of the universe cares for us. I first heard the song "Gratitude" while I was in college, and the words have never left me, and never cease to bring me to tears. I hope you will listen to the beautiful words of this song and place your trust in the one who can provide for your every need.

The Ministry God Has Given Us....

2011-07-14T15:39:00.007-04:00

Since we began our adoption journey both Zack and I felt that God was calling us to do more than just adopt, but also to be life long advocates for adoption and orphans. We have seen this come to fruition through God moving us to share our adoption experience with other couples and families interested in adoption. We have been blessed to have been able to do this through seminars, adoption fairs, and mostly just through answering an email or having a conversation over dinner. Throughout these experiences the one thing we have noticed is that though many people have the desire to adopt, knowing where to start can be very overwhelming and intimidating. The more we discussed this, the more we felt that God could use us and our experiences to assist prospective adoptive parents with beginning the adoption journey.

From this God given desire, we have formed a ministry called His Kids Adoption Resources. This ministry exists to assist prospective adoptive parents with "getting started" with the adoption process. From answering questions to connecting them with other adoptive parents, we pray that this ministry will provide a firm foundation as families take a step of faith to bring home a precious child.

We would appreciate your prayers as we seek to make others aware of this ministry. We would also love for you to visit our web page: http://www.hiskidsadoption.org/

Below are just a few pictures from our fun summer- from Vacation Bible School to our first camping trip to learning to ride bikes......it has been a great summer!

In Him we live.....

2011-06-23T19:47:00.004-04:00

Anyone who has lived hardly any time on this earth knows that life is full of unexpected twists and turns. We certainly have experienced many unexpected circumstances throughout both of our adoption journeys. Looking back we can see God's hand at work fitting each piece of the puzzle together in His own timing and in His perfect will.

A couple of weeks ago, we found out that Zack had been 'let go' from his current position due to the economy and a change of direction in his company. It was a bit of a shock, and threw a curve into our life and the plans that we had in the works. Though I am currently seeking to return to the workforce as both of our boys will be going to school in the fall (can't believe that!!), when Zack lost his job, we were left with neither of us bringing home an income, which is a tad bit scary!!! Thankfully, and almost as if to show us tangible evidence (as if we needed that) of how God provides for us when we seek to obey Him, because of the adoption tax credit that we were able to claim for both of our adoptions, we have been blessed to have an emergency fund that will sustain us while we seek employment. In the midst of searching for jobs, we have all enjoyed Zack being home and have had some great family time. We just hope he doesn't stay at home too long :)

We have seen God provide for us time and time again, and we do know he will continue to do so, in this situation just like all the others. I admit, it is a little overwhelming at times, but we keep reminding ourselves that God, more than anyone else, wants good for us, and knows what is best for us. As one friend told me, "When you really trust God, you really don't have to worry." And it is as simple as that, the key is, we just have to truly trust Him, and our earthly minds and hearts often struggle with this, at least I know I do at times.

I don't think it is just a coincidence that I have been reading the book Radical the last few months, (which if you haven't read, you really need to...it will turn your world upside down) and that in my Bible reading I have been in Matthew, where God has definitely been challenging my view of "my life" and what it means to take up my cross and truly follow Jesus, with every part of my life. My prayer is that Zack and I keep our hands and hearts open to God, continually acknowledging that He and He alone is the giver and provider of EVERYTHING we have. It truly all belongs to Him. So what do we have to worry about, or long for? It is all His anyway :)

It is going to be exciting to see what God has in store for our family. Prayerfully we will know His plan sooner than later, but whenever, wherever, and whatever God has for us, by His grace and strength, we will make it.

Acts 17:24-28
"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'

To switch gears.......weeball and tball season is over, and both boys had such a great time. They still can't understand why they don't have any more games until next season. Noah's team got second place in the tball league tournament- I had no idea I could get so excited over a tball tournament, but yes, I was the parent that was jumping out of her chair screaming (only encouraging words, of course) and clapping. My heart was really racing and I actually felt nervous. Over tball. I know, I need to get a grip. So enjoy a few pictures of the season. We really enjoyed watching our boys and seeing them grow into players and teammates. We are very proud of both of them.

Our Graduate....

2011-05-31T17:32:00.004-04:00

This past week we celebrated with Noah as he graduated from preschool. Graduating from preschool is a huge milestone for all children, but we were especially proud of Noah, as he has only been in our country for 6 months, and began preschool after only being home for one month. I remember worrying if it was the right decision for Noah to begin preschool, and I still remember the look on his face when I left took him for his first day of preschool- I think I called about every thirty minutes that day to check on him. After a few days, we knew he was going to be fine, and after just a couple weeks he was thriving, learning so much and making so many new friends. It was a decision that was covered in much prayer, contemplation, and faith, and watching Noah walk into the gym and accept his diploma with a beaming smile was total affirmation that preschool had been the right decision for Noah. Thank you God!

While we plan to continue to work on learning sight words, counting to 100, and writing the alphabet, it is now time to enjoy summer break and all the fun that hot summer days and cool summer evenings (hopefully) entail. And yes, Noah is already talking about Kindergarten, and Caleb is already talking about preschool. Not so fast boys, not so fast :)

Belonging.....

2011-05-05T17:42:00.005-04:00

If you notice, the blog got a little makeover- a new banner with some family photos taken by wonderful photographer, Ben Keeling http://www.benkeeling.com/ .

