A Birthday Letter To You, My Son!

GUESS WHO IS A TEENAGER!?!?

HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY SWEET SAMI!

Wow.  When I first laid eyes on you, you were ten {with a birthday around the corner}.

When you came home you were eleven {with a birthday not too far off}.

The next year we got to enjoy your first-ever celebrated birthday on this day, as you turned twelve.

Why then, am I amazed that you are now turning THIRTEEN?!?!?!?!?

I am so excited to celebrate YOU!  You, Sami, our precious and amazing SON!  You never cease to amaze me with your dancing eyes, your joyful soul, your contagious smile, your kind and loving heart, great sense of humor, and the countless countless times you have {successfully} tried to scare me!  :)

You have brought such love, joy and laughter into our home!  Before you boys came home, I would sit here at home.  In the deafening silence.  And dream of the day that God would fill our home with the "noise" of love and joy of children.  OUR children.  I would dream of hearing the giggles of laughter and the pounding of feet across our hardwood floors, as much fun was being had by them; and I envisioned me smiling huge as I would look up to God with a heart full of praise.

I was dreaming of the day when our home ~ and our lives ~ would be blessed by YOU and KALEAB!

And now, daily, I get to experience it all!  I get to experience the joy of YOU!  With my dreams far surpassed by BOTH you and your "wundhim," Kaleab {but this post is about you, birthday boy}!

My heart is filled to overflowing and YOU are a BIG reason for that!  I felt the holy spirit goosebumps when I first met and talked with you in Ethiopia, feeling as though God was telling me that YOU were our son!!!  And now, each day I am moved by how you continue to bless my heart in some small or big way, just by being YOU!

It is my hope to love you to the best of my ability, and beyond.........praying that God will help me love you beyond what love my humanness can provide.  I pray that God will fill any void in our parenting that maybe only He can see.

It is my prayer that you will never EVER wonder where you belong.  Or wonder who you can trust.  Or wonder who loves you unconditionally.  Yes, as you know, God loves you in this way!  {I am so GRATEFUL you already know HIS agape love!}  It is my hope and prayer that you forever know that such unconditional love also flows to you from your father, brother and me!

It is my hope that you will witness in the flesh {via your father and me} a Christ-like love.  Every day.  Not matter what you may be experiencing - in or outside of our family - I pray that you will always know a trust and love in the safety of this family.  Your family.

It is my desire to bless you abundantly, my sweet Sami.......while leaving room for God to build the character He created You to have.

It is my goal to protect you as best I can........while allowing God to use life's happenings to further build your divinely determined character.  And draw you deeper into Him.  May my mama's heart and desire to protect and provide never cheat you of such invaluable lessons.

It is my dream for you to never know pain, my son.  Physical or emotional.  Yet, this is not reality.  Avoiding such hurts threatens to lessen your connection with our Heavenly Father, as it is in such times that you will draw nearer to Him.

Therefore, instead, it is my dream that you will forever know that God, dad and I are here for you in whatever pain life may toss your way.  May God continue to grant us the privilege to love you through such times.     May you always trust and know that we are here for you.  Always.  And forever.

YOU have already given me so much, my son.  More than words can express.  More than you may ever know.  It is my desire to bless you.  Every day of your life.

I am proud of the young man you are.  And the man I see you becoming.  God is deep within you.  And I pray we teach you well how to continue deepening that relationship with Him.  And I pray that God continues to deepen your relationship with us, your mom and dad.

A Mother's Love is immeasurable.  I'm not sure how to even describe my love for you, Sami.  But God knows.  He knows how to tell your heart.  On my knees, I ask Him to do just that.  To tell your heart of the love dad and I both have for you.  Just because you are YOU!  Just because you are our SON!

May this upcoming year be even more blessed than the previous.  If that is possible.

Making his birthday wish!

All My Love...............To The Moon and Back!!!

Mom

K's Birthday Was Fun!

Well, Kaleab's birthday was a very sweet day.

We were very glad we held off his birthday party until this coming weekend, because Daddy had to work all morning and into the afternoon!  He will be HOME all weekend this weekend!  Ready and able to help us celebrate Kaleab being ONE!!!

I am having FUN planning the monkey-theme party, though it is much more challenging to do so with our little peanut here.  I have much less time when all I want to do is play with and love on the birthday boy!  GOOD "problem" to have!  Trust me.....I'm am SOOOO NOT complaining!!!  {wink inserted here}

Kaleab and I had an especially cuddly and giggly birthday morning.  I think he knew it was his special day!  Maybe it was my singing the HAPPY BIRTHDAY song to him a bazillion times that clued him in.  He would just giggle and grin with a glow!

We helped our friend's little boy, Kent, celebrate his birthday for a short bit too.  Crazy that they were born on the same day the same year!

Amy and Ron were kind enough to try to get Kaleab 

to share in Kent's cake since it was his birthday too! 

