Thanksgiving Day 2011

*Gracie colored this paper in Sunday School...she is thankful for coming to America*

I got a very special email Thanksgiving morning....

Dear Kristy,
I heard on the radio station that today is Thanksgiving Day for you in America. So I decided to write for you, I read from the Bible what the great apostle Paul wrote to his beloved Timothy like this..."To Timothy, my dear son: grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. " 2nd Timothy 1:2-3 Thank the Lord for past leaders in your country who proclaimed a day of thanksgiving to God for His blessings and provision. Men and Women worth following are not afraid to publicly profess their dependency on Almighty God. Political correctness is not part of their persona, because they are more concerned about pleasing Jesus then people. Grateful leaders have the potential for greatness, while those like African leaders stuck in unappreciative mindset muddle through mediocrity. " I always thank God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all His holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. " Philemon 1:4-5 At work and at home it is more than words of affirmation and appreciation- though this is a good start. A community of thankful people creates a culture of gratitude. There is not a day goes by that God is not thanked for food to eat, a place to work and air to breathe. Children observe Mom and Dad and model what they see and hear. I am sure that your home is full of thanksgiving to Jesus and for each other and your family is infected with grateful hearts. Perhaps you write a note of thanksgiving to your friends and family unwavering love for you and your children...so I am writing to you...Pen a poem of gratitude to your children for their unique gift to your family. Thank your family for their patient love. Email or call a friend and thank them for their loyal friendship. Mostly get on your knees and thank your Heavenly Father. Thankful followers of Christ learn the power of grateful prayers. They approach Heaven with sincere supplications of full thanksgiving and praise to God for sending His Son Jesus to save them from their sins. Prayers of thanksgiving are light on personal petitions and heavy on gratitude to God for the faith of family and friends. Be a thankful servant and watch Christ grow an army of thankful followers. Grateful family of Christ show appreciation to those above and below themselves. "Therefore since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so we worship God acceptably and with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire. " Hebrews 12:28-29 With love and prayers to God for this opportunity to thank Him about you and your family for bringing them into my life, God bless you and your descendants...I will pray and thank God for knowing you in my life...it is also Thanksgiving Day for me to!...for knowing you. You are in my heart Britton and Kristy and you are the reason I thank God today
With many love, your brother in Christ, Tesfaye

*This is one of the better letters I have ever gotten. This is coming from a man who has NOTHING! He couldn't even have a Thanksgiving dinner if it was a Holiday in Ethiopia. There are no words to describe how special this was to us. It put our whole day in perspective.
The little Indians coloring before lunch

Looking through old pictures...precious memories how they linger....
Brent carving the Turkey
smile Dad :)
football games...GOOO Cowboys :) (thats who they were rooting for so I did to)
Thankful for my husband...I love him so much!
naptime with Grandma
Grandma pulled out my dads toys that he used to play with...talk about antique...they were so neat!
chillin
they don't make toys like they used to!
coloring
not wanting to say goodbye....insert very nervous me :(
oh yeah! This is what were really like :) literally
Brent showing us pictures and videos of where he will be for the next 8 months. Marjah Trecknawa Nawa Afghanistan. (Dad looks mad that I'm taking a picture )
sometimes I think maybe it would be better if I didn't know where he was going. The pictures and videos made me sad.
Oh how he loves his Uncle Brentie

I have so much to be thankful for! Last year at Thanksgiving these two people in the above picture were missing. SO THANKFUL they were home this year. How God has blessed me! I am thankful for Jesus and my family...those are the most important things to me.

We got the privilege to spend a whole day, last Sunday, with my brother.
Mom made Brent and I's favorite dinner....teriyaki chicken, scalloped potatoes, green beans, homemade rolls, salad, raspberry jello, peach pie and raspberry cream pie for dessert. YUM!
Carter loves to play Dr. How cute is he??
Daddy and Gracie
Since Brent wont be here for Christmas again this year, we had his presents early. Mom got him a t-shirt that says Hooch official walker...Hooch is his dog that is going over with him to Afghanistan.

We got to skype Grandpa and Grandma Rumble and Isaiah and Janelle in CA! What fun! They got to see Gracie for the first time and tell Brent goodbye.
making up for lost time
Carters favorite person
singing
The evening ended with "Indespicable Me" and a pillow fight. Brought back so many memories of Dad, Brent and me and how we used to wrestle for hours in the evening.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and while I am so very thankful that my daughter and my brother are here this year...it will be bittersweet because I will be telling Brent goodbye for 8 months. Prayers appreciated

Date Night With Daddy

Last Friday night we took our family to the Dayton Mall just for fun :) Gracie's first time to a mall.
Someone gave us a gift card to Panara Bread so we ate there first.....
...and then went to the play ground in the mall.
FUN! Gracie didn't want to play at first but after a little bit of prodding she ran and played with the boys. We are working on her social skills...she has come so far! It was a fun Friday night...we will keep this idea in mind when the winter nights get long.

