Out of My Heart...... What???

Life is good in our house.  The kids are into the swing of school.  Kidane loves to learn, for which I am very thankful.  We have family worship every night and during this time we sing songs.  So, we tried out a new song this week.  Into My Heart, Into My Heart.   Kidane loved it right away.  Very simple lyrics and nice tune.  He caught on quickly and began to sing as well. 
Our family added a second verse which we sang on the next night.  Out of My Heart, Out of My Heart, shine out of my heart, Lord Jesus.  At the beginning of this verse the look on Kidane's face was PRICELESS!!   He said "out of my heart", what you no want Jesus in heart???"  We all tried hard not to laugh but couldn't stop.  Of course, we explained the word shine very quickly and now he likes the second verse too. 
At the table last week he was eating lunch and said "mommy, my hands are stinky."  Rather alarmed, I looked over at him from the kitchen and calmly asked why they were stinky. "They are very stinky, mommy".  At which point I realized they were "STICKY".  Oh we have so many good laughs over words lately at our house.  Any of you have kids with "stinky" hands?   If so just hug them and laugh.  :) 

God does hear and answer prayers!

 When Kidane first came home he slept very well.  He slept in our room, in our bed.  Then the second week he slept on a mattress on the floor, the third week Carrie slept on the floor in Kidane's room and he slept in his bunk bed.  The fourth week we had company and Tyler (the son of our company) slept in Kidane's room.  So by week 5 Kidane was ready to sleep in his own room.  But after a couple nights he had trouble sleeping.  He can't sleep without lights on.  So we have a night light in his room, the hall, the bathroom, well you get the idea.  Lights were not a problem, however, we noticed he was getting up at night and closing his bedroom door.  So I asked him why and he said "that man (then he made a scary face) comes".  I said what man,  you are safe here, there is no man.  I tried with every explanation possible to assure him he is safe here.  Then Kidane pointed to his head and said "man come in here".  I realized he was telling me he had bad dreams.

We have family worship each night and pray together with the children.  But this called for more action. 

So I prayed with him and asked Jesus to make the bad man go far away.  And in the morning while eating breakfast, Kidane said,  "Mommy, bad man no come.  You pray and I sleep good."  Praise the Lord!  So the next night he asked Russell to pray and again, he slept well.  Tonight he prayed to Jesus himself.  We serve a very powerful God!  

It's Cold

We have to laugh when Kidane says it's cold outside.  Poor guy doesn't know what is coming this winter.  He says that it is cold and wants a jacket and pants when it is 70 degrees outside.  I know he will adjust, he has too.  North Dakota winters are tough! 

So many firsts!  He wanted to use binoculars today so I said yes, but only in the house.  I said, go to the window and look outside.  So he proceeded to head out the front door.  Carrie looked out the front window and there in the front yard was Kidane, looking up at the front window from outside.  We had a good laugh over that, but we brought him inside and showed him how to look out into the fields. 

He has finally learned how to say girls.  Since we have two girls this was very important.  He always pronouced the word "girls"  like "gross",  it was so funny.  Each time he would say "gross like this?", or "where are the gross?" Cassie and Carrie would quickly correct him.  "GIRRRLS".   Hey,  doesn't every boy think girls are gross???

I will try to get on here more often, now.  There are sooo many funny memories, and wonderful firsts for Kidane.  He is amazing!

Coming Home

A new life

I am amazed at how we are able to communicate with each other when we only know a smattering of words in each other's language!!  This proves there is so much truth to the saying "actions speak louder than words".  Somehow, our son knows that we love him, and somehow he is learning to trust us even though we are total strangers.

As adults how many of us could do this?  Totally trust someone you hardly know?  Learn a new language, begin a new life in a new country, eat totally new food....  I believe God gives resiliency to these children.  And God will give us adults that same resiliency.  I am learning so much each day.  God wants me to totally trust Him,  I have to learn a new language also.  He wants me to stop being negative and critical.  He has a whole new life waiting for me to live it! 

Today I want to begin that new life again.  Watching Kidane has given me a new drive to step forward in faith and be all that God wants me to be, all I have to do is trust Him.  God will do it for me by living in me.  Thank you Jesus. 

TIRED

Well, I have been too busy and tired to post anything.  We have been home for 5 days and it feels like a month.  We have finally started settling into a routine.  They say establishing a routine is the most important thing, but it is not easy to do when you consider jet lag, holidays July 4th, required doctors appointments, and the language barrier.  

Somehow we made it through.  My pillow and my prayers and a wonderful husband have helped me adjust this first week home with a very busy boy. 

Goodnight!

Heading back

Wow, we didn't expect it to happen this fast.  We got an email on Tuesday last week to say our 2nd appointment in Ethiopia would be June 27.  Wow.  It was 5 weeks from court to embassy appointment.  The sad part is we are the only parents from our first trip who are traveling over at this time.  In fact, we are the only family going at all this week to pick up our child.  
 
In some ways I am glad since we will have the guest house to our self and the attention of all the caretakers, nannies, and guards.  This will be a great opportunity to learn about his culture and experiences.  I am also praising the Lord that we didn't have to do the first trip alone.  That would have been too hard.  

Our lives feel like one carnival ride after another.  Sometimes, I feel nauseous, and other times I am enjoying the ride with my hands in the air yelling wohoo! There is so much I would love to have already done, in so many ways I think ohhh, I am not ready.  I need another week.  Yet, am I ever going to be totally ready? In my weakness God can show His strength.  If I was ready, and in control, would I forget who the real Captain is?  Yes Lord, I probably would.  Thank You for always being there and never letting me go.

Isaiah 41:10  Fear not for I am with you, be not dismayed for I am your God, I will strengthen you, yes I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.