tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44008911439734344022024-03-13T20:20:49.529-07:00Crazy Roots EthiopiaCrazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-27304299161200487222013-01-19T14:55:00.000-08:002013-02-28T14:56:18.338-08:00Three Years Together<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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We celebrated three years together as a family. It is truly crazy to look over the last three years and try and put into words all that has happened, all the ways the Lord has used this adoption process to change who we are as a family, as parents, as siblings, as children of God, as people. We would have never been able to imagine what this road has been like. More difficult than we could have ever imagined at times, and more beautiful than we could have possibly dreamed at others. <br />
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There are still days we struggle. There are still days I feel like we get it all wrong. That bonding is a joke and the looks I receive from behind their chocolate eyes could slice me to the core of who I am. And other times when one look from them melts my mommy heart and I fall more in love with them and Jesus at the same time. We adore Bekeh and Caleb's spirited personalities, we love having them in our family, and we are excited and expectant for what God is preparing for their lives.<br />
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They are precious beyond words and we are still thankful and in awe that God allows us to be their family.<br />
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Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-44459014556486956822012-04-22T09:55:00.000-07:002012-04-23T09:55:52.415-07:00Happy 5th Birthday Caleb!I can't believe the round face toddling tiny thing we brought home from Ethiopia is now a lean, mean, high fiving machine.<br />
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He's precious and crazy and got moves this white girl can't dream of doing. He loves his family, he loves tv, he loves preschool.<br />
He struggles with his letters, we work til the cows come home and he still can't spell his name, but he knows every word to every song, except his name song, that we sing and listen to.<br />
He loves to cuddle, FINALLY THANK YOU JESUS!<br />
He loves to flirt. He loves to make people laugh. He loves to prank.<br />
We love you Caleb Wesley Dereje Root and are so thankful God chose you out of all the precious chocolate boys in the world to be our son.Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-41108963344516890952012-01-19T08:37:00.000-08:002013-02-28T14:56:39.431-08:00Two Years Together!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's been so long since we've updated the blog, I almost forgot my login information! But today is the two year mark of the day they placed Bekeh and Caleb in our arms forever. What a blessed day indeed.<br />
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I've spent the morning reading other beautiful post from families marking similar anniversaries and it's such an amazing time to build an altar to the Lord concerning the work He has done and to praise His name for the gifts He gave along the journey.<br />
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I could spend the entire post here telling you all the adorable ways Bekeh and Caleb have changed our lives for the better, the struggles we overcame that God used to break us and rebuild us better, the hilarious things that come out of Caleb's mouth on a moment by moment basis, the leaps and bounds by which Bekeh is learning in school, and so much more, but then I'd have to spend equal time doing that for the other three vanilla kids that live in this house, and the vanilla great-grandmother too, and you guys do not have hours to spend reading this blog about my six precious charges! Because, somewhere along the way over the last two years, Bekeh and Caleb became part of the family. No longer the center of all attention, no longer the "difference" that was infiltrating every fiber of our existence, just two more of us that made us The Crazy Roots.<br />
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What just leaves me flabbergasted, speechless (yea right), teary, giddy, joyful, and in awe this morning as I look back over the last two years, is what the Lord has done for us. When I look at our marriage, I see such an overwhelming, beautiful transformation from where and who we were when we started this journey. When I look at my three biological kids, I see such an incredible maturity and patience in them because of the lengths they've stretched their hearts and their comfort zones. When I look at Bekeh and Caleb I see two babies who went from being alone and orphaned to being a contributing part of an amazing family that the Lord is using to change this world. <br />
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I see how it could have not been this way. But we chose His way over our way ever time there was a choice. I see how we've laid our lives bare for the Lord to change, to mold, to discard, to use. I see how we've continuously relied on Him for the wisdom to survive, for the resources to thrive, and for the direction to live. I see the fruits of giving Him our finances completely, and I am so thankful for His multiplication. I see the blessings of turning to Him for all of our parenting dilemmas and we are so grateful for His provision.<br />
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Our wants are different, our needs are greater, our desires are deeper, our grumblings are fewer, our hearts are tilled, our futures are open.<br />
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We are not in a season of Spiritual Highs. As if like a sports team, a winning season can't predict what next season will look like, that championships are fleeting. No this is not a season. I can see now how the adoption was a season. It was a specific time that everything was on high alert. Everything was in chaos, everything was in constant change. Beautiful, but nonetheless, always active. Checking in with fellow in process moms every minute of the day, constantly talking about bonding and transition and parasitic poop, and embassy issues and paperwork! And then somewhere over the last few months the season came to an end. But that season broke the scales from our hearts, our eyes, our ears. We emerged from that season changed. This is a lifestyle.<br />
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A lifestyle that depends on the Lord for every source of wisdom, provision, direction, and joy. A lifestyle that knows the lengths He goes to to provide for us, bless us, rescue us, deliver us, escort us, and BE WITH US. It's beautiful, it's invigorating, it's thrilling, and it's anything but fleeting.<br />
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When we began this adoption journey 3 years ago, I anticipated the love of new children and the joy God had in store for us through them. But I never dreamed or imagined the radical difference in the way we think, choose, and spend our life. We never could have known to ask God for the beautiful friendships we are now honored with, we love our fellow adoptive families so truly! We never could have understood how near to God we could draw, how hard He holds us daily, and how exhilarating giving up and letting Him move could feel.<br />
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Two years. Might as well have been a lifetime or the blink of an eye.</div>
Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-85756239819891831962011-09-16T17:55:00.000-07:002011-09-17T08:25:18.210-07:00Life Lesson in a Lost Tooth<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EG7mnNA41cM/TnS7ccLJuMI/AAAAAAAABAM/RUDp0-dCzUE/s1600/110916BekehTeethA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rba="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EG7mnNA41cM/TnS7ccLJuMI/AAAAAAAABAM/RUDp0-dCzUE/s400/110916BekehTeethA.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This morning Bekeh was complaining at breakfast that her teeth were hurting. Usually this means she has something stuck and needs to floss, so when she finished up we headed to the bathroom. As soon as I inserted the floss, her front tooth wiggled like crazy. Aahh hhaaa!! Her first loose tooth. Upon further examination by the tooth fairy, I realized it was ready to come out. I told Bekeh she was going to lose her first tooth, and immediately the look of complete terror overtook her face. As I began to wiggle and yank, she began to scream out in pain. I quickly realized that my biological kids always endured the trauma with anticipation of what was happening, and the reward it came with, but Bekeh had no understanding of this. To her, this simply hurt and was something she wanted to stop immediately!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>One final, hard yank, revealed why it was a difficult little bugger. . . the longest tooth I had ever extracted. I swear I thought, how in the world is a permanent tooth hiding in those gums underneath with that thing buried in there?<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As the blood began to spew, and she's practicing the ritual of spitting and swishing and spitting and swishing, I began to go crazy, jumping up and down, hooting and hollering about how awesome she was, and how cool it was that she lost her FIRST TOOTH! I was giggling and congratulating her for being an official Big Girl, and kissing all over her tiny cheeks. She on the other hand, was looking at me like I had lost my mind. Her pained face quickly turned to bewilderment, and slowly began to turn to curiosity. Brooklyn soon came in to the bathroom to see what the fuss was about, and her first reaction was pure joy and excitement for her sister. She held out her hand for a big high five, which Bekeh returned very apprehensively. I could see Brooklyn's joy registering on Bekeh's mind. She began to smile a bit. The kicker came when, fully packed with paper towels in her mouth, she went out to the living room where Nathan, Corban and our neighbor Evan were sitting. She quietly said, "Hey, boys, I lost my tooth," and immediately they rang out in a loud chorus of, "Really? How awesome! Let me see! That's cool. Super Bekeh! That's so exciting!" She began to give in and enjoy it, returning their fist bumps and high fives energetically. We called daddy on the phone in Virginia, and she told him with pure joy and a smile on her face, "Daddy, I lost my first tooth!!!"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nce57POFVK0/TnS7eFCWwjI/AAAAAAAABAQ/6dZpf7w1glY/s1600/110916BekehTeethb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" rba="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nce57POFVK0/TnS7eFCWwjI/AAAAAAAABAQ/6dZpf7w1glY/s400/110916BekehTeethb.jpg" width="400" /></a>Bekeh had never watched her older siblings loose their teeth, never seen that the joy it brought was worth the moments of pain it took. She had never begged with anticipation and excitement for me to check every tooth for signs of the slightest wiggle as her brothers had done before her. We had not anticipated this, and explained to her what would happen. For her, it was a scary and painful experience that she didn't want to go through, that is until others around her changed her perspective.</div><br />
How often do we behave the same way? I was talking with a sweet, sweet, dear friend of mine last weekend about all of this. And what a beautiful example God provided me this week in a lost tooth. Our children are blank slates. They do not know how to be afraid, to be offendable, to be hurt by things in this life, to be conquerors, to be joyful in the fire, until we teach them. Especially with our adopted children, whose life book was written so strongly by parents who are no longer around to explain their storyline, we do not get to pick and choose what is part of their plot. We are handed a set of circumstances and must teach our children how to deal with them. We must also show them how to handle criticism, racism, diversity, loss, grief, freedom, joy, love. It's in these most difficult parenting challenges that I have to turn to my God for my example. How did our Father teach His one and only son to deal with it?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>Hebrews 12:2 NLT teaches us, "We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God's throne."</em></div><br />
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Jesus solved our Sin problem on the cross, He also solved our shame problem. It says He disregarded or despised all shame, meaning He didn't even let it in, and we must do the same. To the degree that God is present in any situation, there is no shame, because God does not operate in shame. We cannot teach our children to be ashamed of their story, we can't teach our children to be ashamed or apologetic for their past, their present, or their future. We must teach them to be more than conquerors, to let God into every situation so that shame flees and redemption and freedom whooshes in. To see every fire as a refinement, every pain God allows as a purifying gift, and endure with overcoming joy the trials of this life. We teach and model for them. <strong><em><u>We must celebrate and recall God's rescue and redemption more than we focus on the attack the enemy waged against us.</u></em></strong><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><em>2 Corinthians 10:4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.</em></div><br />
I love Bekeh and I knew that the amount of pain she was going through was going to be worth the joy. That the relief the tooth being out would bring her over the next couple of days would be worth the temporary pain this morning. She didn't, but I'm her loving parent and she needed to trust me.<br />
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How I wish I could see the throne of Heaven and the mighty armies of angels who celebrate with me and my family when we are enduring pain and trial. How I wish I could see them giggling, kissing my cheek, hooping and hollering, high fiving me for the next step into maturation that I have just taken. But although unseen, I know they're there, and my heavenly faith and sight changes my perspective. I have to teach that to my children, model it, live it.<br />
