Fun In The Sun!!

We were so excited to be able to join my family for our traditional family week at the beach! AND to be able to introduce our daughter to the sand and the surf! She was not such a big fan at first, but by the end of the week, she was enjoying it along with the rest of them. When we first arrived, it was very windy and she did not like the wind in her face or the stuff we call SAND on her feet! But by the end of the week , she was even EATING it!!

Notice the towel she is sitting on....she wouldn't sit on the sand!

The kiddie pool on the deck was more her speed at first!!

I couldn't resist this hula suit for my little sunshine!

Graham and Lottie hangin' ten!!!

Noah and Corrie hangin' ten a little closer to shore!

My 4 treasures having Fun in the Sun!!!

More beach posts coming soon!!!!

Summer Camp

Earlier this month, the boys had the opportunity to go to a Christian summer camp in our area that they have attended since they were in kindergarten. They started out in the day camp program and the last 2 years have participated in the overnight camp for one week each summer. They thoroughly enjoy the camp. They stay in cabins with 2 counselors who are Godly young men and 8-10 other boys their age. They participate in daily bible study, worship, games, sports, swimming in the lake and pool , etc.

At the end of the week, they have a closing ceremony which the families are invited to attend. This year at the closing , both of the boys were recognized for their efforts throughout the year to complete monthly bible studies which they submitted back to the camp each month. They each had completed ALL their lessons and had submitted them on time and were recognized with a trophy for their accomplishments.

I know that God's Word says It will never return void, so I know that the seeds of His Word planted in their hearts through these lessons will grow and develop in the months and years to come and provide wisdom and guidance as they grow and mature.

After all the awards were given out at the closing ceremony, the camp director said they had one last award to be given. He said he saved this one until the last because it was given to the one camper at camp who had demonstrated Christ like character throughout the week and who the staff felt would go home and without doubt continue to exhibit this kind of character in their daily life. My eyes filled with tears as they called out our son Graham's name to come and receive the award. They said he had gone out of his way during the week to look after the younger children at camp and make sure everyone was having a good time. They said he had exhibited the 3D lifestyle they had talked about throughout the week and wanted to present Graham with the 3D character award. It was quite an honor and Graham humbly walked up to the front to receive his award.

We could not hope for more than having children who love the Lord and seek to live their lives for Him on a daily basis.

Our prayer is that they will continue to walk in His ways, trusting in Him throughout all the journeys life may take them.

Here are our 4 blessings........reunited after a week of camp for the boys.....

First Steps

You may have noticed in all the pictures of Corrie to this point ,she has been sitting, or carried, or holding on to furniture. That is because she had not yet started walking independently when we met her in Ethiopia.


Our first update on her back in December ,after the director of our agency visited with her, said she was a very happy and content baby ,but she did want us to be aware that she was delayed in her ability to walk. Other children in the orphanage her same age were walking just fine and yet she was not even crawling or pulling to stand at that point. We assured her that we understood the situation, but that YES we were certain that SHE was our daughter ,as God had confirmed that over and over in so many ways. We, in every way , wished to move forward with completing whatever was necessary to call this little orphan girl....OUR daughter. The director assured us then that they would be moving her to their home in Adama where Tezera would work with her, giving her massage and attention as well as pray for her along with the widows in their weekly prayer meetings. I must admit that first week , I wondered what our life would look like if she was not able to walk for some reason. Even as a physical therapist, I knew that the inability to walk would make life complicated. But any concerns I had quickly faded with the total peace I had that I knew that I knew that I knew God had planned for this little girl to be in OUR family. We also began praying, along with our other three at home each night , that God would strengthen her legs as well as prepare her heart in the days that we waited to bring her home.



We received updates as we waited that told us she was happy and social, as well as beginning to crawl with one leg , pull to stand and walk with assistance. When we met her in June, she had progressed to crawling normally, and she could cruise along the furniture, and take somewhat unsteady steps with assistance. Of course , with her in our arms, we had never been more SURE that she was OURS.... FOREVER....no matter if she EVER took a step on her own.



On June 12th, 2010, any concern over her inability to walk was gone, as Corrie Sifan Rose took her first independent steps!!! Praise God for the answered prayers of many!!! She took 3-4 steps to me in the kitchen that afternoon, with Battle watching near by . Later that evening she walked down the hall and she has not looked back!! She is walking anywhere she wants to go!!!



And believe me, she is going LOTS of places!! She is into EVERYTHING!!!

Don't you love the concentration with the tongue sticking out!!! It must help with balance!! Before I know it, I will be running to keep up with her!!

I am oh so grateful that she is walking on her own, AND that God allowed me to see those first steps!! So very precious!! One of these pictures will go in our memorial box to REMEMBER God's goodness!!

