Be the Glory: August 2010

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Technology...

Tony traveled to Kentucky for a couple days to speak at an event and was blessed to get to visit with family. The kids and I gathered around my laptop to Skype Tony, who is staying with his sister, Lisa. Ryan & Lisa have 8 children, 5 of whom came to their family by way of Ethiopia. 2 of them, Grace & Manny, are still fluent in their birth language. It was a lot of fun to see them interact with Eyasu... in the picture below you can see Mercy and Beniam chatting and smiling back...

The remainder of the evening, Eyasu kept looking out the window wondering when Papa, Grace & Manny would drive up in their 'mah-keena' (a little transliteration for you). By the way, we found out Eyasu likes home, his school and meat... :)

Saturday, August 28, 2010

A Little Weekend Fun...

We're short one this weekend as James went to spend the night with a friend. Meanwhile, friday after school I let the kids play in the rain (light rain). Tony and I sat on the back porch enjoying a little cooler weather and the giggling sounds of our 4 youngest ones... This first picture is looking through the screen...

Saturday morning we tried to wear them out (but as you know that always has the reverse effect)... A little basketball and soccer...

Jana and Joshua are quite the little shooters...

Afterwards, we decided it was only fitting to cool off at the pool before lunch, especially since nobody was there! Joshua jumped out of the van and kept repeating, "Water, water, water?!." His eyes were wide open as he was taking in the landscape... his first experience swimming... priceless...

It was giggles galore nonstop for the next hour plus...

Oh what fun these "firsts" are! Hope you each have a wonderful weekend!

Friday, August 27, 2010

Coming in April 2011!

Take Me Out to the Ball Game...

These two weeks we have eaten like kings and queens as generous friends have provided some meals. By the time dinner was over Thursday evening we decided we needed to burn off at least a few calories (ha)... a little backyard whiffle ball! Eyasu Joshua (as he sometimes calls himself) thought I was videotaping in the next few action shots... (a.k.a. Mr. Personality)

James posed for the camera, after hitting some balls over the fence I might add, but couldn't quite seem to get the sun out of his eyes...

Quick cheese from Angela... :)

Princess pose by Jana...

Face off between Victoria and Titus...

Papa living his dream of playing ball with his boys...

Outfielder...

Catcher...

Hitter... (notice the shoes... oh my)

Cheerleader...

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Starting School...

So, today we decided to go ahead and dive in... enrolling Eyasu in Kindergarten... James said Eyasu woke up earlier this morning and started to go ahead and get dressed and he had to tell him no it wasn't time yet... evidently he was excited :)... When I woke him up for school and helped him get dressed he said, "Thank you" and then kissed my cheek... precious....

I took Victoria and Eyasu to school, walking him to his new class (which, praise the Lord for His grace, is the same teacher Jana had last year - Mrs. Knight: a blessing and one who knows our craziness - ha)... When we entered the class, Eyasu hugged Mrs. Knight grinning and then waved me goodbye with a kiss... precious....

Monday morning, after registering for school, Eyasu and I joined Victoria for lunch... giving him more of an idea of what goes on at school...

Images from over the weekend... James helping Eyasu ride his bike... although, we went to buy a little toddler tricycle for $22 to ease him into the concept of peddling... he kept grinning and putting his hand to his chest saying, "Eyasu"... precious....

In case you didn't know, it is HOT here in Mississippi... much needed icee breaks (thanks Slushers for stocking us with these!!!)... then of course, Eyasu has been outfitted by his mamaw & papaw with Kentucky wear... ha!

Big sis listening to my ipod with little brother...

This morning I'm enjoying a much needed, slightly overdue quiet time... I need the Word to refresh my soul... I'm not very patient or grace giving or loving or nurturing as I should be without His help... So, this morning the Lord is filling me back up... I want to know Him more... I played the piano for the first time in weeks... Music therapy... ha... Just keeping it real... :) I've also been listening to Chris Tomlin's "I Will Rise" on repeat... love it! Worthy is the Lamb!

There's a peace I've come to know

though my heart and flesh may fail

There's an anchor for my soul

I can say, "It is well"

Jesus has overcome and the grave is overwhelmed

The victory is won, He is risen from the dead...

Friday, August 20, 2010

These Past Few Days...