Kaleab wasn't too interested.

Not sure why so many people want him to eat Kent's cake.

Then it was home for good family time.

We got to Skype with the grandparents from both sides and talk with Aunt Molly! 

Kaleab swinging in his new car swing from Jeff's parents.  Daddy's arms got tired before Kaleab was ready to be done swinging!  He loves it!  THANKS, Sattie and Dub!

 Weeeeeeeee!!!!!

 Feeling pretty precious, I think he is!

His shirt says "My 1st Birthday"

(Boy do I look like a dork!)

Kaleab and Daddy celebrating our little man.

Sweet Baby Kaleab had fun dreams that night I am sure.  And boy, did he sleep HARD and LONG!  I think we wore him out!  Poor little fella.  Just think how tired he will be this Saturday night after HIS birthday party!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET KALEAB!!!

PLEASE JOIN US IN WISHING BABY KALEAB A HAPPY FIRST BIRTHDAY, BY LEAVING A COMMENT BELOW!!!!

Incredible.

We have known our little sweet Kaleab since he was 2 months and 3 weeks old.  And now he is TURNING ONE TODAY!!!!!  {birthday party is next saturday....when daddy isn't on call}

Watching Kaleab grow up in pictures those first months were hard in the sense that we SO wanted him HOME with us!.  Yet, we are so THANKFUL to God that we have all of those pictures of him ~ Thanks to ALL of you who were kind enough to take him our care packages and shower him with LOVE while you were in ET for your children!!!!  The pictures we have are priceless and they helped us feel a part of his life from the beginning!!!!

We may not have had him home from so early on, but we did get to watch him grow up, and we are still praising God for that!!!  We are so grateful to have had Kaleab in OUR care the last two months!!!!!  AND NOW HE IS HOME!!!  FOREVER!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, PRECIOUS SON!!!!

There is so much that I already LOVE about you, sweet baby!  I love how soft your beautiful brown skin is.  I love those gorgeous big brown eyes of yours.  I love your big loose curly hair ~ that can get so big if I don't put product in it.  I love kissing your super soft cheeks.  I love your precious little lips and your little chubby hands.  I love your cute little button nose.  I love your belly laugh that makes me laugh from deep down inside.  I love how you look into my eyes with such love.  I love how you cuddle and snuggle right into me.  I love how you crawl to me quickly for safety when Daddy or Big Brother chase you in fun.  I love your little dance moves any time you hear even a few notes of music.  I love listening to your sweet babbling sounds.  I love hearing you say "Mama" or "Dada" or "Dogin" {for doggie}.

You bless us so incredibly little boy!  It is our prayer that God equips us to help you become the great boy and man you were created to be!  May we be able to bless you in the way you are already blessing us!!!!

WE LOVE YOU, BABY KALEAB!!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!

Today, in America, it is Jeff's birthday.

He is home and the three of us are in Ethiopia.  Doesn't sound like much of a birthday present, does it!?!?

But what a precious birthday it is!  Jeff is a Daddy!  He has a beautiful 11 month old baby boy and an amazing and precious 11 year old son!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DADDY!

We miss you and love you and can't wait to be with you again!  Praying that is SOON!!!

Honey, know that you are already an amazing Dad.  To both our boys!  There is something about watching you with either one ~ or both ~ of our boys that just melts my heart.  You love them in such a beautiful way.  You love me in such an amazing way!  It is YOUR birthday, yet I feel like WE are the ones who are blessed!!!!  Thank you for praying us home.  Thank you for fighting the good fight.  Thank you for helping to keep GOD the center of this family and this adoption.  Thank you for being YOU!

Know that I desire to seek God in every way to help me be the loving, Christian wife and mother He created me to be.  For you and for our boys.  I want to be all you deserve and more.  Every day.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY LOVE!!!!

{May it be just a matter of days before we are with you again!  Lord, please show up BIG Monday!  Please!}

WEEKEND FUN!

It as a great weekend!  Hope you all had a wonderful one too!  I never can celebrate the 4th of July without thanking the many many men and women who have fought for each of us to enjoy the many freedoms that we currently have in our lives.  It never ceases to AMAZE me that people love God and our country enough to lay down their life for it!  And here we are, enjoying the result of such sacrifice, living in the luxuries America has to offer........

THANK YOU seems so insufficient.  

But I say it from the very bottom of my heart!

This contemplation then lead me to the FREEDOM we are all offered in Christ!  Freedom from our sins (you know, those bad decisions we all make at some point in our lives!), knowing that Christ's sacrifice cleared the slate for every one of us.  Freedom from worry, knowing that our Heavenly Father is walking alongside us no matter how rough the road.  Freedom from having to "keep up with the Jones'" as we know what really matters in life ~ and it isn't the materialistic things that we can't take with us when we die!  Freedom from trying to be someone we aren't, knowing that God loves us just. the. way. we. are!!!  He never makes mistakes!!!!  Freedom of having to figure out the details of our lives, knowing that if we seek God's will for our life, He will never leave us nor forsake us.  And we know that His plan for our lives is always good.  ALWAYS.  

