Monday, May 25, 2009
Our One Year Anniversary
Is today, May 25, 2009!! We met the girls one year ago today! Wow, how time flies!
Some people term this day "Gotcha Day" and there is lots of controversy over the use of the word. The Adoptive families magazine has an online debate about it here and then there's the Wikipedia definition .
But really, who cares about a silly word such as "Gotcha"? I just remember getting off the plane in Addis about 7:30ish in the morning and being so exhausted and wanting to take a shower (remember we left May 23rd and arrived May 25, not such a great hair day) and the closer Mulat, our driver, got to the horizon house, Bond and I kept wondering if they knew we were coming! So we did take showers before going, just because what great first impressions that would be. About 8:30, an hour later, we had a guard walk us down about 2-3 houses so we could meet the girls. We brought them each a lollipop and a small teddy bear. (We had no clue what to bring, but didn't want to bring a heap of stuff). So our first food shared was yes, a lollipop! But is was sooooo good! I remember hugging Bayat first and then Kidist, and the reverse order for Bond, hugging Kidist first and then then Bayat. They both called us mommy and daddy at that instant. It was definitely a surreal moment, being called mommy and daddy by two little girls that we'd only known through pictures. Being first time parents meeting our little peanut girls for the first time. Being in Ethiopia, really had we landed in the right place?
So we played hopscotch and ball and just sat around for what seemed like hours with one of the girls on each of our laps "inspecting" us. Looking at our glasses, commenting in Amharic to each other about Bond's lack of hair (I'm sure that is what they were talking about!), touching our faces, playing with my hair, etc. . . . . It's really amazing how much time passed while the girls "inspected" us. There were lots of hugs and kisses exchanged during this time too! Holding hands was an expectation from the girls, so we did lots of that too!
So about noon time, lunch time, comes and we thought we'd go back to the horizon house for a bit while the girls ate and we could just catch up a little bit on whatever. . . . Well, as we tried to leave, Kidist grabs Bond's hand and says, "America!". It was then that we knew they didn't have any concept of time. Kidist clearly didn't want us to leave, but didn't know when we would be taking them home with us. So we stayed for lunch and then Sister Tirhaus helped explain to the girls that we were just going to take a little nap and the same time they did. That seemed to help calm Kidist's anxieties down a little.
So a little stroll down memory lane. As I sit here and type (with of course the Scotties brand tissues to wipe the tears), I think, what a humbling experience, this whole journey, and what a great honor that I get to be my girls mommy!
Some people term this day "Gotcha Day" and there is lots of controversy over the use of the word. The Adoptive families magazine has an online debate about it here and then there's the Wikipedia definition .
But really, who cares about a silly word such as "Gotcha"? I just remember getting off the plane in Addis about 7:30ish in the morning and being so exhausted and wanting to take a shower (remember we left May 23rd and arrived May 25, not such a great hair day) and the closer Mulat, our driver, got to the horizon house, Bond and I kept wondering if they knew we were coming! So we did take showers before going, just because what great first impressions that would be. About 8:30, an hour later, we had a guard walk us down about 2-3 houses so we could meet the girls. We brought them each a lollipop and a small teddy bear. (We had no clue what to bring, but didn't want to bring a heap of stuff). So our first food shared was yes, a lollipop! But is was sooooo good! I remember hugging Bayat first and then Kidist, and the reverse order for Bond, hugging Kidist first and then then Bayat. They both called us mommy and daddy at that instant. It was definitely a surreal moment, being called mommy and daddy by two little girls that we'd only known through pictures. Being first time parents meeting our little peanut girls for the first time. Being in Ethiopia, really had we landed in the right place?
So we played hopscotch and ball and just sat around for what seemed like hours with one of the girls on each of our laps "inspecting" us. Looking at our glasses, commenting in Amharic to each other about Bond's lack of hair (I'm sure that is what they were talking about!), touching our faces, playing with my hair, etc. . . . . It's really amazing how much time passed while the girls "inspected" us. There were lots of hugs and kisses exchanged during this time too! Holding hands was an expectation from the girls, so we did lots of that too!
So about noon time, lunch time, comes and we thought we'd go back to the horizon house for a bit while the girls ate and we could just catch up a little bit on whatever. . . . Well, as we tried to leave, Kidist grabs Bond's hand and says, "America!". It was then that we knew they didn't have any concept of time. Kidist clearly didn't want us to leave, but didn't know when we would be taking them home with us. So we stayed for lunch and then Sister Tirhaus helped explain to the girls that we were just going to take a little nap and the same time they did. That seemed to help calm Kidist's anxieties down a little.
