Preface with this: Hope was disobedient last night and after continual reminders to wind down and go do sleep she was given a "baby" bed time of 7pm and no dessert tonight. GASP! I know right, awful aren't we?!
Ok so I'm getting the shower on and Hopie ready to hop in... I'm also taking this moment to dump the overflowing garbage can in the bathroom...gross I know..anyways....and I hear a AHHHHHHHH!!!! (girly scream)
So I go flyin in the bathroom as Hope comes flyin out of the shower BAWLING "I can't go in the shower (screamed very dramatically(
Me: Why not? What happened?
Hopie: There's a spider in there (in a half cry half scream)
Me: Oh man. (I'm peeking in the shower and see this spider, EWWWW)
Me: Daddy, help us. Help us now.
Daddy meanwhile is being a good hubby and doing dishes. So thinking a limb is falling off a child or something awful, shuts off the sink and comes down the hall saying :What's wrong,whats going on?
Me: You gotta kill the spider in the shower, eww gross.
I'm now walking to the BIG garbage can outside to dump the icky bathroom overflowing garbage and am followed by a much too curious 2 year old.
Mikey: Mama, mama, what happened? (said in a little boy voice, slightly airy)
Me: Oh, Daddy had to save Hopie and kill the spider in the shower.
Mikey: GASP! A spider? Ewww.
Me: I know.
Mikey: Daddy, what happened?
Jason: I had to kill one of God's creatures - mommy made me kill a spider!
Mikey: OH NO!
And we're still laughing.
Thank you Mikey for your never ending laughs!
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
I'm no country girl, that's for sure!
Ok, I'm going to post this because everyone I tell laughs so hard they start tearing up. It's funny but in all seriousness this actually happened as I will cut and paste the exact email I sent my mother who I KNEW would appreciate the reality of the following information.
Also, I need to preface this with the following. #1: I am a down right cheapskate. Not just frugal mind you, I'm cheap. I will use everything down to the last drop, and even skip buying things I need in order to not spend money. I would like to credit my mother with this ingrained sense of frugality/or cheaponess (I'm pretty sure that's not a word - yet - but it is now). #2 due to Mikey's 'anything related to a cow allergy' which entails no beef,gelatin,whey, or casein let alone full on dairy, we eat a lot of chicken, turkey, and he eats beef free hotdogs if I don't feel like avoiding beef.
All that to say this: I am ALWAYS looking for cheap ways to include meat in meals without spending large amounts of money. SO...... I heard about using whole fryer chickens, using a crock pot and shredding the meat for recipes. This sounded GREAT to me because a local store had them on sale. So last week I called Jason and asked him to pick up a few whole fryers so I could prep some meat and have it ready to use in dinners - nice idea right? I thought so. Ok soooo.... Jas being the dear he is bought 2 whole fryer chickens and I then realized, oh wait I really don't even know how to prep a chicken ,something I failed to take into account prior to the demand I mean request for the purchase of meat.
The following is the actual email sent to my mother after the um.... event? Is that the right word???
Ok so i found some great recipes that call for shredded chicken. and i've been waiting for a good deal on a whole chicken i can slow cook and shred the meat with right. ok so wrays has them on sale for .79/lb. not bad for a few different meal options. so i had jas pick up 2 whole chickens.
then i had to google how to clean and prep a whole chicken (since the idea or reality hasn't ever come to mind.....) so i read the directions:
1.wash hands with warm water and soap
2. remove gizzards from inside (save for gravy, um yea right this is ambitious enough for me)
3. skin chicken if desiring skinless meat
4. prep with salt and pepper and in this case i'm slow cookin it/her/him whatever it used to be..anyway so here's what happened:
step 1: i washed my hands!
step 2: for me was removing the wrapping it was in and here's where i almost puked
i SWEAR there was hair on it's butt. not jokin, and i lost it. i'm not stickin my hand in ANY part of a dead chicken.
step 3:call jason and BEG him to please come help me with the chicken, i just knew i was gonna puke.
step 4: NOT watch him as he tries to clean out the chicken and so generously informs me of all he's doing (blech)
step 5: drop the bird in the crock pot, add salt and pepper crank her up and write my mom and email!
hehehe. i'm such a city girl! the idea of yummy tender shredded chicken sounded great right, the reality of getting to the point where it's tender and yummy is almost more than i can take. i've still got the heebeegeebees
And so if it wasn't clear to anyone who knows me that I am NOT country material, here in lies your proof that I should NEVER be left to my own wiles to devise cheapo plans and then discover I have NO IDEA what I'm doing!!!!!
By the way, my mom, had the EXACT same experience like 30 years ago, except my dad said when she yanked the chicken out of the bag she held it up by it's legs and FREAKED out saying "I can't do this, it looks like a baby!" And so my dad officially became the chicken cleaner and prep man for that season of their life! - It runs in the family, should I warn my girls??
Kala
Also, I need to preface this with the following. #1: I am a down right cheapskate. Not just frugal mind you, I'm cheap. I will use everything down to the last drop, and even skip buying things I need in order to not spend money. I would like to credit my mother with this ingrained sense of frugality/or cheaponess (I'm pretty sure that's not a word - yet - but it is now). #2 due to Mikey's 'anything related to a cow allergy' which entails no beef,gelatin,whey, or casein let alone full on dairy, we eat a lot of chicken, turkey, and he eats beef free hotdogs if I don't feel like avoiding beef.
All that to say this: I am ALWAYS looking for cheap ways to include meat in meals without spending large amounts of money. SO...... I heard about using whole fryer chickens, using a crock pot and shredding the meat for recipes. This sounded GREAT to me because a local store had them on sale. So last week I called Jason and asked him to pick up a few whole fryers so I could prep some meat and have it ready to use in dinners - nice idea right? I thought so. Ok soooo.... Jas being the dear he is bought 2 whole fryer chickens and I then realized, oh wait I really don't even know how to prep a chicken ,something I failed to take into account prior to the demand I mean request for the purchase of meat.
The following is the actual email sent to my mother after the um.... event? Is that the right word???
Ok so i found some great recipes that call for shredded chicken. and i've been waiting for a good deal on a whole chicken i can slow cook and shred the meat with right. ok so wrays has them on sale for .79/lb. not bad for a few different meal options. so i had jas pick up 2 whole chickens.
then i had to google how to clean and prep a whole chicken (since the idea or reality hasn't ever come to mind.....) so i read the directions:
1.wash hands with warm water and soap
2. remove gizzards from inside (save for gravy, um yea right this is ambitious enough for me)
3. skin chicken if desiring skinless meat
4. prep with salt and pepper and in this case i'm slow cookin it/her/him whatever it used to be..anyway so here's what happened:
step 1: i washed my hands!
step 2: for me was removing the wrapping it was in and here's where i almost puked
i SWEAR there was hair on it's butt. not jokin, and i lost it. i'm not stickin my hand in ANY part of a dead chicken.
step 3:call jason and BEG him to please come help me with the chicken, i just knew i was gonna puke.
step 4: NOT watch him as he tries to clean out the chicken and so generously informs me of all he's doing (blech)
step 5: drop the bird in the crock pot, add salt and pepper crank her up and write my mom and email!
hehehe. i'm such a city girl! the idea of yummy tender shredded chicken sounded great right, the reality of getting to the point where it's tender and yummy is almost more than i can take. i've still got the heebeegeebees
And so if it wasn't clear to anyone who knows me that I am NOT country material, here in lies your proof that I should NEVER be left to my own wiles to devise cheapo plans and then discover I have NO IDEA what I'm doing!!!!!
By the way, my mom, had the EXACT same experience like 30 years ago, except my dad said when she yanked the chicken out of the bag she held it up by it's legs and FREAKED out saying "I can't do this, it looks like a baby!" And so my dad officially became the chicken cleaner and prep man for that season of their life! - It runs in the family, should I warn my girls??
Kala
Thursday, October 8, 2009
O the crazy life I lead....
Well hello all those people that I'm sure have thought that I fell off the face of the earth! To my credit, I was without a computer for like 2 1/2 weeks and have been reading a lot, and started Bible Study Fellowship, and have 4 kids plus my nephew 5 days a week before and after school, and what else? Oh yea I also have this guy I'm married to, who likes me and we like to spend time together so our SACRED 8pm bedtime means Mommy and Daddy get to read in quiet, watch a movie together(which involves Jas finishing the movie and I'm usually passed out around 15 minutes in but whatever..man the first 15 minutes of Batman Begins and The Dark Knight are great!!!)
So no, I didn't fall off the face of the earth, I've just not been bloggin' ya'll. No worries.
I do think it's time for a little update.
Faithie is in 2nd grade this year, YIKES, I'm old if I've got a 2nd grader! She is loving school, and has this amazing Christian teacher who is just fabulous. In fact, we got a call on our home phone the other night and it was her teacher saying she was looking at the sunset and thought of Faith because she had said in class she loves beautiful sunsets. So Faith hit the teacher jackpot to say the least. She is reading all the time and started Bible Study Fellowship with me, so she has homework she does each day and goes on Monday nights for her discussion and learning. What a great way for her and I to connect through scripture! Oh and my mom's doin BSF too, so 3 generations of crazy ladies are studying the same scripture, that is just beyond cool to me.
Hopie also hit the proverbial teacher jackpot and has really been enjoying school. Although about 2 weeks ago she came home and said she wants to be home schooled because all her friends are in different reading groups (lower levels than her, she is with 3 other kids in a high level for kinder reading) and has decided that they are having more fun and that's not fair so home school it is. I did remind her that our family feels like we need to be in the school to show people Jesus' love and to be a good influence so home school isn't an option for us, not to mention she wouldn't enjoy it I'm sure. She's WAY too social.. I'm not sure how that happened (yea right between Jas and I our kids will ALWAYS have the 'talks to much in class' note in their report cards I'm sure!)
Henok is doing really well. He is picking up English REALLY fast, talking in full sentences and really adjusting nicely to our family. Him and I did have a rough go, on my end not his but that is SOOOO much better now, it's nice to have it feel like he's always been around. He was walking around telling Mikey (who is by far his bestest friend in the whole wide world that he LOVES him too much) Medically he's messed up though. We've been to Seattle Children's Hospital once already and will go back again at the end of Oct for some dental work and probably scheduling him to be knocked out for that plus while he's out he'll have a total brain and spine MRI. Henok has a 63degree curvature in his spine, VERY severe scoliosis and also we found out possibly has some cranio-facial issues like his skull has already fused together which at 5 shouldn't have happened yet. So there may be a possible surgery to open his skull at some point to allow his brain to grow. But we'll cross that bridge when we get there. He also has to be seen by an ENT and Optomologist to make sure that currently his brain isn't putting any pressure on his eyes. He has also had numerous blood draws and had to repeat a few because his levels were not right or something. Sorry I'm not dr so I couldn't tell ya what they're testing for! I'll tell ya what though, for all the crap he's gonna have to face physically he's got the best personality for the challenge. He could care less about blood draws or people pokin on him, he's Mr. life of the Party so as long as he's gettin attention, he's down for whatever!
Mikey, now here's a funny boy. His personality has just exploded the last few months, you wanna talk about funny. Oh my word. And I can't even explain it because it's all his facial expressions or the way he says a word! But here's a Mikey conversation with my mom...
Gram :Mikey can I hold you sweet boy?
Mikey : No!
Gram: Why not?
Mikey: Taus! (it would be cause be all c's sound like t's)
Anyway, more to come later!!!
Blessings to all,
Kala
So no, I didn't fall off the face of the earth, I've just not been bloggin' ya'll. No worries.
I do think it's time for a little update.
Faithie is in 2nd grade this year, YIKES, I'm old if I've got a 2nd grader! She is loving school, and has this amazing Christian teacher who is just fabulous. In fact, we got a call on our home phone the other night and it was her teacher saying she was looking at the sunset and thought of Faith because she had said in class she loves beautiful sunsets. So Faith hit the teacher jackpot to say the least. She is reading all the time and started Bible Study Fellowship with me, so she has homework she does each day and goes on Monday nights for her discussion and learning. What a great way for her and I to connect through scripture! Oh and my mom's doin BSF too, so 3 generations of crazy ladies are studying the same scripture, that is just beyond cool to me.
