"Q" is for Quilt

Helena with her beautiful new quilt.

Sof with his new quilt. As Sof and I work on our home schooling each day I am given an opportunity to teach him new words. Today's is "Q, is for quilt".

I am constantly blown away at the friends God has placed in my life. I am rich I tell you, with the best friends a girl could have. Tammy is one of them. Her friendship and kind heart make her a one in a million.

The other day my dear friend from Dallas, Tammy sent me a quick email saying that she had put something in the mail for Sof and Helena. Boy was that an understatement. When I opened the box I was immediately overwhelmed with emotion seeing what she had sent to them. As I am writing this tears of gratitude fall down my cheeks. She had made quilts for both of them from her loving hands. So much time, thought and energy went into creating these, I know. I once, and I mean once sewed a quilt, that it gives me a good understanding and so much respect for quilters and their dedication. It is truly a labor of love! These quilts were no different. To top it off she added the most loving, thoughtful letter explaining her motivation, and the symbolism to each of them.
Tammy, I hope you don't get mad but I had to share your beautiful words, for I could not do them justice.
She wrote:
It is my hope that these quilts can bring them comfort at times when they are sick or tired or just need to be wrapped in love. They were made to bring blessings to each of them. The best thank you I could get is for them to one day be thread bare and warn out from use.
Helena's quilt is a sweet mixture of little flowers that symbolize all of the beauty she possesses and that one day she will blossom into the young women God intended her to be.
Sof's quilt has a lot of symbolism's as well. I chose the train fabric because it represents the journey he has made from ET to TX. Also, Blake and Reagan loved trains when they were younger. The read and blue squares symbolize the colors found in both the US and TX flags. I even noticed that the backing looks like a giraffe print, which symbolises Africa, so he will never forget the country of his birth. The back of the quilt there is special quilting representing a family that always surrounds him in love.
These gifts were given with all the love and blessings that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

As she has woven with her hands and her love these priceless quilts for our newest additions, God has woven her into a priceless friend and woman of God. I am so grateful, humble and honored to call her friend.

Tammy, you will be happy to know that both Sof and Helena snuggle up to these each night I lay them to sleep. Your blessings to Sof and Helena are treasures to them!

America =Doctor's, Medicines and Pain!!!

Pour Sof and Helena, since coming to America it seems every other day is filled with doctor's appointments, dentists and much torture.
Unfortunately, when we brought them home both Sof and Helena had their fair share of illness bringing them much pain and discomfort. The good thing is that being in America, we are able to get these things taken care of quickly. So after a few doctor's visits, dentists appointments, samples (of all sorts-ICK!!!!!), they are on the road to recovery.
Sof even had to go to the oral surgeon and have a tooth extracted that was totally decayed. It was not a good day. The poor kid thought I was evil and was not happy with me. It was very difficult because of the lack of understanding and I did not want him to defy me, I could not explain to him that he couldn't eat breakfast before we left the house that morning or what was going to happen to him. All I could do is everytime he would eat and it would hurt, I would show him on the calendar, which we are learning, that Monday the doctor was going to fix that tooth so it wouldn't hurt him any more.
They have been on several medicines for this and that as well. Every time I open a bottle Sof says "Medicine, me, mom?" We still have a month to go for one of Helena's medicines, hoping that will do the trick.
Then we have the vaccinations. Oh my!!! Since Sof had just gone through the whole oral trama, I chose to have just Helena get her first set of vaccinations. Sof's turn, which he does not know yet, will come at our next visit in two weeks. I think I might just have Greg be the lucky one to go with him that day.
Overall, they are very healthy kids!!! Praising God for taking care of them and providing for them so well. They were both feed well in food and love at Hope in ET. Our pediatrician is amazed at how happy and well adjusted they are.
It has been cofirmed by the dentist and our pediatrian that there is no way Helena is 27 months. They think she is around 18-20 months. Right now that is a big difference, but as she get's older those 6 months will become nothing. Therefore, we will not go through the trouble of changing her birth certificate. Sof has told us he was born in 1992, based on the ET calendar they are just celebrating their year 2000, making him 8 as we have been told.
So all in all I am very thankful that they are so healthy and hopefully we can keep them this way.