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In all this, Bekeh still didn't know the best part was coming. She still had yet to understand the reward that will be under her pillow tonight. I know the tooth fairy, I know how she rewards extra for those teeth that were a little more stubborn and painful than others. I know how she rewards the trust and faith she sees. And she's just an earthly gal. How much more does our heavenly Father look forward with anticipation to rewarding us for the trials we endured without shame, with joy, and with a heavenly perspective. I just get goose bumps thinking about it, anticipating it. It almost makes me feel like I'm six years old again with a really wiggly tooth.Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-6035674337187047732011-06-19T09:59:00.000-07:002011-07-01T10:33:30.779-07:0017 Months Together!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOC6Ks_m9XY/Tg3-dQ5FuAI/AAAAAAAABAA/2Gz9cqjiB-o/s1600/110631Swim4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QOC6Ks_m9XY/Tg3-dQ5FuAI/AAAAAAAABAA/2Gz9cqjiB-o/s320/110631Swim4.gif" width="246" /></a></div>Summer is in full swing at the Root House. We've been keeping ourselves uber busy with Tae Kwon Do lessons 8 hours a week, Gymnastics 7 hours a week, piano lessons, guitar lessons, clarinet lessons, swimming non stop, visiting friends, church camps, and reading books and frequenting the library like mad men. It's exhausting just typing it out but it really is a ton of fun and we're often commenting on how lazy we feel we're being. Our new normal.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9X8OsZtRLc/Tg3-YxI5BiI/AAAAAAAAA_0/bQrpU2BvEuA/s1600/110631Swim1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q9X8OsZtRLc/Tg3-YxI5BiI/AAAAAAAAA_0/bQrpU2BvEuA/s320/110631Swim1.gif" width="246" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Bekeh's favorite time of the week is her gymnastic classes. She can do an amazing cartwheel, roundoff, handstand-kickover-bridge, one handed cart wheel and is working on her back walkover so she can get to her back handspring. She and Brooklyn practice non stop around the house. She shares her second favorite thing with Caleb's all time favorite, and that's swimming. They live for the pool. They jump and swim and splash and kick in it for hours.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cIQDOZaKc7k/Tg3-bMBRqkI/AAAAAAAAA_4/_5z3TG7i11k/s1600/110631Swim2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cIQDOZaKc7k/Tg3-bMBRqkI/AAAAAAAAA_4/_5z3TG7i11k/s320/110631Swim2.gif" width="254" /></a>Caleb has been growing up in leaps and bounds the last few months. He has S-L-O-W-L-Y began to use his words for communicating more than he uses his tears and whining. We're working it out. Zero tolerance worked much faster with the other four, he's a stubborn one though and seems fearful of asking for help or for what he wants. We're sure it's some ex-orphan untrusting where's the bond issue, but we're just going to keep praying and working through it like everything else. He's so darn adorable every other minute of the day we'll make it. He talks non-stop, and now that he's transistioning into talking for himself and not just mimicking EVERY SINGLE THING others say around him, his personality is coming out more and we're finding out how his little mind processess and thinks through our crazy life. It's a ton of fun. His favorite thing to say is, "I changed my mind." And he sure does, all the time. I think we're going through the toddler indecisive stage he missed a few years back! We got a lot of <strike>complaints</strike> helpful advice from his fellow chocolate brothers and sisters in the world at large about his hair not being appropriate and what not, so I caved to the pressure and shaved it off. CPS letting you know someone felt strongly enough about it to take your license plate and call with concern about his hair being matted will do that to you. Seriously. We went through the pain daily of brushing out his hair, matted my foot, mind your own business people. I do not need your advice. He didn't want to cut it either, but now that it's so much easier to comb, and cooler for summer, we've all come around to being ok with it. The joys of being a multiracical family and getting judged and stared at non-stop in public. Bring it!! And I dare say I enjoy the large target on my back. Being ridiculously persecuted by the enemy of our souls means we're scaring the heck out of him with our faith walk. Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQVCLWGkdRw/Tg3-cYojMwI/AAAAAAAAA_8/3lDgY_RnvsQ/s1600/110631Swim3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" i$="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XQVCLWGkdRw/Tg3-cYojMwI/AAAAAAAAA_8/3lDgY_RnvsQ/s320/110631Swim3.gif" width="246" /></a>It occured to me yesterday as we were driving down the road that Bekelech is past "learning English." She can understand and communicate anything she thinks, experiences, remembers, imagines, and questions. She's still struggling with pronouns, but that will all work itself out. She's really looking forward to starting Kindergarten again in the fall and we're looking forward to her being up to speed and master school this time! She keeps asking if she's going to be in Mrs. Neel's class again, and I honestly don't know. Pray with us that the US Governement would release our tax return funds so that we could move on to the next season of life that God has in store for us. We've been waiting very patiently Mr IRS Case Examiner, much more patiently than you would be if we owed you money. Please, Lord, just have them release our money soon.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hopefully I'll find some time soon to document the amazing trip back to Ethiopia that Nathan and I took with the Rowell family in May. It was incredible. God was so present and miraculous. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-14684828849475340832011-04-19T09:10:00.000-07:002011-04-28T10:57:16.709-07:0015 Months Together!So, I've been "getting in trouble" with many of you lately for going too long in between blog updates! Things have simply been crazy around the Root Casa, and I do apologize! As if life as a family of seven is every not crazy, nonetheless, the last few months have been a ginormous roller coaster of ridiculous life moments one after the other.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kwGxpfLdvF0/TbmUfKItw8I/AAAAAAAAA_I/ZweX7mKwjfk/s1600/April11-0888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kwGxpfLdvF0/TbmUfKItw8I/AAAAAAAAA_I/ZweX7mKwjfk/s320/April11-0888.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Let's just get right to it. March was a fantastic month. We celebrated Corban's 8th birthday while on a family vacation to Sea World in San Antonio, Texas. It was a total surprise. We told the kids we were going geocaching at a spot, and about an hour or more into the drive, they finally began whining, "Seriously? Where is this cache at? How much further?" To which I casually responded, "According to the map, 5 hours or so, depending on traffic." "5 hours!!! WHY? (In the most whiny of all voices they collectively cried.) "Well, it takes awhile to get to Sea World guys." It took a second or two for the idea to sink in and then the whoops and hollering began! Bekeh and Caleb loved the dolphins and whales. The shows were amazing and we had such a wonderful time. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QitzzqD4Ojo/TbmUpVbFQGI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/bloywWPnhrM/s1600/April11-0192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QitzzqD4Ojo/TbmUpVbFQGI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/bloywWPnhrM/s320/April11-0192.jpg" width="320" /></a>We were also blessed to run right smack in to the <a href="http://thepattesons.blogspot.com/">Patteson Family</a> while waiting to get into Sea World our first morning. I didn't recognize Danielle behind her glamorous sunglasses, but I recognized her chocolate cutie immediately! That prompted us being able to get together with them and <a href="http://www.theboddies.com/">the Boddies </a>for dinner and we had such a wonderful time chatting adoption and life talk with them! Leanne Boddie suggested we meet up the next day at <a href="http://www.wittemuseum.org/index.php/exhibits/heb">The Witte Museum</a>, and the kids had an absolute blast. The Boddie girls are adorable and Bekeh and Caleb were giddy with excitement to get to play with them all afternoon. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yE8NajGdNyE/TbmUlN_Z2CI/AAAAAAAAA_M/YwFvfS3O7FE/s1600/April11-099.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yE8NajGdNyE/TbmUlN_Z2CI/AAAAAAAAA_M/YwFvfS3O7FE/s320/April11-099.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This vacation was the first without any major bonding issues to deal with, so we were thankful to be at the point where we simply enjoyed the time as a complete family.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Jason began a new job the week we returned home and so we are excited about all God has in store for our family with this blessing. The only two drawbacks are Jason now has a longer commute and is traveling a bit more. God has redeemed even those things as He always does. Jason actually gets home earlier in the evenings than he used to, and we're hoping to have a lot of great family trips in the future with all the frequent flyer miles he's beginning to rack up. I'm learning how to navigate the weekdays with the kids schedules and just me, but all the kids are so awesome, helpful, and fun, it's been easier than I expected.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPKkS5BfiJI/TbmTjKnmc-I/AAAAAAAAA-0/J5Tq9eVwxEE/s1600/April11-0115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iPKkS5BfiJI/TbmTjKnmc-I/AAAAAAAAA-0/J5Tq9eVwxEE/s320/April11-0115.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Jason and I celebrated our 14th Wedding Anniversary in April. Unbelievable. We talked a lot about the goals we set for our family over dinner on our 10th Anniversary. We laughed at how completely naive we were at the time for the plans God had in store for us. We never imagined just a short time ago how radically different our dreams for the future, our family, and our marriage would look! So, as we looked at the year ahead, with 12 months until our 15 year goal setting dinner will arrive, we decided our only goal was to let God be in control, and to wait with anticipation for the blessings He has planned for us! <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDjAAke1UoE/TbmTrfW4-pI/AAAAAAAAA_E/MvUrfy-NWhA/s1600/April11-0901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-DDjAAke1UoE/TbmTrfW4-pI/AAAAAAAAA_E/MvUrfy-NWhA/s320/April11-0901.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>Jason recently shared with me that God has it on his heart to adopt again. A baby girl. I can't even imagine. Seriously, when he told me this, I believe the words, "Get behind me satan" escaped my lips. And while God has not placed the desire and call in my heart at this time, He has been actively ministering to me and reminding me of so many things. I have opened my heart to defend the fatherless, and whether that's through mission work or being a mom to more, I'm abandoned and willing. In God's time. I have submitted my family, the way it looks, operates, functions, forms, grows, and lives to Him, and He is free to do with it whatever He knows is best. He'll prepare me and call me when it's time. If it's His plan for our family, which, when I look in Jason's heart, I see the reality that it already is. Someday.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4nSrDMNt9gU/TbmTgXP7vbI/AAAAAAAAA-w/Ny85_q79tK8/s1600/April11-0084.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4nSrDMNt9gU/TbmTgXP7vbI/AAAAAAAAA-w/Ny85_q79tK8/s320/April11-0084.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Bekeh, you are crazy child. If I didn't know how perfectly personal our God is, and how perfectly He places personalities and types of kids into families, you would prove it to me. You are a CRAZY root, CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY. Most of the time you make me laugh hysterically, some times you just make me hysterical. You never stop. You never stop talking, you never stop turning cartwheels, you never stop drumming, asking, eating, drinking, poking, banging, begging, whining, pouting, laughing. You never stop. <br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzwvX-s4ihs/TbmTdYHUFII/AAAAAAAAA-s/d4873XXmA-A/s1600/April11-0361.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fzwvX-s4ihs/TbmTdYHUFII/AAAAAAAAA-s/d4873XXmA-A/s320/April11-0361.jpg" width="212" /></a>You've transitioned lately from the delayed toddler stages into the full blown little girl appropriate for your age. And with that, has come a lot of growing pains for mommy. It was easier to keep you in a box of, "You're too little to do. . ." and now you're not too little, and you understand everything and you want it all. When I say no to you running in the street like your older brothers, or to your crazy choices in clothing, which you are very particular about, I get this look from you that slices me to the core. You look at me as if I've killed your puppy, destroyed your self-esteem, squashed your personality, and abandoned your happiness all in one word. Had I raised you from my womb and bonded with you for 6 years, I would tell you where to take your look, but I can't. All the worry and frustration of what condition our bond is in, how you perceive your life in our family, how much you feel comfortable expressing your needs and desires and yet maintaining boundaries of obedience and respect of others all comes crashing down on me in a wave of insecurity and I feel lost!! Thank Goodness the Friend, the Author of Truth, the Comforter is there with us feeding me wisdom and helping me see the things unseen. Thank God He's there in those moments with us helping us limp along and figure this all out together. Thank God He redeemed you into our family. Thank You Jesus that you're my daughter. I love you completely. In a way I once wondered if it were possible. You are a delight of our day. You are a tender minister. You spread joy and warmth to everyone everywhere we go. You are hilarious, and your giggle changes everything. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IAoB_iQlQLQ/TbmToaBx4gI/AAAAAAAAA-8/06KbkQr6rzw/s1600/April11-0343.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IAoB_iQlQLQ/TbmToaBx4gI/AAAAAAAAA-8/06KbkQr6rzw/s320/April11-0343.jpg" width="212" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Caleb, My little dude. Who would have ever guessed you had such a bubble and adorable personality waiting in there to explode on us. Geez. You are a wild man. Since our encounter with God in your hospital room last February, you've opened up and let yourself free. We've had a two, maybe three, days in the past months where the old <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/reactive-attachment-disorder/DS00988">RAD</a> issues have returned, but I have to get on my knees, confess my wrong thoughts, cast down the lies, and reclaim the ground we've conquered. The dynamic change between you and I has infiltrated the whole family. Everything is calmer, happier, and more normal. You're enjoying learning how to be a four year old at preschool. You're talking up a storm, questioning everything, playing hard. While Bekeh's cartwheeling all over town, you're doing handstands (donkey kicks more accurately) all over the place. You've gotten pretty good and you think it's hilarious when you fall on your head. You still whine to the point of hysterics, every single time we ask you to go get your shoes. It's insanity. We've worked and worked on it, but if we say, "Go bring me your shoes," you lose it. And we lose it, and it's a lost moment of ridiculousness on all our parts. And it happens 2-3 times a day. But, alas, our whole day used to be filled with RAD drama, so we'll keep working through your shoe drama in the same fashion, and soon we'll be on the other side of it too. Your scar is healing beautifully after your surgery. You hate when we rub on it to break up the scar tissue, but you love that your lips aren't cracking and bleeding constantly! Thank you Jesus for all the healing you've brought to us.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7njI86CcyjE/TbmpO6w2ifI/AAAAAAAAA_w/VuscwkT5A_g/s1600/April11-1221.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7njI86CcyjE/TbmpO6w2ifI/AAAAAAAAA_w/VuscwkT5A_g/s320/April11-1221.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>We celebrate your 4th Birthday on Friday. You're 4 but who would know it. You couldn't guess by the 18 month tag in your loose pants, or the 2T label on your shirts. You couldn't guess it by the way you form your words, or the tone of your giggle. Even the tiny size 8 shoes on your feet mask your years. And although you've been slow to grow this past year, I look back at pictures and I see you becoming a little boy. The round baby face is fading away. I love you precious. You are perfect just the adorable size you are!