Hopie also hit the proverbial teacher jackpot and has really been enjoying school. Although about 2 weeks ago she came home and said she wants to be home schooled because all her friends are in different reading groups (lower levels than her, she is with 3 other kids in a high level for kinder reading) and has decided that they are having more fun and that's not fair so home school it is. I did remind her that our family feels like we need to be in the school to show people Jesus' love and to be a good influence so home school isn't an option for us, not to mention she wouldn't enjoy it I'm sure. She's WAY too social.. I'm not sure how that happened (yea right between Jas and I our kids will ALWAYS have the 'talks to much in class' note in their report cards I'm sure!)
Henok is doing really well. He is picking up English REALLY fast, talking in full sentences and really adjusting nicely to our family. Him and I did have a rough go, on my end not his but that is SOOOO much better now, it's nice to have it feel like he's always been around. He was walking around telling Mikey (who is by far his bestest friend in the whole wide world that he LOVES him too much) Medically he's messed up though. We've been to Seattle Children's Hospital once already and will go back again at the end of Oct for some dental work and probably scheduling him to be knocked out for that plus while he's out he'll have a total brain and spine MRI. Henok has a 63degree curvature in his spine, VERY severe scoliosis and also we found out possibly has some cranio-facial issues like his skull has already fused together which at 5 shouldn't have happened yet. So there may be a possible surgery to open his skull at some point to allow his brain to grow. But we'll cross that bridge when we get there. He also has to be seen by an ENT and Optomologist to make sure that currently his brain isn't putting any pressure on his eyes. He has also had numerous blood draws and had to repeat a few because his levels were not right or something. Sorry I'm not dr so I couldn't tell ya what they're testing for! I'll tell ya what though, for all the crap he's gonna have to face physically he's got the best personality for the challenge. He could care less about blood draws or people pokin on him, he's Mr. life of the Party so as long as he's gettin attention, he's down for whatever!
Mikey, now here's a funny boy. His personality has just exploded the last few months, you wanna talk about funny. Oh my word. And I can't even explain it because it's all his facial expressions or the way he says a word! But here's a Mikey conversation with my mom...
Gram :Mikey can I hold you sweet boy?
Mikey : No!
Gram: Why not?
Mikey: Taus! (it would be cause be all c's sound like t's)
Anyway, more to come later!!!
Blessings to all,
Kala
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Whew!
Ok so summer is coming to a close, HALLELUJAH. A sense of normalcy is going to descend on this house in the next 2 weeks that I'm dyin for people. I am a creature of habit and routine. My day may look slightly disheveled but I have a flow to it and DO NOT like it disrupted. I like knowing what's coming next and that I can trust my handy dandy calendar to guide me through my week. That being said our summer has been anything but normal or routine and I'm just FREAKIN out. I have been quite a bear to live with these days which although I may be well aware of it, my attitude is the same...my poor family...anyway. We have done it all this summer (except the zoo but don't get me started) I led worship with da band at 2 summer camps with a week of "rest" (there is none with 4 BUSY kids by the way), my washer went out (and ringworm keeps creeping back so we've been on overload but I think, I actually think it's gone for good)I'm waiting for my parents old washer and dryer so we can maintain our minimum 4 loads a day to keep going. Went on vacay baby to Seaside OR, that's a whole nother post and maybe pictures if I can get blogger to download, came home and are now just trying to catch our breath! Yikes. I have made a command decision that we WILL not be this busy next year and I will try my hardest to maintain that - I feel bad like we haven't been home long enough to feel like we could get into a routine of life with 4 kids we've just been scrambling all summer long so this school year is a welcome relief. 2 kids in all day school (boohoo and woohoo all at the same time) and 2 little boys that will get some mommy time and some serious working on colors,numbers and letters. We'll see if we can learn these boys a thing or two! :).
Blessings to all and with luck I'll get the pics posted sometime in the next few days.
Kala
Blessings to all and with luck I'll get the pics posted sometime in the next few days.
Kala
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
The Last 5 weeks....
Okey dokey, so I've been BUSY to say the least and haven't had time to post in a while. I am sorry for the delay but I have good reasons like....
ringworm outbreak, scabies outbreak on Henok the same week as ringworm appeared, a positive t.b. skin test on Henok even though he tested negative in Ethiopia...???....a chest xray to determine no t.b. in his lungs, Praise God, working, doing 7-9 loads of laundry a day to try and kill ringworm and scabies by cleaning all bedding-clothing-towels after every use and I'm beyond sick of all this cleaning BUT hallelujah we are done with all of it! I did however get a personal phone call from our Ped. to tell me he wants Henok in ASAP due to his severe scoliosis. So we'll start more dr. visits soon. Hooray!
On a lighter and less whiny note life is getting better and better. I can honestly say I'm beyond the self pity and the Why God did we do this, and tears in the bathroom over frustrations with all the transition and we're into a phase where I feel like Henok's always been here. In fact I have to keep telling myself when he does get a little freaked out "Oh yeah,it's only been a month.." That's how much things have changed. Praise God. His mercy's are new, and he heard the cries of my heart to see this little boy with eyes of love and tenderness. I have called out to God begging for attachment and a sense of bonding with Henok and I and again, God didn't disappoint. I pray every night over Henok and my heart. That I will remain soft and loving when I'm wanting to scream. And yes I still do scream, anybody who knows me knows that. I'm one step shy of a nuthouse some days but it's all good. We're feeling much more close and connected as a family and that is EXACTLY what I've wanted, hoped and prayed for!
Henok is doing GREAT. The other day Hope had daddy take off her training wheels and off she went like she'd been riding her bike without training wheels her whole life! So Henok immediately was like "Oh no she didn't! If she can I can!" So he started saying "off mommy, off off!" And other than the fact the poor kid is so darn short his legs don't touch the ground when he's on the bike (I feel his pain! It's the stinkin story of my life!) he's able to ride without his training wheels too! Mikey thinks he's able to do that but uh sorry bud if Henok's too short you don't have a prayer.
I hope to update with pics, I am soooo horrible at this but honestly we don't download to the computer that much and I'm pleading ignorance. I don't have the slightest idea how to do this and haven't much cared to learn yet so there ya go!
We are leaving town in a few hours for the river where will have his first boat and jet ski ride! Oh man, have I been waiting for this! He has NO CLUE how much fun it will be.
For all of you checking in, thanks for following our journey so far. We're doing well and if you live in Yak-town stop by and say Hi! Faithie is still acting like Henok is show and tell so she'd love to introduce you to him!!! (oh and much thanks to Gram Darla who has supplied "teacher" Faithie with her classroom materials to teach Henok english. - she has red pencils for grading and everything!)
Blessings to all,
Kala
ringworm outbreak, scabies outbreak on Henok the same week as ringworm appeared, a positive t.b. skin test on Henok even though he tested negative in Ethiopia...???....a chest xray to determine no t.b. in his lungs, Praise God, working, doing 7-9 loads of laundry a day to try and kill ringworm and scabies by cleaning all bedding-clothing-towels after every use and I'm beyond sick of all this cleaning BUT hallelujah we are done with all of it! I did however get a personal phone call from our Ped. to tell me he wants Henok in ASAP due to his severe scoliosis. So we'll start more dr. visits soon. Hooray!
On a lighter and less whiny note life is getting better and better. I can honestly say I'm beyond the self pity and the Why God did we do this, and tears in the bathroom over frustrations with all the transition and we're into a phase where I feel like Henok's always been here. In fact I have to keep telling myself when he does get a little freaked out "Oh yeah,it's only been a month.." That's how much things have changed. Praise God. His mercy's are new, and he heard the cries of my heart to see this little boy with eyes of love and tenderness. I have called out to God begging for attachment and a sense of bonding with Henok and I and again, God didn't disappoint. I pray every night over Henok and my heart. That I will remain soft and loving when I'm wanting to scream. And yes I still do scream, anybody who knows me knows that. I'm one step shy of a nuthouse some days but it's all good. We're feeling much more close and connected as a family and that is EXACTLY what I've wanted, hoped and prayed for!
Henok is doing GREAT. The other day Hope had daddy take off her training wheels and off she went like she'd been riding her bike without training wheels her whole life! So Henok immediately was like "Oh no she didn't! If she can I can!" So he started saying "off mommy, off off!" And other than the fact the poor kid is so darn short his legs don't touch the ground when he's on the bike (I feel his pain! It's the stinkin story of my life!) he's able to ride without his training wheels too! Mikey thinks he's able to do that but uh sorry bud if Henok's too short you don't have a prayer.
I hope to update with pics, I am soooo horrible at this but honestly we don't download to the computer that much and I'm pleading ignorance. I don't have the slightest idea how to do this and haven't much cared to learn yet so there ya go!
We are leaving town in a few hours for the river where will have his first boat and jet ski ride! Oh man, have I been waiting for this! He has NO CLUE how much fun it will be.
For all of you checking in, thanks for following our journey so far. We're doing well and if you live in Yak-town stop by and say Hi! Faithie is still acting like Henok is show and tell so she'd love to introduce you to him!!! (oh and much thanks to Gram Darla who has supplied "teacher" Faithie with her classroom materials to teach Henok english. - she has red pencils for grading and everything!)
Blessings to all,
Kala
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Life with Henok so far.....
Ok all, I have a MILLION emails and questions - how's he doing? How are the other kids doing? How are we doing? Does he sleep at night? Can he speak English? Yada yada yada. So I will post some VERY honest answers, well cause that's how I roll but also I would hate to paint an unrealistic picture of what it's like adopting an older child. Easy, NO! Worth it - A MILLION TIMES YES!!!
Henok is bubbly, energetic, funny, sweet, and oh so adorable. He is doing so much better than I could've dreamed. I will be honest I do live with anxiety right now, in my spirit I'm just uneasy thinking... "This is all gonna fall apart, he's gonna lose it and I'm gonna officially lose my mind..." I am proud to say that Henok is communicating VERY well for only being home like 11 days, am I counting right? Anyway, let me first answer the questions listed above and try to add detail where I can. Also, we've got some great pics of him on his new bike which is the most wonderful thing he has right now other than swimming at Papa Steve's pool, so I'll have to get those loaded. Ok here goes...
Henok is adjusting well. He has moments of sadness (of course), yes he's 4 so the word "No" or Not right now is guaranteed to tick him off. He eats like a horse although this is slowing down. As much as I want to control his food intake due to not wanting him sick as a stinkin dog I have given in to numerous rolls in one sitting, up to 5 bananas at one time, and 3 and 4 helpings of dinner if he likes it (this is proving to be more difficult in the States than in Ethiopia, he ate anything in front of him there - here however he's gotten quite picky.) So food is an issue at times, but even at that my own kids are picky so whatever.
How are the other kids doing? Great. We knew Faithie would be a rock, she just one amazing kid. Such a first born spirit, sweet, caring, helpful in fact I am counting down til school's out cause she is a great set of hands to help when I'm in the kitchen or folding laundry (which I HATE!). Hopie we knew would struggle and she is. She's trying to find out where she fits. I was told by Hope I don't love her because I wash the boys hair but not hers. I informed her that hurt my heart and by the way she's been washing her own hair for the last year, BUT if she wants me to do that I will, just ask me nicely don't say hurtful words. I don't think she intended to hurt my heart but that's how she's processing this. Now some attention she got is going to another kid, I must not love her. So I'm trying to keep it even steven and that's EXHAUSTING! Mikey has a playmate that loves to mimic him, follow him around, play all the time and be silly so he's good. The boys are on the same language level both learning words, of course Henok will take off he's 2 years older but for now they are buddy buddy for language!
