Happy Family Day!

Three years ago today, we woke up as a family of three for the first time in our lives.  I'll never forget, that morning when Kaleb woke up around 3:30am and I got walk over and scoop him up from his crib. It was one those moments that seem so maternal... picking up your baby in the dark of night with the a little moonlight shining in the window.  I fed him and he went back to sleep.  And, in a few hours we all woke up together to begin our first full day together.  We stayed at the guest house that day while the others went to the park with their kids- all of which were older than our Kaleb.  We slept and snuggled and laid him in the sunshine to play.  It was a wonderful day :)
So each year we celebrate our Family Day or our "Family Birthday" according to Kaleb.  Its a day we always cherish and have a lot of fun with.  This year was no exception.   We kicked off our 'celebration' with a family bike ride and then the real fun began....

First, up.... footprints in the 'mud' project.  Moderately successful but Kaleb totally love it!

 Then of course... cupcakes.  To say that Kaleb loves cupcakes is a MAJOR understatement! 

 Us and our cupcakes before singing 'happy birthday' to us. 

 Like father, like son.  Or, is it like son, like father... hmmm ;) 

We're so blessed by how God has assembled our family- what a fun day spent celebrating!

Three

Today, we've arrived at our 3 month mark of waiting. And, we're thrilled to be here!  I think we're into the range where getting the call could 'possibly' happen.  Possibly as in- the odds are small but they exist and if everything went exceedingly awesomely, it could happen.  What this means is that we need to pray even more earnestly for the kids waiting and that the files be prepared as quickly and efficiently as possible.  We know that our agency will be receiving new partnership files 'soon' which in adoption lingo means 'at some point possibly in the next few months' or it could mean like- next Tuesday.  So please, please pray for the partnership files to be quickly prepared and translated allowing them to be matched with families.  These partnerships have resulted in many kids finding their families.  We're excited to be at three.  The excitement of the 'possibility' is growing.  We can't wait for the day when she is revealed and when we can share the good news of God's faithfulness.

In the mean time... we're packing life full of craziness.  Kaleb is still loving preschool!!  Last week was home coming so he got in on the high school pep rally, parade and the football game all of which he very clearly reminds me involved 'cheerweeders'.  Oh, boy.  The craziness of fall is keeping us driving much, working hard and soaking up our time at home when we get it.  Keep praying for progress & God Bless :)

 

I spend at least an hour in my car each school day.  Sometimes it gets old but like anything- there is also good in the middle of it all.  Like how I'll watch the sunrise each morning from now until mid-spring.  This morning, this song rolled across the radio and I couldn't help but love it.  Lots of people on the 'drive to school prayer list' these days... little babies with medical needs, young dads with scary diagnoses, lots of people needing affirmation, people waiting for big heart cries to be answered.  

Just, Praise the Lord. 

1st Day of Preschool

Adventure, possibilities, new friends, projects and discovery....Kaleb was soooo excited to start preschool this past Tuesday.  A few weeks ago, we went to his little preschool open house and ever since- he has been talking about and reminding me 'I go by myself'.  So Tuesday finally came.  I had dropped him off earlier in the morning then came back about an hour later to drive him over for his very first day of preschool.  He was all ready to go and said: "I need to go to preschool Berky- I sorry".  In the most grown up/parental/I am older than you voice ever- ha!  And off we went... 

As my mom said- what a true snapshot of the day.  Feeling so big with his backpack and all but still holding onto his soccer ball blanket just in case.  He really is in such a fun and precious phase.  He's still my oh, my baby Roth deep down.   And, off he went to his first day of preschool :)

He absolutely loved it!  When we walked in he waited so patiently for his turn to talk to Ms. Becky.  He showed her his first homework assignment and took off for the basement where the other kids were.  I had to ask for a hug on the run before he made the turn for the stairs.  On the short drive back to work, I couldn't help but be so happy for him.  He was so excited and ready and enthusiastic- my brain couldn't help but think you go kid!  Go be awesome and love learning all kinds of fun stuff.  We're super thankful to have found a great preschool that picks him up and brings him back to daycare; comes from a Christian perspective and will have Mondays set aside just for the little three year-olds.  Here's a peak at his very first homework assignment.  Love you lots my Mr. Kabub :)