We knew family photos were going to be a necessity when from the moment Noah was able to speak English, he let us know that he wanted to see photos of him on the walls, too. So, we told Noah that as soon as the flowers began blooming outside we would have pictures taken of our family of four- Daddy, mommy, Caleb and Noah. It was a long winter, and he made sure we didn't forget our promise :)

So, the day finally came when the sun was shining and the flowers were blooming, and so on a beautiful afternoon on the campus of Eastern Kentucky University (mine and Zack's first home together :) we had our family photos taken. It was a blast! The boys did great (maybe because we promised them a trip to Chik-fil-a for big smiles :)

When I saw the photos for the first time, I really had to hold back tears. The love that was captured in these pictures is just amazing, and to see the boys smiles, laughs and silly faces brings me such great joy. But more than that, they are a symbol of belonging, of being part of a family, something that meant so much to Noah, and really means so much to all of us (I think we just take it for granted more than him).

So we now have the pictures hanging throughout our home. I put them up one day while Noah was at school, and you should have seen him smile when he came home and saw his pictures on the walls of our. You could tell, he felt like he belonged :)

Only God.....

2011-04-24T22:16:00.004-04:00

Today our son Noah will have been home with us for 5 months! All I can say at this point is that God is good (too good to us) and that Noah is really the most remarkable child I know.

Most people are amazed when they hear him speak, at just how quickly he has learned English, and how well he understands what others say. This is really outstanding, and he has blown us away with acquiring English, don't get me wrong, but I don't think this is the most amazing thing Noah has done. Others, including his preschool teacher, remark about how smart he is- he indeed is a very intelligent little man, and while we are so proud of him, I also do not think this is what makes Noah so remarkable. And still others are amazed at how healthy Noah is, despite the fact that he lives with a chronic illness and has to take 9 pills each and every day. We are so very grateful for how well Noah has done managing his illness and that God has given him a strong and healthy body, but even this is not what I think of when I think of what makes Noah so amazing.

The first week that Zack and I spent with Noah in Ethiopia, we didn't hear him speak a single word in Amharic to anyone, rarely saw any emotion other than sadness, and certainly did not see many smiles. I blogged about our time there, and I am not sure how much I let on to the fact that we were worried, but we were very worried! We just didn't know if Noah would naturally have the desire to attach to us and to love us, given all he had experienced in his short life. But we knew God had called us to adopt this precious child, so we did out best to trust God depsite our fears. When I returned to bring him home almost 5 months later, I saw more smiles, but the fear remained both on Noah's part and mine. I am being brutally honest when I say that as we got on the airplane to come home, I felt like I was bringing a complete stranger home ( I am sure Noah felt the same about me), and I wasn't sure if I could parent an almost 5 year old- I was a little envious of the parents bringing home babies, as I had been there done that- this was a whole new ballgame.

But, as time went by, as God remained merciful and faithful to us, as Noah remained patient with us, as many family and friends prayed for us, God began to work in all of our lives, and that is when we began to see the most amazing thing about this little boy- his heart.

Despite the loss he has experienced, the living conditions he experienced in Ethiopia, not having a family, being institutionlized for more than a year, then coming to a whole new world with people he really didn't know or trust, Noah's heart is beautiful. God has healed his heart, and continues to heal his heart, so that he can love us, love his grandparents, and especially his little brother. This love that Noah has for us, in my mind is the most amazing thing! He has made friends, and cares for them as well. He is sensitive, as anyone could see as he watched the Passion Play at our church. From the time Jesus was crucified until He arose, Noah didn't quit crying. He is appreciative, as he is always saying, "Thank you, momma" for the slightest, tiniest thing. He wants to help others, and quite often I catch him helping Caleb put on his socks, or helping Caleb get into his car seat. And all of this in just 5 short months- 5 months! Only God could have done a miracle like this in Noah's life- we are just blessed to have been a part of it.

So many times I have read what a blessing adopting older children can be. So many parents of older adoptive children have encouraged us along the way. I will say, in the beginning, my selfish heart wasn't quite sure if this was true. But now, I can undoubtedly say that adopting a child that is older is such a blessing, and one of the most beautiful examples of how God takes us into his family and heals our hearts as well.

I Hate All Your Show.....

2011-04-12T09:26:00.005-04:00

At Christmastime in the Caldwell family, names are always exchanged for gift giving. This past Christmas, Zack's cousin Joey got my name, and I received a wonderful gift. A great book, a mug, and two great Cd's, one of those being the International Justice Mission's "Freedom Project". This cd has some of my favorite artists, like Toby Mac, Third Day, Jars of Clay, and on and on. The songs are all about justice- the justice that the Bible speaks about, the justice, that as Christians, we are commanded to bring to those who so desperately need it. This, afterall, is part of why Jesus came (see Luke 4:17-21). There is one song, inparticular, that God has really been using to speak to me as of late. I admit, the first time I heard it, I wasn't sure if I liked it or not. Not because of the music, but the lyrics- This song pulls no punches, and hits pretty close to home, as you might guess from the title of the song, Instead of a Show. It is performed by a guy named Jon Foreman from the band Switchfoot, and is basically taken straight out of the book of Isaiah, chapter 1. If you haven't read this chapter, open your Bible and see what God has to say. He doesn't care so much about the formality of worship as he does how we treat others. So what does this mean for us, for me? I think it means we better take a close look at our lives and ask ourselves: Is my life just a show, something that looks good on the outside, or am I living my life the way Jesus did, doing what Jesus did- reaching those who need his love and mercy the most? That's a tough question. I know for me, it is easy to go to church, help out with children's programs, and sing in the choir. But it is not so easy to love the hard to love people, to make time in my life and room in my heart for those who don't fit into "my plan". I hope you will take a few minutes to listen to the song below.

Tough Questions, Tough Answers

2011-03-17T23:01:00.003-04:00

In just a little over a week, Noah will have been home for 4 months. He continues to thrive in his new environment and just today we spoke to his preschool teacher. She went on and on about what a change she has seen in him, how talkative he is now, and what a smart little guy he is. What a huge answer to prayer! He even seems disappointed now when he doesn't get to go to school (which is every Friday).

