Saturday

my parents got tickets to the Family Series at the Civic Center. Saturday's presentation was "The Hungry Caterpillar". Who doesn't love that book? The play was terrific! My babies had a lot of fun, which makes everything so much better.

Crafts pre-show.



The boys



Coloring the hungry caterpiller



Wonder



My babies and me, they were actually quite excited. No explanation as to why Tariku's button is not buttoned.



Trysten




Dailah



Tariku



Excited for the show!




This is just a typical moment when the boys are near their daddy. Lots of laughs.



2 ladies I love. My momma and my baby.

The Panthers

Friday night found us heading to Altoona to visit my parents. Friday night also found us at Old Chicago cheering on the Northern Iowa Panthers. Both my mom and dad graduated from UNI as did quite a few of my close friends. So even though we're die-hard Hawkeye fans, it was still fun to have a homestate team in the middle of March Madness.

One of my besties, Woody, a UNI alum and a good person all around.



The group (notice Zach holding on to his Hawkeye love).



Woody and her hubby, me and mine and my brother, Marcus and Lindsey. Love them all.

Woohoo!

Our good friends, Jared and Beth, received their referral of a beautiful baby girl yesterday. Hop on over and wish them well.

I'm selfishly praying we might get to travel with them.

So humbled I get to call them friends. So thankful there will be a bigger habesha population in Iowa.

Wordless Wednesday-"I'm With My BFF"

Whew!

Dossier is off! Feels so good to get that off the chest.

What we know so far about the situation in Ethiopia is that they don't really know for sure what's happening with the 2-trip rule. I know that adoption agencies in Ethiopia are hoping to get more clarification in the coming weeks.

Our agency did call us soon after news broke about possibly needing 2 trips. They told us if we could get our dossier in to Ethiopia before April 9th then we should be grandfathered in under the 1 trip rule. This, according to them, doesn't mean we need a court date by then, our file just needs to be in the system. Now, the thing is we are in the midst of an international adoption, nothing is certain. We're riding these waves with a little bit of grace, little bit of humility and a lot of Tyelenol PM (did I just write that?).

We should know within the next few weeks whether we made it under the wire or not and if it really mattered in the first place (perhaps they'll hold off on the new rule for a few more months).

Prayers and happy thoughts for that big stack of paper to fly on an angel's wings to Ethiopia.

Until then, check out this guy. His second front tooth is finally growing in! Unfortunately his two front teeth look to be as large as mine once were. But he's got the looks to pull it off just fine.

World Water Day

Because we never forget, and neither should you.

Water for Christmas is all about World Water Day, of course. So here are these pins. They're a perfect conversation starter. Put them on your backpacks, your purses, jackets, whatever.



You can buy them here. Buy them for everyone you know. It's not an exaggeration to say I have one on every purse, backpack and jacket I own. Hope you will too!

A quick, related, aside. Today I overheard Tariku and Dailah playing house. Tariku said, "Dailah, we have to work hard so we can make money and give everyone in the world clean water."

They're listening, so talk about it with everyone you know.

Lovin' It

Saturday we were the recipients of about 1-2" of snow but by yesterday the snow was melted (mostly) and it was high 40s/low 50s. 45 degrees is kind of our cut off, anything higher than that the kids are outside most of the day. I think it's SO important for kids to be able to run around outside, it's amazing how better we all behave when this happens.

We were even able to take a small hike (though for living out at camp, my appropriate boot/shoe selection is sorely lacking). I seriously, seriously love living out here.






For being a very big "girly girl" she does love to splash around.

---

What I'm thinking/praying about today.

Watch it Here

And another one here.

The Transformation

You all saw this post, right? Well, my hubby is a new man. It's weird because he's never had quite that bushy of a beard. I was, in all honesty, less than thrilled. When I was trying to figure out why I didn't like the beard I came to one conclusion.

He's too good looking. This is not to say good looking guys can't have beards but it looks like he's covering something up. He's got just a beautiful mouth, and please, those eyes? So that's what I figured out. My husband is just simply too pretty to have that hefty of a beard.

