Hello all
We are moving to Virginia. Jake and I have struggled and prayed through this for a long, long time. Jake feels that our next step is to Virginia. I am looking forward to see what God is going to do in our lives.
ADANECH-we have made some huge strides this summer. The other day she woke up and said, mom I had a dream. She proceeded to tell me about her dream. She dreamed that we went to Ethiopia and I brought her to her birth mom and we all cried. She said I left her with her and that night she was crying for me and wanted me to come and get her. I have never wanted her to feel like she has to choose a mother that she loves more, but that dream showed me that she is starting to truly trust me and love me, it was so sweet. Addie learned how to ride a bike this summer. It was full of DRAMA!!! You have to understand that this girl can turn on the drama like you have never seen. She has learned to use drama to get her way and I am constantly trying to teach her that, that is not ok. So I looked at her and said I don't care if we have to stay up all night you will obey me and learn to ride this bike. I knew she was more then capable. So after a lot of screaming, spanking, and crying, she learned. the other kids were in bed. After she learned she got off her bike and came to me crying and was so thankful. I helped her shower and get ready for bed and she just kept saying she was so thankful. Through this whole episode we quoted scripture and prayed and I think it was a big break through for the both of us. God gave her to me for a very specific reason. I see it ever day!!!
MARYA-Last night we were out to eat and I had told the children not to get up. Well Marya got up and I explained that when we got home she was going to have to have a spank. So by the time we got home I was tired and she reminded me about the spank and I said I am not going to spank you, you did good the rest of the night. I have never said that before, just copped out on a spank. so after I said that Marya said with great passion in her voice, Mom you can not disobey God. He says that you have to spank me if I disobey. MOm, please don't disobey God you can't. You must obey him. I sat down on my bed and just started to cry. I said, baby you are right, you are so right. so I spanked her while I was crying and she hugged me and said,mom I love you so much. Please don't disobey God ever again. WOW!!!!! God taught me a lot through that.
ABREHAM-The other night he was brushing his teeth in my bathroom and he looked at me and said, mom I don't want my mom to die. I said are you talking about your mom in Ethiopia and he said yes. I said, I know baby we will keep praying for her. He said ok mom and gave me a kiss and that was it. He is a thinker, not much of a talker. I wonder what goes on in his little mind sometimes. He continues to be such a joy to parent. This boy loves to ride his bike, so cute!
EZRA-this little guy is coming out of his shell. He make me laugh every day and is starting to have a lot more to say. He loves to wear boots around all day, no matter how hot it is. He sometimes comes to me and says, mom, Abreham loves me and I will say yes he does. Abreham takes care of Ezra and Petros, it is so sweet. Ezra gets braver and tougher by the day. All he needed was an older brother to love and him and push him to get a little tougher.
PETROS-This little boy loves cars. He likes to sit and look for car adds in magazines and sit and look at them and make car noises, it is so funny. The other day he was praying and in the middle of his prayer he just started making car noises. Jake and I have been encouraging the kids to not baby Petros and to help us make him grow up a bit. I keep telling him, Petros you are a big boy and he will look at me and say, no baby, big boy. HE will be three next month. He loves, loves to dance and listen to uncle Benjah, and Lecrae.
Anthony was in Ethiopia this summer and met with their birth mom. We now have video of her talking about why she had to give the kids up for adoption. We found out more about the kids and it is very helpful.
WE are starting homeschooling and it is so hard for me. I love my kids and I love having them home but the whole teaching thing is so hard for me. I love to teach them practical things, but school stuff not really my thing. I am going to try it, but I am not promising anything. It is hard teaching two children that don't totally now English yet. The three of them all learn differently. Each day is so beyond me, the amount of patience, love, compassion, and discipline, is so beyond me. God is showing me his power and faithfulness. This morning I started the day with tears just thinking of everything. I can't spend time thinking about those things, it is too overwhelming. It takes a lot of discipline for me to think on the truth so I don't break down. We just had our six month post placement. These last six months have by far been the hardest of my life. Nothing compares to it. The reality of it is it is very very hard, but I have never questioned our decision to do this. God makes it clear each day that this is exactly what He had for us.
love love
Jen