Along with his English skills improving has come lots and lots of questions, as I wrote about in the last post. Not all of them are easy questions. Some, in fact, are very difficult questions to answer.

Noah has asked us several times why he was older when mommy and daddy came to Ethiopia to bring him home, as opposed to Caleb, who was much younger when mommy and daddy brought him home. This was a new question for us, as Caleb was so young when he was adopted that he has no memories of his life in Ethiopia. We told Noah that he was older when he was adopted because he had a mommy in Ethiopia who took care of him as long as she could. Then we came to Ethiopia and brought him home so we could take care of him and be his mommy and daddy. Not sure if this was the best answer, but it seemed to satisfy his question at the time. Then, of course, Caleb wanted to know why he was a baby when he came to live with us, instead of being older, like Noah. This question was a bit trickier to address, as Caleb was found abandoned, and we honestly do not know anything about his birth family. So, we just told him that he needed a mommy and daddy when he was a baby, and for a three year old, that seemed to be a good answer.

Noah has also asked when he is going back to Ethiopia. When he asked this question for the first time, my heart sank. I was not sure if he was asking out of curiosity, or because he wanted to go back to Ethiopia to live. So, Zack and I gently probed with additional questions, and it seems that he was just wondering if, in fact, this was his home now, or if he would be going back to Ethiopia to live. He seemed glad to know that this was his home, though at times, most of the time when he is being disciplined, Noah will mumble something about wanting to go back to Ethiopia. I have heard other adoptive parents of older children speak of this happening as well, and usually it is no need for alarm, but it is hard on a parent's heart to hear those words.

No doubt these questions and issues will arise again and again, and will require more thorough and detailed explanations as the boys get older.

Trying to explain to young children the loss they have experienced in a way they can understand is both difficult and saddening. But the one thing I have been reminded of through these difficult questions is how thankful I am for the miracle of adoption, that God can turn such loss into such joy, hope and love through the blessing of family. Not only this, but that God is faithful to strengthen, guide, and equip us for what he has called Zack and to do, which is to be a part of the wonderful, though not always easy, blessing of adoption.

"Why????" x 600!

2011-03-02T09:09:00.003-05:00

The above pictures are from a fun trip we took a couple of weekends ago to Gatlinburg, TN. Both sets of grandparents went, we visited the aquarium and spent a day at an indoor waterpark. It was a blast. Because we all spent so much time together that weekend, the grandparents became aware of something I hear every day- the word, "why????". They were quite astonished at just how many times, Noah, especially, uses the word. Of course, you have to remember, Noah has only been home for 3 months, is still very much in the midst learning a new language, and is surrounded by completely new sights and sounds- heck, I would probably say "why???" constantly as well. And I do mean constantly. Noah is one very inquisitive little man.

To see just how inquisitive he is, one day, I decided to keep track of how many times he used the word "why???". I only made it for about an hour, because he said the word over 50 times in one hour. So, if you average that over the 12 hours he is awake each day, he says "why???" more than 600 times a day!! That is a lot of "why's?????" I admit, at the end of the day "why???" #566 can begin to take its toll, but I try to remember- he is in a new world! We should be expect him to be full of questions! I have caught him a few times asking "why???" about things that he already knows the answer to, and in those cases I turn the tables and ask him "why???" :) It is amazing to hear him answer me in English. His English is improving with each day, and the biggest issue we are having with language at this time is word order, which is something we know will come with time.

The Bond of Brotherhood.....

2011-02-15T16:54:00.003-05:00

Growing up as an only child, I obviously never knew what it was like to have a sibling. I had some close friends and cousins, but never someone who was always there, all the time. Trust me, this was okay with me then, (I told my parents that I liked everything just the way it was when asked if I wanted a brother or sister) and really, I am okay with it now as well. The only thing I wonder about is the sibling bond.

However, after watching Caleb and Noah over the last couple of months, I been given a small glimpse into the bond of brotherhood, and maybe I understand it- just a little bit. I have to believe that this bond of brotherhood is even more special and unique, seeing as Caleb and Noah have only known each other for a short 10 weeks or so, and have no biological relation. And yet, they share something that is even more special. They were both chosen. They were both sought out. They were both loved long before they knew there was a family that was praying every night for them to come home soon. Maybe that is where this amazing, supernatural bond of brotherhood comes from. It is as real as anything I have ever seen.

Caleb and Noah's love is obvious for each other. They choose to sit beside each other at preschool choir and choose to play with each other during Sunday School- they do not want to be seperated. They are best friends. At the McDonald's Play Place (which has quickly become a favorite destination), they won't venture into the brightly colored tunnels without one another. And just yesterday, while Noah was at preschool and Caleb was at home with me, Caleb told me several times that he loved Noah and wanted him to come home. These guys love each other dearly. They fight with lots of passion too, but at the end of the day, they are two peas in a pod, two special boys who by God's soveriegn will ended up in our home- how blessed are we??!!!

Now that Noah is home, the number one question we get in public is, "Are they brothers?" Well, I of course know what people mean when they ask that question. People want to know if Caleb and Noah are biological brothers. I usually say "no", and explain that they were both adopted from Ethiopia, and get a chance to talk about adoption, which is always a good thing. I have been tempted to just say "yes" and go on. I did that once to the sweet lady who works in the children's section of the library, and I still feel guilty about it, because I know what she was really asking :)

But the truth is they are as real of brothers as they could possibly be, and the bond of brotherhood in our home is strong. God has answered so many prayers over the last several weeks and has shown himself so faithful in the life of our family that

all we can do is praise him and thank him for his great love and mercy.