How are we doing? Fine, beat at the end of the day. I'll be honest I used to roll my eyes at parents that put their kids to bed at 7:30. And honestly when the girls were young and Jas was a youth pastor it didn't fit our lifestyle to do that. These days however.... 8pm can't get here quick enough. And after the kids are down... peace out! The only night I've been up late since we got Henok was Sat night and that was because I started The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which I found fascinating. Brad Pitt is hot.. ok I digress. So we're doing good. My patience gets it limit each day and I wish I could love Henok like my other kids, what I mean by that is he's pretty attached to Jas but not to me yet and it's not easy to hug him tight, or he doesn't kiss so it's not easy to try to show love. It feels very forced but I'm trying to create a habit of physical touch with him, hugs, a kiss on the head whatever so that he knows I do love him and want him to get to the point he loves back. I also think I have unhealthy expectations for him, like when he gets upset I get frustrated and literally have to tell myself, ok his whole world changed give him time. I want him to just go with it and he's not there yet, maybe like 80% of the time he's down for whatever but the other 20% tries my patience. I do count my blessings though, he doesn't rage, he cries but no raging. He lets us hold him, he doesn't cuddle but we can hold him. He is silly and sweet and getting used to be in our family so we get to see even more silly stuff from him now that he is trusting us. All in all we're all doing ok.
Henok sleeps great at night, almost 12 hours. He goes down easier than our other 3, and isn't up at 5:45 am anymore. The memo finally got delivered,we Johnstons don't get up til 7am thank you very much! Jas puts him to bed, sings a few songs, rubs his back bada bing bada boom 10 min he's out, see ya at 7!
He is learning English. He knows what we've taught him so far. I use VERY basic sign like eat, hungry, drink, no thank you stuff. That's about it. Anything he touches we try and say the name. He's picking up quick. Everyday he understands more and more of what we say to him. It's nice! There's a man in Yak-town that speaks Amharic and we say him the other day. I realized as much as I want to communicate with Henok, he will more than likely lose his Amharic and that makes me sad. It's a part of him but we don't speak it so unfortunately he will lose it! Boohoo. That is sad.
My dreams for summer have already come true... Henok's home. We've been outside almost all day everyday, we play HARD and it's a blast. We're getting a new play structure that should keep all the kids entertained for HOURS everyday!We've been swimming this last weekend and hopefully many more weekends to come... hooray. The family of 6 will be playing all summer long thank you very much!! For all of you who are saying prayers for us.. keep it up..we sure need it. We're doing very well and I hope to get pics up soon of the kids on bikes. Too much fun!!
Blessings,
Kala
Henok is bubbly, energetic, funny, sweet, and oh so adorable. He is doing so much better than I could've dreamed. I will be honest I do live with anxiety right now, in my spirit I'm just uneasy thinking... "This is all gonna fall apart, he's gonna lose it and I'm gonna officially lose my mind..." I am proud to say that Henok is communicating VERY well for only being home like 11 days, am I counting right? Anyway, let me first answer the questions listed above and try to add detail where I can. Also, we've got some great pics of him on his new bike which is the most wonderful thing he has right now other than swimming at Papa Steve's pool, so I'll have to get those loaded. Ok here goes...
Henok is adjusting well. He has moments of sadness (of course), yes he's 4 so the word "No" or Not right now is guaranteed to tick him off. He eats like a horse although this is slowing down. As much as I want to control his food intake due to not wanting him sick as a stinkin dog I have given in to numerous rolls in one sitting, up to 5 bananas at one time, and 3 and 4 helpings of dinner if he likes it (this is proving to be more difficult in the States than in Ethiopia, he ate anything in front of him there - here however he's gotten quite picky.) So food is an issue at times, but even at that my own kids are picky so whatever.
How are the other kids doing? Great. We knew Faithie would be a rock, she just one amazing kid. Such a first born spirit, sweet, caring, helpful in fact I am counting down til school's out cause she is a great set of hands to help when I'm in the kitchen or folding laundry (which I HATE!). Hopie we knew would struggle and she is. She's trying to find out where she fits. I was told by Hope I don't love her because I wash the boys hair but not hers. I informed her that hurt my heart and by the way she's been washing her own hair for the last year, BUT if she wants me to do that I will, just ask me nicely don't say hurtful words. I don't think she intended to hurt my heart but that's how she's processing this. Now some attention she got is going to another kid, I must not love her. So I'm trying to keep it even steven and that's EXHAUSTING! Mikey has a playmate that loves to mimic him, follow him around, play all the time and be silly so he's good. The boys are on the same language level both learning words, of course Henok will take off he's 2 years older but for now they are buddy buddy for language!
How are we doing? Fine, beat at the end of the day. I'll be honest I used to roll my eyes at parents that put their kids to bed at 7:30. And honestly when the girls were young and Jas was a youth pastor it didn't fit our lifestyle to do that. These days however.... 8pm can't get here quick enough. And after the kids are down... peace out! The only night I've been up late since we got Henok was Sat night and that was because I started The Curious Case of Benjamin Button which I found fascinating. Brad Pitt is hot.. ok I digress. So we're doing good. My patience gets it limit each day and I wish I could love Henok like my other kids, what I mean by that is he's pretty attached to Jas but not to me yet and it's not easy to hug him tight, or he doesn't kiss so it's not easy to try to show love. It feels very forced but I'm trying to create a habit of physical touch with him, hugs, a kiss on the head whatever so that he knows I do love him and want him to get to the point he loves back. I also think I have unhealthy expectations for him, like when he gets upset I get frustrated and literally have to tell myself, ok his whole world changed give him time. I want him to just go with it and he's not there yet, maybe like 80% of the time he's down for whatever but the other 20% tries my patience. I do count my blessings though, he doesn't rage, he cries but no raging. He lets us hold him, he doesn't cuddle but we can hold him. He is silly and sweet and getting used to be in our family so we get to see even more silly stuff from him now that he is trusting us. All in all we're all doing ok.
Henok sleeps great at night, almost 12 hours. He goes down easier than our other 3, and isn't up at 5:45 am anymore. The memo finally got delivered,we Johnstons don't get up til 7am thank you very much! Jas puts him to bed, sings a few songs, rubs his back bada bing bada boom 10 min he's out, see ya at 7!
He is learning English. He knows what we've taught him so far. I use VERY basic sign like eat, hungry, drink, no thank you stuff. That's about it. Anything he touches we try and say the name. He's picking up quick. Everyday he understands more and more of what we say to him. It's nice! There's a man in Yak-town that speaks Amharic and we say him the other day. I realized as much as I want to communicate with Henok, he will more than likely lose his Amharic and that makes me sad. It's a part of him but we don't speak it so unfortunately he will lose it! Boohoo. That is sad.
My dreams for summer have already come true... Henok's home. We've been outside almost all day everyday, we play HARD and it's a blast. We're getting a new play structure that should keep all the kids entertained for HOURS everyday!We've been swimming this last weekend and hopefully many more weekends to come... hooray. The family of 6 will be playing all summer long thank you very much!! For all of you who are saying prayers for us.. keep it up..we sure need it. We're doing very well and I hope to get pics up soon of the kids on bikes. Too much fun!!
Blessings,
Kala
Monday, May 25, 2009
Thursday May 21st
Today was quite a busy day. We fly out at 10:50 tonight which I haven't figured out if that's a good thing or not. Henok should sleep and thanks to Dramamine I'm sure he will (hehehehe)but I just hope he isn't wired when he does wake up! He's a million miles an hour from the time he wakes up til bed. There's no rest for this kid all day long, too much wiggling to rest, so I'm stressin about the plane ride.
Today we visited the fistula hospital where they help the women of Ethiopia in childbirth and repair of obstetrical fistula's if they occur during childbirth. Ok here's the scoop if you didn't watch Oprah 2 years ago when she visited and helped fund this hospital. The women in Ethiopia have small builds, are married VERY young like 12 and 13 in the villages, have extremely small pelvises and babies too big to fit. So when they go into labor they are laboring for like 5-7 days and the babies get stuck in the pelvis, and the pelvic bone and babies head rub against each other creating a tear that creates the fistula. Fistula's cause incontinence and the women are shunned from the society for their horrible smell. Not only do they labor for 7 days, the babies usually are still born and the poor girls have no home. So this wonderful hospital helps repair fistulas, has a maternity ward for those expecting, operating rooms for C-sections when necessary, a recovery center and a special refuge for the women (about 1.5%) that cannot be cured of the fistula. Those 1.5% of women are employed by the hospital for various jobs and live there for the rest of their lives. It is a beautiful sanctuary of hope and a beacon of promise to a country of women who desperately needed aid! The hospital also teaches mid-wifery to women that can go back to their villages and aid others that can't get to the hospital. Such a wonderful experience. Jas and I bought a painting done there of a woman holding her new baby. It's beautiful and our payment helps fund the hospital. Bonus!!
We also went to the orphanage that is loosely affiliated with our orphanage in Ethiopia, Hannah's Hope. It's where Henok was relinquished. We went in and saw the children eating and I started to cry and had to go watch Henok whoop up on some adults in a fun game of soccer cause I just couldn't look at these faces that may or may not find their forever parents.
As I watched Henok I kept thinking, he's a life full of promise. He's got some MAD soccer skills, can shoot hoops in basketball and has more energy than I could dream of having. He is a bundle of potential and with God he could do more than my mind can comprehend. So I am thankful to be apart of his life! As with all my kids, all I want for them is to find their passion and go with God wherever that may take them. Mission field, to be a teacher, pastor, work with kids, whatever it may be - just go with God!!
** We did survive the flight, Henok slept a bunch, so did I. He was great on the plane when he was awake. He's got this show off personality that makes everyone giggle! Too cute. He did however get overly tired and started this incredibly annoying whine thing. So I just held him and endured all the stink-eye glares for having the kid who won't stop whining. Yeah loads of fun!! We made it home at 11:30p.m. to Yakima. 39 hours of travel. Too much for us to put up with, but hallelujah we made it. Now comes the fun part..... adjustment and transition.
Thanks for following our journey to Henok thus far, it's been an exceptional experience. Hmmm....I wonder what's next??
Kala
Today we visited the fistula hospital where they help the women of Ethiopia in childbirth and repair of obstetrical fistula's if they occur during childbirth. Ok here's the scoop if you didn't watch Oprah 2 years ago when she visited and helped fund this hospital. The women in Ethiopia have small builds, are married VERY young like 12 and 13 in the villages, have extremely small pelvises and babies too big to fit. So when they go into labor they are laboring for like 5-7 days and the babies get stuck in the pelvis, and the pelvic bone and babies head rub against each other creating a tear that creates the fistula. Fistula's cause incontinence and the women are shunned from the society for their horrible smell. Not only do they labor for 7 days, the babies usually are still born and the poor girls have no home. So this wonderful hospital helps repair fistulas, has a maternity ward for those expecting, operating rooms for C-sections when necessary, a recovery center and a special refuge for the women (about 1.5%) that cannot be cured of the fistula. Those 1.5% of women are employed by the hospital for various jobs and live there for the rest of their lives. It is a beautiful sanctuary of hope and a beacon of promise to a country of women who desperately needed aid! The hospital also teaches mid-wifery to women that can go back to their villages and aid others that can't get to the hospital. Such a wonderful experience. Jas and I bought a painting done there of a woman holding her new baby. It's beautiful and our payment helps fund the hospital. Bonus!!
We also went to the orphanage that is loosely affiliated with our orphanage in Ethiopia, Hannah's Hope. It's where Henok was relinquished. We went in and saw the children eating and I started to cry and had to go watch Henok whoop up on some adults in a fun game of soccer cause I just couldn't look at these faces that may or may not find their forever parents.
As I watched Henok I kept thinking, he's a life full of promise. He's got some MAD soccer skills, can shoot hoops in basketball and has more energy than I could dream of having. He is a bundle of potential and with God he could do more than my mind can comprehend. So I am thankful to be apart of his life! As with all my kids, all I want for them is to find their passion and go with God wherever that may take them. Mission field, to be a teacher, pastor, work with kids, whatever it may be - just go with God!!
** We did survive the flight, Henok slept a bunch, so did I. He was great on the plane when he was awake. He's got this show off personality that makes everyone giggle! Too cute. He did however get overly tired and started this incredibly annoying whine thing. So I just held him and endured all the stink-eye glares for having the kid who won't stop whining. Yeah loads of fun!! We made it home at 11:30p.m. to Yakima. 39 hours of travel. Too much for us to put up with, but hallelujah we made it. Now comes the fun part..... adjustment and transition.
Thanks for following our journey to Henok thus far, it's been an exceptional experience. Hmmm....I wonder what's next??
