A little chuckle

   
We live in the best country!  But, I do have to chuckle that today in the mail, we got 3 separate letters from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services - a Permanent Resident Card, a notice for a biometric appointment for a permanent resident card, and a welcome to the country notice.  Just a little adoption humor...

Dreams of a California King & First Prayers...

Dreams of a California King...
       
For the past 4 months, I have had the bed all to myself.  Sure, I would get a little lonely sometimes, but I got used to sleeping in the middle and having everything be just perfect for my sleeping conditions :)  Well, last week, we decided that "G" was doing great and that "S" no longer needed to sleep with him.  So, now I found myself with about 1/4 of a queen size bed.  No, not 1/2.  You see I have this cute little guy crawl into bed with me sometime between 4 and 5ish every morning now.  And, we must share a pillow :)  And, of course, there are mornings like today, where I was between 2 cute little ones on my half of a queen size bed.  Yes, I was basically on 1/6 of a queen size bed.  Of course, I am LOVING the attachment and cuddles, but I do find myself daydreaming of a California King  :)

First Bedtime Prayers...
 
Tonight we didn't have our usual - everyone sit in a circle in someone's room and say bedtime prayers.  It was a little rushed, so everyone was off to be tucked in individually.  Well, as I was laying with Sam, and we were talking.  He reminded me that it was prayer time.  Now, he usually prays with us with some promptings from me.  But, tonight he totally did it on his own.

"Dear God, I pray for school.  Thank you for family, for B, for A, for Mommy, for Daddy.  Amen"

O...I just wonder what all God has in store for him!

In Observance of Martin Luther King Jr.

      

 

In God's Kingdom, we are one in Christ.

...There is neither Jew or Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ...Galatians 3:28

"Take the first step in faith.  You don't have to see the whole staircase." 
Martin Luther King Jr.

The Snow Fort of 2011

 

We had a great snow on Sunday night.  Unfortunately, we didn't have much luck sledding.    Fortunately, mom (aka me) came up with a brillant idea to build a snow fort.  It turned out pretty awesome!!

 

 

 

   

It is complete with windows, lights, US flags, roof, chairs inside and a snowman.  And, the kids had just as much fun building it as they did playing inside it when it was completed.

Before fort action...

looking good --  2 1/2 inches

"B" got her sled and is ready for some action!

"G" is all bundled up and hanging with Uncle "M"

 

We try the saucers...no luck

We try the toboggan...no luck

So, we make snow angels and just roll around in the snow.

You would think that this boy was born in a cold climate area and not just north of the equator.  He loves the snow!

 

Remembering "B" Baptism

    
On Saturday, we remembered "B" baptism.  (an annual event) She always enjoys "her day".  Some of her favorite activities are making place cards and then deciding where everyone is going to sit.  She requested chicken tenders and mac-n-cheese for dinner.  I was able to sway the chicken tenders as the main dish, but we did have some mac-n-cheese.

Unfortunately, our out-of-town family couldn't make it due to weather, but we still had a good time :)

And...the most exciting gift of the night was a cool rock with a snail in it!!  These girls were quite entertained by this rock and snail.

 

They even had to go outside to get "food" for the snail.

Dear LORD, I pray for "B".  I pray for you to watch over her and guide her.  I pray that she always knows that she is a precious child of God and that you have chosen her and that you have plans for her.  I pray that she fulfills those plans with passion and always has a heart to love you above anyone or anything.  I pray that you would give us the wisdom and courage to parent her - to provide her with the foundation she needs in order for her to be all that you have created her to be.  Thank you LORD for giving us her.  She is a blessing to us!!!

 

We love you "B"!!!!

Off to School...

 

Today was "G" official first day of school.

  

  He's so cute with his school t-shirt on!!

 

I never planned on him starting school so quickly after coming home, but God worked it all out :) 

 

A couple of months ago, I really started thinking about his education and kindergarten.  (This kid is very smart, and his English is progressing so fast.)  I kept going back and forth on what would be the right thing for him.  I didn't want to do anything that would jeopardize our attachment/connection process, so I started praying and sought out the advice of our post-adoption support person.

   

Finally, I decided to email our director to see if by chance there would be an opening in January. I really didn't think there would be.  There's always a wait list, and I had turned down a spot earlier. (I had been on the waiting list since before I knew who he was.)  Still being unsure of what was best, I just asked God to either slam the door or bust it wide open.  The next day she responded saying that she might have an opening depending upon his age.

  

A few days later I went to meet with her.  As it turns out, there was an opening, and it just happened to be in the 3 yr old class.  It just happened to be the days that I wanted.  The teacher just happens to be one of the sweetest most nuturing people.  The class just happens to have 2 other multi-racial / adoption families in it.  It just happens to be the best possible scenario ever.    God busted the door wide open!!  A little girl in that class moved away, and the spot hadn't been filled yet.  I told the director that God meant for "G" to have that spot.  (If it wasn't going to work out at our preschool, I wouldn't have tried another.)

  

I took his teacher out to lunch to explain our situation and my hopes, and we discussed a transition strategy.  She was WONDERFUL!!  We have slowly been working on getting him comfortable.  It has worked.  He was excited to "officially" go to school today.  He walked right in gave me a hug and a kiss and said good-bye.  When I picked him up, he shouted Momma and ran right to me and gave me a big hug.  At home, he couldn't wait to show me the artwork he made for "mommy and daddy".

  

He is so proud of his school bag and Toy Story lunch box and thermos.  He has "A" old school bag.  It was in pretty good shape before he started dragging it through the parking lot :)  But, he wants to carry his bag like his big sister "B" does.

 

I am so proud of him!!!   

It's Official x4

  
In March, we officially accepted the referral of a precious 3 year old boy - "G". 
 
In June, G was officially our son according to Ethiopia Law.
   
In Aug, G was officially our son according to US Federal Law and was issued permanent residence status.
  
Today, G was officially our son according to our state law and was issued US Citizenship.  It was another wonderful day in our famiy's life.

We arrived at the courthouse at 9:40ish.  We immediately found the "readoption group".  8 families were scheduled.  6 were in our group - 4 Ethiopia, 1 Uganda and 1 domestic.  The groups are not normally that big, but everyone was trying to get in before the end of the year, and the judge was kind enough to come in special for us.

As we walked up, we immediately recognized some fellow AGCIers, Missy and Mark.  It was great to see them.  They are about 8 months ahead of us, and they had adopted an older child as well.  So, it was nice to compare notes and get some helpful hints.  We also ran into one of "S" work friends, Rob, who has 2 adopted children of his own.  He was there to support some church friends who were readopting and asked if he could come back to the judge's chambers with us.  We were glad he was there.  He was able to take pictures for us.
  

We are patiently waiting our turn out in the courtroom. 

 

It's our turn in the judge's chambers.  (Our lawyer is across from us.)  The judge immediately made us feel at ease and like we were the only case he had that morning.

 

It's official.

Afterwards, we waited outside for the rest of our group.

As I was explaining about today for "A", she couldn't understand why we had to go through the re-adoption.  "I thought he was already my brother."  "Will I have to answer any questions?"  "If we aren't doing a good job, will he have to go back to Ethiopia." --- All so cute.

It is done.  Look at that smile!!

In celebration, we ate lunch at Mellow Mushroom, and then ended the day with an Ethiopian dinner.  It was perfect!!