Now he's shaved it, but this guy does nothing the "normal" way. He wanted to go out with a bang. So here we have the progression to a clean shaven face.

We start here,



then go here,



after which this would be the only obvious step,




and of course this has to be the grand finale. (Note, he purposely posed and smirked in such a way that we would have good mug shots should he turn psycho on me).



Isn't he beeeeeeautiful?

Baseball Fun

The boys are playing coach pitch baseball this spring on the same team. It's a team of 7 and 8-year-olds so, naturally, we assume Tariku will be just fine.

They had try-outs the last 2 Saturdays which was fun to watch. In between each throw or each at-bat Tariku turned to us and waved. Precious.

Just the brothers. Tariku's 'fro is super sweet.



All my little Cubs.



Dailah at try-outs.



See? Turned to me and smiled after he hit the first ball.

Wordless Wednesday

How is he 5?

and how has it been almost 2 years since we first met him? Those were the questions I was asking myself all day today. Sweet Tariku turned 5 today and was, in all honesty, probably the cutest birthday person I've ever seen.

Our tradition is to wake everyone but the birthday person and then sing "Happy Birthday" en route to the birthday person's room. When we opened the door mid-verse Tariku was out of his bed, jumping up and down with the biggest smile I've ever seen.

He was so, so excited.

So we went to get the birthday donuts, where he got to pick for everyone. Oddly enough he picked chocolate for every single person, I'm guessing it was simply because he loves it so much he couldn't possibly imagine anyone liking any other kind.

Then it was upstairs for a photo session.








After that it was off to school for the boys and to the Y for the ladies. I taught a class, had gotten a sub for my second class (thanks, Lisa!) so we went to birthday lunch (he chose Applebees-what is it with that place?)

Naps then lots of playing outside. We finished the night at Papa Frank and Mimi Terre's where there was pizza (his favorite) cake, brownies and ice cream. Oh, and presents, of course!

Dailah with her "Don't tell Tariku what his presents are, they're a surprise!" face.



The small cake.



The brownie cake (what you guys don't have multiple cakes for birthdays?)



And a few of the presents.



Of course we measured him, he's grown 8 inches in less than 2 years. Can you imagine that?







I really am at a loss for words tonight. He makes my heart ache for so many reasons. Birthdays feel different for Tariku than they do for Trysten and Dailah, not because I feel differently for him but because it feels like someone is missing. And they are. On Tariku's birthday I am constantly thinking of his birth family, wishing we could share this with them, wishing they could see this little guy who is turning into one of the most amazing kids I know. It's just different.

But what's not different is my love for him. That is so real, so visceral it surprises even me. I don't know when it happened, when I started to do the things with him that I've always done with Trysten and Dailah. Things like taking in a long deep breath and soaking in their radiance while cuddling, grabbing his hand when he's near and just memorizing every wrinkle and freckle. I don't remember when I started to absentmindedly play with his hair and bathe him in my motherly love. I don't know when it happened but it has and it feels good.

My boy loves having "Happy Birthday" sung to him, he loves (and excels) at every sport imaginable. He is slow to stand up for himself but fierce to protect people he loves. Tariku still will be the first to volunteer to help anyone and when I asked him what his favorite part of the day was, he said it was his daddy coming home (Zach had been gone since Friday). What 5-year-old says that of his birthday?

To love this guy and be loved by him, I count it as one of the biggest blessings of my life. This God I've been talking to a lot lately, that God has given me grace I couldn't imagine by planting Tariku in my life. Though I know there was profound loss in how we found each other, there has been profound love found through that loss. And I suppose that's a part of grace.

And I suppose that's love. I suppose his kind of love is the sweetest kind. Happy birthday my sweet, sweet Tariku.

...

"Don't just pretend that you love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Stand on the side of the good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other."
-Romans 12:9

I'm a Do-er

This past week has been challenging on so many different levels. At the core of me, I know that I'm a do-er. I think I'm a good listener too but the people closest to me know that if they tell me something, I'm going to want to do something. I'm not good at listening, digesting and then sitting. And honestly, that's all I've been able to do this week.

Sit on my hands and listen or read or think and pray.

