SPRING!

So MUCH to share....haven't posted for awhile. Our last family post in March was rather doom and gloom as the transition to life in a family of six was really hard. Things are still hard....but the good days are now great days and the bad days are much fewer and farther in-between...Thank the Lord for these exciting changes! Well to catch you up we had a Shower for Mamush at Church, A Welcome home party at JumpinJacks, Dr. Seuss' Birthday, St.Patrick's Day, Birthday, Birthday, and last but certainly not least...Easter. Our kids are learning so much about what it means to have a risen Lord, and the questions from Mamush are frequent and usually pretty deep. He just wants to know how it (Christianity) all works now! A few Photos from all of the excitement the past few months.

A Fabulous shower at Church...We are blessed with a church family who Loves and Supports Us!

Mamush and a buddy from School at Jumpin Jacks

No Caption Necessary

Elli is 10! Wow!

Try explaining this Holiday to an Ethiopian

Little Dan is 5....or as he puts it, "A Whole Hand."

Bell Ringers



Daniel is over the photo session! Mamush is wondering what he's gotten himself into with this crazy family.



Criticize This.....Really?

Social media used to unite and join as one to bring forward a complex situation and get the invisible children on the radar of the world. AMEN! I am perplexed at how quickly the critics have jumped on this campaign. There is a long and ugly history of evil men tearing apart families through horribly vile actions across Africa. Thank you Invisible Children for spreading this message and trying to rid the world of one of the worst! If you haven't watched the video please do so.

One side note.....I understand the masterful plan behind the Kony 2012 campaign....using a campaign and video gone viral to raise awareness and hopefully affect change, however, why can't we use the same plan to make JESUS famous! Just Sayin.



"NORMAL" ?

Just when we think and feel like things are back to "normal" in our household......we have a set-back......our genuine attempts to parent and nurture our new addition blows up.....and he retreats to a sad and angry place. Our initial parental reactions inside are of anger, frustration, and impatience....we fail to see the bigger picture...fail to see the behavior really isn't about eating your breakfast....fail to recognize in that moment that our son has experienced, and continues to experience, tremendous loss and grief. Fail to realize this is the new "normal" and that we have an uphill battle to help this precious boy heal, trust, and LOVE.

In those moments it is so amazing to see the Lord work in our lives. Lacey immediately was drawn to the book, Orphanology, and found this great passage and verse that helped us offer needed GRACE to the situation and move forward in this crazy new "normal." 

"One of the best pieces of advice I received was the warning not to expect your child or children to be grateful. It is in our nature to have this sort of savior complex where you want to say, "Can't you see we've rescued you from neglect, loneliness, and orphan status? Love me. Attach to me immediately. Appreciate me." When in reality, there is only one Rescuer, one Savior, and we want to do the same thing to Him - rebel."
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer" (Romans 12:12).



More fun in the snow. We are so blessed to have friends and family here close by who share a common Ethiopian adoption experience. Sunday we were able to get together with the Jensen and Savik families for food and fun. We were able to wrangle all of the kids together for a quick photo shoot.

4 Ethiopian Children + 7 American Children = 3 Blessed Families!

A Family Picture.......Finally!

We recently had family photos done with all of Lacey's family...19 total people! The picture below was one of the better moments with Mamush as he wasn't real happy about the whole process. The kissing put him over the edge...but really brought out his amazing smile! He refused to take off his glasses for most of the photo shoot. Never a dull moment!

Fun In The Snow!

Great Saturday...shoveled sidewalks and driveway...built 2 snowmen....sledding with Bertram cousins....Dinner with Bertram Family....Everyone is tuckered out and ready for bed!



FUN

It's been so long since we posted i thought i would post a few pictures of pre-Christmas activities.

Mamush seems to like Christmas.  He jumped right in during the tree decoration and enjoyed adding lots of sprinkles to the cookies.

Great Grandma

Tonight was our Wednesday night kids ministry...Transformation Kids. As a special Christmas party we took all twenty-five kids caroling at two retirement buildings close to the church. The kids loved it and the retired Grandmas and Grandpas loved it as well.....especially my Grandma. Below is a picture of my Grandma Bertram during the caroling event, who is a Great-Grandma to my kids also in the picture. What an incredible blessing for my children to love and enjoy two Great Grandmas and two Great Grandpas still alive and full of energy, life, and love. Some don't have the blessing of time with their Grandparents, let alone a Great Grandparent. Here's to many more Christ-Filled Christmas celebrations for my children and their Great Grandparents!



Christmas Tree

We have not blogged in awhile so i thought I would add some photos and let everyone know we are still here.  Our time since returning from Ethiopia has busy and exciting. 

Mamush loves the outdoors.  We went to my parents house to cut down our own tree.  The kids helped dad find the perfect tree as mom drove the truck to meet them with their prize tree. 

Mamush has embraced the holiday season and we feel so blessed to have him home with us. 

Firsts, Firsts, and More Firsts!

Today we went to Walgreens....Mamush's first trip to a store. We purchased Christmas Lights and remote control trucks for Danny and Mamush. After that we went to church as a family...another first for Mamush. Hanging the lights (see photo below) again a first. It seems as if the list of firsts for this little guy is endless. As I think through the last week and a half the list is staggering:

Airport, Airplane, Escalator, Elevator, Brother, Sisters, Many other Relatives, Elementary School, Dad's Truck, Mom's Van, DVD in the van, Hunting Trips, Dead Deer, Christmas Parade, Candy thrown everywhere, Snow, New Dog, Trampoline, Christmas Lights, Fish Bowl, Etc.

good read

This  woman is amazing and I love her passion and what she has to share with the world.
Check out her blog and maybe even buy a shirt for a loved one for christmas.  It will help a child and need and raise awareness.
http://oatsvallteam.blogspot.com/2011/11/what-are-you-waiting-for.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+OatsvallTeam+%28Oatsvall+Team%29

lacey

Finish Line!!

We are happy to report that we are home safe and sound with Mamush, and are now a family of 6!

  

We were so blessed by a huge welcoming committee at the airport, and were greeted first by Elli, Averi, and Daniel! So many emotions!

Ethiopia was again an amazing experience. So happy Lacey was able to go this time. We loved the culture, the food, and the people.She was able to meet our dear friends from the guest house, Tamrat, Gecho, and Aramais! Words can't explain how those three loved us and Mamush and cared for us while we were there. We miss them already!

More Coming Soon

At the airport...headed to Ethiopia!

We are flying out this morning!

The Day has arrived!

We were informed today we need to be in Addis Abba on Monday November 13th for our November 14th embassy appointment!!!!!!
Excited, panicked, rushed and much much more.
Thank you all who have been praying for us and those who have supported our adoption financially.  We feel so loved and blessed.  

We know we will have plenty of adjustments ahead and are thankful we will have The Lord by our side as he has been this whole process.

I am feeling a little anxious to leave our three bio kiddos.  They will be with family and Our family babysitter, but it is very hard for this mamma.  I cant wait for all my children to be in one place.  It seems I am always missing someone.  I have never been away from my bio kids for more than 3 days so I will miss them tons. 

We hope to update everyone when it is possible.