Precious...

Just a quick post and update on this precious one...

(Holding up a picture of grandparents he eagerly awaits to meet next week!)

Things have been increasingly 'crazy' (ha) around the Merida household... busy busy... but good. :-) God is so gracious to us! We are approaching our 3 months home the middle of this month! Our fabulous social worker is coming for a visit on Saturday to do our first follow up. It is amazing to reflect on the grace of God in bringing us to this place...

In a nutshell, Eyasu seems to be doing well. He is eager to learn and increasingly settling in. We have been visiting with different dentists across town and strategizing how to treat his teeth. He fractured his front two permanent teeth in a fall back at the orphanage in Ethiopia. It is likely he will lose both teeth, but the doctors are seeking ways to attempt a salvage. Meanwhile, on Tuesday he had a separate abscessed tooth pulled. He was so happy! The tooth had been such a bother for the little guy.

Probably one of the sweetest moments was on Monday. Eyasu came home with his school pictures in hand. Due to missing the first two weeks of school, he had to wait for retake day. He was all joy watching me frame his 8x10 and hang in on the wall next to his sisters and brother! "Mama, wow! Eyasu!" he said. As soon as Tony got home he ran to meet him, grabbed his hand and showed off his photo. He then went to my desk which had the remaining wallet size pictures to show them off. It was precious.

Wednesday morning (about two hours ago from this post), we had another moment in the van ride to school. As we do daily on our trip to school each morning, I prayed for our day asking the Lord to be with each child by name, for the teachers and for other loved ones in need... As soon as I was finished he said, "Mama, my name is not is Eyasu, it is Joshua." I was taken back by his great use of English language and the statement he'd made. Of course, he will always be Eyasu but it was as if he was declaring, "I'm home." He is so precious. {As a side note for those who are curious, we will change his name on paper to Joshua, but will use Eyasu and Joshua interchangeably however he wants to be referred to. They are the same name.}

He is a heart stealer - ha. He captured each of hearts a long time ago. We have been praying that he will be a proclaimer of the good news that his name means, "God saves".