Saturday: First Full Day with Kids

Looking back at these pictures from Saturday (in Chicago, driving home, & being home a few hours) was good for my overwhlemed heart last night. There were some really sweet moments in those first 36 hours.

Boys at breakfast (at the hotel). Eggs are a big hit with all three kids.

After breakfast when we went to our room, I didn't even tell the girls to brush their teeth, but this is what I found in the bathroom:So cute!

Ready for the ride home (P.S. The Camelbak water bottles are also a huge hit -1) I think they like the sucking part of it and 2) they have probably never had as much water to drink as they wanted. The girls love to fill up their bottles with ice and water several times a day. And they LOVE to eat ice!)

Aside from the fact that our kids' first stop in Iowa had to be The Largest Truck Stop in the World (which I chose because it has a Taco Bell and I knew that we could get chicken and rice there) . . . this was ADORABLE! Oh, and I should stop right here and say the fact that my WHOLE family traveled every mile of our journey to Chicago and back with us, stopping when we stopped, etc. was THE BIGGEST BLESSING! Having them help with Abram so we could focus on the other three was huge, Mya and Sydney being able to easily interact with our girls was great and just being there for moral support helped me get through.

As soon as we got home and showed the kids around the house, the girls wanted to go out back and play. It was one of the most precious moments: All four kids were smiling ear-to-ear, laughing a ton and having a BLAST swinging on the swing set. (And we have realized we are quickly going to outgrow this one by next spring. Let me know if you know anyone wanting to get rid of a bigger/more sturdy one.)

And then they moved onto soccer.

More swinging. And again on Sunday, they spent tons of time out back on the swings, laughing, singing, talking and having a great time. It is wonderful to see them so happy. And to see them have EACH OTHER. I can't imagine what this would be like for them if they didn't have each other. They play together most of the time (so far).
After dinner, they found the doll house (Kate and my old doll house!).
And then, the other MAJOR highlight was when the Scotts came over (they were planning to go to the airport, but a last minute technical difficulty kept them from being able to go). The girls were sitting at the table about to eat when the doorbell rang. I waited a few seconds and then looked at them and said, "Owen Kabamba." Both girls' eyes lit up and they JUMPED out of their seats, ran to the front door and picked up Owen and spun him around (I think). I'm unclear on the very last part because by that time, Maria and I were hugging each other, bawling our eyes out. It was a pretty incredible moment (and Bobby got it on video - yay!).

After we ate, the kids played together.

This picture is blury, but it shows you just how excited Owen was. I'm pretty sure he had that look on his face the whole time he was here. Maria said that Owen talks a lot about Zoe and that it seemed they did a lot together in Congo (look, I can say it now!). In fact, we are now pretty certain our kids and Owen were in the same foster home. Owen and Zoe chased each other around the room, laughing hysterically.

Just a year and a half ago, Bobby, Maria, Jason and I were sitting in the living room of our old house together, hanging out because we had both just started the adoption process. We all remember saying back then, "Can you imagine if the kids you guys adopt know the kids that we adopt? Can you imagine what it would be like when they saw each other here in Ames?" Well, we got to see it and it was an incredibly beautiful sight.

Our God is amazing. He has done great things!

Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. (Psalm 40:5)

First Full Day

Looking back at these pictures from Saturday (in Chicago, driving home, & being home a few hours) was good for my overwhlemed heart last night. There were some really sweet moments in those first 36 hours.

Boys at breakfast (at the hotel). Eggs are a big hit with all three kids.

After breakfast when we went to our room, I didn't even tell the girls to brush their teeth, but this is what I found in the bathroom:So cute!

Ready for the ride home (P.S. The Camelbak water bottles are also a huge hit -1) I think they like the sucking part of it and 2) they have probably never had as much water to drink as they wanted. The girls love to fill up their bottles with ice and water several times a day. And they LOVE to eat ice!)

Aside from the fact that our kids' first stop in Iowa had to be The Largest Truck Stop in the World (which I chose because it has a Taco Bell and I knew that we could get chicken and rice there) . . . this was ADORABLE! Oh, and I should stop right here and say the fact that my WHOLE family traveled every mile of our journey to Chicago and back with us, stopping when we stopped, etc. was THE BIGGEST BLESSING! Having them help with Abram so we could focus on the other three was huge, Mya and Sydney being able to easily interact with our girls was great and just being there for moral support helped me get through.

As soon as we got home and showed the kids around the house, the girls wanted to go out back and play. It was one of the most precious moments: All four kids were smiling ear-to-ear, laughing a ton and having a BLAST swinging on the swing set. (And we have realized we are quickly going to outgrow this one by next spring. Let me know if you know anyone wanting to get rid of a bigger/more sturdy one.)

And then they moved onto soccer.

More swinging. And again on Sunday, they spent tons of time out back on the swings, laughing, singing, talking and having a great time. It is wonderful to see them so happy. And to see them have EACH OTHER. I can't imagine what this would be like for them if they didn't have each other. They play together most of the time (so far).
After dinner, they found the doll house (Kate and my old doll house!).
And then, the other MAJOR highlight was when the Scotts came over (they were planning to go to the airport, but a last minute technical difficulty kept them from being able to go). The girls were sitting at the table about to eat when the doorbell rang. I waited a few seconds and then looked at them and said, "Owen Kabamba." Both girls' eyes lit up and they JUMPED out of their seats, ran to the front door and picked up Owen and spun him around (I think). I'm unclear on the very last part because by that time, Maria and I were hugging each other, bawling our eyes out. It was a pretty incredible moment (and Bobby got it on video - yay!).