Jody. Oh, how my heart is broken for her. I remember almost a year ago Jody, Amy, Cassie and I had been interviewed by someone at church about Water for Christmas and after that he wanted to interview us about adoption.

It started out innocently enough, asking the whys and the hows. Then it got kind of personal, asking how well (or not well) the church supported us. Jody was just sitting there watching and I just broke down in sobs, knowing I personally couldn't have gotten through Tariku's adoption with my faith and my spirit intact without her. Because she's good at that stuff. She isn't nearly as emotional as I am (imagine that), she's levelheaded, she's supportive, she justified my emotion when it was warranted and gave me a verbal slap in the face when that was also warranted. We laughed together and cried together, walked that road together (with much support from other friends as well).

And so this past week I just wanted to repay her for that and everything else she's done for me. If you're reading her blog (which you should because it's amazing) you'll know she's stronger and more mature about the whole thing than most people could possibly imagine. I find myself in complete awe of her and her faith and her strength. How am I supposed to be a do-er when she's do-ing so much already? She's not sugar coating the truth, and even if you don't know her I have no doubts you can feel the rawness of everything.

But this week for me, because of Jody and a few other things, I've turned to prayer more than I ever have in my life. For the first time I've seen prayer as something I can do. Imagine that!

And it's brought me closer to the God of grace, of love and mercy. This God who has saved me, a woman who sins every single day, from complete devastation and disillusionment.

How humbling to be able to call God "father", sometimes I wonder how that's possible when I'm me and I know the sins I've thought, said and done.

Christians sometimes get a bad rap in the world, and sometimes it's deserved. But I've found too that just assuredly as you can find someone who is the example of darkness calling themselves a "Christian" you can find more who are examples of light. I know so many people who have devoted their lives to Jesus who are the epitome of love, life and wonder in a world that isn't always so.

And Jody's one of those. One of those people who is an example of God's love and mercy despite not necessarily seeing examples of that in her life right now. I can't imagine how it'd be possible for her to be and to feel the way she is without knowing who holds her heart in His hands and who is the Author of her story.

If you're in need of inspiration, go visit Jody. Show her your support in love and in prayer. That's what I'm do-ing. I'm going to rally my blog readers around her as she's done so often for me. That and pray, for her, for Andy, for their family. I hope you will too.

Bearded Saturday

Do you think my guy...



looks like this guy?



He's a wolfpack of 1, my friends, but I do so love him regardless of how much he looks like a serial killer.

This Link

took my breath away a bit. Go here.

SPRING!!!!!!!

Is It Only Wednesday?

What a week. Really, so, so many things on my mind.

A friend, her family, on my heart and mind and in my prayers.

Another friend dealing with the surprise of her life.

And then international adoption, the "ride" of all rides.

Today we found out (from the information out there now, though this could change as more information is gathered) that the Ethiopian government is making changes, most notably that they will now require 2 trips to Ethiopia. The first will be to attend the actual court date and the second would be to come back, get the child(ren)'s visa(s) and bring them home.

So as a family that's caught right in the middle of this, our heads are in a fog. Truly, the thought of going to Ethiopia two times in a few months is a bit exciting...if it weren't for the added expense, the total heart destruction at meeting our newest kids and then leaving them. So on and so on ad nauseum.

We really don't know exactly how this will affect us until Friday at the earliest. Most of you know I'm kind of a glass half-full kind of gal, and I'm finding it fairly easy to maintain that despite this rather large hiccup.

Because we've done this before, nothing in international adoption is predictable. We know in the end 3T and B will be here, they will be part of our lives for many decades to come.

Knowing they'll join us at some point makes this just ever so slightly easier. That and knowing that the Ethiopian government takes ethical practices so seriously. For a country that has had various political issues, this is one thing they seem to be doing right. Heading in all the right directions. I really can't argue with any extra steps that need to be taken to make sure the orphans are true orphans and not any form of human trafficking (if you're anti-adoption or have any ill feelings towards international adoption, please don't read that line as an invitation to insert your opinion, not the time or place). :)

So there you go, it's Wednesday in most of the world and yet feels like Friday here.