The Good Life

I am having so much fun getting to know Sofonyas and little miss Helena. They are too funny!! Both full of personality out the wazoo!! Which is perfect for our family.

Sof is quite the ham always laughing, even when he doesn't really know what he is laughing about. He and I were talking about some of his friends from Ethiopia changing their names and so he came up with Sofonyas "Jackie Chan" Mott. We bothed laughed, he is a nut for sure. For the record, we will not be changing it to that it was just a funny thought.

After some morning schooling we ride bikes and then take a little break from the heat with a movie of choice. He loves both Sky High and Spiderman. He calls himself Spiderman and acts out scenes from the movie. He is seriously drawn to anything Spiderman. So we have an interest!! We went through our home library the other day to find all the Spiderman we had and happily found quite a few to keep us entertained.

I am happy to say the pouting is decreasing and the playful relationship between Sof and I is greatly improving. He is a funny one that kid. We went on a bike ride back in forth in front of the house yesterday, while Helena was down for a nap, and that was the best time we have had. One on one having fun! It was so cute, as we were riding he was looking at the greenbelt area around our house and asked "Mom, Lion's here?" It dawned on me that I am forgeting that everything is NEW to him. So from this question led to a great discussion about what animals live around us here in Texas and what animals he saw when he lived in Ethiopia. In the last few days, I have been focusing more of my schooling and language lessons on just us talking together. Asking full questions and understanding the words what, where, why, etc. He is catching on quick. He may not speak as much, but he is understanding a lot.

Helena is a riot and is starting to find security without me holding her all the time. She actually will walk around our kitchen and family room without me. I still cannot leave her sight, but we are definitely making improvements. She watched Caitlin and Reagan put on their backpacks for school and so she grabbed her little bag and walked away from me saying "Bye, Bye" and ran around the kitchen 20 times or so. She is even walking beside me when we go places instead of me holding her. Today at the kids school, we went up for lunch, she pulled her hand away to walk on her own beside me. Little toot! Already asserting her independance. I give thanks though. She knows when she makes people laugh and likes it. Last night she kept making pigs sounds, snorting out of her nose till her food was coming out. The kids were cracking up. The more they laughed the more she did it. It was everything in my power to get the maddness to stop. The poor girl was sacraficing herself and her nutrician all for the sake of a good laugh.

Because they are adjusting so well and fit into our family so easily I am finding myself taking their newness for granted and expecting too much of them already. I catch myself throughout the day thinking wow it's only been just 3 weeks since they were still in ET. I am blown away by God's works in them, and how he has covered them with comfort, security, joy and love. They are both so affectionate, I love it. Sof showers us all with hugs and kisses. When he sees Blake in the morning he always runs up to him and embraces him way beyond Blake's normal acceptance. Blake's a good sport though. And when Sof sees Reagan it is the same only Reagan is learning to find joy from the love his new brother showers him with.

Sof and Reagan are so cute. At night I hear them talking with each other. Each night having more of a conversation than the night before. Last night I heard them exchanging vocabulary to one another. Reagan asked "Sof how do you say Superhero in Amharic," and then Sof would say "Rrregan (rolling his "r"s) lion in Amharic is Ambassa." This went on for about 15 minutes. It was the sweetest thing.

Caitlin has been bonding with Helena as well. She likes to try to carry her, even though Helena is quite big for her. Last night Caitlin was finishing up her bath and Helena insisted she jump in with Caitlin. Caitlin wasn't too sure at first but then thought it was the funniest thing to watch how excited her little sister was in the bath with her.

I am blessed with 5 total loving little ones, who fill my days with hugs, kisses, cuddles and I love you moms. Even sometimes all at the same time which is a little overwhelming, but I am not complaining!!!

Singing sweet praises!!! Thank you Jesus for these precious children I get the honor and priveledge of spending my days with. My cup runs over!!!