Kala
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Wednesday May 20th
Wow, nothing could've prepared us for this day. In our hearts we knew we wanted to meet Henok's birth mom, and we also knew we'd be emotional but that doesn't really scratch the surface of seeing the woman who doesn't get to see her baby grow up. Who out of faith and love handed him over to give him a chance and not starving and to get an education, and to have his needs met and be loved.
When we dropped off the kids to the grandparents house the night before we left, I had kissed Faithie on her head told her I loved her and laid on the bed with her. She looked at me and started to tear up and said she was sad cause she would miss me. And we both just laid on the bed and cried. Then Hopie came in and she started to cry so I just grabbed them and we cried together. This is the longest trip I've been away from my babies and it was incredibly hard to say goodbye for 8 days. Then I thought of Henok's mommy. What was it like to hug him and then walk away without being able to say, I'll see you in 8 days? With only a wish and prayer of something more for him? That's what tore at my heart even more as we prepared mentally to meet her.
So we got up, went to breakfast where Henok put away a substantial amount of food and headed to the orphanage early to play and try to talk with Almaz about what to expect. Our meeting was to take place at 8:30. So right around then a lady walked in, looked at us and went to sit down. I didn't know who she was but I almost started crying. It turns out she was going to court to finish the paperwork for her baby to be adopted by someone. Whew, ok not her - so where is she? So I was down watching the little kids sit on the potty's because at like 18months they are on their potty chairs and they sit there til they go, and sing songs and act silly. So who wouldn't want to see that?Seriously, it is adorable.
All the sudden Almaz came down and said "Ok she's here". She saw me, I saw her and we grabbed each other and just cried. Some people she is staying with who were there when Henok was born also came to say goodbye and to meet us.
Wow, Henok looks just like her. She was quiet and sweet and cried almost the entire time (so did I!)
Almaz read the letter we wrote her, gave her the album and then we asked what she wanted us to tell him about her and what could she tell us about his father. She said she tried and that when she was pregnant she moved from the village and bounced around til she found friends to take her in. She gave birth at home and tried to raise him but just couldn't do it. She said she hasn't talked to Henok's father since she left the village (we thought he was dead so that was confusing) and her parents have no idea she had a child and adopted him out. The family she stayed with had a grandmother figure who adored Henok and passed away a year ago and they wanted to see him one last time. So then we took a few pictures and she walked away.
I am so thankful for the meeting and am glad to have that piece of this puzzle for Henok. What surprised me was Henok's indifference to seeing her. He didn't go to her, cuddle with her, he barely acknowledged her. We had to tell him to go kiss her goodbye. I guess when she visited him throughout the last 10 months it was the same way. He didn't get worked up when she came or left. Almaz thought it was because he remembers how poor they were and being desperately hungry and having nothing. That he has already seen we are different and he doesn't want to go back to the other life. My heart did break for her, to see her son not being overly affectionate broke my heart and once we can communicate I'd love to see what he remembers.
After we took some pictures before she left Henok told them he was going to America on an airplane where the buildings are high. (thank goodness for translation!) It was quite cute.
So one more day in Ethiopia and then off to real life.....
When we dropped off the kids to the grandparents house the night before we left, I had kissed Faithie on her head told her I loved her and laid on the bed with her. She looked at me and started to tear up and said she was sad cause she would miss me. And we both just laid on the bed and cried. Then Hopie came in and she started to cry so I just grabbed them and we cried together. This is the longest trip I've been away from my babies and it was incredibly hard to say goodbye for 8 days. Then I thought of Henok's mommy. What was it like to hug him and then walk away without being able to say, I'll see you in 8 days? With only a wish and prayer of something more for him? That's what tore at my heart even more as we prepared mentally to meet her.
So we got up, went to breakfast where Henok put away a substantial amount of food and headed to the orphanage early to play and try to talk with Almaz about what to expect. Our meeting was to take place at 8:30. So right around then a lady walked in, looked at us and went to sit down. I didn't know who she was but I almost started crying. It turns out she was going to court to finish the paperwork for her baby to be adopted by someone. Whew, ok not her - so where is she? So I was down watching the little kids sit on the potty's because at like 18months they are on their potty chairs and they sit there til they go, and sing songs and act silly. So who wouldn't want to see that?Seriously, it is adorable.
All the sudden Almaz came down and said "Ok she's here". She saw me, I saw her and we grabbed each other and just cried. Some people she is staying with who were there when Henok was born also came to say goodbye and to meet us.
Wow, Henok looks just like her. She was quiet and sweet and cried almost the entire time (so did I!)
Almaz read the letter we wrote her, gave her the album and then we asked what she wanted us to tell him about her and what could she tell us about his father. She said she tried and that when she was pregnant she moved from the village and bounced around til she found friends to take her in. She gave birth at home and tried to raise him but just couldn't do it. She said she hasn't talked to Henok's father since she left the village (we thought he was dead so that was confusing) and her parents have no idea she had a child and adopted him out. The family she stayed with had a grandmother figure who adored Henok and passed away a year ago and they wanted to see him one last time. So then we took a few pictures and she walked away.
I am so thankful for the meeting and am glad to have that piece of this puzzle for Henok. What surprised me was Henok's indifference to seeing her. He didn't go to her, cuddle with her, he barely acknowledged her. We had to tell him to go kiss her goodbye. I guess when she visited him throughout the last 10 months it was the same way. He didn't get worked up when she came or left. Almaz thought it was because he remembers how poor they were and being desperately hungry and having nothing. That he has already seen we are different and he doesn't want to go back to the other life. My heart did break for her, to see her son not being overly affectionate broke my heart and once we can communicate I'd love to see what he remembers.
After we took some pictures before she left Henok told them he was going to America on an airplane where the buildings are high. (thank goodness for translation!) It was quite cute.
So one more day in Ethiopia and then off to real life.....
Tuesday May 19th
Today was an overall good day. We did wake up without power and haven’t had power all day which means Jason didn’t get a hot shower and I didn’t get to curl my hair. I’m sure far worse atrocities are happening worldwide BUT for now that’s as bad as it’s been. We took Henok with us looking for a café and couldn’t find it so some kind girls showed us a different one and to our surprise NO ONE spoke English so we ordered bunna “coffee” and Henok got to pick a pastry which he thoroughly enjoyed then back to the hotel for more coffee and some breakfast.
After breakfast we took Henok to Hannah’s Hope because we went shopping at a large market and it’s frowned on now to bring the children with us – Ethiopian’s are upset that Americans are taking the kids away. So we shopped with anxiety I might add. I’m a look at 3 shops then make a purchase kinda gal and this was like “how much you pay??” in your face. So I hope we hit everything on our list. Whatever we forgot we can make up with some coffee. We bought like 20 kilos of coffee! Yum yum!
Jason found an old Bible written in Amharic on leather that he bought and also got a painting of Jesus that is pretty darn cool. So we got some fun stuff to hang on the walls and such.
After shopping we went to this extra yummy Italian restaurant and I ordered this Gorgonzola pasta which was just delicious. We also got a pizza to go on recommendation from previous traveling families which Henok is diggin!
Then Jas went to get Henok while I took a nap cause we both hit a wall of exhaustion – the time change isn’t being good to us to say the least. Luckily we have a child who sleeps the night through so it’s not like I’m up with baba’s every few hours. Hallelujah! When I woke up Jas took a nap and Henok and I played soccer in the hotel which made me nervous so we went to Hannah’s Hope and it was fun to have his special mother have him say “America I’m very excited!” Too cute. He also played a little bit of soccer and I would’ve thought he would want to stick around for dinner but he said he wanted to go to the hotel. So we came back scarfed banana and some pizza and he’s going to try some more clothes on!!
I am ready to head home but the next major check off on the list is the birth mother meeting which hopefully we can meet her tomorrow. Almaz the orphanage director said that his mother has seen him 3 or 4 times since she relinquished him and he does ok when she’s there and when she leaves so she had no worried about his reaction to seeing her one last time. I would like that piece of the puzzle for Henok. So as he grows and wants answers like why didn’t she keep me, or what do we know about her we can tell him honest answers. So I’m praying that she comes tomorrow so we can have that treasure of knowing his mommy in Ethiopia.
One side note, Henok LOVES Jason. He is always walking around Mommy Daddy, it’s quite precious and I’m so thankful that at this point he’s excited and happy to be with us!
More tomorrow,
Kala
After breakfast we took Henok to Hannah’s Hope because we went shopping at a large market and it’s frowned on now to bring the children with us – Ethiopian’s are upset that Americans are taking the kids away. So we shopped with anxiety I might add. I’m a look at 3 shops then make a purchase kinda gal and this was like “how much you pay??” in your face. So I hope we hit everything on our list. Whatever we forgot we can make up with some coffee. We bought like 20 kilos of coffee! Yum yum!
Jason found an old Bible written in Amharic on leather that he bought and also got a painting of Jesus that is pretty darn cool. So we got some fun stuff to hang on the walls and such.
After shopping we went to this extra yummy Italian restaurant and I ordered this Gorgonzola pasta which was just delicious. We also got a pizza to go on recommendation from previous traveling families which Henok is diggin!
Then Jas went to get Henok while I took a nap cause we both hit a wall of exhaustion – the time change isn’t being good to us to say the least. Luckily we have a child who sleeps the night through so it’s not like I’m up with baba’s every few hours. Hallelujah! When I woke up Jas took a nap and Henok and I played soccer in the hotel which made me nervous so we went to Hannah’s Hope and it was fun to have his special mother have him say “America I’m very excited!” Too cute. He also played a little bit of soccer and I would’ve thought he would want to stick around for dinner but he said he wanted to go to the hotel. So we came back scarfed banana and some pizza and he’s going to try some more clothes on!!
I am ready to head home but the next major check off on the list is the birth mother meeting which hopefully we can meet her tomorrow. Almaz the orphanage director said that his mother has seen him 3 or 4 times since she relinquished him and he does ok when she’s there and when she leaves so she had no worried about his reaction to seeing her one last time. I would like that piece of the puzzle for Henok. So as he grows and wants answers like why didn’t she keep me, or what do we know about her we can tell him honest answers. So I’m praying that she comes tomorrow so we can have that treasure of knowing his mommy in Ethiopia.
One side note, Henok LOVES Jason. He is always walking around Mommy Daddy, it’s quite precious and I’m so thankful that at this point he’s excited and happy to be with us!
More tomorrow,
Kala
Monday May 18th
This morning about 3:30 I woke up and just couldn’t sleep! I knew today was the day we would finally meet our son. So Jason and I watched movies, got up early, read books trying to pass the time until we could go eat breakfast with the other families and meet Almaz, the orphanage director. I also had a few moments in the dark with God including tears…what if this was a mistake? What if he doesn’t really like us? What if we can’t even touch him and show him physical touch - holding hands, kiss on the cheek, rub his back? So I cried and prayed the one scripture that came to my mind about not being anxious, Do Not let your hearts he troubled….. and I gave God the fear, picked up Angels and Demons and started reading.
Around 7am we just went downstairs to get some coffee and a few other families dealing with nervousness were already down in the lobby. We chatted, ate some breakfast, drank some really strong but good coffee and paced for Almaz to show up.
When Almaz came up the steps I just wigged out (on the inside…ok now we’re close). Oh before she came a family took us up the the 2nd floor and showed us how close we were to Hannah’s Hope where our son has been for the last 10 months. Wow, sooooo close!
We filled out our paperwork correctly, had Almaz review it and then we took off with a soccer ball and cameras to finally lay eyes on our long awaited son. Since being in Dulles getting on the Ethiopian Air flight we have made some friends also adopting who were so great to take video for us as we meet our boy. There aren’t word to describe the feelings that took place next. Because we are the only family of this travel group picking up an older child we got to meet him first and all the other families watched us as the gate opened.
We would like to introduce you to the newest member of the family. This is Henok Johnston. Isn’t he a doll??
He came bounding around the corner and grabbed me hugged me and went for Jason. Of course we’re both BAWLING and Jas scoops him up and he kisses his cheek and says “Daddy.” One of the best moments of my life. This day with 3 other days will be the most profoundly humbling and exhilarating days of my life. March 13,2002 Faith entered my life and made it better. December 1,2003 Hop entered and spiced it up even more. March 26,2007 Mikey arrived and we have been blessed to have him in our family. And now May 18th, 2009 Henok became a part of our family for ever and all I can say is this will be quite an adventure.