Is it friday already?!. I woke up Tuesday morning with sore throat and swollen glands. Had two girls home with stomach aches, not to mention a new son finding his way around things... oh yeah, a husband on the road to New Orleans for faculty workshop... It was a little rough, ha. But by God's grace, Tony was able to come home early and provide much needed relief. :) Wednesday morning, I rolled out of bed to visit the doc = Strep. Woo hoo! Later I took Angela and Jana to discover they also had Strep. Party at the Merida's! But, God is good. He has taken care of our every need. We have been very blessed to have Papa home to help and sweet friends bring meals.... Meanwhile....

This little guys is in to everything! He LOVES anything with buttons. He loves to take pictures with one of our old semi-broken digital cameras. He loves looking at pictures of himself and his friends. He ran off with a few of my photo albums (see him looking at them beforehand below)...

He loves the shower. He loves lathering up with lotion.

He loves the computer. I introduced him to the computer and about 15 minutes later was able to leave him on his own doing Starfall - learning the alphabet.

Thursday afternoon I was craving something more to soothe my throat: ice cream. Here is a picture of Eyasu's first ice cream cone. He loves ice cream! We love McDonald's dollar menu. :)

The only real time we've seen any discipline or behavior challenges have been at the dinner table. Although, they are extremely mild (in comparison to our other four - ha!). Eyasu is discovering new things... SO many new things. Yesterday, he went from not eating the apple skin or peel to devouring nearly the whole apple! He has eaten really well! At his wellness appointment on Wednesday, the doctor said he as in the 90% for height and in the lower % for weight (to be expected, obviously). He is doing well, just a little low on iron so we're going to do a little multivitamin to help him there.

Friday morning, following a midnight coughing fit, I actually woke up feeling a little closer to normal - praise the Lord! Isn't it a wonderful thing when you've been sick to start to get better?!. I'd rather skip all the sickness to appreciate good health, but it surely is a reminder to be grateful for the many many good things the Lord gives. I take too much for granted. Anyways, Eyasu and I ran a few errands to begin preparing for Kindergarten. He has been tagging along in the van with his brother and sisters all week as they get dropped off and picked up for school. One day he ran out with his backpack and water bottle gearing up. It was adorable. Did I mention once Eyasu gets ready (which could be as early as next week!) that I'll have one in Kindergarten, one in First Grade, one in Second Grade, one in Third Grade and one in Fourth Grade? Wow. :) Three years ago we had just moved to Mississippi and were praying about the "two little ones under age 5" we thought the Lord was preparing us for - ha ha ha... Let me just say, last night we all gathered in the girls room for family Bible reading (Jesus Storybook Bible) and prayer, both of my sons were hanging their arms around me patting my leg... I had a moment of worship... Even now, my heart wells up and the tears begin to burst through...

Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;

for he gives to his beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame

when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Psalm 127

Children are a blessing, to be sure! This one another joyous arrow in the quiver (which is at capacity right now - ha ha)! One more thing he loves to do is watch the few dvds of himself we were sent by our adoption agency earlier in the year. He watches them four or fives times each before saying, "Bacca" (which means, "I'm finished"). Well, he is off with papa for friday afterschool pick up. Time for me to pick up some doctors notes for school. Thanks so much for your continued prayers as we all transition and recover for germfest! :)

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

More Pictures from Ethiopia...

On our way home from the transition house, we stopped by a leper colony to support their livelihood through the purchase a few of homemade items. These people were precious and loved to have their picture taken...

I bet you'll never complain again about cutting your grass at home with a lawnmower... If the temptation arises, just pull out some scissors and do it on your knees... wow...

Before leaving, one little girl came up to me asking, "Gum?" I pulled out what remnant of a pack I had and was immediately swarmed... Gum is such a treat to these precious little ones with little to call their own... we began passing out whatever snacks we had in the van before having to pull out...

Before our embassy appointments, we did a little sightseeing... the open marketplace... overwhelming...

And then the lion's zoo...

Not your ordinary American zoo, let me just tell you... ;)

Um, despite the bars, this was a little too close for my comfort...

Lunch before our embassy appointment at an Italian restaurant... who knew... :)

Everything went smoothly at the embassy... Our facilitator dropped our visas off the next morning for us and the waiting to return home began... The kids had a blast trying on their backpacks and showing off their stuff... adorable...

Aren't they beautiful? Good friends, Sikonesh (now a Floridian with godly parents) & Eyasu...

Love it!

We all went out for traditional Ethiopian dinner after our embassy appointments on Thursday...

Injera... yummy...

Loved watching the little ones go to town on this delicious food... :)

Friday morning 3 families (including ours) traveled 2 hours each way out of Addis Ababa to visit the gorge (a.k.a. Ethiopian Grand Canyon)... These two sang songs half the way there... precious...