Meya's goofy side............













































Journee's serious side..............

We took the kids to see a Christmas light display.
The kids LOVED it!!

Hannah showing off her new spunky hair do!

This past week was half days for the kids, so we had some extra bonding time. The week went well, and everyone behaved, for the most partJ

Meya had a few tough days, but that is totally understandable.

On Friday, Calvin took the little kids out for some bonding, and I spent the day with the older girls. They ended up sharing with me, details of the day their mother passed away. They get SO much comfort in her faith. She sounds incredible! I look forward to meeting her one day, in our life beyond this one.

The two older girls have shown great interest in learning how to cook, and how to run the washing machine. I also look forward to teaching them these things. I told Journee she can help me with the Thanksgiving meal.

The little ones helping me bake. I decided to make use of the pumpkin that escaped being turned into a Jack-o-lantern, so we made:
Pumpkin Muffins with orange cream icing.
They turned out SO good!!!

After three months of Maree using anything she could get her hands on for hair, I found her a wig on a clearance Halloween rack. A good $2 investment. The only problem so far has been that I wouldnt let her wear it to school.

Our local Zoo just added a great play area, so we spent some time here on Saturday. The kids had a blast, and here is a pic of everyone refueling!

The past week has been frustrating, exciting and fulfilling.

Monday thru Thursday of last week, the girls were all acting a little withdrawn. Maree began hiding in the end table, and the other two were just not themselves. The anger surrounding our adoption crept back in, and I was struggling with that. So, I asked some wonderful women on an adoption board to give me a kick in the butt, to get past my anger. They were great, and on Thursday I wrote Journee a “Love” letter. When the girls got home from school, they were homesick and on the verge of tears. They didn’t talk to me in the car, like they usually do. So, when we arrived home, I took Journee in her room and had her read the letter I had written her, out loud. It was just she and I, and she struggled thru it, but did it. Then, I asked her if I could hug her, she complied. In our moment of tenderness, she began to cry. Not the out of control meltdown she usually breaks into. But a sad soft cry. I held her for several minutes, then Luke came in, and she bear hugged him. She remained in her room for a few hours, until Calvin came home. I checked on her several times. She was crying and grieving, quietly, and writing scriptures in Amharic. When she was ready to come out, she was refreshed and secure. She is a great girl. We still don’t know why God allowed all this to happen, but I am thankful that I get to be her second mother.

Maree has done SO well, just blending in and getting lost in the mix. She got sick of that this past week and began hiding in obvious places for attention. Last night, I spent the whole night focused on her. Gave her a massage, and held her all night. She wanted me to carry her around the house like a baby, so that is what we did! I wish I had an extra 8 hours in each day to give EVERYONE the attention they deserve.

Meya has truly been a dream adopted child. She is a middle child people pleaser. She watches the little kids, and helps them out. She does her chores without being asked, and is very smart. Okay, and cute as can be! Last night, out of the blue, she refused to do her math work. Calvin told her if she wouldn’t do it, she would have to write. She still refused, so he took her to her room to write. I went to check on her after a little while and found her being an over achiever and writing much more then she was supposed to. I told her she could stop, and tried some art therapy to see what was going on inside of her. That didn’t work, she didn’t want to communicate. So I asked her questions, and it came out that she was homesick and missed her family and church very much. I held her for a long time and cried a little. She is such a GREAT kid! She has done so well getting shuffled in the mix, and pretending to be perfect. Calvin then took a little time with her, and she seemed to be feeling better by bed time.

Sadly, while she was in her room, she got her first phone call! A friend of hers from school called. It was SO cute! I need to see if I can copy it off our voice mail. I let Meya listen to the message this morning, and will let her call her friend back tonight.

We are so happy they are making friends at school. This is doing a lot for their self esteem.

On Monday, the girls danced and sang songs that are native to Ethiopia for their classes. I guess the students and teachers LOVED it! Journee said that she spent recess teaching her friends the songs and dances.

Hannah feel asleep way too early last night, so at about 9 pm, she thought it was time to get up from her nap! I hadn’t had much time with her during the evening, so I decided to sleep in her bed, something I never do. We don’t family bed with our kids, because we make pillow talk a priority. Well, with five kids, you have to give everyone what you can. So, she and I cuddled last night, and it was great. At 4 am, she wanted to start the day, so we came out to the couch to get back to sleep. She is my love, there is just something special about a first born.

This past week turned out to be a pretty big week in our house. By chance, or God, we realized that a cousin of our girls is coming to the states also, so they have been VERY excited all week. I asked them a few questions about the other girl, and it opened up a WORLD of information for us. We have learned more about them this past week then all previous info combined. The stories have included a variety of information. Including their fathers tribe, and how they would go visit family on that side and have big celebrations with them. They finally have opened up about their mother through this. Prior to this, they said they didnt remember her. On Wednesday they were telling me about her, and how loving she was. How they would run home from school, and she would be waiting by the door to hug them and pray with them. And that she was a good cook. They told me about the day she died. Journee said that everyone was crying to God and asking why. But she just went out side, that she didnt cry and has never cried for her mother, and that she isnt sure why. She said that their father cried to God and asked Him to not send another wife, that their father doesnt want to marry again.
I am greatful that they feel safe enough to share these stories with me. I want to talk to them again about her, to write down all that they say, so they will have it some day if their memory looses track of some of the details.
Journee is also showing more attitude. She is starting to make little attitude filled remarks, back talking basically. We have decided to get on her about it. She needs to learn to balance joking and being rude. She is also growing a desire to be in charge, so we need to get her back in her place. She doesnt need to tell us what to do, or how to raise the other kids. Up to this point I had laughed at her and told her that I didnt need her help. But, I think we need to get a little firmer.
Meya is still doing great. She is very much the middle child personality. She is a people pleaser, and very helpful and charming.
Maree is doing better then last week. I think last week she was feeling left out, and has had a hard time handing over her role as the youngest child. This week went better.