We played soccer with him for a good half an hour, took a picture of his bed, got pictures with his special mothers and met some of the other families children. We went back to the hotel to get what we would need at the Embassy and then went back to Hannah’s Hope to take Henok with us. When I got there he was eating injera for lunch with shiro wat I’m pretty sure. So the special mothers sat me down and fed me lunch also while I waited for him. Spicy but GOOD! Then Henok came over and I showed him his new clothes and shoes, he PEELED his other clothes off and got ready with a HUGE smile on his face. And we were off. Henok sat on my lap the whole way there and back from the Embassy which was so sweet. While at the Embassy he was our pure entertainment, and I told him he was ‘funny,funny” so that’s all we’ve been hearing since. “funny funny” mama funny funny! He also almost ate us out of house and home. We brought what we THOUGHT were enough snacks for the trip and plane ride back to America. Um… he’s gonna have to slow down or we’ll have to get some fruit to keep here(which is on the agenda tomorrow anyway) just to keep our stash from depleating for when he’s gonna need it on the plane!! He ate a cashew peanut granola bar, 2 lollipops, a pack of oreos ( the travel size one people not the whole container!), and started in on the goldfish. I have mixed feelings about food consumption cause I’m not so much thinking he was like starving as much as trying it all out and seeing if we will give it ot him. And honestly with some rationing so he won’t get a tummy ache I don’t really care what he eats. But we now know what will work in a pickle when we get home.
So after the embassy appointment we came back to the hotel and just hung out. We showed him his bag and I’ve got 6 whole minutes of him taking it all out kissing it, stacking it up, putting it in his Spiderman backpack. Then he started putting it all on. So he’d take out a pair of socks” Mama, casi” and he’d put them on , then “mama, pajamas” and I’d say “Yay Henok” and he smile put it all on with Jason’s Mariners baseball cap and he was off to wander the room then back to the bag to check out more goodies. I had more fun watching him check out all his new things he was just having a ball!
We went down for dinner and thank goodness the workers can communicate with him, so he ordered Macaroni and a Coke. And for today, you better believe he got it.!When we get home Coke won’t be happening like at all maybe some rootbeer or sprite but I’m sure he’ll but just fine.
Then he ate some of my food, Jason’s tbone steak and his macaroni. HA! I thought he was a bottomless pit until when we got him to finally lay down after a shower and brushing teeth which he LOVED both! He was rubbing his tummy so I asked him in Ahmaric “Ya-Mal?” which means “That hurt?” and pointed to his tummy and he said yes! Bummer dude, bad marks for mommy and daddy letting him shove his face full of food. It was a learning lesson though, we will just ration how much he intakes and maybe give more variety if we can but lessen the amount he consumes.
All in all this day was 100% more than I prayed for! At Hannah’s Hope all the people tell us Henok special. And he sure is. I can’t wait to bring him home!!
Blessings,
Kala
Around 7am we just went downstairs to get some coffee and a few other families dealing with nervousness were already down in the lobby. We chatted, ate some breakfast, drank some really strong but good coffee and paced for Almaz to show up.
When Almaz came up the steps I just wigged out (on the inside…ok now we’re close). Oh before she came a family took us up the the 2nd floor and showed us how close we were to Hannah’s Hope where our son has been for the last 10 months. Wow, sooooo close!
We filled out our paperwork correctly, had Almaz review it and then we took off with a soccer ball and cameras to finally lay eyes on our long awaited son. Since being in Dulles getting on the Ethiopian Air flight we have made some friends also adopting who were so great to take video for us as we meet our boy. There aren’t word to describe the feelings that took place next. Because we are the only family of this travel group picking up an older child we got to meet him first and all the other families watched us as the gate opened.
We would like to introduce you to the newest member of the family. This is Henok Johnston. Isn’t he a doll??
He came bounding around the corner and grabbed me hugged me and went for Jason. Of course we’re both BAWLING and Jas scoops him up and he kisses his cheek and says “Daddy.” One of the best moments of my life. This day with 3 other days will be the most profoundly humbling and exhilarating days of my life. March 13,2002 Faith entered my life and made it better. December 1,2003 Hop entered and spiced it up even more. March 26,2007 Mikey arrived and we have been blessed to have him in our family. And now May 18th, 2009 Henok became a part of our family for ever and all I can say is this will be quite an adventure.
We played soccer with him for a good half an hour, took a picture of his bed, got pictures with his special mothers and met some of the other families children. We went back to the hotel to get what we would need at the Embassy and then went back to Hannah’s Hope to take Henok with us. When I got there he was eating injera for lunch with shiro wat I’m pretty sure. So the special mothers sat me down and fed me lunch also while I waited for him. Spicy but GOOD! Then Henok came over and I showed him his new clothes and shoes, he PEELED his other clothes off and got ready with a HUGE smile on his face. And we were off. Henok sat on my lap the whole way there and back from the Embassy which was so sweet. While at the Embassy he was our pure entertainment, and I told him he was ‘funny,funny” so that’s all we’ve been hearing since. “funny funny” mama funny funny! He also almost ate us out of house and home. We brought what we THOUGHT were enough snacks for the trip and plane ride back to America. Um… he’s gonna have to slow down or we’ll have to get some fruit to keep here(which is on the agenda tomorrow anyway) just to keep our stash from depleating for when he’s gonna need it on the plane!! He ate a cashew peanut granola bar, 2 lollipops, a pack of oreos ( the travel size one people not the whole container!), and started in on the goldfish. I have mixed feelings about food consumption cause I’m not so much thinking he was like starving as much as trying it all out and seeing if we will give it ot him. And honestly with some rationing so he won’t get a tummy ache I don’t really care what he eats. But we now know what will work in a pickle when we get home.
So after the embassy appointment we came back to the hotel and just hung out. We showed him his bag and I’ve got 6 whole minutes of him taking it all out kissing it, stacking it up, putting it in his Spiderman backpack. Then he started putting it all on. So he’d take out a pair of socks” Mama, casi” and he’d put them on , then “mama, pajamas” and I’d say “Yay Henok” and he smile put it all on with Jason’s Mariners baseball cap and he was off to wander the room then back to the bag to check out more goodies. I had more fun watching him check out all his new things he was just having a ball!
We went down for dinner and thank goodness the workers can communicate with him, so he ordered Macaroni and a Coke. And for today, you better believe he got it.!When we get home Coke won’t be happening like at all maybe some rootbeer or sprite but I’m sure he’ll but just fine.
Then he ate some of my food, Jason’s tbone steak and his macaroni. HA! I thought he was a bottomless pit until when we got him to finally lay down after a shower and brushing teeth which he LOVED both! He was rubbing his tummy so I asked him in Ahmaric “Ya-Mal?” which means “That hurt?” and pointed to his tummy and he said yes! Bummer dude, bad marks for mommy and daddy letting him shove his face full of food. It was a learning lesson though, we will just ration how much he intakes and maybe give more variety if we can but lessen the amount he consumes.
All in all this day was 100% more than I prayed for! At Hannah’s Hope all the people tell us Henok special. And he sure is. I can’t wait to bring him home!!
Blessings,
Kala
Sunday May 17th
Well after a seriously LONG flight and time change we arrived in Ethiopia around 8p.m. and headed straight for the In Country Visa line which took at least an hour and a half. Then to the customs line which wan’t as bad but our whole group went together so it took a while to get us all through. Then had to get all of our bags accounted for and get to the vans. So one whole van was for our luggage and the other was just enough room for our travel group. As we were heading through Addis Ababa the van stopped and the window I was next to was open and this boy about 10-11 came to the window begging for food. First of all it scared me out of my mind I swear that kid came out of nowhere and then he just kept saying “uh food, hungry, please?” I almost cried but didn’t thank you very much! Then he was gone. So that was a memorable experience! Then we drove on for a while til we got to the Union Hotel Apartments where we would be staying.
When we got to our room it was around 11p.m. and we were whiped out, for sure. So we plugged in the hot water heater and got ready for a quick shower. As I was getting ready I noticed a sign above the toilet “Toilet Cannot Flush Toilet Paper,Thank You” So I was like hey Jason, is this a joke, what am I supposed to do. So he started laughing at me and said “Oh just put the toilet paper in the garbage can when you’re done”. Uh yeah right are you kidding me? Let me say this, I have only been out of the contiguous United States to go to Hawaii ok, I have never been anywhere where you couldn’t flush t.p. down the toilet. So I’m still getting used to this one. Anyway, we must have a suite cause we have a king size bed and this huge shower/Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom that we have yet to figure out how to drain the water. It took us 5 minutes to figure out how to turn the lights on. Anyway, we hit the sack and slept like a rock til 3:30 am and couldn’t go back to sleep for nothing! So I read my Angles and Demons book which I really want to finish, the night we stayed in D.C. we saw the movie and it’s LAME-O but the book is fascinating, so I feel I must redeem my expensive ($9.75 a person – don’t complian Yakima people)crappy theatre experience. Then we watched a downloaded episode of the office on the laptop, the power went out 2 times, and then we decided forget it and go down and get some coffee!
And today begins a new chapter for us…. Becoming a family of 6!!!
Blessings,
Kala
New Friends Kale and Kim
More new friends Truett and Kim
When we got to our room it was around 11p.m. and we were whiped out, for sure. So we plugged in the hot water heater and got ready for a quick shower. As I was getting ready I noticed a sign above the toilet “Toilet Cannot Flush Toilet Paper,Thank You” So I was like hey Jason, is this a joke, what am I supposed to do. So he started laughing at me and said “Oh just put the toilet paper in the garbage can when you’re done”. Uh yeah right are you kidding me? Let me say this, I have only been out of the contiguous United States to go to Hawaii ok, I have never been anywhere where you couldn’t flush t.p. down the toilet. So I’m still getting used to this one. Anyway, we must have a suite cause we have a king size bed and this huge shower/Jacuzzi tub in the bathroom that we have yet to figure out how to drain the water. It took us 5 minutes to figure out how to turn the lights on. Anyway, we hit the sack and slept like a rock til 3:30 am and couldn’t go back to sleep for nothing! So I read my Angles and Demons book which I really want to finish, the night we stayed in D.C. we saw the movie and it’s LAME-O but the book is fascinating, so I feel I must redeem my expensive ($9.75 a person – don’t complian Yakima people)crappy theatre experience. Then we watched a downloaded episode of the office on the laptop, the power went out 2 times, and then we decided forget it and go down and get some coffee!
And today begins a new chapter for us…. Becoming a family of 6!!!
Blessings,
Kala
New Friends Kale and Kim
More new friends Truett and Kim
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Hum De Dum...
Hey what's up with you? Oh me, not much just GOING TO ETHIOPIA this weekend! Uh huh, yup you heard me correctly. We got a call on Tuesday morning, like 8:30, and I was at work and I'm not "technically"supposed to answer my phone but I saw I missed a call from our caseworker. So I secretly texted my hubby and told him to get on the phone NOW. About 3 minutes later Faithie calls my work and says "Hey mommy, you get to go to Ethiopia to pick up "H"!!!!! So Hopie and I started jumping up and down, Mikey just stood there like "oh great, today she actually lost her mind..." And I was FREAKING out after that!
So the last 2 days have been frantically packing cause yeah you guessed it we didn't prep ahead of time, other than packing donations. Our stuff didn't get packed til yesterday, but now we're just making sure we've got everything and See ya people, I'm meetin my son!!
So it's weird cause in like 4 days, he won't just be a picture I show off, he'll be in my arms FOREVER! Wow, it's hard to wrap my brain around but I'm up for it!
Thank you to all those who have prayed, brought cute clothes, gave moola, and just listened as we blabbed about the journey. It's been a blessing to share this journey with you all and I can't wait to share the next part, raising "H"!! Wow, what an honor!
And with that I'm going to go sing with the HSM3 dvd, because I literally can't resist!!!
Blessings,
Kala
So the last 2 days have been frantically packing cause yeah you guessed it we didn't prep ahead of time, other than packing donations. Our stuff didn't get packed til yesterday, but now we're just making sure we've got everything and See ya people, I'm meetin my son!!
So it's weird cause in like 4 days, he won't just be a picture I show off, he'll be in my arms FOREVER! Wow, it's hard to wrap my brain around but I'm up for it!