2 Months Home

2011-01-26T07:54:00.004-05:00

Yesterday marked Noah's 2 month anniversary :) As I have been saying in these last few blog posts, "wow!" You just could not imagine the difference in this child!!! God is truly working through the miracle of adoption to transform his life!

Noah's language has exploded! He is now putting together 4-5 words at a time and saying phrases like, "What are you doing?" and "It don't work, it's broken" (we will worry about grammar later :). He also has began asking "why??" several times a day- well, to be honest, several times a minute :) We are so thrilled and thankful for how well his language is progressing. It is truly an answer to prayer and a testament to what a brave and resilient little guy Noah is, and how good God is!!

He is also really beginning to enjoy school and his teachers have told us that he is interacting well with the other kids , and helping them with their ABC's- amazing! He is also becoming more comfortable at church and interacting with the kids at church. He goes to children's church every Sunday and seems to really enjoy it.

He and Caleb continue to be best buddies. It is sweet to watch. They still have their "brother moments" very often, but I guess this is just the norm (according to my dad who grew up with three brothers).

We also have visited with the primary infectious disease physician at UK, and everything couldn't be better in that area as well. Noah has no complications at this time, is not symptomatic, and does not require medication at this time, though most likely it will not be too much longer before that will be a reality for him. When that time comes, it will be a big adjustment and a large responsibility, but nothing we can't handle with strength of God.

So for now, it is smooth sailing :) We feel extremely blessed to be where we are, and though we realize that Noah still has much healing and adjusting yet to do,

we are so thankful.

I think he likes me :)

2011-01-12T20:55:00.003-05:00

What happens when mom leaves the room for just a second during a fingerpainting session- fingerpainting becomes facepainting :)

First day of preschool- he really was more excited then he looks here :)

Noah has been home now for almost a month and a half, and today, I really felt like we had a breakthrough moment in terms of attachment. Actually, it is the first time I truly, honestly felt like he liked me, just for me. Not because I was providing a need for him, like food, or playing with him, or helping him with something, etc. It just felt like he wanted to be with me, just because. Here is what happened- I was sitting in the recliner relaxing and the boys had been playing. Then, just out of nowhere, Noah climbed up in my lap and rested his head against me. Then he kind of just curled up in my lap. That's it. But that is huge! Trust me! I am still smiling!

Adopting an older child is so different than adopting an infant. One of the main differences is how you bond and eventually form an attachment. With an infant, it is obviously natural to hold them, feed them, do everything for them. It is necessity, and this necessity helps to form the attachment between parent and child. However with an older child who is independent and can meet their own needs for the most part, bonding and attachment must be much more intentional, and at times, creative. For our family, this has taken the form of reading books with the boys in our laps before bed, tickle time :), the boys wrestling with dad, etc. And slowly, we have seen progress with bonding and attachment. Today I think we saw a small return on the time we have invested into fostering attachment. And it was sooo worth it!

In this month's edition of Good Housekeeping, there is an excellent article written by Melissa Fay Greene, adoptive mom and author of the wonderful book, There is No Me Without You. The article shares the stories of two families and their experiences with non-infant adoption. It is such a "real" article. Nothing is candy-coated, everything is just put out there in the open for the reader. You may be surprised and horrified to hear that sometimes adoptive parents of older children "fantasize" about putting their kids back on the plane they come home on, or being able to turn back time. I would be lying if I said I had not had those thoughts run through my mind our first couple weeks home. It's not easy. It takes a lot of work, support, and lots of patience. But, just as the parents in the article eventually concluded, IT IS WORTH IT!!!! I can't explain to you the difference in Noah, even after a month. There is a new spirit about him, a new light in his eyes, like he is seeing life from a whole a new perspective. And for Zack, Caleb, and I, we have been blessed by this thoughtful, spirited, silly boy in so many ways. God has used him to teach us many things, and grow us in many ways.

After reading the article, I felt both refreshed and thankful. Refreshed because I could identify with some of the feelings these parents had experiened. Thankful because Noah has done incredibly well in the short time he has been home, and our experience could have been so much tougher. Noah is an amazingly strong, courageous and resilient child. But he still needs lots of love, compassion, patience, and understanding to heal from the losses he has experienced. I am truly honored that God chose our family to be the vessel to help him do that. I can honestly say that. Thank you God for your faithfulness, love, and mercy each day.

Noah did begin preschool last week. He was really excited about the "idea" of preschool, but when it was actually time for me to leave,, he did cry and didn't seem too thrilled :( I was very worried, and called back several times throughout the day, and was glad to hear that he did great after just a few minutes of me being gone. He did great the rest of the week, and his teachers said he interacted well with the other kids, listened very well, and followed directions well. Sounds great! Caleb has had a more difficult time than Noah, and has almost cried every day we dropped off Noah at preschool. He just wants to go soooo bad. That's pretty sweet :)

Merry Christmas and A Happy (though flu-filled) New Year!

2011-01-01T15:26:00.006-05:00

Merry Christmas! It was indeed a merry time around the Caldwell house! On Christmas Eve we spent time with my mom's side of the family, and then went to Bobby and Pap's house to open presents. After reading the TRUE Christmas story, the boys took baby Jesus from the Nativity scene and placed him in a drawer, so they could put him back on Christmas morning, went to bed with great anticipation of Santa's early morning visit, and even thought they heard Santa's reindeer "jingling all the way". Caleb thought this was sooo cool, but we think it actually terrified Noah :(. We awoke to a beautiful white Christmas, had a great Christmas and a wonderful time visiting with family and friends. The boys played and played and played until they could play no more. Nanna and Papaw Caldwell, along with the rest of the family in Ashland got a taste of just how wild and crazy these two boys can be :)

The only bummer was that the day after Christmas, Zack began feeling bad, and ended up getting the flu- today is the first day in almost a week that he woke up without a fever! I followed his example, unfortunately, and so did Caleb. Hopefully Noah's flu vaccine will protect him- so far, so good. Caleb is feeling better today, but we rang in the New Year with lots of coughing, sneezing and medicine!