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9rxG5OjBp3g/Tbmoz5BTbHI/AAAAAAAAA_o/jOsQiwpf2aU/s1600/April11-1235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" j8="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9rxG5OjBp3g/Tbmoz5BTbHI/AAAAAAAAA_o/jOsQiwpf2aU/s320/April11-1235.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></div>And no Spring update in Texas is complete without Bluebonnet pictures. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NBJqvAj8wSM/TbmUwO7lsBI/AAAAAAAAA_c/u58QC0JcWWA/s1600/Bluebonnets-9549crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NBJqvAj8wSM/TbmUwO7lsBI/AAAAAAAAA_c/u58QC0JcWWA/s320/Bluebonnets-9549crop.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CjvKU6v0xb4/TbmUzHG-doI/AAAAAAAAA_g/CXVYGORY080/s1600/Bluebonnets-9563crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CjvKU6v0xb4/TbmUzHG-doI/AAAAAAAAA_g/CXVYGORY080/s320/Bluebonnets-9563crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AoMNE9BS0XM/TbmU0E3m7QI/AAAAAAAAA_k/dr4s0u7n3_c/s1600/Bluebonnets-9565crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" j8="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AoMNE9BS0XM/TbmU0E3m7QI/AAAAAAAAA_k/dr4s0u7n3_c/s320/Bluebonnets-9565crop.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Nathan (our 9yr old) and I will be heading to Ethiopia next May 19th. I'm anxious and excited about returning to visit Bekeh and Caleb's birthfamily in their village. It will be a great opportunity to introduce Nathan to the culture and people that we have fallen in love with, as well as check in on Bekeh and Caleb's 3 bio sisters still living there. We are preparing pictures of B&C from this past year of growing to present to their father and we know it's going to be a great time of fellowship with them. We are traveling with the Rowell's and I can't wait to meet and hug and kiss and love all over their new son. Please keep us in your prayers this next month!Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-70234022157277046002011-02-19T10:08:00.000-08:002011-02-20T12:07:44.840-08:0013 Months Together!<span style="color: #990000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><strong>LOVE FEST 2011</strong></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_eY9ITYVtqI/TWFZ33Y-BMI/AAAAAAAAA-c/01uBSbG_WAk/s1600/11-02-11Caleb-surg1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_eY9ITYVtqI/TWFZ33Y-BMI/AAAAAAAAA-c/01uBSbG_WAk/s320/11-02-11Caleb-surg1.gif" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's been a major love fest around the Root house for the last month. To get things started, it was finally time for Caleb to undergo surgery for the repair of his cleft lip. His poor lip protruded into his right nostril causing him all sorts of trouble breathing and the wet skin portion of his lip was pulled up where it was constantly exposed to the air and would dry out non stop. This produced a lot of painful cracking and bleeding for him. The surgery went better than expected and we are prayerful this will be the only time he needs to have work done on it. </div> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Being alone in the hospital during his surgery, and again at night with him (after the wonderful visits from family in the evening) was a God send. Knowing I would have a mountain of time alone, I went prepared with an iPhone full of praise music and sermons I had been wanting to listen to for some time. I told the Lord ahead of time I was expecting some major breakthroughs to happen, and I wasn't leaving the hospital without them!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">That night in the dark room, while he lay sleeping, God and I encountered each other powerfully. I, yielded, heart broken for Caleb, submitted, desirous, begging, and God willing, loving, giving, and all powerful. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Let me share an excerpt from a great book I had just read. . .<br />
<em><u>This Means War - Equipping Christian Families for Fostercare or Adoption</u> by Cheryl Ellicott</em></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">So we survived and continued on, but I still struggled with guilt because I didn't feel as strong of a bond with them as I thought I should. In my mind, I was passionate about being a loving mother, but my emotions felt. . . anemic. I was so tired. Many times I prayed, asking for forgiveness for my feelings of apathy and for help to feel a deep parental love for these kids; it was still lacking.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">One day I realized something vital: The only love that was missing was the "natural" love - the feeling of a bond between mother and child. Under natural circumstances, this strong emotional bond motivates and guides parents as they protect and raise their child. However, adoption isn't natural and these children are not as they should have been (without damage); they have extra challenges and I've been called to have something higher than natural love.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?" (Matt 5:46-47NIV)</em></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My lack of strong emotion actually was the natural response to this situation! You might not form a strong emotional bond with this child, but that's okay because you can still love them; God's love is supernatural. Yes, I'm parenting, but under these circumstances, the typical parental feelings may or may not blossom; it doesn't matter. My mission is to nurture these kids, include them as part of a loving family, teach them scripture, and pray God will touch their lives in a powerful way and call them into a relationship with Himself. Nothing else matters.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">My mission has been hard and will continue to be so - because I'm weak. But God is strong and faithful; He answers prayer, and I still truly and wholeheartedly believe in miracles.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #134f5c; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The song Stay Amazed by Gateway Worship was playing on my iPod. The climactic point of song began to build in which it cries out to God, "I'm pouring out my love on you," and I began to shake uncontrollably as everything in my soul and spirit began to cry out to God.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: justify;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Was she staring into my soul when she wrote this? Surely she was writing about me and not herself? This helped remove the guilt. A huge first step in healing so you can be set free of something. It was necessary for me to let go of the guilt, and once that was gone, the desire to bond with Caleb was not prayed for out of guilt for my own feelings, but out of pure desire for him. I knew I loved him and was giving him a life he deserved. I knew he might never know the difference, and God had bonded us to a beautiful point. But I began to desire more in the last months. I began to realize that he didn't remember life before me, and so he loved me completely. Didn't he deserve that in return? As a child, didn't he deserve to be loved like every other child God had created and placed in families? The ability to ask for this type of love was gained through the prior 13 months of breakthroughs. One laid the foundation for the next, and I pray I continue to have breakthrough after breakthrough after breakthrough. I had prayed for God to fill me with love for Caleb a thousand x a thousand times before. But "WE" - Caleb and I - had a lot of growing together to do before I was capable of allowing the miracle to manifest itself, and I fought hard for 13 months to become capable.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKLCOcRTDgg/TWFZ7mSz-MI/AAAAAAAAA-g/X4pT_Pbf2SA/s1600/11-02-11Caleb-surg.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qKLCOcRTDgg/TWFZ7mSz-MI/AAAAAAAAA-g/X4pT_Pbf2SA/s320/11-02-11Caleb-surg.gif" width="251" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So there I was, in a dark hospital room with this child just hours out of surgery, and I felt sad for him in his pain, but I was still on the outside of it. I comforted him, and soothed him, and loved him . . . but it was still. . . anemic. And then<em><u> Stay Amazed</u></em> by Gateway Worship began playing on my iPod. The climax of the song began to build and cry out, "I'm pouring out my love on you, I'm pouring out my love on you." and everything in my soul (my mind, will and emotions) and everything in my spirit (which was SO alive with the presence of the Holy Spirit) began crying out to God in pure desperation. As I lay there, fully prostrate, face buried in the plastic couch a thousand worried parents had slept in before, I began to shake uncontrollably and my body went numb. I began to cry out to God, "Take it! I'm pouring it all out to you! I'm giving everything I have to you Lord. There is no love left within me, I'm pouring it all out on your feet. Take all of it Lord, but fill me back up. Fill me back up Lord and when you do, fill me utmost with a true parental love for Caleb. nothing lacking, nothing missing, nothing forced. 100% natural, 100% genuine, 100% complete, 100% mommy to pure born son." Over and over I wept and shook and cried out. I swear if the nurse had come in to check his vitals at this point he would have admitted me next door to the psych ward! The song ended and I stood up, the feeling coming slowly back into my body, and my breath and heartbeat returning to normal. I looked over to Caleb lying in his bed, and of course I wondered. Is anything different? I crawled in bed with him, I promised him things would be different going forward. I whispered how much he was loved and how much mommy was going to love him unconditionally for the rest of his life. But I've done that a thousand times. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">I laid back down on my plastic couch with the sheet that wouldn't stay on, and I slept fitfully through the night with the nurses coming and going, and we were released. Same motions, same care and concern. We met daddy for lunch, we picked the kids up from school, daddy came home from work, it was time for dinner. And then God revealed himself. Headed to my room to change, clothes half way off, I hear a scream from the other side of the house. It's Caleb. I knew Jason was just feet from him, I had just left them, and for the past 13 months that would have been enough. Daddy will comfort him, his needs will be met, and that would have been enough for me. But not this time. Instantly, I changed course and half naked ran to him, ripped him from daddy's arms and checked him over. He was shaking violently - pointing to his lip where Bekeh had slammed the door in his face. I confirmed the stitches hadn't busted, and more pain meds were administered, but then as I held him, I began to cry with him. I hurt with him. I felt his pain to the core of my being, and I knew I would do anything to take it away from him. I recognized this feeling. I had it for my three biological kids, and often for Bekeh, whenever they were hurt. I had never experienced it with Caleb. Like I said, I had always felt sad for him when he was hurting, but I had never felt his pain with him. I began to cry harder, this time in thanksgiving that God had truly thoroughly answered my prayers.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JZDA-tVcCJU/TWFy4g8b81I/AAAAAAAAA-o/4UgtilOtWm0/s1600/11-02-11Caleb-surg2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JZDA-tVcCJU/TWFy4g8b81I/AAAAAAAAA-o/4UgtilOtWm0/s320/11-02-11Caleb-surg2.gif" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">10 Days After Surgery</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Let me tell you, Caleb is a different child. I didn't share with my family for days what had happened between God and I and Caleb at Children's. But they began to say, "Man, Caleb's a whole different child since his surgery." How much more joyful, happier, brighter, talkative, skippier and crazier Caleb has been is the most talked about thing in our house to this day. Everyone has noticed the difference in our relationship, but more so, the difference it has made in Caleb.</div>I believed the lie that Caleb would never know the difference. I needed to let go of the guilt and understand that stage was all part of the process, but Caleb understood the difference. He knows what it is to be COMPLETELY loved like everyone else and even though the behaviors and interactions between us aren't really that much different, he still knows something is different, and he's flourishing in it.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">I know in my heart of hearts adoptions is unnatural, and the things that result have to be formed by supernatural ties. But I more so know that MY GOD is in the business of supernatural relationships and He desires to completely redeem, completely heal, completely bond, and completely set us free to be who we are created to be both in the supernatural and in the natural. I know that it took 13 months of fighting like a mad woman to receive the miracle of a pure natural love for Caleb, and I would fight it over again and will continue to fight for the rest of my life to continually gain more and more breakthroughs for my good, my families good, and FOR GOD'S GLORY! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">To say the least, celebrating Valentines Day was a beautiful day around here. We had a blast. Caleb and Bekeh both started preschool this month, and they are loving it. They have a long way to go to fit in academically and socially with their peers, but they are so excited, so adorable, and so friendly, they're fitting in fine and doing amazing.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U4N6nOdCeXA/TWFtjKcr5_I/AAAAAAAAA-k/9CuJobLLZC4/s1600/11-02-14Sibs.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" j6="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U4N6nOdCeXA/TWFtjKcr5_I/AAAAAAAAA-k/9CuJobLLZC4/s640/11-02-14Sibs.gif" width="441" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Valentines Day - 4 Days Post Surgery</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">His lip is healing beautifully. I keep standing in authority over it and telling it to heal and for the pigment to return evenly and appropriately. It will happen. God is good. We continue to grow, experience setbacks and breakthroughs, and most of all we continue to gain wisdom and be filled with the Holy Spirit and His love daily. Life is good, so good.</div>Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-35584663120534420302011-02-04T14:49:00.000-08:002011-02-04T14:49:36.984-08:00Snow Buddies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TUyB9UWnEmI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/SnGqelc2HZ4/s1600/11-02-04-BekehSnow.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TUyB9UWnEmI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/SnGqelc2HZ4/s400/11-02-04-BekehSnow.gif" width="285" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TUyCOAeSQbI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/iaWA_l1t2Ts/s1600/11-02-04-BekehSnow2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TUyCOAeSQbI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/iaWA_l1t2Ts/s400/11-02-04-BekehSnow2.gif" width="277" /></a></div>Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-5663456765861751662011-01-19T14:01:00.000-08:002011-01-21T14:15:38.478-08:00ONE YEAR TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TToCWX_om3I/AAAAAAAAA90/YlamDvd4J9E/s1600/YearLater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="201" s5="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TToCWX_om3I/AAAAAAAAA90/YlamDvd4J9E/s400/YearLater.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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One year. We looked toward this day all through the tough times of waiting, and transition, and bonding. We looked toward this benchmark with hopeful hearts, and faithful eyes that surely by this date God would have grafted us together, made us one family, united, totally in love, and bonded. It's amazing how hard we've worked over the last two years. First to get them home to us, and then to make them part of our family. One of my favorite quotes of Dr Phil is, "Time heals nothing, it only provides the opportunity for healing and growth." We have made every use of every opportunity, especially the ones we failed initially, to grow, push harder, claw towards each other with commitment and love. We've still got a long way to go, but I'm in awe of our Heavenly Father who has shown Himself so close, who has spoken to our hearts when we didn't have the words to say, who has shown us how to love these strangers as our own, just as He first loved us and adopted us.<br />
