Yesterday was a special day. To all of you that have gone on the journey with us I want to bring you back to the first day I saw a picture of Adanech. We were first matched with the boys and couple days later we were told they had an older sister and we needed to pray about doing all three or none. We accepted all three but that little girl scared me to death. I had never parented a 7 or 8 year old. How would I be a mom to a little girl with so much sadness and a little girl that would remember so much. How would I be a mother to a little girl that has a mother that she loves. As we accepted all three anxiety took over, I would be up at night literally shaking and sick with fear, fear of the unknown. I would sometimes be running and praying and I would feel God say, Jeni, this is going to be so hard, harder then anything you have ever done. You will have to give more of yourself then you ever have, and it will hurt, hurt real bad. I would cry and run and tell God, I will not give up God, I know that I cannot do this, but I am trusting that you will give me wisdom and equip me. I was so worn out from not trusting God, but slowly God was teaching me to trust him. Not trying to leave the boys out of this, I was just not as scared to be their mother. The truth of the word of God began a work in my heart as we got closer and closer to getting the children. I will never forget the first day with the children. I will never forget my first thought as Adanech walked towards me. I thought, oh my she is beautiful and she is so brave. She told me this month that when we came to get her she was very scared, but you never would of known. She walked right up to me and gave me a big hug. We were both scared. I cannot put into words how hard it has been, but without the hardness we would not be witnessing the miracle of God, in this little girl. She has come so far!!!
So, yesterday, it was just a day of beauty and a view of God's work in Adanech's life. She was so excited for this day, it would be the first time she celebrated her birthday. She said her mom in Ethiopia used to celebrate her birthday with bread, but they had no money for gifts. We started the morning with a trip to the beauty shop. Now I love Addie's natural hair, it is awesome, but she always talks about wanting it straight. So I took her to our favorite girl Sharmelle and she oiled that baby up and flat ironed it. Addie was speechless and so happy. She just kept running her fingers through her hair and saying, mom, my hair is like yours. Marya just kept telling her how beautiful if was but to make sure to tell her she loves it in braids too. We came home to the boys and they all told her how lovely she looked as she just smiled from ear to ear. Then Jake and I took her out to eat at an Ethiopian restaurant here. Ellie stayed back with the others, thank you Ellie! Jake opened her door and held her hand or had his arm around her while we walked. She was loving it. She loved her injera and was unusually speechless, she just kept smiling. When we were driving home she said, mom this is a very very good day, I never have a day like this before. Then Jake and I told her in Amharic that she was our daughter and that we loved her and she spoke back in Amharic and told us that we were her mother and father and that she loved us. Now we do this often but yesterday it was like she was saying it with a new trust for us. We have had some huge steps forward with her. She told us about a month ago crying, thank you for adopting me. She knows how much we love her and she is trusting us, so awesome. we then spent the afternoon cleaning and cooking her birthday dinner. She wanted me to cook minestrone with garlic bread. Our tradition is to have kids wine and share toasts about the person celebrating their birthday. So we took turns doing that, which is very funny and sweet. Then we had cake and opened presents. She was beyond thankful and went to bed beaming and thanking God for her family. It was a joy to watch this little girl today. I loved watching her brothers and and sister just love her and be so happy for her.
We gave all the kids Indian names
Adanech- Brave Willow, because she is so brave and elegant like a willow tree. She loves her name. She is my helper at home and cleans better then I do. The girls room is always clean and that is not because of Marya although Marya is learning a lot from her big sister about cleaning. Addie, is loving, loving school. If I would work with her all day she would do it. This little girl loves to pray and literally cries out to Jesus. She is mature beyond her years in so many ways and she is full of compassion. She senses when I am sad and wants to hug me and take care of me. She is going to be an amazing wife and mother someday.
Marya- Wild Horse, what else is there to say, she is wild and loves horses. This little girl is me!! She still gets the most spanks but the fruit in her life is amazing, God has been so faithful. She does school like me, fast and messy and doesn't mind doing it wrong. She is not a perfectionist. Her passion for life is sweet and so funny to watch. She feels things very deeply.
Abreham- Servant heart, do I need to say more. This boy is a gifted servant. he just beams as he helps anyone and everyone. He loves to help his little brothers and anyone else who asks. I have never seen anything like it. About a month ago this little boy wanted to tell me about the day he went to the orphanage. Which was strange because he never ever talks about stuff like that. So I said, yes son tell me. He then went on to tell me some very sad things with tears in his eyes. I picked him up from the table and took him out to the front porch away from everyone. I said, baby I am so sorry that you had to go through that, as I said that he started to wail and cry like I had never seen. I just held him until he was done. He sweetly then rubbed my arm as i assured him of our love for him and that he did not have to ever leave us. This little boy has a lot of pain in his heart and I am thankful that he is letting it out and letting me hold him as he does.
Ezra- Crooked Arrow, ok this little boy is out there. You never know what he is going to say and it is always so random. He is so funny. I also think he has the gift of encouragement. He often just randomly says the sweetest things. Like when Adanech comes down fro breakfast, Addie, you look pretty. Or if all the kids are racing he will be way behind the older kids and he will be yelling good job to the ones way up front and he just keeps smiling until he finishes and tells everyone good job. I love it. Ezra, loves school and surprisingly pays very good attention.
Petros- Smiles A lot, yes we took the name from Dances with Wolves, it just fits him too good. This boy smiles all day. No matter how sad or mad he is he quickly returns to a smile. This little boy has been lying a lot and been getting spanked a lot, it was really bad this last week so friday night me and the kids all sat around him and prayed for him and Petros was very touched by it, especially when Addie prayed while she was crying and Petros got tears in his eyes. Well yesterday we went a whole day without lying and it was so wonderful. His speech is still very hard to understand but every once in a while he says something so clearly. This guy is a comedy act!!
Jake, Ellie, and I continue to grow as a family. Ellie is such a blessing to have here. There are eight of us and each meal is big with a lot of work but hey our table is full of smiles, stories, laughing, tears, and most importantly the word of God. We are so blessed, the Lord has been faithful through each trial to teach us and refine us and push us along. We all are so excited for Thanksgiving, Benjah is coming, my mom and Grandma Edna, Seth and his wife Lindsey and our new friend Antwone, we are so looking forward to this time. We are already listening to Christmas music and loving it!! We all can't wait to visit the great state of Nebraska for Christmas.
love love
Jen