Noah continues to feel more at home and is making strides every day. And we continue to feel more love for him as well. When we were at Nanna and Pappaw Caldwell's house, the two boys shared a bed- a first for them. I felt so blessed as I peaked in and watched them sleeping, side by side.

Next week is going to be a big week for Noah, as he will begin preschool, four days a week at the elementary school just behind our home. This was a decision we spent much time considering and prayed very seriously about. We were concerned that it could be too early, as he will have only been about 6 weeks when he begins preschool. However, he has adjusted extrememly well, and when we spoke to him about school, and when he witnessed his brother attending "school" (really Mother's Morning Out at our church), he seemed very interested in going. Several other professionals, such as the doctor at UK's adoption clinic, our pediatrician, teachers, and fellow adoptive parents also encouraged us to "try" preschool, as in the end, we could always remove Noah from preschool if it does not go well. We are praying that preschool will help Noah with acquiring English, as each school district is required to provide non-English speaking students with assistance. We also feel preschool will be helpful for Noah in terms of socializing with children his age, and with providng him a structured and stimulating environment.

Below are a few pictures of our exciting holiday time (minus the flu :)

2010-12-21T21:27:00.004-05:00

Wow- in only a few day Noah will have been home ONE MONTH! We can not begin to tell you the difference we see in him, and in us, each day! He is beginning to speak more English words such as water, juice, chicken, ketchup, ice cream, bath, and just today he started saying, "this, this?" I had to laugh as I know he has heard us say that a million times, trying to figure out what he wants :) He seems to be feeling more and more comfortable with our family, and vice versa. We are also beginning to see more of his true personality. He is so silly and can have the funniest expressions sometimes!

Noah is still very reserved around new people and is obviously uncomfortable in new situations. But, that is also improving. He is now at least waving hello and goodbye, and sometimes even says the words.

One thing that seems to be apparent- the "honeymoon" phase between Noah and Caleb is over :) They are full fledged brothers now and fight like they have been together their entire lives! They also have a great time playing together, but anyone with two boys understands what I mean :)

I really can't put into words what the last month has been like: challenging, exhausting, rewarding, overwhelming, amazing, fun. Yes, that seems to describe it. There is no doubt about it- adopting an older child is most definitely challenging, but it is also very rewarding.

We are really looking forward to celebrating Christmas this year. Caleb and Noah were both in the children's Christmas play last Sunday. They were wise men. They did great! I think Caleb is now at an age where he can begin to understand what Christmas is all about. We are not sure what "firsts" Noah may experience this Christmas, but we are just thankful he will be experiencing them with us!

Noah's ultrasound came back normal, and this week he has a very important appointment with the infectious disease doctor at UK. We should know so much more after this appointment.

Well, that's all for now. Praying you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Two Weeks Home......

2010-12-08T22:38:00.004-05:00

Tomorrow Noah will have been home for two whole weeks! Overall, he is doing really well. Actually, exceptionally well :) I will be honest- the first week was rough, and we were basically in survival mode. We went to bed every night exhausted and sometimes wanting to cry :) But, we hung in there, continued to establish boundaries and rules in our home, and lovingly, yet firmly let Noah know that he would be expected to follow them. It was, and sometimes continues to be a hard balance to find, a balance between grace and structure/obedience. However, when we are tempted to let our frustration control us or to lose our patience, we stop and think about what Noah has endured, just in the short time we have known him. Who knows what he has experienced before then. Our goal is to show him love and to be a source of consistency.

The last couple of days, we have seen smiles most of the time, and he is even beginning to call us "mommy" and "daddy". Just today he also reached for me to carry him and to hold his hand. This is huge, as until today, he had not ever asked for any type of physical interaction with me. I loved it!!!

We have seen progress in Noah's behavior- the "meltdowns" as we have come to call them are for the most part less frequent and don't last near as long as they use to. They mostly occur when we ask Noah to do something he doesn't want to do, like quit playing to eat dinner or go to bed. All very normal. We can still see that Noah is still working through some grief and anger, and most likely will continue to for several months. His whole world has been flipped upside down and we know it will take time for him to see that we are going to be here through thick and thin, loving him and supporting him.

He and Caleb continue to play well together, though they do have their very normal
"brother moments". Just lately, Caleb has especially become somewhat jealous of the attention that Noah is receiving, and quite often I find both boys in my lap holding on for dear life

Today Noah had a visit at the International Adoption Clinic at the University of Kentucky. We were literally there almost five hours! We met with an occupational therapist, physical therapist, medical doctor, and also had lab work done and a chest x-ray. It was a long, but productive day. The occupational therapist was very impressed with the skills that Noah possesses, and she said he is right on track if not beyond where he should be. That is awesome news and we are very blessed. The physical therapist also said that Noah was right on track.

Dr. Taylor (the international adoption specialist) was very pleased overall with Noah's health, though she was concerned about a few things, mainly Noah's distended stomach and lungs, so she ordered a chest x-ray and also an abdominal ultrasound, which Noah will have later in the week. We already heard back from the chest xray and everything is fine. So now we just wait to have the ultrasound done. In the meantime, I will also be sending in poop samples. Yep, I said it. It's not the most glamorous job in the world, but it is part of being a mommy :)

Finally....An Update!