It's unbelievable that in 12 months they've gone from speaking no English, to talking non-stop. And I mean, non-stop. One of the most frequently heard phrase in our house is, "Bekeh, please, hush for a little bit!" The two of them have such different personalities, but they are so perfectly designed for this family, just as goofy, off the wall, crazy, and a bit dramatic and emotional at times too! Caleb's gone from being a baby to a little boy this year. No more diapers, no more crying fits for hours, no more whining constantly. He now talks, demands, and manipulates our hearts with his adorable smile. Bekeh is learning so much every day. How to write, recognize her letters, and how to open and break everything in the house.<br />
They don't really remember life in Ethiopia anymore. The things they regurgitate are things we've told them. It makes me sad, but I know it was inevitable at their ages. We are mom and dad, and they are our children. We have the five best kiddos on the planet and I'm so glad God gave them to us in His perfect timing and by His perfect plan.Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-39521511741476927712010-12-25T12:25:00.000-08:002011-01-21T12:38:13.057-08:00December - 11 months together!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTnqygQUMWI/AAAAAAAAA8c/PTmbvkFNOGE/s1600/GinaRootBlog-0125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTnqygQUMWI/AAAAAAAAA8c/PTmbvkFNOGE/s400/GinaRootBlog-0125.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTnsCF-Rp4I/AAAAAAAAA9w/nmUsdbgOCdg/s1600/GinaRootBlog-1447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" s5="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTnsCF-Rp4I/AAAAAAAAA9w/nmUsdbgOCdg/s400/GinaRootBlog-1447.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>December was an amazing time at our Crazy home. We had a fun family activity planned for every day of the month and had a time of reading the different scriptures in the story and prophecy surrounding Christ's birth each evening. We went on hikes in the nature reserve, had late night trips to Starbucks, Marble Slab runs, made special holiday treats, celebrated Christmas with all of our friends and family, and had a wonderful night with many of Bekeh and Caleb's Ethiopian "cousins" in our home. Bekeh and Caleb thought at first Christmas was just something in our house, and then became overwhelmed and shocked every time they saw Christmas lights, trees, and decorations up in other people's homes and businesses. They soon caught on that everybody loved Christmas too, and they ate it all up. They were thrilled with Santa's visit to our house, and are already talking about him visiting next year and what they want. It was truly a time of peace between all of us. It's amazing how much these two little precious kisses have been grafted into our family and are just "one of us" now. We are constantly reminded of how grateful we are that God adopted us into His family through the birth and sacrifice of His precious Son. We believe, oh how desperately we believe.Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-12826814548930718402010-11-19T15:09:00.000-08:002011-01-18T15:38:25.085-08:00November - 10 Months Together!!!!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYd2iQfwMI/AAAAAAAAA8I/ypjjUHv4C3M/s1600/10-11Bekeh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYd2iQfwMI/AAAAAAAAA8I/ypjjUHv4C3M/s640/10-11Bekeh.gif" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bekeh loves wearing her hair in "Ponies."</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYd3twak2I/AAAAAAAAA8M/2cdUNvC7Fd0/s1600/10-11Caleb.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYd3twak2I/AAAAAAAAA8M/2cdUNvC7Fd0/s640/10-11Caleb.gif" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the face of pure preciousness.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYd7JbUP4I/AAAAAAAAA8Q/9GdCUly4Yu4/s1600/10-11Cousins.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYd7JbUP4I/AAAAAAAAA8Q/9GdCUly4Yu4/s640/10-11Cousins.gif" width="442" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYd9qfQj8I/AAAAAAAAA8U/XD1H-T6m3Yg/s1600/10-11CalebGigi.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYd9qfQj8I/AAAAAAAAA8U/XD1H-T6m3Yg/s400/10-11CalebGigi.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caleb LOVES his Gigi! We visit her everyday and he always wants to be the first and last to hug her. On Thanksgiving day he only wanted to sit with her and warm up. She eats it all up.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYd-Z0lyJI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/TD8e6twwxKU/s1600/10-11BekehCorban.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="317" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYd-Z0lyJI/AAAAAAAAA8Y/TD8e6twwxKU/s400/10-11BekehCorban.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two fight more than any of the other siblings but they are a tight crew. Bekeh talks about Corban non stop while he's at school each day and everything that happens she says, "I'm going to tell Corban about. . . " Corban complains non-stop about how annoying Bekeh is, but he's always grabbing her to play games, and goofing around with her the most. They don't fool this momma!</td></tr>
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Let's just call November, BREAKTHROUGH. Satan had been selling this family a lie and we had been believing it hook line and sinker. This mom, me, Gina, had agreed with the enemy of our souls that I was a terrible mom incapable of handling Bekeh and Caleb correctly. I was frequently found huddled in my closet begging God to explain to me why He thought this whole adoption thing was a right fit for ME and my family. I had allowed well intentioned people to make me doubt God's specific word and plan for our family. When I stepped outside His will and direction, and followed the advice of others on how to raise my children, it wasn't pretty! Guilt is an ugly place to parent from and it only leads to walls and destructive patterns. We were building up walls to our bonding faster than God could nourish the attachment. It was calm and peaceful on the outside, and painful and lost on the inside. And then, in a one hour conversation with a dear sister, it all fell. We were talking about her, and the Lord revealed everything to me. In an instant it all changed. The guilt was gone, the walls were in crumbles, and the bond was restored. God is a God of miracles and what I had battled and prayed for without ceasing, and prayed and cried through for months came to pass in one instant when I let go of the guilt. God calls us to adoption, and He knows ahead of time all the times we will fail miserably. He knew every time we would mess things up more than we made them better. He knew every weed in Jason's heart, every deep weed in my heart, every trauma and pain in Bekeh and Caleb's past that would rear it's ugly head. He knew it all, and He still called us to it, and He knew it would all turn out beautifully. I had to hold on to that while we were in the thick of it, I believed it would all come to pass, and it did. Thank you Jesus for loving us enough to bring us back into your will when we lose track. Thank you for looking ahead and seeing what's best for us and assuring us when we are blind and incapable in the moment. Thank you for Bekeh and Caleb. Thank you for our crazy family.Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-27084989459239911352010-10-19T14:10:00.000-07:002011-01-18T14:38:47.213-08:00October - 9 Months Together!!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQFRlyj3I/AAAAAAAAA7E/DiMarAnvW5Y/s1600/10-10-BekehPumpkin.gif" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQFRlyj3I/AAAAAAAAA7E/DiMarAnvW5Y/s640/10-10-BekehPumpkin.gif" width="442" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQHpUpfeI/AAAAAAAAA7M/dVs7M0TmYbg/s1600/10-10-CalebBrothers.gif" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQHpUpfeI/AAAAAAAAA7M/dVs7M0TmYbg/s400/10-10-CalebBrothers.gif" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQDr_7-AI/AAAAAAAAA7A/eVLjNXHogc8/s1600/10-10-BekehCutiePie.gif" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQDr_7-AI/AAAAAAAAA7A/eVLjNXHogc8/s640/10-10-BekehCutiePie.gif" width="442" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQXdLoWTI/AAAAAAAAA74/JS7xbpfXkVM/s1600/10-10-Family.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="297" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQXdLoWTI/AAAAAAAAA74/JS7xbpfXkVM/s400/10-10-Family.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQCliEkRI/AAAAAAAAA68/Fpyb-xtiPdM/s1600/10-10-BekehCutie.gif" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQCliEkRI/AAAAAAAAA68/Fpyb-xtiPdM/s640/10-10-BekehCutie.gif" width="442" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQAayskCI/AAAAAAAAA60/24-UMLFsWvc/s1600/10-10-BekehBrooklyn.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQAayskCI/AAAAAAAAA60/24-UMLFsWvc/s400/10-10-BekehBrooklyn.gif" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQOo45w1I/AAAAAAAAA7g/NrwcuETH7Y4/s1600/10-10-CalebPumpkin.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQOo45w1I/AAAAAAAAA7g/NrwcuETH7Y4/s640/10-10-CalebPumpkin.gif" width="442" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQM54ezTI/AAAAAAAAA7c/VmBAqA7GR1g/s1600/10-10-CalebHay.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQM54ezTI/AAAAAAAAA7c/VmBAqA7GR1g/s640/10-10-CalebHay.gif" width="442" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQYkx-WPI/AAAAAAAAA78/rmhftDAQ8mc/s1600/10-10-Family2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQYkx-WPI/AAAAAAAAA78/rmhftDAQ8mc/s400/10-10-Family2.gif" width="400" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQBZ_PasI/AAAAAAAAA64/FYknQaJ8Y_s/s1600/10-10-BekehBrooklyn2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQBZ_PasI/AAAAAAAAA64/FYknQaJ8Y_s/s640/10-10-BekehBrooklyn2.gif" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These two are amazing together. Love these sisters.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQKcq-khI/AAAAAAAAA7U/K5OwcbnFgfY/s1600/10-10-CalebCrazy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQKcq-khI/AAAAAAAAA7U/K5OwcbnFgfY/s640/10-10-CalebCrazy.gif" width="442" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQQFfbQSI/AAAAAAAAA7k/plrBx9H8ZBs/s1600/10-10-CalebRhett.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="333" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQQFfbQSI/AAAAAAAAA7k/plrBx9H8ZBs/s400/10-10-CalebRhett.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caleb and Rhett</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQVVRqieI/AAAAAAAAA7w/DqI2NgXENxk/s1600/10-10-CalebSpiderman.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQVVRqieI/AAAAAAAAA7w/DqI2NgXENxk/s640/10-10-CalebSpiderman.gif" width="442" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQGQIM8xI/AAAAAAAAA7I/bjyoHzq-MyM/s1600/10-10-BekehRagdoll.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQGQIM8xI/AAAAAAAAA7I/bjyoHzq-MyM/s640/10-10-BekehRagdoll.gif" width="326" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYP_Yc6A_I/AAAAAAAAA6w/eDFCwZTxKoc/s1600/10-10-BekehAdiah.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYP_Yc6A_I/AAAAAAAAA6w/eDFCwZTxKoc/s640/10-10-BekehAdiah.gif" width="441" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQLemnrsI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/so5McOdlix4/s1600/10-10-CalebDaddy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQLemnrsI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/so5McOdlix4/s640/10-10-CalebDaddy.gif" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caleb kept saying, "We're same!"<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQJOseitI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/JHxSdEFON9M/s1600/10-10-CalebCars.gif" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: right; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="281" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQJOseitI/AAAAAAAAA7Q/JHxSdEFON9M/s400/10-10-CalebCars.gif" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A boy and his cars.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQbWnhr8I/AAAAAAAAA8E/Wxr6adxrFow/s1600/10-10-Scary.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQbWnhr8I/AAAAAAAAA8E/Wxr6adxrFow/s640/10-10-Scary.gif" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now that's scary!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQaXztGjI/AAAAAAAAA8A/lKhySB66QZU/s1600/10-10-Family3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQaXztGjI/AAAAAAAAA8A/lKhySB66QZU/s640/10-10-Family3.gif" width="442" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQTEISUSI/AAAAAAAAA7s/lVyg2vi7O80/s1600/10-10-CalebShoulders.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQTEISUSI/AAAAAAAAA7s/lVyg2vi7O80/s640/10-10-CalebShoulders.gif" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This boy loves his daddy!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQWfI3MCI/AAAAAAAAA70/7_2pjPAuSrc/s1600/10-10-CalebSweet.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQWfI3MCI/AAAAAAAAA70/7_2pjPAuSrc/s640/10-10-CalebSweet.gif" width="442" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQRj7EFuI/AAAAAAAAA7o/Uq-mTmDeCHk/s1600/10-10-CalebScooter.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" n4="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TTYQRj7EFuI/AAAAAAAAA7o/Uq-mTmDeCHk/s640/10-10-CalebScooter.gif" width="442" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">October was tough. Really tough. It's our favorite month of the year in the Root house and we made fabulous memories with Caleb and Bekeh. They loved Halloween, fall, pumpkins, and the cooler weather. We struggled this month with bonding, attachment, fits, rages, and being a big family. It was hard, but God was bigger, and looking back, there were a ton more fabulous moments amongst the struggles. Bekeh and Caleb are delightful joys, their smiles are contagious and we love them to pieces. </div>Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-68557982162624716522010-09-08T13:51:00.000-07:002010-09-08T13:51:46.794-07:00AWAA ET REUNION 2010<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We had an amazing road trip over the Labor Day weekend to Nashville, TN. We traveled to be a part of the 2010 Ethiopia Program Reunion for all families in our Agency. It was wonderful to meet many of the families we've come to "know" so well through our online support group.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpp04gybI/AAAAAAAAA2s/u6p0ZreQ_DI/s1600/10-09-03UnityCeme2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpp04gybI/AAAAAAAAA2s/u6p0ZreQ_DI/s400/10-09-03UnityCeme2.