You don't wanna miss this!!

God has really brought SO many dear women to my life through adoption and today I'm gonna introduce you to one of those ladies. Mary Beth and her husband have brought two children home from Ethiopia. She is a dear friend of mine who God is using to speak life into my heart. I am so thankful for our friendship. She would like to share with you guys what He is doing in the lives of His children in Ethiopia. This is definitely a post you don't need to miss. Thank you Mary Beth for letting me be a part!!
Jenny:)


Thank you so much Jenny] for allowing me to post on your blog about a subject that is so important to me.

Over three years ago, my husband and I began our journey to adopt our son from Ethiopia. And since that time, God has been filling our hearts with an overwhelming love and passion for the people of Ethiopia. We returned a year after our first adoption to bring our daughter home. After arriving home with her, we knew we had to do more.

We have been so blessed to team up with other adoptive families around the U.S. and with Lifesong for Orphans. Lifesong is doing some amazing work through a small nursery school that they support in Adami Tulu, Ethioipa. You can read more about Adami Tulu here.

Last year, we, with five other families, raised over $40,000 to build a new building, restroom facility, and gate at the Adami Tulu school. In August, we got to return to Ethiopia to see the new building. We had an amazing trip, and have absolutely fallen in love with Adami Tulu. You can read more about our trip here and here. The school is changing the lives of so many vulnerable children in the area by offering them a wonderful education and two nutritious meals a day.

We've returned home with the knowledge that we have so much more to do in Adami Tulu. So we've agreed to continue our work with Lifesong by raising funds for another school building on the Adami Tulu campus. This will enable the school to expand to include 1st and 2nd grade. More details will be coming soon, but we're anxious to get a jump start on fundraising. We know that this project will cost at least $50,000. But, for these sweet faces, we'll do anything!



We are very excited to announce our first fundraiser for our next phase of the Adami Tulu project: another Aspen Giveaway!



Our Aunt and Uncle have, once again, generously donated toward our fundraising efforts. Only this time they've offered us not one but FIVE stays at the Hyatt Grand Aspen.

Filled!

We are doing well! This is possibly one of my favorite seasons in this life He's given me. Yes, I'm busy and exhausted. Yes, I'm terribly proud that my kitchen and living room are CLEAN while the rest of my house is dirty;). Yes, there are times that the whines of a 3 yr old or defiance of a 2 year old get to me... but oh the JOY, pure JOY I am soaking in on a daily basis. I LOVE LIFE!! Always have really but I love it even more right now. Teaching the boys has been such a blessing for me. They are both doing so well right now in school. They'd rather be playing but they never really complain about having to do work which is such a blessing for me right now. Piper is SOOO incredibly eager to learn. I have no doubt if I spent just a handful of minutes with that girl she'd be reading in no time. She's a sponge. She desperately wants to be able to do the schoolwork they are doing and will often whine "but I just can't READ!!". She can entertain herself easily. She has SO many imaginary friends, it cracks us all up. Joleigh is just a little ball of sunshine. She is content usually in all circumstances. She'll definitely let you know if she's been wronged;0) but she just plays her little heart out day in and day out.
I know God has blessed me with such an amazing amount of contentment. Life has been a whirlwind over the past few months but God has been an ever present strength for me. He has given me a great group of women who have traveled down the adoption path and have poured life into me. He fills me daily with joy and when I lay down joy is still bubbling over. I know I'm the kinda person that easily gets on others nerves b/c I'm just "so happy" but really why shouldn't we be?!? I am a sinner chosen and saved by grace and I pray that I will always be filled with joyful praise!

First week wrap up

We had a great first week of homeschool! We learned about the Vikings and Leif Ericson. We learned about the meaning of names. I wrote a letter to the boys telling them about how we came up with their names and the meaning of their names. They really enjoyed that. At the end of the week, we made cupcakes and put their initials on them to celebrate their names.

We did our first science experiment. They had a lot of fun doing it. Piper wouldn't let us start until she had her "journal" to take notes on the experiment;0).