2010-11-27T08:04:00.004-05:00

Sorry there has not been any posts or updates in a while! After my last post from Addis, my health declined, and I just did not feel like posting! Plus, I was trying to spend as much time with Noah as possible. Thankfully, upon arriving home, I was able to visit the doc, and get some much needed antibiotics, and now I am feeling much, much better. Becoming sick in a third world country really made me realize how much I take for granted our easy access to good health care and effective medications.

Since we have been home, I have been trying to recover from jet lag, feel better and learn how to be a mom to two boys :) I really wanted to update the blog, but it just got pushed aside- I have a feeling blogging, checking email, etc. might take a backseat for a while :) More about what the last few days home have been like in a bit......

Monday-Wed. In Addis:
Our last few days in Addis went well. We passed through the embassy with no problems at all. Noah was very patient as we waited our turn and he did great. Once we were able to take Noah with us to the guest home, he really did well- much better than I could have imagined. He seemed eager to go with us, which helped defeat a big fear of mine ( I really feared he would not want to leave his current surroundings). He allowed us to play with him and interact with him and we only had a few moments of what I would call "shutting down"- at bedtime, and when I had to correct him or tell him "no". All very, very understandable. He was, and is, a very brave little boy. We also learned that is he is a very smart little man. While at the guest home, he wrote all his ABC's on his own, and his numbers 1-10. He even learned to write his name "Noah" in just a few tries! The language barrier was not as big of a problem as I had imagined. With just some gesturing and motions, he seemed to understand most things I said to him, and he follows directions very well.

A few of the highlights-

Layla House (the orphanage where Noah lived) gave him and another little girl who was going home to her forever family a goodbye party. It was very sweet, though Noah did not like all the attention. When it was his turn to go to the front of the room, he almost began to cry and would not leave his chair. He is not one who likes to be the center of attention, this is something I have learned.

Seeing Noah eat french fries and ketchup for the first time. I truly believe he had never had this this yummy treat, and it was a blast getting to watch him enthusiastically dip the fry into the ketchup and take a big bite :) He loves french fries and ketchup!

Another favorite memory was seeing his eyes light up when he saw some of the airplanes at the airport in Addis, and especially when he realized he was getting on one of those big planes! He poked me in the side and pointed to the planes with a big smile.

I also have to say something about my amazing travel buddy, Tennille. I don't know what I would have done without her. Besides just having a great lifelong friend accompany me on pretty much the ultimate road trip, she was an amazing help to me. She interacted so well with Noah- he really liked her! There were times when I needed to do some paperwork , or when I needed to take care of something, or just when I needed a break or to take a shower, and she was there. I am so thankful and appreciative for her willingness to go with me and for her friendship.

Arriving Home......
We arrived home on Thanksgiving Day about 4pm, after about a total of 18 hours in an airplane! Yikes! That is a very long time! Noah did unbelievably well! He slept for the first portion of the flight (about 7 hours!) and the remaining time played his handheld game, drew with markers, and practiced flash cards. He was a trooper! He did better than most adults would have for that long of a time! The last hour was a bit of a struggle, but by that time, everyone was ready to get off the plane.

When we arrived at the airport, he was excited and almost seemed to know that he was about to meet the rest of his family and see his daddy again! He was smiling and running and skipping through the airport. Once he saw them, he did get a bit shy, and I think was somewhat overwhelmed. Caleb was also a bit shy but warmly welcomed him. It didn't take Noah too long to warm up.

I have to admit, it was my first ever Thanksgiving dinner at Steak n' Shake, but it was a wonderful one! Caleb and Noah got along great and were already playing well together. Noah had no problem at all devouring the new American food! He also did fine on the trip home from Cincinnati- he and his brother slept most of the way home :)

Once home, Noah slept some more, and we actually had to wake him up! The poor little guy was exhausted. It was a really awesome sight to actually see Noah lying in his bed. Finally!

The rest of the day was spent playing with toys and his new brother. He really did great. He had a fun bathtime with his brother and went to bed with no problems (of course, we all did that night :)

To be honest, we were expecting the worst, but our first evening/night home, everything went pretty much as well as it could have. Praise God! Things are still going well. Caleb and Noah, for the most part, play very well together. There have been lots of laughs and smiles, and a few fights and tears, but that is to be expected with brothers :) Caleb is doing a wonderful job of being a "big", little brother. He is a great helper.

Don't get me wrong, everything is not perfect. We can already see lots of issues we need to work through, and we realize, we have a long way to go. It is very hard at times, I admit. We knew it would be hard. Already, I have felt some discouragement and uncertainty. But, when you consider what Noah has endured, it would be unrealistic to think that there would not be some truly hard issues to work through. Today, for example, has been very challenging for everyone in terms of behavior. There are lots of moments of joy, but also moments of frustration for Noah, for Caleb, and for us, as we try and work through fear, transitioning to a new family, and the language barrier- it is difficult, but not impossible to work through, thanks to the love and strength that God provides us, each second of each day. I have already been in contact with adoptive parents who have adopted children that are Noah's age, and just knowing they went through the same issues and same feelings is such a comfort.

It is going to take time, patience and lots of love and prayer. But it is so worth it! We know this. And we truly hope that each day Noah feels our love and the love of God.