I still cannot THANK God sufficiently for blessing us with our son.  I still cannot find a way to THANK Him for this FREEDOM He has bestowed upon me, just because I chose HIM.  So simple.  Yet, so profound.  So Eternal............

Friday, July 1st was spent at an Allison Kraus outdoor concert at the Botanical Garden, with Eric and Sarah.  Fabulous!  Great company, awesome weather, and a voice to DIE for!!!!!  Seriously, Allison knows how to bless the ears that listen!!!!  {forgot to take photos.  boo!}

Saturday was getting what donations we have for the orphans organized and start packing it all.  We are floored by all the peeps wanting to love on orphans in ET!  THANK YOU!!!!  

Sunday and Monday were both BBQ days {again....forgot to take photos.....double boo!} and spending the days with wonderful friends!!!  

Well.......soooooo.......Monday was also spent celebrating our freedom and rights in another way before the BBQ.  As Jeff and Josh would say, we were celebrating our right to the 2nd Amendment........ yes, you know......the right to bear arms........

 Jordan and his BB Gun.

 Charlie's Angels (minus one)

We mean serious business here......

 Trying out the new Smith and Wesson M&P 15/22......

 Good Father-son bonding......Josh and Jordan.

 Yes, this picture is for reals!

 Included this one for you, babe!

(still not sure why you like this one so much) 

 Honey Shootin' Clay Pigeons.......

 Best Buds!

(Gotta love Josh's shirt!)

Ended the evening with fireworks and fun!

My Momma always said I was her late firecracker.......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

As most of you know (because you are so stinkin' sweet and plastered my FB with awesome Birthday Greetings!), my birthday was yesterday, July 5th!  I cannot THANK YOU enough for showering me with LOVE!  

We usually are in Colorado with Jeff's family for 4th of July and my birthday, but this year it was Jeff's turn to be on call, so we stayed in town.  It felt weird to work on my bday, but hey!  They had treats and a gift card for Macy's, bday decorations......the works!  Oh, and Cinnamon Kettle Corn!  Have you ever tasted it!?!?!?  I had not!!!  But am now addicted!!!!!  Need I say more?

My bday was then topped off with presents and a nice dinner, with a Cosmopolitan, and MUD PIE for dessert!  Jeff planned on it being just the two of us, but before I knew that, I had invited Lisa to dinner with us ~ hubby was such a good sport!  Of course he loves Lisa, so it was easy for him to switch gears!  The surprises kept coming............as Jeff's parents knew where we were going for dinner and phoned the restaurant, providing their credit card information..........to pay for our dinner!  Wasn't that thoughtful and sweet!?!?!?

The waitress approached our table and asked me if it was my birthday.  When I said yes, she then asked me if I was "me" ~ by name.  Puzzled, I wondered how she knew who I was.......she said, "I was told to look for a beautiful blonde with a big smile who was celebrating her birthday."  Wow!  She really knows how to get a good tip!  {especially on a day that I am turning older! ha!}

Like my dear friend, Heidi said......another year older and another day closer to our baby "K!"

The icing on the cake, so-to-speak, was getting our first monthly update on our sweet boy ON my bday! He is doing well, growing like a weed and eating well.  He does have an acute ear infection, poor boy.  Would you join us in praying it resolves quickly?  Tugs at our heart to have him sick so far from us.

But we know who has Ultimate care of him...........and we pray God watches over our son as well as prepares all the details to make court go smoothly......and result in a PASS so that "K" will officially be OURS!  FOREVER!!!!

BEST BIRTHDAY PRESENT EVER!!!!!!!  

Leaving to meet OUR SON!!!!!

Sweet Dreams, Baby "K!"

xoxoxoxoxoxoxo

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HONEY!

 HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MY DEAR!

WOW!  Today you turn 35.........I cherish the 5 1/2 years we have shared together!

I feel a bit like a cheater, though, because I am the one who really gets the gift!

.....YOU!.......

THANK YOU for bringing SO MUCH JOY into my life!

THANK YOU for appreciating me!

THANK YOU for your thoughtfullness!
THANK YOU for your friendship!

THANK YOU for taking such good care of me!

THANK YOU for loving me as Christ 

would have you love me!

THANK YOU, honey, for being the 
 WONDERFUL man you are!

YOU amaze me!

Our little one(s) are SOOOOO BLESSED 

to have YOU as their Daddy!

I am SOOO HONORED to have YOU as 

my BEST FRIEND,

my FOREVER LOVE,

my LIFEMATE!

Ski SAFE this weekend with the boys!  
(NO injuries like last year!)

We have such an exciting year ahead of us,

I am blessed beyond my wildest imagination 

to have you to share my life with!