So a little stroll down memory lane. As I sit here and type (with of course the Scotties brand tissues to wipe the tears), I think, what a humbling experience, this whole journey, and what a great honor that I get to be my girls mommy!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Fenric follows the girls to school! What a Monday morning!
The funny for the day. First of all, the gate to the backyard was left open (i think it was me, but don't tell anyone). So anyway, we are all running a little late this morning and finally daddy and the girls are out the door, getting in the car and going to school. About two minutes later, I hear Bond coming in through the back door! hummmmmmm. . . . . . . "What's going on?" I think to myself. Well, when Bond drove out of the garage to take the girls to school, guess who took off out of the gate to follow? If you guessed Fenric, you are correct! Fenric was running right out in the middle of the street and around the front of the car. Bond had to back up the car, while Fenric is still following, to bring the good doggie back home. I guess he really wanted to go with the girls today! Or maybe he really didn't want to stay home. We'll never know will we?
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Happy Mothers Day
Before I was a Mom,
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a two little girls sleep.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping child just because
I didn't want to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby..
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.
May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life
I never tripped over toys
or forgot words to a lullaby.
I didn't worry whether or not
my plants were poisonous.
I never thought about immunizations.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never been puked on.
Pooped on.
Chewed on.
Peed on.
I had complete control of my mind
and my thoughts.
I slept all night.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held down a screaming child
so doctors could do tests.
Or give shots.
I never looked into teary eyes and cried.
I never got gloriously happy over a simple grin.
I never sat up late hours at night
watching a two little girls sleep.
Before I was a Mom,
I never held a sleeping child just because
I didn't want to put them down.
I never felt my heart break into a million pieces
when I couldn't stop the hurt.
I never knew that something so small
could affect my life so much.
I never knew that I could love someone so much.
I never knew I would love being a Mom.
Before I was a Mom,
I didn't know the feeling of
having my heart outside my body..
I didn't know how special it could feel
to feed a hungry baby..
I didn't know that bond
between a mother and her child.
I didn't know that something so small
could make me feel so important and happy.
Before I was a Mom,
I had never gotten up in the middle of the night
every 10 minutes to make sure all was okay.
I had never known the warmth,
the joy,
the love,
the heartache,
the wonderment
or the satisfaction of being a Mom.
I didn't know I was capable of feeling so much,
before I was a Mom.
May you always be overwhelmed by the Grace of God rather than by the cares of life
Thursday, May 7, 2009
World Fair Trade Day
When?
May 9, 2009
This Saturday (or really whenever) buy something that will make a difference in someone's life.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Going Green
Ever seen one of these?
Well, we bought one, let's see . . ., the summer of 2007 and it's still really clean. Needless to say that when I get around to mowing the lawn, I use the one that requires fuel to run it because the grass is usually pretty long.
Well, it was the grass or the Honda!
The Honda won, it really needed a bath :-)
So today when the hubby got home and after changing clothes, the
Have a great week, it's supposed to be spring/summer like all week! It's about time. Don't you all remember the summer day, as the girls continually ask me.
Well, we bought one, let's see . . ., the summer of 2007 and it's still really clean. Needless to say that when I get around to mowing the lawn, I use the one that requires fuel to run it because the grass is usually pretty long.
Well, it was the grass or the Honda!
The Honda won, it really needed a bath :-)
So today when the hubby got home and after changing clothes, the
green machinecame out. The girls thought it was terrific and even tried to mow. Of course, they don't have enough upper body strength to get it to move, but they gave it their best shot! So anyway, daddy mowed the small section by the garage and the parkway. You ask, "What about the front yard?" Well it's still waiting . . . hopefully this week!
Have a great week, it's supposed to be spring/summer like all week! It's about time. Don't you all remember the summer day, as the girls continually ask me.
too tired
It's been a WILD weekend!! I feel like I've been visiting my house and living at church this weekend!! The girls and I have even eaten three meals at church between Saturday noon and today after church! It's a busy place, Bond left Friday night with the confirmands on an over night retreat. Saturday was a church work day: 8:00-2:00. The stewardship planning group (here's where I fit it) set up the fellowship hall for todays luncheon, and then today we had a guest preacher from our synod and a wonderful luncheon. I really thought I would come home and just sit outside, put up my feet and enjoy the weather, but NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! The girls and I washed the Honda because it was beautiful out and besides that daddy had a meeting until 5:00 P.M.
I'm glad for the energy and now I will be glad to go to sleep
z... z... z...
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