God Bless The USA!

We enjoyed celebrating our country's birth on July 3rd this year with family and friends. We gathered at a local park to hear the symphony play patriotic songs and then as darkness fell we enjoyed a spectacular fireworks display!! This has been our tradition for the last several years and is quite fun! Earlier in the day we enjoyed a carnival and cookout at our neighborhood pool.

Corrie enjoyed her celebration of her new homeland . She was tuckered out at the end of the day, after playing, swimming, eating, and dancing. She so enjoyed the music! She would bob her head and shake her hips and swing her arms to the beat! So very cute!! She enjoyed the fireworks and was not scared!

We also squeezed in a birthday celebration for Battle's mother in the afternoon. We had pizza and an M&M icecream cake before heading to the park!

Yes, it was a full day! What fun to celebrate this great country we live in and to honor those that have gone before us making incredible sacrifices to give us the freedoms we so enjoy!

Yes, God Bless The USA!!!

Welcome Home!

What a homecoming we received once arriving at our local airport. Our family and friends were waiting with signs and banners. The tears fell as I hugged and kissed Graham, Noah and Lottie. I gave long awaited hugs to family and friends who had gathered to welcome us home. How sweet it was! After loading our luggage into my parents car, we , as a family of 6 got in our van and drove HOME! My mom had filled the refrigerator with food for the weekend and the dining room table was decorated with daisies and a welcome home Corrie cake. My dad had made a welcome home Corrie sign for the front of the house. Oh how good it was to be home!

We gave the children some of their souvenirs from the trip and they didn't waste any time in trying on their traditional Ethiopian clothing. I must say Lottie looked like a little Ethiopian princess and the boys were quite handsome in their new duds!

Corrie enjoyed meeting her new family and friends. We had to charge the camera battery once home. I was shocked when I went to take a picture and realized the battery had finally run out. I had prayed the whole trip for the battery to LAST as we had somehow in our hurriedness to get out the door two weeks ago, left the charger behind . It is a miracle and just one more sign of God's ordaining each of our steps that the battery lasted until we got home ! Once it was charged , we began taking pictures of Corrie meeting her new circle of family and friends.

Lottie had so looked forward to being a big sister and couldn't wait for her baby sister to come home. And she IS enjoying it , but it has not been without some emotional moments. I think she thought her baby sister was going to be more like a baby doll who would do anything she wanted to do, when she wanted her to do it. She is quickly realizing her baby sister has a mind of her own with her own likes and dislikes. So they are finding their way in this new sisterhood. Friday night they enjoyed their first bath together. They were both all smiles!

After traveling for close to 24 hours and being up for over 48 hours, we were ready to call it a night! I put Corrie in some pajamas Lottie picked out for her after the bath ,gave her a bottle of formula and laid her down in her new bed. She has a twin bed in the same room as her sister. It has nice tall bed rails to give her a crib like feeling. She whimpered 2 or 3 times during the night and I went in to check on her. I rubbed her back and each time she went right back to sleep. I never even had to pick her up. She slept from 9:30 to 7:30 the next morning and has done the same each night since. The other nights she has not even whimpered! I am a thankful mama!

Saturday morning, the boys awoke first , and went to check on the girls. The next thing I knew they were all up on Corrie's bed together! They were so cute together! My heart was so full as I focused on them through the lense of my camera. What a privilege it is to parent these 4 treasures from the King!

We spent a quiet saturday here at the house visiting with family and friends who were in town.

The boys were in a basketball tournament for the weekend, so Corrie's first outing was to a basketball game on Sunday. She enjoyed sitting in the bleachers with her sister and cheering her brothers on! Sunday night we went to my parents for a sunday meal which is our family tradition.

Monday brought swim team practice for the other 3 , so we decided to introduce Corrie to the pool! She LOVED it! So much so that she cried when I had to take her out of the water to leave!

No doubt she soon will be a little fish like the others!

We have been blessed by meals brought to us by our small group friends. It is so nice not to have to think about meal planning for a family of 6 in a jet lagged state. Corrie continues to eat well. She LOVES bananas! She also has eaten ham and cheese, oatmeal with fruit, chicken noodle casserole. She enjoys the bottles of formula as well. When she is excited about a bottle or food you are bringing her, she circles her ankles over and over....we call her Happy Feet! It is so very cute!

We are enjoying finding our new normal as a family of 6. We are finding it takes an exponentially longer time to get out the door . We will have to work on that!! We look forward to all that the days ahead will bring.

We pray that Corrie Sifan Rose will always know the unconditional love of her Savior and that of her Forever Family!

Welcome Home Little One!