Merry Christmas! Happy New Year!

Merry Late Christmas! Hope you had a wonderful day with your family and friends. We did despite Sarah not being with us this year. Times are bittersweet. Jesse and Sage were with us but we know that next year they will most likely be in Florida. On the other hand our new grandbaby Makenna will be here.

We had extended family with us for Christmas dinner and the Charger game. Arianne's mom and Simon's mom were able to join us. I consider Simon another son of mine so we won't count him.

We took off to visit Sarah and Nathan on Saturday. They graciously watched the kids for us while we stayed at a hotel. In the day we went to eat and to the movies with them. We even went bowling and I have officially gotten worse, if that was possible.

We came home Monday night arriving about midnight and spent all day Tuesday cleaning and putting Christmas 2009 away. Today has been more cleaning and even hit the blinds. I hate cleaning blinds. But it must be done.

Looking forward to our time tomorrow night with friends enjoying Mexican food. I'm going to make Chalupa Grande, Nachos, and some kind of yummy dessert. If you live near us and you have nothing to do please join us! We're starting the fun about 4pm and will finish around 9pm since we have a soccer tourney this weekend.

My internet has been acting up and it's the provider's fault. Will send out our newsletter as soon as I can actually upload a picture.

Happy New year!

Twas the night before Christmas for the parentless child

Twas the night before Christmas
and all through the land
There are parentless children,
with no toys in hand

No stockings to be hung
by the chimney with care
No hopes for a family
soon to be there

Their beds are not snug
but cold and quite bare
There are no goodnight kisses
no one to care

While we in our homes,
laughing in delight
All settled down
for a Merry Christmas Eve night

When in some one's heart
there arises a clatter
There are children in need
who's lives really DO matter!

Away to the computer
please go in a flash
To see the sweet face
with whom YOU could be matched!

While a child you see
their beautiful face all aglow
Could this be MY child?
Could I already know??

When in the dreams of the orphan
what always appears
Is a family to love them,
to care and hold dear

As you stare at that child
your heart beats real quick-
For you know in your heart
that sweet face will stick

More dreams sweet children have
to call parents by name-
Come mama! Come daddy!
Come family to claim!

To the ends of the earth
your heart seems to call
Now child--I'm coming--
I wish for you ALL!

So on a plane to your child-
over rooftops you flew
To hold this dear soul
a wish did come true

And then in a twinkling
I saw through the door
This child of my heart
that was waiting no more

As I got my camera and
was turning around-
Into my arms did
he come with a bound!

He was dressed in many layers
from his head to his foot
and into my heart his life was just put
There was no round face
no plump little belly
just sad little eyes,
and legs shaking like jelly

In a swirl of a pen,
and a stamp and a seal
My world became brighter-
like I could suddenly feel!

We spoke not a word
they weren't needed at all
And I knew in this moment
where I got this call

God layed his hands on my heart
and to the occasion I rose
And He could do it for you
this question He'll pose.....

It won't be a shout
No not even a whistle
It won't be real clear
but faint like a whisper

Can you make room in your heart
if you try with your might?
And make a difference for one
help them see the light?

I can see you exclaim
as you hold your child tight
Thank you Lord for this gift
you got it EXACTLY right!

Written by Amy D. Adoptive mother

Ethiopia Window Decals

http://www.juliegumm.com/orphanadvocacy/EthiopiaWindowDecals.htm

Life goes on!

As you can imagine life has been busy here at our house. Sarah's wedding was beautiful. I hope you were able to go the link I gave in another post and saw her pictures. She was a beautiful gorgeous bride. We miss her, of course, but we know that with Nathan she is in great hands. They've had a rough start with sicknesses and car problems but it's getting better!

Jesse is getting married in less than two weeks! He and his bride will live here with us until he goes to boot camp in June. They've been busy putting away their shower presents, moving furniture into his room to make it look more like a little apt, school and work. I gave her a shower a few weeks ago at our home. We had a wonderful showing from our family and church family. Last Friday I was invited to her bachlorette party. We rode the ferry across the bay to Cornonado and ate at a wonderful Italian restaurant Al Fornio. I had an absolutely scrumptious meal and ate EVERY SINGLE BITE. There wasn't anything left for the dog if there had been one. My pasta dish had barrel pasta with salmon, asparagus, in a smoky tomato sauce. Yum.

Adah was sick Thanksgiving morning. I spent the morning in urgent care with her. She was crouping. Even in the daylight she was pretty bad. She was given a steroid shot to open her airways and then oral steroids for five days after that. Oh.My.Lanta. I stopped after the second dose. She was in pain, writhing around like a mad woman one minute, lethargic the next. She was growling, kicking boxes, and well quite frankly she is a spitfire and certainly does not need help in aggressive behavior.

We made our turkey dinner today. I taught myself how to make gravy. Pretty darn yummy if I do say so myself. Not bland like most gravies I've had. The girls helped me make pumpkin pies. I wouldn't let them help me with the crust since I'm not a good crust maker. I didn't need to mess it up. I can do that myself.

Joel and John are on tournament teams for soccer. Joe is playing soccer for River Valley Charter School where he'll start attending twice a week in January.