I am not sure when my next update will come, but just keep us in your prayers as we learn to live together as a family of 4 :)

2010-11-22T13:36:00.001-05:00

Our Time in Addis- Sunday

We arrived in Addis early Sunday morning after our flight from Washington was about three hours later than expected. The reason? It was the first ever flight from Washington of an Ethiopian Airlines 777, and it was a very big deal! They had a ceremony in the airport in DC, gave out free food, cake, etc. You get the idea. Once we boarded, we found that our seats were occupied by someone else- apparently a computer glitch :) Thankfully they found our seats, but we waited another hour before we actually took off. The only thing that mattered to me was that we landed safely in Addis. We then waited about two hours for our visa. By the time we had claimed our luggage, found a taxi and made it to our hotel, it was about 2am, and we had been awake about 36 hours. So, we had no trouble sleeping :)

We woke around 8am or so, had breakfast and went to the International Evangelical Church. Zack and I had visited this church during our first trip to Ethiopia. It was a great service and very encouraging to me, especially, as after lunch I would be going to see Nigus. I did not know how he would react to me after I was gone for such a long time, and I admit, I was worried.To add to this, during the flight I began to lose my voice, and also developed quite a sore throat. I was not feeling well. But during the praise and worship time, I just lifted up my concerns to the Lord, and by the end of the service, God had refreshed me and renewed my strength.

After lunch we went to Layla House. Nigus was in his class, and as soon as I saw him, he smiled at me, which relieved all my fears! He had not smiled more than a couple times our entire first visit. He seemed very eager to see me and as we went outside the class, he seemed like a different child then the one we left months earlier. He was interacting very well with the other children, speaking and laughing. I am so thankful! God is so faithful!

We spent a few more hours with Noah on Sunday, then we visited AHOPE, an orphanage for children with HIV. There is a very special boy there that I was given the privilege of delivering a care package to. Hopefully he will be at home with his family soon. While we were there, the children, dressed in their traditional Ethiopian outfits sang, "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands". It was beautiful!

After that we ate dinner (pizza, yum!) then retired early to catch up on some sleep. Our first day went really well, and I am very thankful! I will find some time to write about today's events soon!

Referral Received for our second son from Ethiopia! Waiting to bring him home.....

Home with our son, Caleb Samuel, from Ethiopia

www.faceoflove.blogspot.com

Adoption is a GOoD thing :)

Traveling!!!

2010-11-18T22:27:00.004-05:00

Today was Paus' funeral. It was a beautiful service, and we so appreciated everyone coming to show their love and admiration for Paus and our family. These next days will be tough without our Paus, but we know we will see him again.

As we were leaving the funeral home and driving to the cemetery, I checked my email because I knew if we would hear any news today, it should have already been in my inbox, as the news comes from Ethiopia sometime during our early morning (Ethiopia is 7 hours ahead), then our agency passes along the information during their morning time (their office is in Washington state), which is our afternoon (you can see how working with three different time zones can also add to the frustration :)

I had two emails from our agency, both with subject line "Caldwell Case". My emotions were already running high, but of course, this made them run higher! I said a quick prayer in my head and opened the emails. To my delight, the first thing I read was They are free to travel!!! My heart raced, but there was no date in that email to tell when were free to travel! I quickly skipped ahead to the next email and read something that said that if we could get there in time for the appointment on Monday morning, it was ours!

I was a little shocked and mumbled to Zack, "We can go this weekend!" We both sat stunned and Caleb, from the backseat asked, "Are you going to get Noah?" I could finally say "YES!!!"

We drove just a little further and I began to cry thinking about God's timing and how perfect it is. I told Zack, through tears, how God knew that I needed to be here these last few weeks to help support my family, and especially my mom, who had been Paus' main caregiver and had carried much of the burden as he became ill. I knew in my heart that for me to be away and traveling would be so much added stress for her, but at the same time, I did want to bring home Noah as soon as possible. God, however, in his infinite wisdom and in a way I will never understand, knew exactly when the time would be for us to leave and bring Noah home- the day after my grandfather's funeral. As humans, we can only look back and see how God weaves together the events and circumstances in our lives into a beautiful tapestry that glorifies him and works together for our good. But he sees things from a different perspective, and I so grateful for that. May I always trust in the Lord and his ways, even when it doesn't seem to make sense.

We will be flying from Cincinnati tomorrow evening to Washington, DC. Then we will be flying directly to Ethiopia. It is a very long flight, around 16 straight hours on the same airplane! Prayerfully we will arrive in Ethiopia on Saturday night.

Please pray for Tennille, my great friend, and I as we travel. Please also pray that Noah will be prepared for all the changes that await him. And please pray for wisdom for me on the plane ride home as I try to reassure and comfort Noah, even though we can not speak the same language. Please pray that God would break down any communication barriers. I will try to update as much as I can.

Saying Goodbye (actually, just see you later :) & Adoption Update

2010-11-16T15:45:00.003-05:00

For the past few weeks my grandfather, who turned 91 in August has been very ill and in the hospital. Yesterday he passed away and went to his eternal home. I, along with my parents and some other family members were able to be present as he passed from this life to the next. He died very peacefully, just as he had hoped.

Paus, as we called him, was the most hard working man I have ever known. From the time he was a boy growing up on a farm, to when he served his country in WW2, to his long and successful career as a carpenter, and even up until the last few weeks of his life, Paus worked hard each and every day, and gave his best in all he did. He was also a kind and compassionate man. It didn't take much to bring a tear to his eye. Just a few days before he passed away, he was asking me when we would be able to bring home Noah, and I think I saw his eyes get watery :) He was so worried about us, his dog, his friends the entire time he was in the hospital. Never once did I hear him complain or grumble about his condition. He was a man who was ready to enter eternity.

He was so special in so many ways, and we already miss him. However, we know he is having such an awesome time in heaven reuniting with my grandma and so many others who have gone on . Most of all, he is in the presence of his Savior. And we rejoice in that!

One of my favorite passages that speaks about death is 1 Thessalonians 4:13 which says we who are in Christ don't have to grieve as those who don't have any hope! We can grieve with hope, because we know that Paus is with God, and that one day, we will join him!