Back to School!

So I know the kids have been back to school a few weeks now, sadly I am just finding the time to write about it. They actually started the day after we returned from Ethiopia and are going great.

Blake is now the middle man being in 7th grade and loves everything about it but the homework. No more of those nerves like in 6th grade. His favorite subject so far, Advanced Technology where he gets to learn how to play with animation on the computer. Blake is changing so much both physically and mentally, but still has the kindest heart. No bad attitude is coming with all the growth so far.

Reagan now in 3rd grade seems to have matured overnight. He loves his teacher, who used to be a first grade teacher when he was in first grade. He is the big man on campus at Canyon Ridge Elementary since he is the oldest of our children there. He loves the idea of watching over Caitlin and showing her the ropes. It is pretty cute if I do say so myself.

Caitlin, my little dumplin, is in Kindergarten. I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday I was giving birth to her. Now she is one of the kids running the halls at Elementary. She really likes her teacher, but thinks the full day of school is just too too long. I kinda agree! But she is handling it like a champ. I have just noticed in the evenings, from shear exhaustion she tends to break down quite a bit over anything. In fact last night, it was the mere idea that I had made mash potatoes for dinner and she doesn't like them. To her it was as if I was saying I don't love her any more. She is a little extra sensitive with our newest additions we have noticed as well. She has wanted me to pick her up and hold her more lately and curl up in my lap a little more. With how many big changes have taken place in her world lately I completely understand and am happy to comply.

With trying to adjust to having 5 kids, which is going pretty well so far, I have down sized our extra curricular activities, so we now have Reagan, Sof and Caitlin taking gymnastics on Wednesday afternoons together. They are getting exercise, gaining coordination and having fun to top it off!!! All 3 in 1 shot- BIG BONUS for mom!! For Blake, he is still in Boy Scouts and loving it. Since he is older he is much more independent which makes it do able for us. I unfortunately had to give up being our cub scout den leader for now, but hopefully next year I will be able to return. Blake is still taking violin and in fact has now progressed up to chamber at his school. We are so proud of him and his commitment!!

Homeschooling Sofonyas wow, now that is way more difficult than I had anticipated. For some reason I had it in my head I was going to be teaching him all the academics of 2nd grade. NOT!! It is like having to go back and start with the language of a 2 year old as well as throw in some kinder through 1 grade academic concepts. He is so smart, he just doesn't like to exercise his brain as much as his body. If he had his way we would be on the bike or swimming all day long. Adding to our already complicated school lesson is little miss Helena, being 2 doesn't make it easy to work with him any other time than when she is down for her nap. Unfortunately, by mid day Sof is not in the mood for school. So I am trying to break it into to segments. Writing in the morning with discussing language, obedience, manners, and rules etc throughout the day and then some reading exercises and math in the afternoon. We have our good days and bad days, but overall it is going well.

I just wish I was more of an expert on teaching the fundamentals of the English language for him. I am trying to read up on it in my spare time, which is proving to be very little these days. By the time I get all the kids to bed, it is light's out for me as well. I am learning to take it just one day at a time and praying for God's amazing grace to cover the rest.

Psalm 145:9

The Lord is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works [the entirety of things created].

Our First Moments with Sof and Helena

Meeting Sof for the first time

Me working my way into Helena's heart
Greg and Helena at Hope
Me holding Helena at Hope~ She's MINE!!!
Greg with Helena at New Flower Guest house

Blake and Sof in ET after playing a game of soccer together
Blake and Helena

Helena crashed out on flight from Dubai to NY
Helena meeting Lola Reagan and Sof having fun

Sisters playing with blocksSof riding a bike for the first time-That's our boy!!
The gang is all here~ Finally, picture perfect!!
All I can say is PRICELESS!

