Holiday Season Round 2

Once again a few months has gone by without posting. We finished up soccer season with a bang - Mulatu scored a goal and Nate played goalkeeper for several quarters with a few shutouts. They improved so much throughout the season and I love seeing how they grow as they encounter new experiences. Since I was off on Columbus Day, we took that opportunity to take some fall family pictures. Although they turned out well it was not always happy smiles in between shots (and even some during shots) but I loved it all the same. We had our first camping experience as a family in the backyard of a good friend. It was complete with smores around the campfire (which they both enjoy making but do not enjoy eating).
Halloween began our second year of celebrating holidays as a family. Building off of last year's experiences the boys know what to expect and are excited about it all. Nate decided on Thor as his costume of choice and Mulatu was Hulk. We carved pumpkins (or more like Grandpa carved pumpkins and we watched)...one that held the shape of Africa, one of Hulk, and one of Thor. We went to the fall festival at Grandma and Grandpa's church and enjoyed playing games and winning prizes. The boys came to my work on Halloween for a brief moment before we headed over to the Alltech Arena for a special time of trick or treating among all of the vendors. We followed that round of trick or treating with another round in the neighborhood. I believe they have enough candy to last them well into the future.
They had their doctor's follow up one year exam a couple weeks ago. They had some blood work done just to ensure that everything was good and everything came back great. Dr. Hambrick was very impressed with how much they had grown. As Nate says 'I'm a weed.' While waiting for the Doctor, I also pulled Nate's first tooth (seemed like a perfect way to spend the time waiting).
A couple weekends ago I decided it was time to ditch the training wheels - we had a couple nice days of weather so we capitalized and both of the boys picked up riding their bikes sans training wheels so well. I was so proud of them. We have begun basketball with Upward and practices seem to be going well. They play on different teams. They absolutely love it. The first game is December 1 and should be tons of fun. We put up the Christmas tree this past weekend which is the earliest I have ever put it up but they were so excited and so helpful I couldn't resist. Last night we went with some friends to deliver Thanksgiving baskets. I want them to develop a servant's heart early in life and this is one way of many that I feel helps them do that. We will spend Thanksgiving tomorrow celebrating with Grandma's side of the family. Friday we are headed for a one day trip to Dollywood to see the Christmas celebrations and shows that they have and ride a few rides. We are all looking forward to it.
I aim to have a thankful heart everyday of the year but as we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow as a family I will sit around the table knowing that I am truly blessed. My beautiful sons are thriving and loving life and I couldn't be happier to get to soak up these moments with them.

Davis Day and Much More

I haven't written a post in a while. Time just seems to have a way of flying by these days. We finished out the summer with lots of swimming time and we were sad to take our last dip of the season on Sunday. We started soccer practice in August and kicked off games a couple weeks ago. The boys love it and I'm trying to focus on not being one of those parents that is hoarse after the game from screaming so much. We will follow soccer with upward basketball which they have "evaluations" for on Thursday.

Nate has started first grade at the Davis Academy and is excelling in math. He loves to see how things work and I love seeing how his mind is developing. Mulatu officially started Kindergarten and when I ask him what his favorite thing to do is - he always answers coloring. He has also picked up reading very quickly. I love watching both of my boys figure out new words or recognize words as we are out and about.

Early in August we had our last home study session with the social worker. We sent that off right before we celebrated Davis Day 2012 with some family and friends at our house. We had a little cake and some presents. The boys had been asking for roller skates for a quite some time so I got them both some pretty sweet roller derby skates. I decided that each anniversary I would buy them some Ethiopian stamps and make a digital picture book to chronicle the past year together. I was also able to find some good Ethiopian kids books online that I hadn't bought yet. To continue the celebration we went on a family vacation to Sieverville and Pigeon Forge. We stayed at a hotel that had a small water park with some pretty fun slides and such. The boys had a blast. We also went to Dollywood for a day to ride some fun rides and we checked out all the fish at the aquarium. The boys were able to touch a manta ray for the first time. It was a wonderful celebration of our first year together.

We also have spent some time celebrating Nate's seventh birthday. Mom's family came over on Sunday for some presents and ice cream cake. Yesterday we went to Mammoth Cave for the first time and went on the Frozen Niagara tour and had a lovely picnic in the rain. Today we finished the festivities with some bowling with Grandma Grandma and a trip to Orange Leaf for some frozen yogurt. The memories we are creating are priceless and I am soaking up all the joy and love that has become my life. I have said it many times before and will probably say it until the day I die but God has truly blessed me with some incredible children and I am so grateful.

American Adoption Day

I received the official adoption decree from the American court today in the mail. I should get their reissued birth certificates in the next few months. I also finally received my adoption tax credit check from the government. That was a woo hoo moment for the mailbox and the cause of a lunch celebration today! I even scheduled our one year home study this week...it seems crazy that this anniversary is fast approaching us.