Adoption Update- They (US Embassy) still do not have all the paperwork they need/want to issue Noah's visa, but they should have it this week. We will most likely not know until Friday if we can travel this weekend. Honestly, the chances are slim for us to travel before Thanksgiving, but there is still hope, and we are praying for a miracle! If we don't travel this weekend, we are looking at a December 1 Embassy date. We really want to travel before then! On a side note, I just can't help but think that all these delays have been so I could be present for my family during this difficult time. God's timing is perfect, and we continue to trust that.

Quick Update....

2010-11-13T21:49:00.001-05:00

Just a quick update- Sadly, we are still in the US :( The embassy has not yet made a decision about our case. We do expect to hear something Monday or Tuesday. If they approve it, we will be traveling Friday to Ethiopia. Because the week we will be there is the week of Thanksgiving, we will only be in country from about Sunday to Wednesday- a pretty short trip.

We were disappointed, to say the least when we received this news, but we trust God and know He is truly in control. Please pray for good news this week!!

Tomorrow is the Big Day ....& God's Redeeming Love!

2010-11-10T14:37:00.003-05:00

Well, tomorrow is the big day. Tomorrow we will find out if we will be able to travel this weekend to bring Noah Nigus home. If we are given approval, we will actually be leaving Friday! Good thing I never unpacked our suitcases :) The emotions I am experiencing right now are all too familiar. Yep, I had those same feelings almost two years ago, as we waited to hear if we had passed court for the second time and would be able to travel to bring home Caleb. They are hard feelings to describe, but basically are a mixture of excitement, anxiousness, nervousness and fear. That about sums it up :)

In the most recent turn of events, the embassy again rejected our case "as is" and asked for the judge to basically "re-approve" our case, which she did today. Though initially there was a paperwork mistake made, the most recent delays have been because of more stringent investigations by the embassy. They are really going over everything with a fine tooth comb, it seems. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it inevitably will cause delays.

In Noah Nigus' case, the circumstances surrounding how he came into orphanage care complicated his case. Often times, adoptive parents do not feel that they should share the details of their child's history, and I very much respect that decision. We have always been open to sharing about our son' history, for whatever reason. Maybe it has something to do with me being adopted, and always knowing about my birthparents, and being okay with that? I am not sure. Anyway, we know nothing about Caleb's first 6 months of life, other than he was abandoned at around 6 months of age and found by a police officer. To be honest, we did not know many details at all about Noah's history until just recently when all the paperwork issues arose.

Now that we know more, it makes this incredible opportunity for us to bring this child into our lives even more special ( I really don't think that word can adequately describe how we feel about it). What we do know is that Noah Nigus was living on the streets with his mother before she died. This alone is heartbreaking, to think that this family had no home, no where for them to rest, to be warm and safe. No where for his birthmother to even die. I wonder, often, if he watched his birthmother die. The Bible study group I am in is currently doing a 6 week study with the Book, The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns. I have mentioned this book before, and I will take just a moment to mention it again- it is incredible, and you really just need to read it. Seriously. In the book, Rich Stearns visits with a family of three boys in Uganda who had to bury their own parents who died of AIDS. They also cared for them before and during their death. While Rich Stearns is meeting with these three precious boys, he asks one of the boys if he has a Bible, to which they boy responds by running and getting his Bible. Rich then asks him if he can read it, to which the boy responds, "I love to read the book of John, because it says that Jesus loves the children". At this point, Rich can do nothing but weep at hearing this boy who has lost so much speak with joy about Jesus' love for him, and at the same time realizing, how he, Rich Stearns, had pretended not to know about the suffering that exists in the world. Every time I read this part, I weep too. And then I think about Noah Nigus, and I can do nothing but cry more, as I think about what he has endured in his 4 short years on this earth. But joy comes shortly after my sadness, because despite all his losses and all the grief this boy has experienced, soon and very soon, God's redeeming love is going to allow him to have a family here on this earth, and to one day have a heavenly family for all eternity.

And it is only because of God's redeeming love that in our darkest times, in the midst of our sin, our despair, our loneliness, that God sent his son to redeem us, to bring us into his family and to call us sons and daughters! To show us the unconditional love of a perfect heavenly father. Praise God! You see, that is what is at the core of adoption- redeeming love.

Prayerfully tomorrow I will post an update that we will be leaving very soon!

An Exciting Way to Support Our Adoption and Give Great Gifts!!!

2010-11-01T21:28:00.003-04:00

If you want to give the gift of books to the children you love this Christmas, we have an exciting opportunity for you to purchsase some great books, and support our adoption at the same time!

Thanks to Usborne Books, 50% of the sales from today until November 12 will be given towards our family's adoption expenses! Simply visit this link:

www.ubah.com/HOS186145

then start shopping! It is easy at that. Usborne has a wonderful selection of children's books, including some great Chrismas books, craft books, and cook books. There easy to use website allows you to find just what you are looking for! You purchase the books online, and they are delivered directly to your door!

Here are some of our favorites:

Remember, you must start shopping by clicking on the link above for our family to receive any proceeds. Please feel free to pass this information along to anyone who would be interested. Also, if you would be interested in hosting an Eshow for us, simply email me and let me know. It is simple, free, supports our adoption, and you can earn free books in the process!

Halloween Fun!!

2010-10-31T21:29:00.004-04:00

We really had a blast this Halloween! Caleb decided he wanted to be a dinosaur (originally we bought this costume for Noah- we missed him so much!) instead of Scooby Doo. So, a dinosaur he was! I think he made a pretty cute one :) Not only did we have fun trick or treating, we also had a great time making Halloween cookies, and carving pumpkins.

We would appreciate your prayers this week for all that is going on in Ethiopia regarding Noah's case. We know this week will be pivotal in terms of making sure the right paperwork gets completed so that our embassy date for November 17th can be scheduled.