After we ate, the kids played together.

This picture is blury, but it shows you just how excited Owen was. I'm pretty sure he had that look on his face the whole time he was here. Maria said that Owen talks a lot about Zoe and that it seemed they did a lot together in Congo (look, I can say it now!). In fact, we are now pretty certain our kids and Owen were in the same foster home. Owen and Zoe chased each other around the room, laughing hysterically.

Just a year and a half ago, Bobby, Maria, Jason and I were sitting in the living room of our old house together, hanging out because we had both just started the adoption process. We all remember saying back then, "Can you imagine if the kids you guys adopt know the kids that we adopt? Can you imagine what it would be like when they saw each other here in Ames?" Well, we got to see it and it was an incredibly beautiful sight.

Our God is amazing. He has done great things!

Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare. (Psalm 40:5)

Kingdom Hoops

I recommend reading this great article from the Des Moines Register about our friends, the Sullivans, and Jake's Kingdom Hoops program and vision. They recently adopted a 6 year old boy from Africa. I love what God is doing in and through them!

A Little Reunion

This past Monday, my sister and I had a little reunion with some of our close friends from back home (Treynor, IA). After I became a Christian my freshman year of college, my friends at college prayed that God would give me some Christian friends at home when I went back for the summer. These three girls in the middle (below) were those friends at home! Even though we don't get to see each other often, God has given close friendships that span distance and time. I am so thankful! Kate, Shelly Guttau, Angela Yoder, Heather Yochum and I. (Good thing Brady is old enough to take a picture of us!)

We were able to sit around and talk in the afternoon . . .

After we put in a movie for the kids!

After they were wiped out from playing outside! There were twelve kids (including Abram and a baby).

Little Visitors

We had some little visitors stay with us over the weekend.

Here are Klaire and Ava Landham helping me make breakfast. And little Lorelai playing in the water/car.

Their parents were here, too, but somehow I did not get any pictures of them. Thanks for coming to stay with us Jackson, Sheryl, Klaire, Ava and Lorelai!

Six Kids and Jen in a Bathroom

Once upon a time there were six kids and an adult named Jen in a downstairs bathroom for 20 minutes because a tornado siren was going off!!

The kids were troopers. Brady was holding down the toilet. Mya and Sydney were having fun on the counter.Abram and Callen were toddling around.

And Greysen had his paci, so life was good for him.

That was the story of this past Friday. I was watching all six kids at my sister's house. The two littlest boys were upstairs sleeping and the rest of us were downstairs playing when sky got very dark and the siren in Huxley went off. I freaked out for a moment, called Jason, hung up with Jason, raced upstairs with Brady so he and I could each get a sleeping boy and herded everyone into the bathroom downstairs!

I found out by phone about 10 minutes later that they had the siren on for the strong winds. This makes no sense in my mind. If I hear a siren when the sky looked like it did, I think the tornado is about to hit us! Oh well, I was definitely glad to be more safe than sorry. We stayed in the bathroom another ten minutes until Jason gave us the clear.

It makes for a funny story now!

After lunch and while the little boys were sleeping again, I let the older kids make a tent with furniture and blankets (again, another fun thing I remember doing as a kid).

Cute girls being silly.

Sydney brought her dress-up clothes into the tent and put them on. My mom made this (and matching one of course) for Kate and I for our towns centennial celebration many moons ago.

Just have to show off more of Kate's work. She painted these sticks on her basement wall. There is usually something sitting in front of it (but it was being used for the tent!).

Renee Nesbitt is Getting Married

So, I threw her a bridal shower this past Saturday. It was so fun! The theme was "Love Birds" with as many purple foods and prizes I could come up with (since her wedding colors are purple and silver . . . which just HAPPEN to be what my wedding colors were!)It is hard to see the tree in the picture above. My friend, Libby Asay, gave me the idea to put purple glitter on the ends of the branches. And of course my sister helped me with the tree . . . I don't do anything creative without her!

Here is everyone who came to the shower.

Only 19 more days, Renee! I love you!

Family & Friends

A week ago Sunday we had to go back home (Southwest Iowa) for a funeral. We left all the kids with our cousin Donell and her husband, Jake, while we went to the funeral. They have a baby, Courtney, who is just a couple months younger than Abram. Jake & Donell had their hands full!Just the girls . . . Sydney, Mya & CourtneyLast Wednesday, Abram and I went to Cedar Rapids to visit one of my best friends from college, Beth Ngo and her family. While I was there I did an impromtu decorating job in her living room, which required a tript to Target (and Gordmans & TJ Maxx, of course)! Abram had a ton of fun with Beth & Anh's kids, Liam and Chloe!Abram got to hang out with Uncle Jo-Jo (Joel Vint) and Aunt Sarah at the Paullus' during the Super Bowl.And of course, he kept a close eye on cute little Jaida!