The whole drive from the New Flower to Hope, where Sof and Helena were, I kept thinking is this really happening. All three of us were nervous, anxious, gitty and overcome with emotion as we pulled up to the gate. From the minute we walked into Hope to see and get Sof and Helena for the first time I could barely breath. But the moment I saw Sof and his beautiful smile, bigger than the sun beaming with happiness calling out "Mom, Dad, brother and running towards us with arms open wide, my heart melted!!! With Sof now by our side we turned to Helena, who was being held by one of the caregivers, sadly she was not quite as enthusiastic to meet us. In fact, she screamed in terror and turned away from us, swinging her arm as if to say, go away. We couldn't help but laugh. Oh, this is how I would remember my first moment with my new daughter, NOT!! By looking at her I knew the way to her heart would be through her stomach, so I asked if I could feed her. Within minutes of me spoon feeding her and blowing kisses she was mine, all mine!!! Happy to say, once Helena was in my arms she would not go to any other. She even took to Greg, once he handed her a lolly pop. Both Sof and Helena were sweeter than we could have ever imagined. Blake once again stepping up, went with Sof downstairs by himself while Greg, Helena and I stayed inside and completed out paperwork.

After wanting and waiting so long to see them and hold them in person all I can say is that it was so amazing and there are no words to describe the joy I felt the first time I held them and kissed their sweet heads. They are both so cute and loving with hearts of gold it is glorious. Getting to know them and their habits, likes, dislikes, ways of communicating their wants was overwhelming the first few days. It was trying to catch up on the years we had lost in an instant.

Helena is just as coy as she appeared in her pictures. A total ham though to those who she lets into her circle. Beyond CUTE!! She loves to play peak a boo and squeal. It almost sounds like she is crying but she is laughing. Cracks us up. She reminds me so much of Caitlin when she was 2. Blake spent most of our time in ET trying to persuade Helena to like him or even to acknowledge him with no luck. She has finally come into bloom now that we have been home for some time. We think from watching her that she must be a little younger than 2 though. She is not potty trained and in many ways is so much like a baby. So my hearts desire to have another baby girl has been answered.

Sof is just as enthusiastic and animated as we gathered from watching him in video with his friends. Over the top!! His smile lights up the sky!!! He is so playful and all boy!! He is attached to Greg at the hip. He is loving and sweet to all, but daddy is the MAN!! The whole way home on the plane he spoke of Texas and how he wanted to learn to swim and ride a bike. He was seriously focused. He is so physically superior to any other kid I know. He is a freak of nature. He learned to ride a bike in 5 minutes and swim in just 2 days. He is already a dare devil on the bike, showing me how he can ride with no hands or feet on the bar. He even has a goose egg on his forehead from diving like a wild man into the pool, too close to the side. Not sure if it was due to a language error or just being an 8 year old boy.

Watching Sof's and Helena's firsts on the travel back home was exhausting and delightful. Sof's face as we rode on the escalator and elevator were so cute. He giggled the whole time. I really mean the whole 36 hour trip!! Helena on the other hand, noting she was sick was miserable. Tired, restless, sick and fussy. Not understanding what the heck was happening and why she had to sit still all the time. She was a trooper as well. But thanks to God's grace she has forgotten and forgiven us for putting her through that.

Now that we have been home a week and are back into the right time zone and swing of things, I can't believe we have only been home a week. The kids have all adjusted so well together. From the moment we got home they were as if they had been together all along. Even acting like siblings and being short with each other. Another blessing, is how well both Sof and Helena took to the dogs. The first 2 days were a little uneasy, but quickly Helena grew to love Nitro, Lola and Price!! So much so she loves to be showered in their wet kisses!! Sof loves the animals too. He even has decided he wants to feed the fish so he can have a pet too!

I am amazed that we have only had them for a week. As I put the kids to bed last night, kissing each one of their precious little heads, I could only feel as if I had been doing it for forever.

God's timing and hands in our lives and our children's is so apparent. I know we would not be here and have all of these little cuties without his love!!!

I am forever, humbled, awed, amazed, grateful for our dream of having our family together a reality.

It is so much sweeter than I ever imagined!!!!!! I only hope I can be the women, mother, wife, friend, daughter and child of God he has created me, blessed me to be!!