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We started our road trip at 3am on Friday morning. Everyone, except our fearless leader, slept until we reached Arkadelphia, Arkansas. We stopped to refuel, get in a couple of caches, and eat breakfast. Our first cache was at this historic cemetary. The kids loved looking at all the old headstones and trying to find the oldest ones.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpmu7gEwI/AAAAAAAAA2k/Xo8cCYksP1A/s1600/10-09-03TurtleGC.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpmu7gEwI/AAAAAAAAA2k/Xo8cCYksP1A/s320/10-09-03TurtleGC.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">This whole feeding a family of seven thing on our budget is still fairly new to all of us. It was our first trip of this length to 1. Drive instead of fly, and 2. to pack food and stop at rest stops rather than fast food establishments. The kids weren't sure at first, but getting to run around outside in the beautiful weather, and play around while they ate quickly made it their favorite new way to dine. We hit the road for the second leg of the trip and were anxious to make it to Memphis. The kids were excited about visiting an Apple Orchard.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpSBc_4qI/AAAAAAAAA1c/P_bU1N8i48E/s1600/10-09-05Bkfst.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpSBc_4qI/AAAAAAAAA1c/P_bU1N8i48E/s400/10-09-05Bkfst.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfo-gz8CPI/AAAAAAAAA0c/jwobulipf9Y/s1600/10-09-04Orchard.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfo-gz8CPI/AAAAAAAAA0c/jwobulipf9Y/s400/10-09-04Orchard.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Turned out, unlike they had promised me on the phone when I called that week, Apples were not ripe for the picking. Nonetheless, the kids enjoyed running through the orchard and riding on the side of the car through the rows of fruit trees. Mom enjoyed snapping a gazillion photos.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpIysKBlI/AAAAAAAAA0s/QkfQcMM4SqM/s1600/10-09-04Orchard2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpIysKBlI/AAAAAAAAA0s/QkfQcMM4SqM/s400/10-09-04Orchard2.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpLKwBTfI/AAAAAAAAA00/4WQVEId0P9M/s1600/10-09-04Orchard3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpLKwBTfI/AAAAAAAAA00/4WQVEId0P9M/s400/10-09-04Orchard3.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpM4xrCKI/AAAAAAAAA08/Nfx4tggBanw/s1600/10-09-04Orchard4.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpM4xrCKI/AAAAAAAAA08/Nfx4tggBanw/s400/10-09-04Orchard4.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpGhdM4xI/AAAAAAAAA0k/CtYxRb2ApcY/s1600/10-09-04Orchard1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpGhdM4xI/AAAAAAAAA0k/CtYxRb2ApcY/s400/10-09-04Orchard1.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpOUhVwOI/AAAAAAAAA1E/2rXiKaKcu8M/s1600/10-09-04Orchard5.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpOUhVwOI/AAAAAAAAA1E/2rXiKaKcu8M/s400/10-09-04Orchard5.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpPq-sYbI/AAAAAAAAA1M/vt6pUl0Hna8/s1600/10-09-04Orchard6.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpPq-sYbI/AAAAAAAAA1M/vt6pUl0Hna8/s400/10-09-04Orchard6.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpQxAS8fI/AAAAAAAAA1U/9GK7ruYhCd8/s1600/10-09-04Orchard7.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpQxAS8fI/AAAAAAAAA1U/9GK7ruYhCd8/s400/10-09-04Orchard7.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Caleb enjoyed goofing off in the apple trees more than anything. It was a miracle he stood still long enough to capture a focused shot.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpTYApyAI/AAAAAAAAA1k/IXxpsnntqDg/s1600/10-09-05Drive.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpTYApyAI/AAAAAAAAA1k/IXxpsnntqDg/s320/10-09-05Drive.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">After the fun in the orchard, and a quick lunch, it was time for mom to drive the last leg of the trip from Memphis to Nashville! We arrived, settled into our room and headed off to the Welcome BBQ. It was wonderful to hug all those beautiful necks!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Back in the room for the night Corban was having fun with mom's camera and everyone was hamming it up. Bekeh especially got caught in a doozy!!! Mom and Dad look great for surviving the 14 hour drive in the car!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfo5Lf_i8I/AAAAAAAAA0E/QHslpIFMBi8/s1600/10-09-04Bekeh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="357" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfo5Lf_i8I/AAAAAAAAA0E/QHslpIFMBi8/s400/10-09-04Bekeh.gif" width="400" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfo9dyfmBI/AAAAAAAAA0U/Z7AxsPnAzNI/s1600/10-09-04MomandDad.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfo9dyfmBI/AAAAAAAAA0U/Z7AxsPnAzNI/s400/10-09-04MomandDad.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfo7osCErI/AAAAAAAAA0M/SL5HSlnRJJI/s1600/10-09-04Fiveinthebed.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfo7osCErI/AAAAAAAAA0M/SL5HSlnRJJI/s400/10-09-04Fiveinthebed.gif" width="400" /></a>There were five in the bed, and the little one said, Roll Over! Roll Over! So they all rolled over. . . . . . .and that's no joke. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> Seven people in a single two queen hotel room. The W hotels are nice, thankfully, but we were still like caged rats! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The next two days were filled with great times with our friends. The kids met up with several friends they had shared their stay in the Transistion Home in Ethiopia with. When they met up with John and Ryan, who were there the entirety of their stay, they didn't need to be reintroduced or encouraged to play, they just jumped right in to giggling and playing with each other like old times. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpYaW3YqI/AAAAAAAAA2E/g2Jg2cUDVW8/s1600/10-09-05Vagnoni.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpYaW3YqI/AAAAAAAAA2E/g2Jg2cUDVW8/s320/10-09-05Vagnoni.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">Bekeh especially loved meeting back up with her BFF Winnie. Winnie lives in Ohio now, but we've been blessed to see her three times since we've been home. Bekeh was invited to a sleepover in Winnie's room, and she was so excited. They also went to the mall and bought matching earrings. Bekeh treasures them like precious gold.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpUq4675I/AAAAAAAAA1s/3H3Dk66XpTg/s1600/10-09-05Friends.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpUq4675I/AAAAAAAAA1s/3H3Dk66XpTg/s400/10-09-05Friends.gif" width="400" /></a> We went to the waterpark in Nashville. It was a beautiful day, but the water was freezing. The kids love the water no matter what, so they didn't seem to mind! <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpV308kpI/AAAAAAAAA10/BnrH3z3afUs/s1600/10-09-05Roots.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpV308kpI/AAAAAAAAA10/BnrH3z3afUs/s400/10-09-05Roots.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"> We finished the trip off with a fabulous breakfast at the Loveless Cafe. This carbaholic was in heaven! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIf1CQpEw3I/AAAAAAAAA20/nEK3tYHM2qc/s1600/musiccityroots_logo.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="161" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIf1CQpEw3I/AAAAAAAAA20/nEK3tYHM2qc/s200/musiccityroots_logo.png" width="200" /></a>We hadn't found any souvenirs worth buying, and then we found <a href="http://www.musiccityroots.com/">Music City Roots</a> gear at the Loveless Shop. We were thrilled. We bought a beer stein, 3 tshirts, a sticker, some earrings, and a hat. They're perfect! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIf2N_c29dI/AAAAAAAAA28/-2bTi3h9rd4/s1600/10-09-07Loveless.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIf2N_c29dI/AAAAAAAAA28/-2bTi3h9rd4/s400/10-09-07Loveless.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpZV4FY1I/AAAAAAAAA2M/qt2Gsk57dME/s1600/10-09-06Dinner.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpZV4FY1I/AAAAAAAAA2M/qt2Gsk57dME/s400/10-09-06Dinner.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">It was great just to laugh and hang out as a family. We have been so busy lately, especially daddy with his work, and we didn't even realize how much we needed just complete decompression time! Talking with the families, encouraging one another, gathering wisdom from many who had been home longer than us . . . it was an amazing trip!<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpXdkHH6I/AAAAAAAAA18/mXeNwb3MVLI/s1600/10-09-05RootsFam.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TIfpXdkHH6I/AAAAAAAAA18/mXeNwb3MVLI/s400/10-09-05RootsFam.gif" width="400" /></a></div>Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-26354867890918699902010-08-19T11:28:00.000-07:002010-08-21T13:13:39.229-07:007 Months Together!I sat down with Brooklyn and asked her how she thought the last month had gone with the transition and the family, and she said it perfectly, "It's been good Mom. Everyone's been in a good mood, and it's seemed, well, just normal around here." That's exactly what the 7th Month felt like, just normal. No drama, no trauma, no sorrow, no overwhelming stress. Just life, pretty well balanced, all getting done, lots of laughter, lots of fun, normal family of seven kind of stuff.<br />
Bekeh and Caleb, you've settled in and found your niche in the family. You aren't visitors, you aren't strangers, you're a sister, a brother, a daughter, a son, a Crazy Root - you're just fun filled life living little Texans.<br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/THAm2rEaO9I/AAAAAAAAAzM/Dz1_iV-W4G4/s1600/10-07-28-Court.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/THAm2rEaO9I/AAAAAAAAAzM/Dz1_iV-W4G4/s200/10-07-28-Court.gif" width="200" /></a>The most exciting and eventful moment of this month was when a judge here in our County declared that you are now Citizens, Officially Texans, and full fledged card carrying members of the United States of America. Your adoption is now recorded in the hallowed halls of the State of Texas Bureau of Vital Statistics, your birthdays are now officially 04-22-07 and 05-05-05 and your names are now legally and forevermore Bekelech Eva Root and Caleb Wesley Dereje Root. YeeHaw!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We spent several days with your cousins this month and it was so precious to watch the four of you together. Two from China, two from Ethiopia, but four cousins for the rest of your lives. You guys played non stop and giggled even longer. I could have never dreamed this beautiful picture in a million years just a short bit ago. God is amazing and His plans for our lives are unbelievable!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/THAm3fiLp4I/AAAAAAAAAzU/gOlwapCF3Cg/s1600/10-07-28-Cousins-Swim.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="391" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/THAm3fiLp4I/AAAAAAAAAzU/gOlwapCF3Cg/s400/10-07-28-Cousins-Swim.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> David and Shanna came into town with Kyle and we had a fun evening at Medieval Times. You guys loved the horses and all the loud cheering. Most of all you guys love Mr. David and Ms. Shanna, and they love you too. We can not wait for them to be matched with their son in Ethiopia so you guys can have another Ethiopian cousin in the family!</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/THAuXJovDVI/AAAAAAAAAzs/7Bz5K3EsaHE/s1600/10-07-28-CalebMT.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/THAuXJovDVI/AAAAAAAAAzs/7Bz5K3EsaHE/s320/10-07-28-CalebMT.gif" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/THAuWSL9BMI/AAAAAAAAAzk/Ki8lUXrb55I/s1600/10-07-28-BekehMT.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/THAuWSL9BMI/AAAAAAAAAzk/Ki8lUXrb55I/s320/10-07-28-BekehMT.gif" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Daddy's highlight of this month was getting to take the two of you to your first live performance. We take your brothers and sisters to the theater all the time, and it starts young. You guys were thrilled to go to The Wiggles! Daddy said you two never stopped bouncing for a single moment! You were laughing and dancing and a delight for all those around you to watch. When you got home you couldn't talk fast enough to tell us all about it. I am so thrilled you had an exciting date with daddy. There will be many more to come.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><object height="353" width="440"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5jWL7kvuXv4?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5jWL7kvuXv4?fs=1&hl=en_US&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x999999" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="440" height="353"></embed></object><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">School starts Monday. I'm a bit nervous about you starting Kindergarten Bekeh. But we've prayed about it alot and we know it's the best decision for you. It's still scary. I worry for you going so long without a nap, I worry about your teacher keeping up with your huge personality in a class of kids, I'm worried about you being behind, and being smaller than the other kids. It's just normal ol momma worries. I know you'll do great. It's going to be a great time for Caleb and I too. We're going to get to play together and really bond as mom and son while everyone else is in class. I can't wait. It's still over 100 degrees everyday here, so just because school is starting doesn't mean we won't still live in the pool the rest of the day. You'll love that too. It's you're favorite thing about living here! :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/THAuxOx00lI/AAAAAAAAAz0/3GKdtFOBhVU/s1600/10-07-28-Swim.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/THAuxOx00lI/AAAAAAAAAz0/3GKdtFOBhVU/s320/10-07-28-Swim.gif" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Seven months as a family of seven. Wow. The light at the end of this tunnel is blinding and beautiful! We'll leave you this month with a sampling of what we get to listen to non-stop around the Root house. NON-STOP. Beautiful chaos!<br />