This week we are learning about the meaning of the name Jesus. We are also learning about Christopher Columbus. We will be making some special little ships to sail across the ocean blue... aka swimming pool. The boys had a great first week. Piper and Joleigh were fabulous. SO far... I haven't had to use the television as entertainment for the girls. Actually, I'm not sure the tv was turned all last week during the daytime. Piper thoroughly enjoys playing with legos while we do school, unless she hears something fun going on at the school table, then she's all aboard. Joleigh just roams from one toy to the next. My house is a WRECK but we're having fun and making lots of great memories! :)

So I'm really hoping...

to start blogging again! Life has been tough but I feel the fog may be lifting:)
We celebrated Joleigh's 2nd birthday this week. She thoroughly enjoyed a b-day cookie and some b-day cupcake!! She is doing well. She is fully potty trained and we are SO happy about that! We went to Texas for a wedding a couple weeks ago. This was her first big trip and she did so well. All of the kids were so good through the long car ride. We really enjoyed ourselves.


Yesterday we started a new chapter in our lives... homeschool! We are using Adventures in My Father's World and are loving it! Andrew is in the 2nd grade and Parker is in the 1st grade. The first two days have been great! We are not beginning Math until next week but so far they seem to enjoy all their subjects. Here's a few pics of our first few days.

Jo's favorite part of the school day is definitely recess!!
We made American flags to put on the cover of our US History notebooks.
First day of school pic:) Jo was still sleeping;0)

We're good...

Things are going well around here! We've been busy the past two weeks with swim lessons. We are soaking up summertime and spend a good portion of time in the pool:) Andrew and Parker are swimming so well. Andrew's swim teacher said he is 100% ready for swim team so we're thinking of letting him do that in the fall. we'll see.
The girls are great! Piper is a doll face. Tomorrow she has her FIRST dentist appt:) The boys will go for a cleaning and she will go for a counting;0) and Joleigh will probably be stuffing her face with cheerios. That's how she rolls;0)
Joleigh really is doing SO well! She has many new words. She's potty training, too. She is doing very well. It's hard for people to understand that bonding isn't automatic and that not only does she have to bond with me but I have to bond with her! It's really a complicated but beautiful process but it's tough. It's definitely getting better though. I love her more everyday. She is precious.

We have also been busy building a table!!! I'm SO excited about it:) We got an old door from a friend, bought some legs, some base boards and a piece of glass and tada... we bought some fun chairs to go along. Everybody has their own special chair. AND ignore the terrible mess on the bar! It was already cluttery and then we cleaned off the other chair arms which added to the mess:)

We're still here:)

Things are going well! Joleigh is adjusting very well. She's happy as a lark... well most of the time;0). She's pretty infatuated with food which is normal for a little girl whose been through all she's been through. Bonding is going well. She does really well when it's just "us" but when we venture out, you can definitely tell bonding is a process! She had lots of "mommies" at the orphanage so when we are out and mommy (ME:) tells her no then she wants to go to another mommy (aka stranger) and see what they'll do for her. It makes for awkward situations b/c I pretty much just have to ask my friends/strangers, "no, please don't pick her up". She really is doing well though. Cam and I talk about how she couldn't be any better. Perfect personality, funny, SWEET!! Our kids love her and she loves them. Every morning we all barge in her room singing the theme song for Jo Jo's circus.. b/c we call her JoJo a lot:) She is a blessing to our family and we are peeling back more and more pedals of blessing a day. Has it been tough? Oh certainly! Honestly I never went through post partum with my bio children but I definitely think I've had some Post Adoption depression with her. I've heard before adoption isn't for sissies and now I totally get that concept. Definitely a tough road but daily God is filling me up and guiding me (us) through. I am thankful He has led us down the road of adoption and I look forward to all the other adventures He has in store for us. We are blessed!!

What are the boys up to? Enjoying summer to the fullest! Swimming daily, catching bugs to feed their lizard, reading, etc. They are so fun to watch grow up together. They really do enjoy each others company and I thank God for that.
What is Piper Jane doing these days? Oh she couldn't be cuter!!! She constantly talks about going to the beach. Thanks Barney:/ I think she saw a beach episode so now everyday she ask when we are going. Sigh! One of these days:) She is a great big sister. I haven't changed a diaper without her:)

Our Adoption Journey Video

Things have been going really well! We are all still adjusting but everyday gets better. Joleigh is doing very well! She is still trying to figure out all of her surroundings and new family but she is doing very well!
Here's a little video of our journey!