Going Private

I ENJOY blogging! I have been asked many times how I find time to blog. I always say...some people like to sew or read in their down time but I enjoy to blog. I appreciate all my followers but the time has come to go private. I really only blog for myself...I am looking forward to getting that book made! So if you want to keep following my blog send me your email address. I would love to have you follow along with our family! May God bless each and every one of you! * I will leave my blog open for a couple more days*

Special Guest

My brother is on his 16 day leave before he goes to Afghanistan for 8 months. Last night I told Carter that we were having someone special for lunch...a suprise special guest. He was shall I say a bit excited when his favorite Uncle was there to pick him up from Pre-school. He went to his teacher and loudly whispered, " I want to show my family my room, is that ok?"
So we got a big tour of his room :) so sweet
Carter and his favorite person ever. There is just nothing quite like Uncle Brentie. Brent showed us where he would be in Afghanistan on the map behind them.
Pizza and chocolate cake for lunch. Oh, and miss Gracie seems to be enjoying her new Uncle.
She's showing him video (that I have yet to upload on my computer ) of our Ethiopia trip.
Playtime with Brysen. When we ask Brysen to pray at Supper it goes like this, " Jesus, Uncle Brentie safe, AMEN!!" We thought it was funny the first time he said that and he caught on so now its sort of a joke but still sweet coming from my two year old.
Cameras Grandma made.....say cheese!
This picture will have to last me quite awhile.

Miscellaneous Monday

I can't believe how much this little girl likes to work! From washing the dishes to making all the beds and mopping floors, she is a great help! She shared with us that she worked alot at the Soddo orphanage. *EDIT* Just so y'all don't think I make her do housework. The above picture is quality time with Daddy while Mommy gives the boys showers. They dance and eat candy in secret. So special to hear them laughing. He does a good job of showing her how to wash dishes.
Here she is cutting yarn for her braids. EDIT *I did ask her if she wanted to cut yarn braids with her brother (not pictured) while I made supper. They only did about 10 before supper and I did the other 60.
Erin wanted her toes painted :) *EDIT good bonding with her friends since they cannot communicate.

*We have been so busy lately! I can't believe its almost been two weeks since I blogged last! My children are my first priority...they seem to take up most of my time these days.

*I came across this saying on one of the blogs I follow. I wrote it down but forgot to write down where I found it :(

" Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, talented, fabulous? Actually, Who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people wont feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us ; its in everyone. And as we let our lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others" -Marianne Williamson

I LOVE that! I am always downplaying myself wanting not to brag. But I am always encouraged by others who boldly tell others what they are doing for God and how God has changed there lives.
*Let your light shine*

FAQ'S

HOW IS SHE DOING?

She is doing fine. Not every day is a perfect day BUT for having moved across the world to adjust to new culture and a new home and family...she is doing fine.

DID YOU DO HER HAIR?

Yes! I do! Although maybe it would be nice, we don't have extra money to go to a salon every week. I self taught myself and I am still learning. This has been a huge undertaking and a adjustment for me. Once I get the hang of it, I am sure I will get faster and better. For now I am still learning. I want her to accept her hair as something that is part of her and her culture. And I think my attitude about the whole situation will have an affect on her. So I want to have a positive happy attitude. I am just glad that right now we only have one head of hair in the house that needs special attention.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO BRAID HER HAIR?

Between breakfast, lunch and supper...naps and laundry and everything else...it takes me all day. Like 9am to 8 pm. .....yeah.

HOW LONG DOES THE HAIRSTYLE LAST?

Depending on which hairstyle, usually a week. Then the hair starts slipping out of the braids and it starts to look messy and frizzy. I like the yarn braids...those last almost a month. I also like the twist but they only last a couple days. Every night she sleeps with a sleep cap..I think it helps?

WHAT DOES SHE NEED?

I am sorry, but this question really bugs me. Do you honestly think I am going to tell you what to buy for my daughter? If you want to get her a gift then let it be from your heart. Compared to what she had...she needs nothing. We feel blessed that so many people have thought of us and given BUT it makes me uncomfortable telling you what she needs :)

DOES SHE TAKE NAPS?

Yes! PTL! I think its good for all of us in my household to have some quiet time.

HOW IS THE LANGUAGE BARRIER?

Honestly since day one..she has did great. She understands me very well. Explaining situations tend to get a little complicated but even then, she is starting to raise the eyebrows ( In Ethiopia that means yes or you understand ) We are working on her social skills. She is shy to begin with so if you ask her a question she might not respond. Were working on it and she is learning!

IS SHE EATING WELL?

This has been a little complicated. She eats well at home but when we go away, not so good. She likes bread and meat...raisins, oranges, bananas...green beans, corn...and of course candy and cookies. Anything that looks weird like lime pear jello...thats a no :) She loves to drink water BUT no ice!

DO YOU THINK YOU WILL ADOPT AGAIN?

YES! Lord willing, we plan to adopt again. Whether it be from Ethiopia, China, Haiti, Uganda, Congo or America. God has called us to care for the orphans BUT right now...we are just enjoying our three children that God has blessed us with.