Pretty sweet!

My 2 oldest kiddos didn't have school yesterday due to President's Day. We ended up going out for breakfast, puttering around downtown & then just spent time doing normal life stuff around the house. In the afternoon I was cleaning out my closet. Take a guess where my two teenage children were (after they finished watching "Space Balls" & leaving a trail of popcorn all over our floor). They could both be found in my room, hanging out. With a whole house to spread out, I just thought it was pretty sweet that they both came to my room. One was studying & giving opinions on what I should get rid of, the other played guitar. Nothing major, but to me it was the sweetest thing that they wanted to be near me.

It's been a year. . .

It's been months since I've posted and a year now since Tigrai arrived home. So much has happened - both good & bad. We are truly not the same people we once were. Some days, it's true, I wish for my "old life", which just seemed lighter - not so weighty. Yet other times I find myself simply amazed at all that has transpired IN us over the past year. We are grateful for God's grace which has been ever-present, but much more noticeable to us as we have felt our need of Him.

In one year's time here are some of our victories:

We no longer fear that our daughter will run away (which happened multiple times in the first few weeks---traumatic for all of us).

We have learned how to talk openly and honestly - and she is trusting us with her life story.

I believe each of our children feels they are loved & no longer have to "compete" for that love & attention. It feels like our sense of balance as a family has mostly been restored.

I have learned how to braid & style my daughter's hair in several styles - which make both of us very proud :)

Tigrai has learned to speak & write English & really loves her school.

She has also made several friends & has a few weekly activities she really enjoys.

We are beginning to feel & act more like family. After months of struggling to attach, this still amazes me when the love we experience seems to flow from the heart more than from a choice.

I write these victories for myself - I know that more hard days are bound to come, but seeing these in print will help me to have hope.

I also write these victories as a way of encouragement to any other adoptive parents who might be struggling. Adoption can be an incredibly difficult calling. It has brought me to the end of myself like nothing I have ever experienced. Each child & family situation is different, but I know that it can be so easy to lose hope. Don't give up. I know that is what I felt like doing every day, month after month. In hindsight I can see that our daughter needed to feel safe enough with us to share more of her story. All during that time I felt like I was beating my head against a wall. That wall no longer exists between us & now I am free to move a bit closer & learn to love her a bit better - like her mother. I am so glad I didn't give up before the year was up. I think I would have missed out on knowing a very precious heart.

Becoming

I recently snapped these photos on a Sunday afternoon when I looked out my kitchen window and saw just how sweet and beautiful Tigrai looked. It did my heart good just to peek through the window and watch her reading her book and swinging. For all of the struggle we have endured, this was a hopeful moment. There was a sense of contentedness and peace about her that, I suppose, I have longed to see. In that moment I saw something very Ethiopian about her, yet something very American as well. I saw the child we had waited for and the young lady she is becoming. I am very proud to be her Mama and am so glad we will get to watch her grow up.

Another big race!

These Saturday morning races are killing me. . . but I wouldn't miss them for the world - or even for a few more hours of sleep. This past weekend half of our crew ran in an annual 5-K which benefits orphans in Ethiopia. We love this particular race, because it is one our family has helped with over the years and it benefits the region our daughter came from in Ethiopia.

Cam Man took first in his age division - way to go!!

I love these father-daughter shots-- it's been a sweet thing to watch My Lou train like she means it. Once she sets her mind on something, she will go for it with all of her heart. Logging miles with Dad (literally) has been great for her and it paid off on race day when she met her time goal and took her age division. Way to go, Lou! and way to go, Dad, for being such a great personal trainer!

I also loved this photo I snapped of T. with our friend who runs the adoption agency we used to bring her home from Ethiopia. We are grateful for her work on behalf of these children.

Record time

About a year and a half ago My Man learned that he had high cholesterol. We made some changes to our diet, and much to his chagrin, we cut back drastically on ice cream.

He also picked up a new hobby - running. I thought this involved running a few miles 3 times a week for cardiovascular health. Wrong! I had no idea there is an entire "running world". Now I see how it works - it's all about training for the race . . . and the next race . . . and the next race.

Here's My Man after his recent half-marathon. He was thrilled to run even faster than his goal and even had his PR -- (All of our running friends are trying to get me up to speed with all the running lingo - I think it's pertinent that I mention his PR (personal record), since that, too, is a big deal in the running world).

The kids and I had a great time making an early morning road trip to see him cross the finish line! We loved being there so that we could be a part of this with him. I think Lou has even caught the bug and is trying to talk me into running a half marathon with her next year.

This race was particularly fun since My Man had so many friends running with him. He is all about community.

Post-race hugs-

They were all so proud of their Dad!

Brown Sugar Cake

I just tried a new cake recipe that was a big hit. I just wanted to share it because it's so easy and all of our crew loved it. It would be great for a morning coffee cake & is also perfect for serving to your family or company. I think it will be my new standard for hosting or for fall potlucks. I can't guarantee that it is a "healthy" food item, but I don't think you'll be disappointed. Happy Fall - hope you enjoy it!

It Grew!

I can't even begin to tell you how much JOY our little "square foot gardens" have brought us!

They have made me smile every day of my summer!

I am so thankful to My Man and girls for all of their help building them.

If you are at all thinking of gardening - this is the way to go! They are SO easy to care for and produce bumper crops due to the great soil mixture.

Currently we have lettuce, spinach, salad greens, beets & green beans still going strong.

I am still hoping to come up with a plan for tenting them this winter so that we can enjoy homegrown salad when there's snow on.

I'd love to hear any thoughts on building cold frames or on your experience with row cloth.