But it was 60 degrees today, we spent most of the afternoon outside. This entire post could be a fresh air high, but I'll run with it.

Also

-We got an update on B on Thursday. Right now he's almost exactly Dailah's size, though I remember getting an update on Tariku once that told us he was bigger than he was when we actually showed up. We are trying to mentally prepare Trysten that his "little" brother 3T might, in fact, be bigger than he is. We are also trying to prepare Dailah that her "little" brother might be bigger than she is. She's not really listening, she still talks to an imaginary B like he's half her size and still needing his butt wiped but we'll get there I'm sure. He is said to love falling asleep with toys in his hands, which reminds us too much of his big sister. The two of them in bunk beds are going to have a good hundred toys between them to fall asleep with. This could be bad.

-We received an email from our social worker Thursday saying she sent the homestudy to the various offices of our agency that need to okay it. This was just 3 days after our final homestudy visit, this is all new for us. Our social worker for Tariku's adoption took months, so this really is a refreshing change. She actually told me I could stop saying "thank you" seeings this is her job and all. So hopefully this week or next we'll have a final draft we can send to the great people at USCIS with our I-600a stuff. Also hoping the next few weeks will allow us to send in our dossier so that I can dust my shoulders off and "relax" knowing I have little else to complete while the Ethiopian and American governments decide our fate in their court systems. Good times.

-Jody and Cassie have been in Sierra Leone, Africa for the last week. I'm dying to hear every word on their trip. Jody (and her dad) updated from time to time, go check it out. Very exciting stuff.

-I finished both Half the Sky and The Help this week. You really need to read both of these, for very different reasons. I'm still digesting Half the Sky but, I'm sure, will have lots to say about it once I do.

I think that's it from this weekend that went by too quickly. Hope your weekend was as beautiful as ours. Did I mention we ate food off the grill tonight? Praise be!

Happy Birthday, 3T!

Today is 3T's birthday, he turns 6 over in Ethiopia.

Last night I kept dreaming about him and his little brother, B. About the call when our court date is assigned, the call we'll get when we first pass court. The call to announce our travel date. The last few days as a family of five. Then the moment we touch down in Ethiopia.

Needless to say, I hardly slept.

Today was the first day that I really wished we were over there. Wished we were there with our mother/father pride smiles on. Singing the loudest as they sing to him on his birthday. Though birthdays are not as big of a deal in Ethiopia as they are here, we were told they celebrate the kids in care. And so I picture his huge smile as they chant his name.

I whispered to Zach today in church, "Wish we were in Ethiopia right now."

He counted on his hand, "At least 6 more months, honey."

"Yup", I say, "this will be a loooong 6 months for you." :)

Happy Birthday, 3T. Your brothers and sister are so very excited for next year when they can sing at the top of their lungs and watch you blow out your candles!

Wordless Wednesday-Not a good sign

* Edited to add: Zach said that you can't tell these are Dailah's clothes and that some of you might think they are mine (really?). So these are Dailah's clothes, I love this picture because I can't quite figure out how they came off in this particular order. She de-robed in order to most resemble Captain Underpants (or, as she calls it, Crackin Underpants). So there you go, these are not my clothes, because I know you all were concerned that I could fit into size 4T pants nowadays.

Couple 'Tings

1) We got an update on 3T today (notice: I just learned we aren't supposed to identify our kiddos in ET by name, so please don't list their names in the comments either. 3T is the older one). Good update, new height, new weight. He's growing and by the time we get him, will probably be as tall as our oldest. He also likes bubbles. (ahhhh)

2) Tonight we were loading into the car after going to the Y. Trysten says, "Mom, tonight I realized that I just love Tariku so much and am so happy he's in my family. Do you know how I know? Because he got hurt and I started crying." Tariku said he felt better after he saw Trysten loved him so much. They are a couple of heartbreakers.

Speaking of heartbreakers, Dailah got to go to another Princess and Papa dance this past Sunday. Because she just hasn't been told she's a princess enough, obviously.

Her aunt Kara "KK" helping curl her hair.



She's getting old, this one.



Seriously cute.



We're quickly becoming outnumbered.