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</div>Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-87065607226634928332010-07-19T19:43:00.000-07:002010-07-19T19:49:09.150-07:006 Months Together!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">It's hard to believe that we've been together 6 months, a full half year!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFqito-GI/AAAAAAAAAwk/VmNVxFDGu3Q/s1600/10-07-06-Riders1.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFqito-GI/AAAAAAAAAwk/VmNVxFDGu3Q/s400/10-07-06-Riders1.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: x-large;"><strong>Caleb</strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You are such an adorable ham. The light in your eyes turned on a couple of months ago, and you are such a delight. You are learning English so fast. "I want one." "I need to go potty." "Where's Bekeh?" "Time to go night night?" "No, not this one. I want that one." "Caleb no whining! No spankings. Spanking yucky." "Bekeh eat a cheese-a-bugger?" "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes!" "No Lem-no-ade. No water. I want Spite!" "That's green." "Daddy at work?" "Mommy got an owie?" . . . . . just a sampling of what I've heard in the last few minutes while editing your pics for this post. You talk, or make noise at least, constantly. Your older brothers and sister are constantly asking you to be quiet for a second!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFu5J1J4I/AAAAAAAAAws/9a6_F4gDVMg/s1600/10-07-06-Riders2.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFu5J1J4I/AAAAAAAAAws/9a6_F4gDVMg/s400/10-07-06-Riders2.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Our favorite things you do. . . you love to make funny faces and pretend to be a monster walking around with your hands in the air, your body bent over, moaning and shaking. Once you begin laughing you'll laugh for minutes on end, and by the end, we're all giggling uncontrollably.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You are the easiest little boy to put to sleep. All I have to say is "Close your eyes." and where ever you are you close your eyes, scrunch up your face, and within a minute or two, you're snoring.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUIuIKS_uI/AAAAAAAAAxM/wTW2fGr_khk/s1600/10-07-17-Bathroom.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUIuIKS_uI/AAAAAAAAAxM/wTW2fGr_khk/s400/10-07-17-Bathroom.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I can count the accidents you've had on one hand since you moved into big boy underwear. Clothes are still a favorite thing. You love having pants, and if I didn't watch you closely you would change pants a hundred times a day. Every time you go potty and we pull your pants back on, you giggle and clap your hands with delight. Sometimes when you need disciplining for a bad choice in the bath tub or after swimming, making you wear your underwear without pants on is worse to you than a spanking or time out.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Being in the water is your favorite thing ever. You live to be in the water. Not really in the water, more under the water. If a child could grow gills by desire, you'd have a set. We literally have to pull you up and make you take a breath. You love it and you go non stop. You love to be thrown in the air as high as we can, and come splashing down and then sit under water happily until we grab you and pull you up. It's crazy, and you amaze everyone who watches you enjoy it so completely.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFdnPBv0I/AAAAAAAAAwU/4IQ4A8Iw5SE/s1600/10-07-17-SleepwithCinderella.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFdnPBv0I/AAAAAAAAAwU/4IQ4A8Iw5SE/s320/10-07-17-SleepwithCinderella.gif" /></a>You no longer hide under blankets, but you still love them. You love hand towels. You carry one around with you everywhere. It's your cape, your skirt, your head wrap, your rope. I'm constantly picking up random dish and hand towels from around the house you've laid aside.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You've grown a lot in the past 6 months, but you're still tiny. 18 month pants still fall off you. But you have massive hands, and little feet. It's a funny combination. You've changed so much in 6 months, I can't imagine what the next 6 months will hold for you and our family. We love you like crazy.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<span style="color: #351c75; font-size: x-large;"><strong><em>Bekeh</em></strong></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFamqDsfI/AAAAAAAAAwM/V4T9JB0Doz4/s1600/10-07-17-PrincessCinderella.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFamqDsfI/AAAAAAAAAwM/V4T9JB0Doz4/s400/10-07-17-PrincessCinderella.gif" width="277" /></a></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You are an adorable firecracker, spitfire, mischievous, sweet princess. Over the weekend Brooklyn was chatting away with her cousin Natalie and ignoring you. After the 5th or 6th "Brooklyn!" from you, she, being highly annoyed, yelled back, "What?" You stopped, rolled your neck around as if to say, excuse me! and instantly shot back at her, with big attitude, "I'll tell <em><strong>you</strong></em> what!" </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You love to test your boundaries. If mommy says, "Here's your water." You sass back with, "Bekeh no water! I want apple juice." Which quickly gets you no drink at all for the bit. You still have to try it every time though. When I put the paint away, you get it back out. You hate the consequence, but it's still your job to try it. That's what 5 year olds do. They see the boundary and have to try and move it. Thank goodness I love you enough to stay the boss. Today you told me I was not the boss. Someday you'll learn that's just a challenge to mom's to prove you wrong. But for today, we just laughed and giggled with a tickle game of "uh-huh I'm the boss!"</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Even with the amazing size of your attitude, your delightful loving side is even bigger. You love to stroke faces, and rub hair. You love everything that smells good. You make everyone, and I mean EVERYONE smell your hands if you have on lotion or perfume, or recently washed soap lingering. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFYqGlUnI/AAAAAAAAAwE/Nnk4wywaqPo/s1600/10-07-17-Hunk-Hottie.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" hw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFYqGlUnI/AAAAAAAAAwE/Nnk4wywaqPo/s400/10-07-17-Hunk-Hottie.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You have an excellent memory! If anyone loses something in the house, all we have to do is ask you where it is, and you'll go straight to it and bring it to us. Not sure yet if that's because you have a photographic memory of everywhere we've dropped our things, or if you're the one who took them and caused us to lose them in the first place. Either way, we're glad you always know where things are!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFxdyHWaI/AAAAAAAAAw0/1oExp4rXY_s/s1600/10-07-06-Riders3.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUFxdyHWaI/AAAAAAAAAw0/1oExp4rXY_s/s400/10-07-06-Riders3.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You are super duper smart. You and Brooklyn are having a wonderful time playing school this summer. She takes you into the room y'all share, and she has the alphabet and number charts hanging on the wall. She takes you through the pages of your alphabet and numbers workbook. You pay closer attention to her than you do me, so it works great. You've learned most of your animals, many letters by sight of the alphabet, all your colors, how to count objects to 15, although you always skip 8, and you know all your shapes. You're an expert at puzzles, especially puzzles that make pictures out of shapes. You speak in complete sentences, and know how to express your needs and wants very clearly.</div><br />
You still love to sing. You no longer sing in Kembaatan. Your favorite songs to sing loudly are Itsy Bitsy Spider, One Two Buckle My Shoe, and Lady Gaga's Bad Romance and Poker Face, the Glee versions. Even Caleb sings along. It's pitiful what you're being exposed to by your siblings!<br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The transition, attachment, and bonding are going good. My mother in law paid me the biggest compliment yesterday. She said, <em><span style="color: #20124d;">"I tell everyone how amazed I am how easy you guys are making this look and how well you've added two more to your family. When you say, "Let's go" everyone falls in line and obeys. I know it's not easy, but you've done a great job."</span></em> Jason and I love watching So You Think You Can Dance on t.v., and one of the greatest compliments the judges give the dancers is to say they make their movements look effortless. I felt like a leaping ballerina. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUGHejh7SI/AAAAAAAAAw8/7X1GtlxysvM/s1600/10-07-06-Riders9.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUGHejh7SI/AAAAAAAAAw8/7X1GtlxysvM/s400/10-07-06-Riders9.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The last six months have been the most difficult months of our life. I never knew two innocent beautiful children could shred my self-confidence so completely and make me question everything I ever believed about myself in such a short period of time. I never thought after raising 3 children that the 4th and 5th ones would make me question what God was thinking when He made me a mother. I've known my husband for 20+ years, and yet I found myself wondering at times over the last 6 months why he didn't run scared. And all of it, the fact that this transition almost cracked us, and yet we made it look effortless, is not a testament to us, or the strength of our love, family or marriage. . . it's all a testament to the power of God, the empartation of skills and wisdom by the Holy Spirit, and the power of downright desperate prayer and brokenness before His throne. There were times I cried out to Heaven to show me the way to send them back to Ethiopia. It's honest, and true. I didn't mean them as soon as the words left my tongue, but for some reason my flesh needed to scream it out in that desperate moment for some relief. There were times I thought that if anyone could really see the mom I was behind closed doors they would throw me away with no pardon. And yet, God calls me spotless and beautiful. There have been times I've questioned whether I've ruined my three biological kids lives, and yet, God showed me how much they've grown and how huge their capacity to love has been expanded to. There were many times a day I asked God what He was thinking, and many times He answered, "I have great plans for you and your family Gina." Too many times I cracked, and He healed me, stronger than I was before. Too many times I messed up, and He showed me His power to redeem and restore. We're through the deepest valleys of the transition so far. There will be others. Each new season of their lives will bring with it new challenges and new expressions of their attachment and bonding needs. But, we're ready for them. We love them so deeply. Jason's 100% there, he loves them as he loves the other three. I'm not there yet. I'm closer than ever and I can see it in our future, clearer than I thought possible even two months ago, but it takes time. I've read others say it at 8 months, others at 12, some at 2 years together or more. God has planted them in my heart forever, I'm not worried about when they bloom there as brightly as Corban, Nathan, and Brooklyn. I know they will, I know they're getting close.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUIqYGNiYI/AAAAAAAAAxE/94cn4pnJJ04/s1600/10-07-17-Family.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" hw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TEUIqYGNiYI/AAAAAAAAAxE/94cn4pnJJ04/s400/10-07-17-Family.gif" width="400" /></a></div>It's been a beautiful half year, and I can't wait for the next 6 months. Fall is my favorite season, and then there's Thanksgiving and Christmas. What an amazing time it will be, and so much richer as a family of seven.Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-44794484995605515762010-07-08T17:38:00.000-07:002010-07-08T17:38:39.462-07:00Summer Fun!The kids have absolutely no fear of the water so we're really enjoying spending most days in the pool. We shot video yesterday when they decided it was a good day to figure out how to kick and move their arms and actually swim. Sorry we forgot to turn the iPhone horizontal to get a better pic! Next time! <br />
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Bekeh tried first. . . .<br />
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And whatever Bekeh does, Caleb has to do. . . .<br />
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<object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_ebLQQJbNG0&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_ebLQQJbNG0&hl=en_US&fs=1?rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-53629672133771981432010-07-04T13:21:00.000-07:002010-07-04T13:21:06.847-07:00Happy Birthday America!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #cc0000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><strong><em>God has purchased our freedom with his Son's blood and has forgiven all our sins.</em> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Colossians 1:14 NLT</span></strong></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmWfZHFsI/AAAAAAAAAv8/ZfNP-S06gQw/s1600/10-07-04-Sis%27.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmWfZHFsI/AAAAAAAAAv8/ZfNP-S06gQw/s320/10-07-04-Sis%27.gif" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We love celebrating July 4th! One of Jason's favorite activities is watching fireworks, and so each year we celebrate at Kaboomtown in Addison. We were anxious this year to introduce one of our favorite family outings to Bekeh and Caleb. They absolutely loved it! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmSrMbJPI/AAAAAAAAAvk/5eRXGlSMrPA/s1600/10-07-04-Kids.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmSrMbJPI/AAAAAAAAAvk/5eRXGlSMrPA/s640/10-07-04-Kids.gif" width="443" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">As you can see, itt was rainy and soggy, but worth it! The show was amazing, as always. It lasted a little over 25 minutes and was beautifully coreographed with the music. Bekeh especially loved the purple ones!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmPgmbe6I/AAAAAAAAAvU/SnRzlzXfIgM/s1600/10-07-04-GIrls.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmPgmbe6I/AAAAAAAAAvU/SnRzlzXfIgM/s400/10-07-04-GIrls.gif" width="275" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmUC4cnWI/AAAAAAAAAvs/48dGlKLpyGM/s1600/10-07-04-Mimi.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmUC4cnWI/AAAAAAAAAvs/48dGlKLpyGM/s400/10-07-04-Mimi.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We were excited that Mimi was able to join us for the festivities, it had been many years since she'd grabbed a seat on the grass and enjoyed the show with us.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">We were also excited to have all of Nana's family join us! Jason's grandmother, young at 92, was driven down from Wisconsin by Uncle Tom and his wife Charlotte, and Aunt Janice and her son Tripp flew in from Hawaii. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmVJWaTjI/AAAAAAAAAv0/j5RS3xT4Hmo/s1600/10-07-04-Nana.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmVJWaTjI/AAAAAAAAAv0/j5RS3xT4Hmo/s400/10-07-04-Nana.gif" width="277" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>The kids had a blast with Uncle Tom. He's really a big kid at heart, and one of his passions in life is toys that light up. The street vendors were thrilled to have him attend last night, and so were our children! They loved the swords and light sabers and all other gadgets that Tom purchased and let them pass around all night! Thanks goodness for his collection of duct tape as well. Bekeh and Caleb still aren't good at being careful, and there were many emergency repairs in the field.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmRE0bmAI/AAAAAAAAAvc/ITz-pQ7xRZA/s1600/10-07-04-Janice.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmRE0bmAI/AAAAAAAAAvc/ITz-pQ7xRZA/s400/10-07-04-Janice.gif" width="276" /></a></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">With the Hurricane in the gulf we've been experiencing very soggy weather around here, and we were anxious that the fireworks would be rained out. Janice and Tripp had requested the trip take place this time of year specifically to see them! We prayed like crazy and although it was black and downpoured through dinner at 6:30pm, by 9:45pm when they began, it was perfectly clear! Thank you Jesus!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
