2010- A Year of Blessings.....

As 2010 comes to a close I think of all the blessings and wonderful experiences we have had this year and this is what I have to be thankful for.....

1.  My husband...we have certainly been through a lot, there were good times and rough times but we made it through and have come out with an even stronger bond.  To go through this adoption journey with him has been amazing and seeing the love he has for our 2 little boys makes me melt.  AND....I know I'll be in for it when our boys get home...I will be out numbered, you see it will be like having 3 boys.  For example,  we decided that for Christmas we would not give each other gifts....well conveniently Jim found a loop hole in our agreement.  We now have a full size electronic basketball hoop and Xbox kinect in the playroom which Santa bought allegedly for "the boys."  Let's put this into perspective our boys are 2 and 3 1/2....  Do you really think they need a full size electronic basketball hoop and Xbox kinect???  Hmmmm.....

2.  Our health...

3.  Our family and friends...their support and excitement for us has been unbelievable.  Thank you all. Without you, I don't know if we would still have our sanity throughout what has been an emotional roller coaster.  We love you very much!  And please....let's try to not spoil the kids too much!  :-)

4.  Questions....it was like being interrogated by the FBI.  :-)  From the beginning there were many questions from people that found out we were adopting from Ethiopia.  Many of the questions were sincere and kind others not so much....why Ethiopia?  why kids that are so different from you?  why not adopt from here? how much does it cost?   I am thankful for all the questions....it has taught me to be patient, to be tolerant, to be an educator/ advocate and most of all it has taught me to accept things and opinions that I can't change.  My wish for 2011 is that there be more compassion and understanding for all.

5.  Adoption paperwork....."the paper pregnancy".  I have not filled out more paperwork in my life!   It was crazy and we are still not done yet.  There's the paperwork for the Embassy appointment that we are still working on.   Between paperwork, background checks, interviews, finger prints....I think the government knows more about me than I know about myself....  :-)

6.  Our home....this poor house has been turned upside down.  He have added on rooms to it, remodeled it, ripped out floors, walls, the roof....moved things around and through it all it's the place where we feel security, love and comfort.  When we are here we don't want to leave and hope that our boys feel the same way when we bring them HOME. 

7.  Our jobs....without them we would not be able to have the finances to do what we did this year.

8.  Our adoption agency, the orphanage and the countless people that act as God's hands working on behalf of all the orphans.  You are all amazing people and I'm sure there is a special place in heaven for you.

9.  All of the families that we have met during our journey....we all share a special bond.  We have met wonderful people from across the US.  We wish you all the best and pray that you get to bring your babies home soon!

10.  Ethiopia.....I have traveled to many places around the world and never in my life felt the welcome and the warmth of the people there.  They are truly the most genuine and loving people in the world.  They are like family and we feel that we have known many of them forever.    The Ethiopian guest home staff made us feel at home and catered to our every need (including Jim's request for Red Bull every morning).   The staff at the Tikuret Orphanage where our boys are....words can not explain the love and care that Sister Asayech and the staff there provide for these children that are waiting for their forever families.  Like I said already.....there is definitely a special place in heaven for them all!!!

11.  Jayson and Jordan...two little boys hand picked by God to be ours.  A miracle.....our children were found half way around the world.  And from the first day we met, it was like we've known you forever.  We got this verse from a few different friends some of whom have adopted children and others who are adoptees themselves:

Adoption Creed
Not Flesh of my Flesh,

Nor Bone of my Bone,

But, still miraculously my own.

Never forget for a single minute;

You did not grow under my heart,

But In It.

12.  GOD......Without him none of this would be possible.  Lord, thank you for a very blessed 2010 and continued blessings as we go into 2011.

Happy New Year!  May you have much peace, love and health in 2011!!!