Thank you to all those who have prayed, brought cute clothes, gave moola, and just listened as we blabbed about the journey. It's been a blessing to share this journey with you all and I can't wait to share the next part, raising "H"!! Wow, what an honor!
And with that I'm going to go sing with the HSM3 dvd, because I literally can't resist!!!
Blessings,
Kala
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
I Just Hit A Wall
Let me clarify for those of you who know me and for those that don't. No, I didn't literally hit a wall, just figuratively, rest easy my friends! For those of you who don't know me...I may or may not but more than likely have in the past bounced off more than a few things with multiple cars mostly in my youth or even as recently as 2 years ago whatever... so that's where any cause for those who do know me would come in (hypothetically! hehe). Seriously though, we have been sitting on our mountain of praise telling everyone joyfully that yes we are FINALLY on our way to Ethiopia after literally a year process and holding our sweet boy's pic for 10.5 months now, yup we were running to everyone, on the phone more than we should've been I'm sure, proclaiming our days were numbered as a family of 5. And then we got a phone call. One that I should've prepared for because if anyone is going to hit a roadblock it's us. We've had more than our fair share of delays in this adoption. And here's yet another.... So we're awaiting a t.b. test before our travel dates are confirmed. Another roadblock, yup I'm pretty sure this makes a baker's dozen!We can't travel to Ethiopia to pick up our son til he has tested negative for t.b. AH!
Last night I told Faithie my heart is just sad. I want him home, I want to begin our lives as a family of 6. Whatever the future holds I'm wanting to be there now not in another month. (I'm sure I'll look back on this and think "What was the rush again?" But right now that's where I'm at) So last night between playing on the scooter and almost giving me a stinkin heart attack going down the church ramp, Faithie would come over periodically and we'd lift our cause to the Lord. Faithie told me her heart is sad too, she wants to share her toys with her new brother, she wants to play with him and teach him English.
So I emailed my case worker to get the scoop from her because God love him Jason doesn't give details, he gives vauge - I think that's what she said kinda answers. And I had to hear for myself that our plans are halted or pushed back. So my oh so sweet case worker called me and we talked. Oh how nice to hear a woman's touch in a conversation where I really needed not only answers but hope. So it looks like our orphanage director thinks we still might be traveling if we can get the t.b. test done. They are cutting it close for reasons unknown to me but it's out of my hands. So this morning feeling the weight of the unknown I laid in the tub and thought I need to pray scripture. (When the bottom feels like it's falling out of things, I pray scripture). And it feels like somebody let all the air out of my balloon. So I got Hopie to school and called my oh so wonderfully inspiring girlfriend who spoke hope to my soul when I really needed it. Thank you Nichole. With every word I felt your heartbeat as tears streamed down my cheeks (and I'm also thankful I didn't get ticket!) I know we are prayed for, I know our son is meant to be in our family. I know God is God and this will all be ok. He'll be home before we know it and we'll look back and think, "What we're all those days of worry for?" I know I trust God with my heart, my problems, my situation and my son I haven't even met yet. I know that I know that I KNOW Jesus will hold my hand when it "feels" like the world is collapsing.
So I open my bible and where better to start to read in crisis than Psalms. So I open up to Psalm 12 and read it. Ok it's fine. Then I keep reading to Psalm 13:5-6
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me.
And yes he has. This too shall pass (as my mother always tells me).
Yes we have plane tickets that will continue to be on hold.
Yes for next week we have our children taken care of while we are gone and won't cancel those arrangements.
Yes we still have far too much packing to do, a few more doses of oral typhoid fever vaccine to take, endless prescriptions to fill and take with us, donations to pack, prayers to pray, and sleep to LOSE!
And you know what - I'm singin to the Lord the whole time. Why? Because this can crush my spirit or I can hold His hand and give Him the glory and praise for however this all shakes out. Since this adoption started, I can look back and see how He has delicately weaved a path for us and this isn't looking like the tapestry I thought but it will still be beautiful, God will still recieve glory, and I will continue to lift my eyes to the ONE who gives me hope and strength.
But as for now, my ultimate nemisis awaits - LAUNDRY!!
Please pray with us that we are able to meet our son quickly, my heart is ready, my mind is ready (well what's left of it, I think it's mostly gone!).
And I'm singin to the God
who brings redemption to the nations,
Kings and oceans bow to him in praise.
And I’m singing to the God
Who wrote the book on our salvation
To the One Who covers me in grace
I’m singing
Sing with me,
kala
Last night I told Faithie my heart is just sad. I want him home, I want to begin our lives as a family of 6. Whatever the future holds I'm wanting to be there now not in another month. (I'm sure I'll look back on this and think "What was the rush again?" But right now that's where I'm at) So last night between playing on the scooter and almost giving me a stinkin heart attack going down the church ramp, Faithie would come over periodically and we'd lift our cause to the Lord. Faithie told me her heart is sad too, she wants to share her toys with her new brother, she wants to play with him and teach him English.
So I emailed my case worker to get the scoop from her because God love him Jason doesn't give details, he gives vauge - I think that's what she said kinda answers. And I had to hear for myself that our plans are halted or pushed back. So my oh so sweet case worker called me and we talked. Oh how nice to hear a woman's touch in a conversation where I really needed not only answers but hope. So it looks like our orphanage director thinks we still might be traveling if we can get the t.b. test done. They are cutting it close for reasons unknown to me but it's out of my hands. So this morning feeling the weight of the unknown I laid in the tub and thought I need to pray scripture. (When the bottom feels like it's falling out of things, I pray scripture). And it feels like somebody let all the air out of my balloon. So I got Hopie to school and called my oh so wonderfully inspiring girlfriend who spoke hope to my soul when I really needed it. Thank you Nichole. With every word I felt your heartbeat as tears streamed down my cheeks (and I'm also thankful I didn't get ticket!) I know we are prayed for, I know our son is meant to be in our family. I know God is God and this will all be ok. He'll be home before we know it and we'll look back and think, "What we're all those days of worry for?" I know I trust God with my heart, my problems, my situation and my son I haven't even met yet. I know that I know that I KNOW Jesus will hold my hand when it "feels" like the world is collapsing.
So I open my bible and where better to start to read in crisis than Psalms. So I open up to Psalm 12 and read it. Ok it's fine. Then I keep reading to Psalm 13:5-6
But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
for he has been good to me.
And yes he has. This too shall pass (as my mother always tells me).
Yes we have plane tickets that will continue to be on hold.
Yes for next week we have our children taken care of while we are gone and won't cancel those arrangements.
Yes we still have far too much packing to do, a few more doses of oral typhoid fever vaccine to take, endless prescriptions to fill and take with us, donations to pack, prayers to pray, and sleep to LOSE!
And you know what - I'm singin to the Lord the whole time. Why? Because this can crush my spirit or I can hold His hand and give Him the glory and praise for however this all shakes out. Since this adoption started, I can look back and see how He has delicately weaved a path for us and this isn't looking like the tapestry I thought but it will still be beautiful, God will still recieve glory, and I will continue to lift my eyes to the ONE who gives me hope and strength.
But as for now, my ultimate nemisis awaits - LAUNDRY!!
Please pray with us that we are able to meet our son quickly, my heart is ready, my mind is ready (well what's left of it, I think it's mostly gone!).
And I'm singin to the God
who brings redemption to the nations,
Kings and oceans bow to him in praise.
And I’m singing to the God
Who wrote the book on our salvation
To the One Who covers me in grace
I’m singing
Sing with me,
kala
Monday, May 4, 2009
Not Gonna Lie
Ok so here goes....I've been absent from blogland lately. Um duh I guess since it's been months since I last posted. A LOT has transpired like oh I don't know.... WE"RE GOIN TO ETHIOPIA yeah you heard me in like 12 days (ish) we are awaiting a t.b. test on our guy and then we're off. Oh man, I'm jittery with excitement and frantically trying to figure out what I really need while I'm there and how in the world all this is going to play out. Will there be bitterness or happiness? Will be let us hug him or will he not be havin any of it? I will try to blog what I can when I remember but hey let's face it I'm not so good at the rememberin part!
Oh to top it all off I've been poked with vaccinations for traveling, which was nice and cheap! NOT! We're up to like $800-$1000 in medical crap from one day of shots!
Then I got the flu and puked up one of my typhoid fever vaccination pills so I'm not exactly sure what that means, I guess some extra prayer that I really don't get it! I hear it's just awful!
While havin the pukes with poor Faithie I might add, I did happen to enjoy my moments with her just laying on the couch. I was rubbing her arm and told her I'm so glad she's my girl and that I think she's awful sweet. So then like 10 times after that she kept saying, "Hey mom, remember when you told me I'm a sweet girl?" HA! Yea babe, I forgot already! :). What a doll!
What else is new... oh Mikey figured out peeing in the tub (in plain view I might add) gets QUITE a reaction. So then he proceeds to blame Hope and says "Hopie peed!"
Like father like son?! HA!
That's it for now. Nap time before Step at 4:15! {Oh yea and the "new" Kala has been working out, still not ready to try on swimsuits and RUIN a perfectly good day but getting better at toning up!)
Peace Out,
Kala
Oh to top it all off I've been poked with vaccinations for traveling, which was nice and cheap! NOT! We're up to like $800-$1000 in medical crap from one day of shots!
Then I got the flu and puked up one of my typhoid fever vaccination pills so I'm not exactly sure what that means, I guess some extra prayer that I really don't get it! I hear it's just awful!
While havin the pukes with poor Faithie I might add, I did happen to enjoy my moments with her just laying on the couch. I was rubbing her arm and told her I'm so glad she's my girl and that I think she's awful sweet. So then like 10 times after that she kept saying, "Hey mom, remember when you told me I'm a sweet girl?" HA! Yea babe, I forgot already! :). What a doll!
What else is new... oh Mikey figured out peeing in the tub (in plain view I might add) gets QUITE a reaction. So then he proceeds to blame Hope and says "Hopie peed!"
Like father like son?! HA!
That's it for now. Nap time before Step at 4:15! {Oh yea and the "new" Kala has been working out, still not ready to try on swimsuits and RUIN a perfectly good day but getting better at toning up!)
Peace Out,
Kala
Monday, March 2, 2009
Untitled
I just need to unwind, so here we go!
My life is pretty darn good. Honestly I shouldn't complain ( I will but I shouldn't). :). I sure love our new church. We're still in a honeymoon phase of sorts I guess, but hey bring it on, we'll ride that wave as long as we can! Truly, the people are sweet, God has richly blessed this tiny little church - when they decided to FINALLY interview us, and remember we were LAST on their list, and they accepted us and took it to a church vote the main problem for them was money. In fact they low-balled us the first time. I actually remember laughing out loud at the number, I digress, so we said yes and trusted God would provide. The parsonage hasn't had any work done to it in oh I'm guessin well let's say YEARS! WE're talkin lime green kitchen cabinets, lime green 70's linoleum, rust colored carpet, lime green bathroom, it's got a salmon pink cast iron bath tub and HAD a funky green toilet. Get the picture? UGLY. Needed some T.L.C. to say the least. The board knew it needed work but financially couldn't do it all at once. I requested paint, new carpet and vinyl flooring, a new toilet, (I wanted a new tub but it turns out that's just not in the cards, those babies are spendy to replace let alone take out, but hey a girl can dream right?),a sliding glass door to the backyard because currently there is no access to the backyard except by our carport and I'm just not ok with no visibility to the kids while they are playing, and a fence (we live on a BUSY street).Ok so that's some dough right. And what did God do? Supply. Through the generous donations randomly given to the church, 2,000 here, 3,000 here, etc. we haven't had to take out a loan, and we've done - all new flooring, paint, we will pay cash for the fence and sliding door AND with no loan. How stinkin cool is that anyway? Also, we sat down and well I made Jas talk to me about our money situation cause I HATE not knowing where it's all going and such, and we're doing ok. Which leads to...