It's really a free for all who joins us every year. Some years it's just family, other years just friends, most years a little of both! We always park it in the same spot and everyone and anyone who wants to join us is always welcome! It's a standing invitation, so perhaps next year it will be you!</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmN_46l7I/AAAAAAAAAvM/-opMVPxpT9Q/s1600/10-07-04-DadCal.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" rw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmN_46l7I/AAAAAAAAAvM/-opMVPxpT9Q/s400/10-07-04-DadCal.gif" width="277" /></a> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">May God Bless America and May God Bless You!</span></div><img height="96" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TDDmUC4cnWI/AAAAAAAAAvs/48dGlKLpyGM/s320/10-07-04-Mimi.gif" style="filter: alpha(opacity=30); left: 349px; mozopacity: 0.3; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 1883px; visibility: hidden;" width="66" /> <div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-26890662327587479182010-06-19T15:40:00.000-07:002010-06-21T13:46:54.911-07:005 Months Together!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">It's crazy how fast this transistion period is flying by. I have so much to say about how far you guys have come this month, with your english, your bonding, your peace and comfort. But, I'm just exhausted and it's stinking hot here in Texas. I believe this monthly update is simply going to be about your gorgeous faces, and less words! </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LJLN0t9I/AAAAAAAAAu0/Vc0eh7Nw_Zc/s1600/10-06-20-Tumble.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ru="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LJLN0t9I/AAAAAAAAAu0/Vc0eh7Nw_Zc/s320/10-06-20-Tumble.gif" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">You guys have no fear, and no sense of which end is up when you're tumbling and having fun!</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i315.photobucket.com/albums/ll449/ginaroot/10-06-15-Slide.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qu="true" src="http://i315.photobucket.com/albums/ll449/ginaroot/10-06-15-Slide.gif" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">We really loved traveling to Houston for the Memorial Day Weekend. You guys got to hang out with several of your buddies from the Transistion Home in Ethiopia, and I got a chance to chat the day away with my Yahoo Group Sisters!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_CGUEtkQI/AAAAAAAAAuE/qJIZ3JG-nP0/s1600/10-06-15-MemDayWknd.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" ru="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_CGUEtkQI/AAAAAAAAAuE/qJIZ3JG-nP0/s400/10-06-15-MemDayWknd.gif" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LFYUYryI/AAAAAAAAAuk/UtKgA0VXlPo/s1600/10-06-20-Caleb%26Brookl.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LFYUYryI/AAAAAAAAAuk/UtKgA0VXlPo/s400/10-06-20-Caleb%26Brookl.gif" width="277" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LAI0vzWI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Fj0TcuqWJuw/s1600/06-10-15+Cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="368" ru="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LAI0vzWI/AAAAAAAAAuM/Fj0TcuqWJuw/s400/06-10-15+Cookies.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LHc8xEBI/AAAAAAAAAus/FsWzKq3-PUc/s1600/10-06-20-Caleb.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" ru="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LHc8xEBI/AAAAAAAAAus/FsWzKq3-PUc/s400/10-06-20-Caleb.gif" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LDjZD_4I/AAAAAAAAAuc/iQpl3iLCaQk/s1600/10-06-20-Bekeh.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" ru="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LDjZD_4I/AAAAAAAAAuc/iQpl3iLCaQk/s400/10-06-20-Bekeh.gif" width="400" /></a><img border="0" height="291" ru="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TB_LCDDHJDI/AAAAAAAAAuU/N8aVO2auqvs/s400/10-06-20-BCCBN.gif" width="400" /></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">My sweet fellow AWAA Mom <a href="http://www.selahstudios.blogspot.com/">Cindi Koceich with Selah Studios</a> took these portraits of the kids and we love them so much.</div>Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-15434476288932355062010-06-09T14:56:00.001-07:002010-06-12T09:06:05.270-07:00"Mommy, Bekeh like Ethiopia better."<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">So, Bekeh you've really been missing your homeland a lot lately. Our trip to Houston was perfectly timed, thanks to the Holy Spirit. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Your friend from the Transistion Home in Ethiopia flew in from Ohio, and y'all got to spend the day together. You were thrilled to see Winnie, and we could tell it really helped you to have "part of Ethiopia" back in your life.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TBOvj8DScII/AAAAAAAAAt0/YzUSfZIh4-s/s1600/10-05-30-B%26WinnieET.gif" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" qu="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TBOvj8DScII/AAAAAAAAAt0/YzUSfZIh4-s/s320/10-05-30-B%26WinnieET.gif" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Look at how sweet you were playing "Coffee" in Ethiopia and now the smiles are just as big when you're together in Texas! <img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5480897105829398546" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/TBAO4PNtiBI/AAAAAAAAAts/LUjDk_uepvo/s400/10-05-30-B%26Winnie.gif" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; cursor: hand; display: block; height: 282px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 400px;" />Today was an especially good day. We laughed and giggled a lot. "This is awesome!" came out of your mouth over and over. After awhile I asked you, "Do you like being at Mommy's house?" You looked at me for awhile and softly said, "No. I like Askalech's house." I understand sweet Bekeh. All the food, love, and security in the world doesn't take away the hurt of leaving your family and your sister behind. Mommy said, "I'm sorry you cannot see Askalech, I know you miss her." You said, "Mommy, Bekeh like Ethiopia better." And I gave you a big hug. </div></div>So, then I asked you, "Do you like Mommy?" And you smirked and said, "NO!" "NO? What can Mommy do better?" I asked with a smile. You giggled and said, "Mommy play kitchen in my room." "Oh! I see. . ." And off we went to bake plastic veggies. . .Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-39565873594385125432010-05-19T11:52:00.000-07:002010-05-21T13:06:07.556-07:004 Months Together!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473801166869119186" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S_bZKOpaQNI/AAAAAAAAAs0/NlY2HlaZO_E/s400/10-05-20-B%26C.gif" /><br /><div>Do you know how I know things are settling into a little bit of normal around here? It's difficult for me to sit and think about what you two have done in the past month with us. For the first time since January, the family has not solely revolved around the two of you. I know that in and of itself might sound offensive to you guys, but I assure you it's the best thing for you. You have joined our family, and you are finally becoming part of our family, not this separate entity that sends out amazing and beautiful light and energy but also creates a gravitational pull that yanks everything around into it!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 284px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473801194089117490" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S_bZL0DKdzI/AAAAAAAAAtM/EM3_KEwwNXQ/s400/10-05-20-C.gif" /></div><br /><div>Caleb, I've been anxiously waiting to write this post for one reason, to announce to the world that you no longer use me as a battering ram. Wow, where did that word come from? I was thinking punching bag and battering ram came out of my keyboard. That just started a whole thing with the Holy Spirit in me. Whoa.</div><div></div><div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S_bcRXKpGdI/AAAAAAAAAtk/B1ceqN76Cqc/s1600/10-05-20-battering.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 154px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473804587949955538" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S_bcRXKpGdI/AAAAAAAAAtk/B1ceqN76Cqc/s200/10-05-20-battering.gif" /></a>Siege armies used a battering ram to break down a gatehouse door or even smash a castle wall. To shield themselves from attack, they built a covered shed, in which they hung a thick tree trunk on chains suspended from a beam above. Carpenters tapered the trunk into a blunt point and capped it with iron. Soldiers swung the hanging trunk back and forth, and the forward end of the trunk moved in and out of the shed like a tortoise's head, battering its target. Castle defenders tried to burn the shed down with flaming arrows, though attackers responded by covering the shed with animal pelts or earth to make it fireproof. </em></span></div><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">I was never your battering ram Caleb, mommy had it all wrong. Jesus was your battering ram. He was the large tree breaking down the walls you built around your heart. I was simply part of the covering shed. I took the fiery arrows from the enemy trying to stop us from breaking down the strongholds. You weren't firing the arrows sweetheart, you were the prisoner locked inside we were trying to rescue. It wasn't until we covered ourselves in the blood of Jesus that we became fireproof and finally knocked through to where you were hiding. Oh praise your name Holy Spirit for showing me that just now. Thank you for being a battering ram for all of us, and forgive me for all those months I wasted feeling sorry for myself because I placed myself as that tree and whined about the beating I was taking against the castle wall. Thank you for tearing that wall down on April 24th and bringing Caleb out from his bondage. <div></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;"></span> </div><div><br /><br /></span></div><div></div><span style="font-size:100%;">Wow Son, didn't expect God to speak through my typing this blog post, but that's the cool thing about your Heavenly Daddy, He shows up everywhere. That just changed my perspective on everything in 5 minutes. Gotta take a break and process and pray, be right back.</span><div><span style="font-size:100%;">Deep breath. Ok, Caleb, so, our bonding nightmare is behind both of us, and we're able to just move forward with normal bonding. It will take months and years and will never stop, but at least we're together finally. No more frantic screaming, no more avoiding eye contact, no more hiding under blankets. You still startle really easy, it will take time for you to trust and find peace, but we'll get there together. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 283px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473801209089817074" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S_bZMr7m-fI/AAAAAAAAAtU/i_NQTHL1vN4/s400/10-05-20-C2.gif" />As you toddled around the house today playing and trying to talk in your undecipherable jibberish, I thought to myself, "I really do enjoy that boy." You are hilarious, you have a snorting laugh that cracks us up, you announce very loudly anytime anyone burps or toots in the house, and your cheeks are filling out with extra sweetness enough that the most adorable dimples have appeared! Just squeezable. I love your prayers. I love how you repeat "Caleb no tee tee on the floor, that's yucky. No tee tee in pants, yucky. No tee tee on Bekeh in bath, that's yucky." everytime you go potty. You don't have accidents, maybe because you remind yourself so often. . . You're talking a lot, although it takes one of us to interpret for you to outsiders. Still got a lazy tongue and lips, but we'll work on it! You love playing outside, you love playing pretend kitchen, and you still love WIGGLES!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 285px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473801188281844418" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S_bZLeamgsI/AAAAAAAAAtE/Hkqz96vBKeU/s400/10-05-20-B2.gif" /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;">Bekeh. Your biggest change this month has been in your peace. Although you still pout when you feel left out of anything, which is a lot, you are a more peaceful person. I think a lot has to do with the fact that you now have a voice and vocabulary to express your needs. The other day you came in to me after school and said, "Mommy, Bekeh no like this dress. No more wear it." You had whined everytime I put it on you previously and just got chidded for being whiney. It was good to express your taste, cause the dress went in the giveaway box, and you were very pleased. You have also learned the concept of money and buying. You received a birthday card from Great Grandma Mullen, and about thirty minutes after opening it you came to me and said, "Mommy, where my money from Grandma Mullen?" I laughed cause you were so serious and it was your longest thought and phrase to get out clearly up til then. So I said, "It's in your wallet." Immediatley you responded, "Where's my wallet?" So I showed you in the kitchen. The next day you saw a Wiggles coloring book at the store and begged for it. I said no, and you said in an excessively whiney voice, "Bekeh want it." So I said, "Do you want to buy it with your money in your wallet?" Your eyes lit up and we bought the coloring book and when we got home you counted out five dollars (it was a thick one) and gave it to me. You carried that book around everywhere and told everyone, "Bekeh bought it - money!" I love being able to talk with you now. It's still progressing, and you have to have insider knowledge to understand everything, but you've been telling me whose absent at school, whose parents visited the classroom, who got in trouble in class, what you did, where you want to go, what you think about things, etc. I can't wait to really learn about your personality more when you can express all those amazing things swimming around in your head!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 391px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5473801437542013922" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S_bZZ--22-I/AAAAAAAAAtc/f9A6K8yM8fo/s400/10-05-19-NewDo.gif" />I love this picture because Brooklyn took it, and you'll smile differently for her, and because you're wearing a beloved article of clothing! Brooklyn, Emily, and Natalie all received these Hello Kitty nightgowns from Mimi manyyears ago when they were tiny. I think Brooklyn had just turned 3. When she got it, it came to her ankles, and she was still wearing it last month, only it barely covered her toosh. But she loved it and would never let it go. Finally, a couple of weeks ago, I convinced her it was time because it didn't have to go away, she could pass it down to you. It was actually a tough choice for her, but seeing you in it makes her smile, and me too! I love that you will wear it til it's bone thin and barely covers your hiney too.</span></div><div></div><span style="font-size:100%;">I'll try and take notes during month five so I'll have more to report, but it was an AMAZING month and we've come so far in getting used to each other and figuring this whole new normal out! Love you babies! (Oh, sorry, you HATE it when I call you that. You don't understand the concept of nicknames or terms of endearment at all!!!) SO. . . .Love you big girl and big boy!</span>Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-35724267512370518412010-05-12T06:54:00.000-07:002010-05-12T06:58:31.189-07:00Bear's Coming Home!<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-qz0HBjcgI/AAAAAAAAArI/_7onfGsN9A0/s1600/10-05-12-B-ear.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 359px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470382405215023618" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-qz0HBjcgI/AAAAAAAAArI/_7onfGsN9A0/s400/10-05-12-B-ear.gif" /></a>We are so blessed to have a tight knit group of Ethiopian/Texan families that we share this journey with. Bekeh especially loves Ms. Linda, and thoroughly enjoys our car rides to lunch. She's been waiting for "her baby from Ethiopia" to come and play with her and we're thrilled to pieces he's on his way home this week!!!! He's gotten so big since we held him and kissed all over him for Ben and Linda in January. Can't wait to kiss all over him some more this weekend! He's coming Bekeh and you can play with him again finally! We love you Bereket!!Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-22486167851837191242010-05-11T13:56:00.001-07:002010-05-11T14:31:09.737-07:00Let's Party!On Saturday we had a wonderful birthday party out at my brother's place to celebrate Caleb, Bekeh, and Rhett's birthdays. They each came home to our families in January of this year after being adopted through America World, so this was their first American Birthday, and we went all out!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470122303056305698" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nHQK-c3iI/AAAAAAAAAqA/NcP2cKlYpJo/s400/10-05-08-335-Caleb.gif" /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nI2CiLvPI/AAAAAAAAAq4/yU10Bpoq2G4/s1600/10-05-08-335-BekehsEatenCake.gif"></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nI2l1l1JI/AAAAAAAAArA/trrQ83XRXi8/s1600/10-05-08-335-CalebsEatenCake.gif"></a>It was a cool family affair, and the kids were happily overwhelmed with the attention, and especially the gifts.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470122314497895842" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nHQ1mVraI/AAAAAAAAAqQ/MNtPzcT4Q4Y/s400/10-05-08-335-CalebdOG.gif" />Caleb's favorite gift was from Nana, a green ride on Dog. It was the first gift opened, and he sat upon it to open all the others! He and Papa must have ridden up and down the steep driveway a hundred times!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470123044861249986" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nH7WaiCcI/AAAAAAAAAqo/7v-jbMWIdQY/s400/10-05-08-335-Papa%26Caleb.gif" />Bekeh loved her kitchen from Nana, earrings from Grammy and Papa, and is having a blast with all the sidewalk chalk and puzzles she received. Thank you!<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470120025778017746" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nFLnc_1dI/AAAAAAAAApo/XZGQIkAYYqo/s400/10-05-08-335-BekehKitchen.gif" />Every American child enjoys the thrill of devouring their very own birthday cake on their first birthday, and these three were no different. Although the majority of their smash cakes were destroyed in a mature manner with a fork, Bekeh and Caleb were forced by their brother and sister to partake with their full face as well!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470120035942479314" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nFMNUZNdI/AAAAAAAAAp4/uvS-MYpKJig/s400/10-05-08-335-Cakes.gif" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470122310088231202" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nHQlK_iSI/AAAAAAAAAqI/14Cr7yhebUQ/s400/10-05-08-335-CalebCake.gif" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 286px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470120019439087234" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nFLP1rboI/AAAAAAAAApg/N7ncaiSP1Sg/s400/10-05-08-335-BekehCake.gif" />Their first real sugar highs!!!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470123050086429250" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nH7p4T8kI/AAAAAAAAAqw/0X-SAl8Ov0E/s400/10-05-08-335RhettCake.gif" /> <div><div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nHRlEcIAI/AAAAAAAAAqg/CA-BnC1HQmE/s1600/10-05-08-335-CrazyRoots.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 279px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470122327240613890" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nHRlEcIAI/AAAAAAAAAqg/CA-BnC1HQmE/s400/10-05-08-335-CrazyRoots.gif" /></a> The kids had a blast playing with their cousins. They played on the bounce house, the zip line, took rides on the atv cart, blew bubbles, rode bikes and scooters. . . by the time we left, everyone had black feet and required baths at 11:30 at night!<br /><br /><div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nHRNlYsyI/AAAAAAAAAqY/5TKcsR5NJro/s1600/10-05-08-335-Carson.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470122320936350498" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nHRNlYsyI/AAAAAAAAAqY/5TKcsR5NJro/s400/10-05-08-335-Carson.gif" /></a> <div><div><div><div><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nFL5QM7MI/AAAAAAAAApw/ixQL2cGysO4/s1600/10-05-08-335-bOUNCE-hOUSE.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 340px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470120030556187842" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nFL5QM7MI/AAAAAAAAApw/ixQL2cGysO4/s400/10-05-08-335-bOUNCE-hOUSE.gif" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nFKiTz3DI/AAAAAAAAApY/122wVDF0RNk/s1600/10-05-08-335-All-ten-cart.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 306px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470120007217437746" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nFKiTz3DI/AAAAAAAAApY/122wVDF0RNk/s400/10-05-08-335-All-ten-cart.gif" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nE6aXGPXI/AAAAAAAAApQ/LsiZjS1Jx6c/s1600/10-05-08-335-All-ten.gif"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 274px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5470119730205834610" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-nE6aXGPXI/AAAAAAAAApQ/LsiZjS1Jx6c/s400/10-05-08-335-All-ten.gif" /></a></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br />Happy Birthday beautiful babies! We were so thrilled to celebrate with you and watch you blossom with all the personalized attention! We love you Rhett! Love Ya Bekeh! Love and Kisses Caleb!Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-85460851556338326032010-05-05T11:54:00.000-07:002010-05-05T12:50:04.920-07:005, 5, Glorious 5!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467867241490403602" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-HESUAH0RI/AAAAAAAAAnw/a8P5vZSf78w/s400/10-05-05-Bekeh-5.gif" /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bekeh</span> has been waiting for her birthday for two weeks now. Somehow, on Caleb's birthday back on the 22<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">nd</span> of April, she understood the concept and has been literally counting down the days. First it was, "Two weeks, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bekeh's</span> birthday!" and then "Next week is my birthday!" And Monday it was, "Two days, my birthday!" and yesterday, "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wedsay</span> my Birthday!"<br />Last night I asked her how old she was and she said, "Four!" and then I asked, "How old will you be tomorrow?" and she held up all five fingers and screamed, "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">FFFIIIIVVVEEE</span>!!"<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467867535661898610" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-HEjb4Em3I/AAAAAAAAAow/Fgv_suel9_k/s400/10-05-05-Bekeh-walk.gif" /><br />So in honor of her 5<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">th</span> birthday today, 05-05-05, here are 5 of our favorite things about <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bekeh</span>.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467867277744003746" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-HEUbDp2qI/AAAAAAAAAoQ/j9ZFeyGYizM/s400/10-05-05-Bekeh-Five.gif" /> <span style="font-size:180%;color:#00cccc;"><strong>1.</strong></span> She loves Butterflies. When I pulled out the butterfly wings from our dress up box this morning, her eyes were bigger than saucers and she began jumping up and down! Her favorite new song to request is <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">Miley</span> Cyrus, Butterfly Fly Away. She will do all the motions for a caterpillar, and then makes a chrysalis with her hands and then when <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Miley</span> sings Butterfly fly away, she flaps her hands like a butterfly. It's adorable.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 304px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467867244917125842" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-HESgxHctI/AAAAAAAAAn4/cW8Qbgyd19I/s400/10-05-05-Bekeh-Bday.gif" /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#00cccc;"><strong>2.</strong></span> She's a smiley, giggly, happy, joyful girl! Sunshine follows her around. She brightens the room she enters, and her love is contagious. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467867521759660434" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-HEioFhSZI/AAAAAAAAAog/zySw4Uz0ewE/s400/10-05-05-Bekeh-Smile.gif" /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#00cccc;"><strong>3.</strong></span> She loves school. 11:00 is one of mommy's favorite minutes of the day. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bekeh</span> runs out the door from school with a look of pure excitement and joy to see me, runs to my arms, and can't get all the thoughts to form into words fast enough to tell me about her day and share her creations with me. She knew she was special today sitting in the teacher's chair and having her friends sing to her. She was proud to have mommy and Caleb there to watch her dance and sing with her classmates. I was proud too. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467867260977428130" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-HETcmMNqI/AAAAAAAAAoA/09YJqNAMxac/s400/10-05-05-Bekeh-class.gif" /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#00cccc;"><strong>4.</strong></span> Her favorite color is Yellow. She'll choose it <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">every time</span>. Again, she's pure sunshine. When she was first learning her colors, everything was yellow. Now that she knows them, she'll answer me correctly, i.e. "That's red. And this is yellow." and she'll point out whatever she can find that's yellow.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467867274084426802" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-HEUNbJJDI/AAAAAAAAAoI/xOR5ttFBAoo/s400/10-05-05-Bekeh-cupcake.gif" /><span style="font-size:180%;color:#00cccc;"><strong>5.</strong></span> She's an absolute trickster. She loves hiding things and giggling like crazy when you notice they're gone. She points and says, "Spider!" and then laughs when you look. Today at lunch Daddy asked for a kiss and she refused him and pulled away over and over, one of her favorite games, until finally when he said he didn't want one, she says, "Kiss! Kiss Daddy!" But today, instead of just kissing him, right at the last second, she stuck the apple out of her mouth and poked him with it!<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 282px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467867524654023218" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-HEiy3lwjI/AAAAAAAAAoo/oAGFxguYMWw/s400/10-05-05-Bekeh-trickster.gif" />At McDonald's which she picked for her Birthday lunch, she was a bit quiet when I served her nuggets to her, which are normally her favorite, so I asked her what was wrong. With a very sad tone she said, "I want cheeseburger like daddy." So Jason popped up and went and ordered her a cheeseburger. She looked at me bewildered, knowing that's never worked before, and I said, "It's your birthday, you get to choose everything you want!" She took that cheeseburger from daddy's hands like it was absolute gold. Every bite she would shake her head with excitement and say, "My birthday cheeseburger!" She's already announced we're eating Pizza for dinner. Her other favorite new food, and the other four are thrilled with her decision! We make birthday's super fun around here, and she's certainly caught on. She knows she's the princess today, and I hope she feels like that everyday, for the rest of her life.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467867513137277522" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S-HEiH9yKlI/AAAAAAAAAoY/jQgq_ZAU3J0/s400/10-05-05-Bekeh-run.gif" /><br />Run toward Six <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bekeh,</span> with all your heart. This is going to be a year full of new discoveries and new love. Enjoy it as much as we enjoy you sweet cheeks. Happy Birthday, we love you!Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-78309981952115936862010-04-30T11:43:00.000-07:002010-05-03T05:33:07.520-07:00Thanks for Voting for Bekeh!<a><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 239px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5466003741061072562" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S9slcT7mxrI/AAAAAAAAAnQ/T8KlNR6mgw0/s320/10-03-18-Scuba-Bek.gif" /></a> THANK YOU! The voting has ended but our appreciation for all the support we received goes on and on. We can't express the love we felt from the thousands of votes, emails, and posts we received encouraging us about Bekeh and our adoption because of the shameless requests we put out there over and over. Adoption is a revolution God is stirring in people's hearts across the world, and we thank Him for allowing us to be ambassadors on this mission in whatever form He'll use us for His glory and for His children. God Bless you all.<br /><br />Editor's Note: Bekeh ended in place <span style="font-size:180%;">22</span> which is a beautiful number between the Lord and I. He speaks, I listen!Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4400891143973434402.post-20768022005817336362010-04-27T15:35:00.000-07:002010-04-27T15:45:31.860-07:00Texas BeautiesWe had a wonderful photo session with my good friend Emily in the bluebonnets last week, but Bekeh loves the flowers so much she begs to stop everytime we see a patch of them on the side of the highway. Yesterday, realizing they'll be gone soon, I decided to give her her wish and dressed them back in denim and stopped at the prettiest ones I saw between here and Flower Mound. It was fun just to let them run and play and capture the shots freely. They had so much fun. Hope you enjoy too.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464951035936041826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S9doAzve62I/AAAAAAAAAlk/m7SHau-qubQ/s400/10-04-27-Both-C.gif" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464950996817339106" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S9dn-iA24uI/AAAAAAAAAlE/52-OrYsh0NU/s400/10-04-27-Bekeh-A.gif" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 313px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464951354098987394" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S9doTU_cMYI/AAAAAAAAAl0/UmtEFz6gf50/s400/10-04-27-Caleb-b.gif" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 301px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464951029861937778" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S9doAdHTcnI/AAAAAAAAAlc/LkPxoMxYhI0/s400/10-04-27-Both-B.gif" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464951009114844450" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S9dn_P0z7SI/AAAAAAAAAlM/8Sm14ofHOWQ/s400/10-04-27-Bekeh-B.gif" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464951346330587250" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S9doS4DT0HI/AAAAAAAAAls/QF4rxj_1kRM/s400/10-04-27-Caleb-a.gif" /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: left; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 277px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5464951018611242498" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/__yj79sEgD6Y/S9dn_zM7dgI/AAAAAAAAAlU/n83wq7pd_JY/s400/10-04-27-Both-A.gif" />Crazy Roots in Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14066444901985807893noreply@blogger.com6