Never Early Never Late

Yesterday was filled with all things 'Friday morning'.  Kaleb absolutely did not want to get up.  At age 3, he already puts up a strong protest come Friday mornings.  Needless to say, we left the house carrying my favorite 3 year old while he was sobbing/crying/thrashing about in protest of heading out the door.  He still had 1/2 his pajamas on but who cares.  Oh, well.  After ditching the screaming, mad, sad, crying, grumpy Kaleb into the car seat we headed for coffee.  Nothing is more essential than coffee on Friday morning.  Of course, there was a line.  Four people deep and the guy in the front literally bought $67 worth of junk food, pop and a pack of cigarettes.  Seriously, people- have you considered the grocery store?!?  Buy the coffee, return to car.  Kaleb is again screaming bloody murder 'I haf to peeeeeeeee'.  Alright, get back out of the car.  Unload Kaleb.  Random guy starts a conversation about his wife owning the same vehicle and where did I get my tires and how much and are they good and ...............blah, blah, blah.  Over the screaming "I HAVE TO PEEEEEEEEEEEEEE"  I guess he got the info he wanted by the time I ran away from him.  Kaleb pees, we get back to the car.  We haven't even left town yet.  It's 7:00am and we are late.  On a good day- I'm to the St. Onge Bar by 7am.  Obviously, we got to follow the bus all the way to Belle.  Drop off Kaleb at daycare which of course involves searching for the socks that come off every single morning.  Every. Single. Morning. Finally make it to school, cut in front of the buses waiting for the last kids to load, grab my coffee and I'm off to actually start my day.  The buses start pulling away when I hear "STOPPPPPP".  I'm not the only one running behind.  Three little kids come hauling down the street from a couple blocks away with backpacks flapping, arms waving, the oldest one screaming "STOP. STOP. STOP."  And, to that I raise my coffee high and walk out into the road where the buses are and my coffee cup of a sceptor commanded a halt to the bus brigade about to leave behind the poor kids running down the street like their lives depended on it.  The kids are only a block away now and one yells "THANK YOU" and I yell back "RUN FAST".  And, they made the bus and I went to work.

From there, the day was busy and full.  In the middle, I shared a little insight with a fellow adoptive mom also in the really long waiting phase like us.  We commiserated about the uncertainties of the wait. And, then last night as I was thinking about the long quiet wait- I was reminded of my morning.  My morning was chaotic, not how I planned, frustrating, behind, felt uncoordinated and out of control.  It was exhausting and felt like a wreck before the day had even started.  But, I was exactly where I needed to be when I needed to be.  $67 worth of junk food, a potty break, a Goodyear TripleTread Assurance tire conversation, four bus stops and a sock hunt later got the kids on the bus.  I really wasn't late.. just in time. 

It was a great reminder that when the waiting of adoption is chaotic, not how I planned, frustrating, behind, feels uncoordinated and out of control...God's got this.  All of it.  All the time.  All the crazy beforehand has a purpose even when you don't see it in the middle.  In the meantime, keep praying for progress.  

We would love it if family and friends would join us the next two weeks in praying for new adoptive files to become available.  For paperwork to be completed quickly, for translators to work efficiently, for little ones to find their families sooner than later.  We would greatly appreciate it.  We learned on Thursday that our dossier has been translated and now will wait to be reviewed.  The farther our paperwork is through the system, the faster our process will go once we are matched.  We can't wait for our daughter to be revealed!  Thanks for the prayers & have a blessed week :) 

4 1/2 years and 300 Posts Later...

It is crazy how life slips along when the weeks feel like a merry-go-round spinning too fast but the months sometimes feel like they crawl by.  And then you take a look back at our family journey these past 4 1/2 years which fills up 299 blog posts.  It has definitely been a journey...all ordained and orchestrated by God.  The very beginning...