So I lead worship at a small youth conference this last weekend and the speaker was talking about how we can be everyday hero's. Anyway, he mentioned he did a little game with God, where he TRIED to out give God. He said he told God that for 3 months anything he had for discretionary income which at the time was minimal he would give half away. He said all the sudden he was getting checks in the mail, a sizable tax return he couldn't explain, and on it goes. He said he had more fun walking up to someone he didn't even like and saying " God has blessed me, so I want to bless you" and just walked away. He said one time he heard this guy run in the house yelling at his wife cause they were just BROKE and he gave him a decent amount of money. So I'm mullin this one over. This is right up my alley, so I'm going to challenge Jas to see which one of us can give more away over the next few months. Now naysayers may say " Uh you have an adoption loan to pay off" or " You don't make a lot of money, you should save what you earn" But well here's what I think about that.... ok I can't think of anything nice to say but Dream on comes to mind. I'm just excited to be apart of a blessing. I feel overly blessed and want to extend that to unsuspecting people. Stay tuned for the updates!
Ok well I gotta blog later cause I really should be preparing dinner for friends coming over so yeah... I'll post more later.
Oh and I'll post some new pics of Jas and I when I get them. Oh man my friend Sam is beyond talented, she even made us look good! HA! More to come on that too...
Peace out, may you find ways to richly bless those around you!
My life is pretty darn good. Honestly I shouldn't complain ( I will but I shouldn't). :). I sure love our new church. We're still in a honeymoon phase of sorts I guess, but hey bring it on, we'll ride that wave as long as we can! Truly, the people are sweet, God has richly blessed this tiny little church - when they decided to FINALLY interview us, and remember we were LAST on their list, and they accepted us and took it to a church vote the main problem for them was money. In fact they low-balled us the first time. I actually remember laughing out loud at the number, I digress, so we said yes and trusted God would provide. The parsonage hasn't had any work done to it in oh I'm guessin well let's say YEARS! WE're talkin lime green kitchen cabinets, lime green 70's linoleum, rust colored carpet, lime green bathroom, it's got a salmon pink cast iron bath tub and HAD a funky green toilet. Get the picture? UGLY. Needed some T.L.C. to say the least. The board knew it needed work but financially couldn't do it all at once. I requested paint, new carpet and vinyl flooring, a new toilet, (I wanted a new tub but it turns out that's just not in the cards, those babies are spendy to replace let alone take out, but hey a girl can dream right?),a sliding glass door to the backyard because currently there is no access to the backyard except by our carport and I'm just not ok with no visibility to the kids while they are playing, and a fence (we live on a BUSY street).Ok so that's some dough right. And what did God do? Supply. Through the generous donations randomly given to the church, 2,000 here, 3,000 here, etc. we haven't had to take out a loan, and we've done - all new flooring, paint, we will pay cash for the fence and sliding door AND with no loan. How stinkin cool is that anyway? Also, we sat down and well I made Jas talk to me about our money situation cause I HATE not knowing where it's all going and such, and we're doing ok. Which leads to...
So I lead worship at a small youth conference this last weekend and the speaker was talking about how we can be everyday hero's. Anyway, he mentioned he did a little game with God, where he TRIED to out give God. He said he told God that for 3 months anything he had for discretionary income which at the time was minimal he would give half away. He said all the sudden he was getting checks in the mail, a sizable tax return he couldn't explain, and on it goes. He said he had more fun walking up to someone he didn't even like and saying " God has blessed me, so I want to bless you" and just walked away. He said one time he heard this guy run in the house yelling at his wife cause they were just BROKE and he gave him a decent amount of money. So I'm mullin this one over. This is right up my alley, so I'm going to challenge Jas to see which one of us can give more away over the next few months. Now naysayers may say " Uh you have an adoption loan to pay off" or " You don't make a lot of money, you should save what you earn" But well here's what I think about that.... ok I can't think of anything nice to say but Dream on comes to mind. I'm just excited to be apart of a blessing. I feel overly blessed and want to extend that to unsuspecting people. Stay tuned for the updates!
Ok well I gotta blog later cause I really should be preparing dinner for friends coming over so yeah... I'll post more later.
Oh and I'll post some new pics of Jas and I when I get them. Oh man my friend Sam is beyond talented, she even made us look good! HA! More to come on that too...
Peace out, may you find ways to richly bless those around you!
Monday, February 9, 2009
O Happy Day!
Ok so I got a phone call today... and we have our court appointment in Ethiopia! Yay for us! Unfortunately it's not until April 22nd and we may have to go through a second court date due to any whim of the judge who sees our case. BUT I'm so happy to have a date! It's like I am checking off a list (which I love to do by the way - I'm a list person. So if I can accomplish or have things accomplished (which is even better HA!, then I am a happy camper). I also haven't blogged in a few weeks or so and need to give the fam update.
First of all, we moved. Woohoo let's hear it for no more boxes. Man I hate moving. Yuck Yuck Yuck. Trying to figure out where everything goes.. it's just beyond what this unorganized girl can handle. I do admire those like my own mother who can organize (even though she's got her own messy rooms but I'm not gonna get into that). I just literally closed a few door or shoved stuff into a few closets and will 'deal' with them at a later date. Not sure when but that's the beauty of a list, it will go on one eventually. When I start 'nesting' before our boy gets here. I will look like a mad woman preparing the house to look all good, and then throw him off by not maintaining it! Hehe. It has been nice cause my mom has come over 2 times and "helped" the girls clean their room. It's a battle I just loathe. So I hear her in the girls room giving them the age old lecture I rolled my eyes at for years but these days has a much sweeter ring...' This is unacceptable, You should be listening to mommy and helping her not making messes and leaving them for her to clean. I better not have to come back and see it messy again, you girls, you should know better.' I did smile and giggle to myself, oh how I hated those words around oh 20 years ago, but now they are so wonderful. Funny how that works huh?
Anyway, so the girls are LEARNING about keeping up their room. A task that proves harder to implement as they get older. My arch-Nemesis LAUNDRY has been dragging me down. Man, 5 people can put out a lot of dirty clothes. My idea no one seems to agree with is getting down to 1 pair of pants, undies, socks and a shirt. For some reason no one is on board? What's the deal with that?? :).
As far as the new church goes... it's going awesome. Jas feels really overwhelmed with the whole like "where to start" bit but he's doing a great job of getting together with the board, preaching on Sundays, and managing to still be here at the house in the evenings. Pretty sweet gig! Oh and since we live on church property now, Sunday mornings don't consist of HURRY UP WE GOTTA GO, we just walk across the lawn. Yay for me!
Well I don't have much else to write. Oh except I wish I would've gotten Hope on camera the other day making up a song about gas (like for cars). She was in the back seat singing to a tune I'm sure she mustered up herself "Fred Meyer has gas, Safeway has gas, but Target doesn't have gas...yadayadayada" It was hilarious. She was running out of stores that had gas so she just trailed off. Too funny.
More next time (whenever that happens!)
Kala
OH and here's what happens when a 6 year old gets a camera..some random fun pics since I"m sooo bad about putting pics on here.
and then...
or how about....
and finally..
First of all, we moved. Woohoo let's hear it for no more boxes. Man I hate moving. Yuck Yuck Yuck. Trying to figure out where everything goes.. it's just beyond what this unorganized girl can handle. I do admire those like my own mother who can organize (even though she's got her own messy rooms but I'm not gonna get into that). I just literally closed a few door or shoved stuff into a few closets and will 'deal' with them at a later date. Not sure when but that's the beauty of a list, it will go on one eventually. When I start 'nesting' before our boy gets here. I will look like a mad woman preparing the house to look all good, and then throw him off by not maintaining it! Hehe. It has been nice cause my mom has come over 2 times and "helped" the girls clean their room. It's a battle I just loathe. So I hear her in the girls room giving them the age old lecture I rolled my eyes at for years but these days has a much sweeter ring...' This is unacceptable, You should be listening to mommy and helping her not making messes and leaving them for her to clean. I better not have to come back and see it messy again, you girls, you should know better.' I did smile and giggle to myself, oh how I hated those words around oh 20 years ago, but now they are so wonderful. Funny how that works huh?
Anyway, so the girls are LEARNING about keeping up their room. A task that proves harder to implement as they get older. My arch-Nemesis LAUNDRY has been dragging me down. Man, 5 people can put out a lot of dirty clothes. My idea no one seems to agree with is getting down to 1 pair of pants, undies, socks and a shirt. For some reason no one is on board? What's the deal with that?? :).
As far as the new church goes... it's going awesome. Jas feels really overwhelmed with the whole like "where to start" bit but he's doing a great job of getting together with the board, preaching on Sundays, and managing to still be here at the house in the evenings. Pretty sweet gig! Oh and since we live on church property now, Sunday mornings don't consist of HURRY UP WE GOTTA GO, we just walk across the lawn. Yay for me!
Well I don't have much else to write. Oh except I wish I would've gotten Hope on camera the other day making up a song about gas (like for cars). She was in the back seat singing to a tune I'm sure she mustered up herself "Fred Meyer has gas, Safeway has gas, but Target doesn't have gas...yadayadayada" It was hilarious. She was running out of stores that had gas so she just trailed off. Too funny.
More next time (whenever that happens!)
Kala
OH and here's what happens when a 6 year old gets a camera..some random fun pics since I"m sooo bad about putting pics on here.
and then...
or how about....
and finally..
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Things that make me go Hmmmm....
Ok so I'm trying to be a trooper, we still aren't able to move into our house. I haven't been bloggin cause I've been packin' and to no avail. We have stuff all over the place literally trying to ready to move to the new house and are we able to yet?? NO! The carpet guys scheduled 4 days for vinyl and carpet. It's been 6 work days for them and they still aren't done. I don't know why it's taking so long, a word that starts with L and ends with azy, comes to mind but not quite sure if that's the real reason. So I'm not tolerating this whole limbo deal too well. If you call I may actually sound chipper cause you'll probably catch me not ticked but beware..... if I freak out you might want to hang up! It would be in both our best interests!!
So speaking of freaking out, with the stress of new move, new job, Jas working on the new house and not home a lot, I've been oh, what's a good word?? Edgy? Yeah that will do. I'm 'edgy'. Sidenote - Hope is about one of the funniest kids I know who single handily can put me to my 'nice mommy' limit in roughly 5 seconds flat. Ok so the kids are in the tub, swimming, I'll let you imagine that. And I'm trying to get them out the door. Faithie had school, Hope MIkey and I had to get to my job and we were running out of time. So my tone quickly went from calmly saying " Please get out of the tub, do not put your hands on each other rudely, I don't want to be wet please don't splash around...etc etc" So we were there for a bit to frantically looking at the clock and rushing about high pitched words like " GET OUT NOW, YOUR GONNA BE LATE, IT LOOKS LIKE SOME LITTLE GIRLS JUST LOST PRIVILEGES TODAY - ALL DAY!!!!"
No more mister oh I mean ms. nice guy. I was not havin it. Another sidenote, my kids mood and tone is a reflection of my mood and tone most days so if I'm stressed, they're stressed. Following? So what happens next? What I try to avoid which would be almost utter chaos. Water everywhere, Mikey's crying, Faith's crying cause Hope hit her. I'm about it tears realizing I totally handled this the wrong way. I calmly got down and looked at them and said " Ok listen, I'm gonna try to be the best mommy I can be. Will you please be the best sisters and daughters you can be? That means obey mommy and daddy, be helpful and respectful? Can you do that?" And their mood changed. Faith decided that was a good idea and because Hope wants to show off how 'good' she can be she followed along. I'm pretty sure at this point Mikey was picking his nose but that's beside the point. So off we go, they shaped up, obeyed and we had a much better morning.
So this incident was a few days ago, and yesterday I was talking to the kids in the car as we headed into the grocery store and was saying something like " Ok, now I'm gonna be the nicest mommy I can be and you guys are gonna be the nicest kids you can be right? I want you to be helpful and not give me any funny business." Faith's response was "Wait a minute we have to do that for more than 1 day? I thought that was just for the other day?" And I lost it. I was laughing so hard I thought I was gonna cry.
My goal is to not be a meany, I used to yell and have tried to remove that from my tone all together (it got me nowhere and my kids didn't deal with it well, and I hated how I sounded). I want to be calm, loving, and respectful so my kids will be calm, loving and respectful. But I am also human and struggle with controlling my mouth and temper sometimes. Enter apologizing. I've gotten very good at humbly asking my kids to forgive me for my rudeness. And it works! Now when they get in trouble for their tone, they are starting to see why it's important to not only stop the bad tone but to apologize. Man, nobody told me parenting was gonna require this much patience! Jeez.