I think that's all the news for now. I'm not ready for Christmas in any way, shape, or form. Can't believe it's only twenty-four days away. Too much going on in daily life to think that far ahead!

Thanksgiving coloring pages

I was searching for coloring pages for my Little House class and came across this website. The pages aren't Little House related but they are Thanksgiving related and since it is one week before Thanksgiving I thought the children would enjoy coloring them. I enjoy this site because the pages are acceptable for older elementary. They're not too babyish. There is one where a pilgrim couple is knelt in prayer and another where a pilgrim woman is offering a native American some food. I think your older kids as well as younger children would enjoy these!

http://holidays.kaboose.com/thanks-color.html

Nathan & Sarah wedding pics

The wedding pictures are up on http://timothytylerblog.com!!! My daughter is gorgeous and her husband is so handsome in his dress blues! Congratulations Nathan & Sarah! We love you!

Pumpkin Patch & Dress-up

Abi Mulu sliding down the cotton seed hill.
Joel

Sarah and Adah
Anna & Sarah




Derartu
She's pouting because she didn't get a pumpkin.
Mihret-I love this picture.



Addis
Joel
Addis
JohnI love this sign.
Awwww...............
Cheerleaders
Pedro? Is that you?
Sumu Wrestler
My hippie

Sleeping Beauty

My daughter gets married tomorrow

My eighteen year old daughter is getting married tomorrow! With that we've had lots of excitement and big to-do lists going on. I can't be sad because I'm losing her since she's marrying the nicest man who is perfect for her. She will become a military wife dealing with military life which will be new for her, (the military life). She'll start a new life in a new city and state. Excitement, hopes, fears, and wonderful things are in her future. Congratulations Sarah! I love you!

Jesse & Sage engagement photos

Our friend Tim takes beautiful pictures. Tim, Jesse, and Sage headed out to Oak Oasis Park by our house one day to take these engagement photos. If you scroll down the page you'll also see Nathan & Sarah's engagement photos. Thanks Tim! They're beautiful!

http://timothytylerblog.com/

Homesewn Ethiopian Flag Blankies

I saw this blanket mentioned on the CAFE discussion group. I checked it out and it seems like such a nice gift to bring with you to give your new little one in Ethopia, or a wonderful shower present for that special someone adopting from Ethiopia. Good job, MamaEnat!!!

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=33627190

http://www.etsy.com/shop/MamaEnat?section_id=6475057

Lots going on

Sorry I haven't posted in the last few weeks. My mom was here to visit from Washington. We have seven in soccer and have soccer EVERY SINGLE DAY. Sarah's wedding is next Saturday. We've been sick. I'm still busy with our home school ISP Class Days. Plus I work in Awana Cubbies. Are you tired yet? I am.

I'll try and start posting daily. Although pics will be scarce because it's too time consuming to upload them. If you're my facebook friend you can see my pics there. Sometimes I don't know why I post because it seems as though no one reads this. If you read this and would like to see me continue please leave a comment. If comments are scarce, well......

San Antonio or Spokane?

That was the question when we decided we would go out of town for our 29th anniversary. We went to Spokane two years ago for adoption training with Kingdom Kids and loved the walk around the River that they have there. On the other hand I had gone to San Antonio earlier this year when Nathan graduated from boot camp and knew that the Riverwalk was just as fun.

I went to the Southwest web site and compared tickets. We also looked into Utah, Denver, San Francisco, but had narrowed it down to those Spokane or San Antonio. We decided on Spokane since Steve had been there and wasn't too sure he really wanted to go to San Antonio where he had never been.

I booked our tickets for Spokane, reserved a room at the Oxford Suites, and we were set to go. That was until the Sunday before we were supposed to leave. I received an email confirmation of our flight from San Diego to San Antonio. San Antonio?!! What?!!!!!! I had made the reservations for the wrong city!!!

I found Steve in our room watching the Charger game and broke the news to him. He really wasn't interested at the time because the Chargers were playing. He told me to cancel our room in Spokane and reserve a room in San Antonio. So I did. I found a Courtyard Marriott on the Riverwalk that was only a year old. Yeah!!!

We had a great time. We walked, we ate, we took in some IMAX movies, saw San Antonio Rose Live!, and lounged around. Poor Steve has been getting a lot of ribbing from his friends over this. I say I just keep him on his toes, he never knows what I have in store for him. He just needs to be ready for whatever it is. After 34 years I keep it interesting-to say the least. ;D

We're having a granddaughter!!!

Jared & Miranda found out that they're expecting a baby girl!!! Her name is Makenna. We can't wait to meet her!!

Joel's blanket

I made this rag quilt for Joel a few months ago. I forgot to post a picture of it!

Beach Camping at San Elijo last week.

Joel
James
Abi Mulu

Adah Derartu
John
Anna with powder on her face. Love the braid? It does that after she sleeps on it.
Adah with powder. I gave them powder to get the sand off their shoulders and see how they take advantage of me?
Surfer memorial. There's a surfboard underneath but my camera was acting up and wouldn't allow me to take all of it. So this is what I got.
Our campsite from the street.
Anna Mihret loves her solitude.
Djemy and Adah
The three muskateers
Pals