The Call!

The Court Date Miracle

And There He Was

The Lost Luggage Miracle

Then, on the last day before the Ethiopian courts closed for nearly 2 months...

The "He is Yours" Miracle

The Best Minute of My Life

The 1/2 Priced Plane Tickets to Ethiopia Miracle

The Saint Laura the Student Teacher Miracle

And, then- we were off to bring our boy home...

Today is THE DAY!

Our Miracle Boy

Ever since, life has been filled with the fun, chaos and blessings of being family.  So many blessings and memories span across these past 299 posts.  What started as a fun way to keep people connected has evolved into a precious family archive as a testimony of God's faithfulness and constant provision.  We are blessed indeed.  Tonight, four and a half years after all of this began...we find our selves again with eager anticipation.  Hope for another one on her way home in God's timing.  Growing anticipation for yet another blessing from God.  This little one has already started storing up her pile of miracles too... we can't wait for the to be revealed.  Thanks for following our journey and adventure of building our family.  We are incredibly grateful for the love, prayers, support and generosity of so many of you.  You truly have no idea what this means to our family.  Go GOD!  

Today, marks 2 months on the waiting list to be matched.  Each day is another day closer :)  The anticipation is starting to build and the hope of meeting her is starting to creep into my thoughts each day.  Most likely we have until sometime this winter to wait before we're matched.  However, God knows our day :)  Please pray for her as I'm pretty sure she's already in an orphanage waiting for us.  Most likely, she has already been born.  So, please pray for her while she waits.  Pray that the nannies love on her, that she stays healthy and for a little joy in each day.  P.S.  Pray that God reveals her soon :)  I really can't wait to start loading up on all things girly pink and floral!!  

Here's to #2 :) 

Bring it ON!

I love summers!!  What's not to love about slow starting mornings, coffee delivered by my rock star husband, spending all day long hanging out with Kaleb and the freedom in  my days to get needed projects done.  I love teaching and typically think my job is a pretty good gig as well.  But, let's be honest- who doesn't love summer.  Most years- I'm a little reluctant to jump back into the up at 5:30, out of the house by 6:35 and on the road heading to daycare while eating breakfast then hauling three bags worth of stuff and a load of laundry to my 3rd floor classroom.  And, that's just getting to my classroom.  Once I open that door- the day of craziness really gets started.
These past few weeks have been different... I just want school to start.  I want it to be fall and to be cold and to wear coats and drive to work on the dark and come home in the dark.  I even wore a sweatshirt to church last Sunday.  I want hoodies and soup.  Why?  Because, if the experts are right- it will be a cool day deep into fall or a crisp winter day when we finally get that phone call about our little girl.  It might be spring, but I'm praying for winter.  And, I can't wait.  Totally can't wait. Ah, the anticipation is starting to grow and build.  Compared to pregnancy, there is so much mystery in the 'expectant' phase of adoption.  How old and what size and which day will she be revealed.  She's already in our hearts and on our minds.  Kaleb's mind too.  He will be an incredible, incredible big brother.  This past week, we some of Kaleb's friends stay for the day.  And, he was completely and totally in love with little Baby "R".  Brought her toys, rolled the ball to her, entertained her and every once in awhile would bend over and kiss her little chubby legs.  At one point, he said "I love Baby R...." then we had a precious little chat about how his little sister is living in China.  But, she will come home to live with us someday.  Today, on the way home from church.  He brought up China again.  Earlier this week, we were in Target and he spotted a globe.  He immediately ran over to it and found Africa then said "my little sister is in China".  The kid is smarter than even I realize sometimes.  We haven't met her but, she is already part of him and we haven't pushed the topic at all.
So, tomorrow is the start of school.  And, I say- Bring IT!!! Because each day we go farther into our wait, we're one day closer to meeting her.  We can't wait!  Until then... here are some last glimpses of summer.  It has been a sweet and precious season indeed :)