This is why I'm so stinkin glad that God delicately teaches me little ways to show me how to be better. Be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, daughter in law. In all these areas of my life I need peace, patience, a humble heart and a spirit of love. I think this will be a battle that will not be over soon. Not even in this lifetime perhaps, but I'm so excited for the renewing each morning that I can start again. Today doesn't have to be like yesterday. Amen!!
Oh I read a friends blog the other day who talked about her word for the year:
CHILL is my 2009 word. This year will require more patience, understanding and ability to just let it go with our new church transition and bringing our boy home so my word is chill. What's yours??
So speaking of freaking out, with the stress of new move, new job, Jas working on the new house and not home a lot, I've been oh, what's a good word?? Edgy? Yeah that will do. I'm 'edgy'. Sidenote - Hope is about one of the funniest kids I know who single handily can put me to my 'nice mommy' limit in roughly 5 seconds flat. Ok so the kids are in the tub, swimming, I'll let you imagine that. And I'm trying to get them out the door. Faithie had school, Hope MIkey and I had to get to my job and we were running out of time. So my tone quickly went from calmly saying " Please get out of the tub, do not put your hands on each other rudely, I don't want to be wet please don't splash around...etc etc" So we were there for a bit to frantically looking at the clock and rushing about high pitched words like " GET OUT NOW, YOUR GONNA BE LATE, IT LOOKS LIKE SOME LITTLE GIRLS JUST LOST PRIVILEGES TODAY - ALL DAY!!!!"
No more mister oh I mean ms. nice guy. I was not havin it. Another sidenote, my kids mood and tone is a reflection of my mood and tone most days so if I'm stressed, they're stressed. Following? So what happens next? What I try to avoid which would be almost utter chaos. Water everywhere, Mikey's crying, Faith's crying cause Hope hit her. I'm about it tears realizing I totally handled this the wrong way. I calmly got down and looked at them and said " Ok listen, I'm gonna try to be the best mommy I can be. Will you please be the best sisters and daughters you can be? That means obey mommy and daddy, be helpful and respectful? Can you do that?" And their mood changed. Faith decided that was a good idea and because Hope wants to show off how 'good' she can be she followed along. I'm pretty sure at this point Mikey was picking his nose but that's beside the point. So off we go, they shaped up, obeyed and we had a much better morning.
So this incident was a few days ago, and yesterday I was talking to the kids in the car as we headed into the grocery store and was saying something like " Ok, now I'm gonna be the nicest mommy I can be and you guys are gonna be the nicest kids you can be right? I want you to be helpful and not give me any funny business." Faith's response was "Wait a minute we have to do that for more than 1 day? I thought that was just for the other day?" And I lost it. I was laughing so hard I thought I was gonna cry.
My goal is to not be a meany, I used to yell and have tried to remove that from my tone all together (it got me nowhere and my kids didn't deal with it well, and I hated how I sounded). I want to be calm, loving, and respectful so my kids will be calm, loving and respectful. But I am also human and struggle with controlling my mouth and temper sometimes. Enter apologizing. I've gotten very good at humbly asking my kids to forgive me for my rudeness. And it works! Now when they get in trouble for their tone, they are starting to see why it's important to not only stop the bad tone but to apologize. Man, nobody told me parenting was gonna require this much patience! Jeez.
This is why I'm so stinkin glad that God delicately teaches me little ways to show me how to be better. Be a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt, daughter in law. In all these areas of my life I need peace, patience, a humble heart and a spirit of love. I think this will be a battle that will not be over soon. Not even in this lifetime perhaps, but I'm so excited for the renewing each morning that I can start again. Today doesn't have to be like yesterday. Amen!!
Oh I read a friends blog the other day who talked about her word for the year:
CHILL is my 2009 word. This year will require more patience, understanding and ability to just let it go with our new church transition and bringing our boy home so my word is chill. What's yours??
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
UGH!
Ok so we're moving. UGH UGH UGH! I hate moving. The realization of how much crap we've really compiled in a short amount of time is utterly insane. I will be honest I'm not technically "packing" at this point but I have started to declutter and process through like, well I'm up to 2 drawers ok, I've had high hopes of doing more but let's face it, it's not happenin yet. Poor Mikey has been sick, yet again, so then the little dear gave it to me, so a cold's been kickin my tail for a good week plus working 2 jobs, etc etc. Don't you feel bad for me? Jeez I sound pathetic. Oh well. I am however excited that our new house will have all new paint, flooring, kitchen counter tops and if I get my way a new tub and toilet in the main bathroom.
I haven't really mentioned this journey to a senior pastor roll simply because it wasn't the right time or place to discuss such a major thing and we didn't want people finding out til we were really ready to tell them. But here's the scoop on this process. On December 30th 2007, we visited this little church on a Sunday off cause anybody who works at a church knows when you've got a day off and you end up at work, you don't actually get to have that intended day off. And we fell in love with the church while we were there and secretly started thinking "Hmmm, what if...." Then e found out last Jan 26th to be exact (I only know that because we were sitting in a pool of tears over the loss of our 4th baby and 'happened' to get an email from our district superintendent asking if Jason would preach and if he would consider giving his resume for the position.)So we prayerfully sought what to do and gave him Jason's resume. I only mention the loss of the baby because in that whole time of grief over and over again I can see where God specifically gave us hope in the midst of despair and this was the first. So then we knew the pastor that was at the church was retiring end of March so we expected to hear soon after whether we would be interviewed or not. After like 6 weeks or so of waiting we found out they had compiled a list of candidates to interview and Jason was not on the first list. We felt totally ripped off. Jason had been filling in there as they needed help and had a great response from everyone and even had board members tell him he was on the top of their list. So we were thinking this was a slam dunk for us. Anyway, we kept of distance secretly thinking it wasn't over. And it wasn't. After they burned through the first 3 people they went back to the drawing board. This time we just knew we'd be on that list, right? Who wouldn't want Jason as their pastor? He's amazing, so the next list came out and we didn't hear boo about it. Another let down. I was pretty frustrated and just decided that God had shut that door and we would move on.
Around the end of October we found out Jason was the last of the last on the list and they were going to interview one other person and then it was Jas. Well the other guy already had another job so it was us. We were finally on. BUT at this point we were indifferent to the whole idea. As much as we wanted this next step if these people couldn't see the potential then we'd wait for the right place. So November 8th we interviewed and it went fantastic. We laughed, I cried, had a great discussion and ended the night with anticipation. We had left the room a few minutes before anyone else cause I was singing there the next morning and Jason was preaching so we went to mess with the sound system. All the sudden we hear them singing in the back room and they came running out saying, "We voted, we voted, it's unanimous, we want you to come!" And we were as thrilled as them. (side note - in the Nazarene church if you are voted by the board you have to also have a 2/3rd's majority from the congregation hence the preaching to intro the congregation to the pastor). So the next day went great and we had a potluck that Sunday night to meet and greet all the people. It was a great weekend. Then we waited for 3 weeks til they voted. The vote finally came on November 23rd. 40 yes 6 no. The 6 no we later found out just wanted the interim guy to stay and be their pastor even though that's not the way it works with an interim pastor. So we prayed and had some serious confirmations and some serious doubts. But in the end we took a step of faith that God was calling us to lead these people. And we are so excited. To see all the details that have come into place and to see family and friends rally around us as we say goodbye to one church family and go meet another one has been truly remarkable. I have felt more honored and blessed through the last 2 weeks than words can describe.
So it's down to moving. Which I hate but will endure yet again for the sake of obedience and opportunity to see God do some truly amazing things in this little church on the corner. So that's the journey we've been on. 2008 was the year of waiting and 2009 will be the year of REALITY. We will move to a new church and house, travel and bring our boy home from Ethiopia, and figure out what life looks like as a senior pastor with 4 KIDS!!!! Holy cow. Are we really ready for this? Who knows, maybe we're just young enough to not know the difference between stupidity and insanity? Or maybe we've allowed God to work on us til we were ready to be stretched? Again, I don't know. But what I do know is I'm highly anticipating this 2009 year as one to be remembered for years to come. 2008 sucked for me, I doubt it could get much worse in 2009 right? Huh, we'll see. Hehe. I am really excited though. Can't wait to recall the many miracles God performs publicly and in the depths of this little heart.
May 2009 be a year of anticipation for you all!!
Kala
I haven't really mentioned this journey to a senior pastor roll simply because it wasn't the right time or place to discuss such a major thing and we didn't want people finding out til we were really ready to tell them. But here's the scoop on this process. On December 30th 2007, we visited this little church on a Sunday off cause anybody who works at a church knows when you've got a day off and you end up at work, you don't actually get to have that intended day off. And we fell in love with the church while we were there and secretly started thinking "Hmmm, what if...." Then e found out last Jan 26th to be exact (I only know that because we were sitting in a pool of tears over the loss of our 4th baby and 'happened' to get an email from our district superintendent asking if Jason would preach and if he would consider giving his resume for the position.)So we prayerfully sought what to do and gave him Jason's resume. I only mention the loss of the baby because in that whole time of grief over and over again I can see where God specifically gave us hope in the midst of despair and this was the first. So then we knew the pastor that was at the church was retiring end of March so we expected to hear soon after whether we would be interviewed or not. After like 6 weeks or so of waiting we found out they had compiled a list of candidates to interview and Jason was not on the first list. We felt totally ripped off. Jason had been filling in there as they needed help and had a great response from everyone and even had board members tell him he was on the top of their list. So we were thinking this was a slam dunk for us. Anyway, we kept of distance secretly thinking it wasn't over. And it wasn't. After they burned through the first 3 people they went back to the drawing board. This time we just knew we'd be on that list, right? Who wouldn't want Jason as their pastor? He's amazing, so the next list came out and we didn't hear boo about it. Another let down. I was pretty frustrated and just decided that God had shut that door and we would move on.
Around the end of October we found out Jason was the last of the last on the list and they were going to interview one other person and then it was Jas. Well the other guy already had another job so it was us. We were finally on. BUT at this point we were indifferent to the whole idea. As much as we wanted this next step if these people couldn't see the potential then we'd wait for the right place. So November 8th we interviewed and it went fantastic. We laughed, I cried, had a great discussion and ended the night with anticipation. We had left the room a few minutes before anyone else cause I was singing there the next morning and Jason was preaching so we went to mess with the sound system. All the sudden we hear them singing in the back room and they came running out saying, "We voted, we voted, it's unanimous, we want you to come!" And we were as thrilled as them. (side note - in the Nazarene church if you are voted by the board you have to also have a 2/3rd's majority from the congregation hence the preaching to intro the congregation to the pastor). So the next day went great and we had a potluck that Sunday night to meet and greet all the people. It was a great weekend. Then we waited for 3 weeks til they voted. The vote finally came on November 23rd. 40 yes 6 no. The 6 no we later found out just wanted the interim guy to stay and be their pastor even though that's not the way it works with an interim pastor. So we prayed and had some serious confirmations and some serious doubts. But in the end we took a step of faith that God was calling us to lead these people. And we are so excited. To see all the details that have come into place and to see family and friends rally around us as we say goodbye to one church family and go meet another one has been truly remarkable. I have felt more honored and blessed through the last 2 weeks than words can describe.
So it's down to moving. Which I hate but will endure yet again for the sake of obedience and opportunity to see God do some truly amazing things in this little church on the corner. So that's the journey we've been on. 2008 was the year of waiting and 2009 will be the year of REALITY. We will move to a new church and house, travel and bring our boy home from Ethiopia, and figure out what life looks like as a senior pastor with 4 KIDS!!!! Holy cow. Are we really ready for this? Who knows, maybe we're just young enough to not know the difference between stupidity and insanity? Or maybe we've allowed God to work on us til we were ready to be stretched? Again, I don't know. But what I do know is I'm highly anticipating this 2009 year as one to be remembered for years to come. 2008 sucked for me, I doubt it could get much worse in 2009 right? Huh, we'll see. Hehe. I am really excited though. Can't wait to recall the many miracles God performs publicly and in the depths of this little heart.
May 2009 be a year of anticipation for you all!!
Kala
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