The boys have thoroughly enjoyed the pool and have picked up swimming so well the last few weeks. They are diving to the bottom of the pool and swimming laps like champs. I'm so proud of them. I'm so glad we were able to put a pool in so we could create so many great memories with family and friends around the pool. One of the things that has made me laugh recently in regards to the pool - we watched the first Harry Potter a week or so ago and started readying some of the first book. A day or two after that mom was outside working with the boys on our giant pile of dirt that we still have where the pool was dug out. Mulatu told me later that he was trying to be like Harry and saying to his shovel 'up' but there was not magic in his hands because the shovel didn't move. They have also started to play Star Wars Lego on the playstation. It cracks me up everytime Nate calls R2D2 - Rtootie. They absorb so much of what they watch and constantly crack me up with their one liners from various movies.

I continued to be amazed at how much being a parent has taught me about my relationship with God. I am continually humbled. I have learned so much about myself, some of which is not easy to digest but is helpful in becoming who I believe God has called me to be. The other day I was casually saying something to my boys about my dislike for birds. My reasoning was that they poop on stuff and are loud. Mulatu tells me God  made them loud and God made them poop. In his eyes, all birds are beautiful. I love the simplicity of looking at the world through this lens - a lens that sees beauty in all people and things because 'God said it was good.'

Be The Tree God Made You To Be

The laughs and the smiles continue in our household as we experience daily life together. This past weekend was a series of firsts for the boys, beginning on Saturday with a ride in my friend's convertible followed by a Sunday filled with fishing and paddle boating with some friends. My first attempt to teach them to cast ended with a hook in my arm. Despite a rough start, it was a great day of fishing and they caught their first fish and enjoyed throwing them back in. We loved being able to make such great memories with such great friends! Today I signed them up to play soccer in the fall. Since they are close in age they will be able to play on the same team which will make it nice for practices and game times. The other major development this summer is that my parent's are putting an above ground pool that will be installed this week. We spent most of yesterday hauling 5 tons of sand into the backyard to prepare for this moment. Mulatu tells us that his stomach feels funny because he is so excited.

We celebrated Mulatu's sixth birthday with a pool party at grandma grandma's house complete with a fantastic spiderman cake made by my cousin. This was followed by a trip to the Cincinnati zoo on his actual birthday. His first choice was Chuck E Cheese but after discovering that all they had to eat was pizza he quickly changed his mind. 

We have had some pretty in depth conversations lately and I love being able to freely communicate with one another without any language barrier. I have started the process of readopting them. Although this is not required for Ethiopia adoptions, it is highly recommended. Children of all Nations has a partner law firm that they work with that will do this for me so my boys will end up with a Texas birth certificate. So far the paperwork has been minimal. Meanwhile I am still waiting on the wonderful Internal Revenue Service to get their ducks in a row in regards to my tax return. I will feel a lot better when this has been resolved.

One of the things that I have realized over the past few months is that as life has gotten busy it has been easier for me push spending time with God down on my list of priorities. However, in order to be the best mom I can be to my children I have to make sure that my relationship with God is number one. It has been my prayer to have that passion renewed within me and He has answered that prayer. I can tell that as I've spent more time in prayer and in His word that it is paying off in other ways as well. One of my favorite songs recently is Like an Avalanche:

And I find myself here on my knees again
Caught up in grace like an avalanche
Nothing compares to this love
Burning in my heart

Take my life
Take all that I am
With all that I am I will love You
Take my heart
Take all that I have
Jesus how I adore You

The other night before bed we were reading a new story called 'The Oak Inside the Acorn' by Max Lucado (I would highly recommend it for everyone). My favorite line was when the acorn was talking to the mama oak and she told him, "Be the tree God made you to be." One of the great things about this world is the diversity within each person. Although my path may have not been the conventional one, I believe these two boys that I have the honor of raising are the direct result of me listening to God's call on my life and being the tree He made me to be.

Blessed

Blessed. That is the word that I would use to sum up my emotions on this mother’s day. I had numerous people send me messages on facebook, send texts and call me on the phone all wishing me a happy mother’s day. I am thankful for each of these people in my life because not only did they wish me happy mother’s day but they have taken time to pour love into my family throughout the past several months. I took time to reflect last night about the journey that led me to this point in my life; about the fact that if I had altered just one of numerous decisions I would not be sitting here with these two beautiful boys in my life. I am completely humbled and grateful to God for his plan for me because it truly is better than anything I could have planned for myself. Yesterday Mulatu told me that I did not come get him soon enough from Africa. He asked me if the plane went slow. I told him that the plane and I came as fast as we could. I love my sons. I love their smiles and their laughs. I love the way they make me laugh. I love watching them with my parents. Yesterday was a pretty laid back mother’s day. We went home after church. Ate a typical meal of ramon noodles and lentil soup and just hung out together. We spent the afternoon at mom and dad’s house. I found myself looking around, I was sitting on the couch next to dad, Mulatu had fallen asleep at the end of the couch next to me, mom and Nate were laying together on the loveseat watching TV and I just thought about how beautiful our family was and how it was simply perfect. I am attending a bible study on Sunday nights so for the past two weeks Sundays have become a night at grandmas. There had a been a discussion earlier in the day as we were packing to go to grandma’s that went something like this. Me: You can only take one animal with you to Grandma’s. (As I look over and Nate has four in his arms) Nate: The little ones will get scared if they are left here alone. Mulatu: My animals will take care of your animals Nate it is ok. I hadn’t thought anymore about this but when I went in their room last night after I got home Mulatu had set up all his animals around Nate’s bed to watch over his animals. I smiled. Little moments like this that are simply priceless. On a side note, today is exactly one year from the time I boarded the plane that would lead me to Ethiopia to meet my boys. What a year it has been. Yes, I am indeed blessed.

Free to Fail

My entire life I have had an intense fear of failure. I just don’t like it. This has in some cases pushed me to succeed and in others has caused me to hold myself back from even trying. In this parenting gig I’m finding that feelings of failure occur almost on a daily basis. It only takes one moment of aggravation for me to be able to reflect back and realize that I could have reacted better or handled things differently. As Easter approached there were several days where I was overwhelmed with the responsibilities of being a mom that are still somewhat new to me. As I took time to reflect on Jesus’ sacrifice and the cross there was a peace that I found in the realization that because of Jesus I am free to fail. In this current stage of life, this peace was something that my soul desperately needed to find.

In five days my boys will have been home 8 months. I still can’t believe how the time has flown. They are both starting to read and their vocabulary continues to grow. They are both little sponges and they observe and absorb everything this world has to offer. Some of the newer phrases they have picked up from various movies, “That’s not cool, man” and “Knock it off”. They still love their video games and playing basketball. I think my next purchase it going to have to be a real basketball goal. They are growing so much the one we have is just too easy for them. There have been several warm days this spring which has led to opportunities for afternoons full of slip n slide and water balloon fun which they absolutely love.

We took a trip to Gatlinburg last week which was our first family vacation. I rented a cabin with an indoor pool and the boys and I went swimming every morning and every evening. It was a pretty chilly week there and the indoor water tempature was still quite chilly – my only saving grace was that we also had a hot tub which Mulatu loved and Nate wanted nothing to do with. By the end of the trip they were both swimming a bit by themselves and I’m confident with a bit more practice they will be swimming like champs.

We also got a chance to spend a couple days at Dollywood. One of the reasons I wanted to go is they were having a Festival of Nations where several different groups from around the world were there doing various performances. We got to watch a vocal group from Zambia, musical group from Ecuador, and dancers from Argentina. However, my favorite part of the groups was watching my boys crack up at Paper World a comedy group from the Ukraine. The boys even got to take their picture beside the Ethiopian flag they had on display. The kids loved all of the rides, the scrambler was a favorite but we rode the kiddie roller coaster, the train, the swings, the flying elephants, a carousal, the old cars, couple water rides and several more. The boys did such a great job on the trip. From all the meals to the drive through the mountains and everything in between. We got home and I was ready to go all over again.

With my new perspective and refreshing vacation, I’m ready to take this mom role head on and I’m looking forward to a wonderful summer with my boys. 

Mario Etiquette

I have mentioned my sons love for Wii before. Their new favorite game is Super Mario Brothers. Today I found myself trying to explain to them some Mario etiquette. They were playing the third world which is full of snow and penguins which they found extremely exciting. They let out the items that make you transform and got a mushroom and a penguin. Nate took both of the items which as you can imagine did not make Mulatu happy. This happened a couple more times to which Mulatu said everytime, "Nate took both of them, I got nothing."

This got me thinking of how these lessons in how to play the game of Mario can translate into how some people approach life. You can play Mario for yourself. You can run through the stage leaving the other people behind and taking all the good 'items' for yourself or you can choose to work together, occasionally carrying others on your back and helping the others get to the end which in some cases requires sacrificing items that you might have wanted for yourself. I have to admit that I've realized as I've played Mario with my kids that I can be a very selfish Mario player. Likewise my kids have helped shine a light on the ways I live selfishly in real life and I am trying everyday to make myself a better person and a better mom.

Tomorrow my boys will have been home 6 months. It has been an incredible journey of some really high moments and some not so high moments. I have learned a lot about myself and a lot about my kids. It is amazing to look back and see how far they have come. This past week we had another immunization at the doctor and they both popped in there, took care of business and left. No tears, no bad attitudes. I was so proud of them both. Sometimes they make me want to pull my hair out, sometimes I want to sleep a little longer than they will allow, sometimes I don't know how to get through to them, but most days they just make me laugh and I can't stop smiling about the fact that I get to be their mom.