Gotcha Day Three Years Later

I can't believe we have been blessed with this little boy for three years.  It saddens me to think about how many things from Ethiopia I have forgotten until I read this blog again.  I am so glad that I wrote so much down when we were going through the process.  I can't wait to go back someday.  We are blessed to keep in touch with those whom we fell in love when while we were there.
We recently went through Bethany to find Hagirsa's birth mother.  After a few months of searching, they found her this fall.  We were able to send her a picture book of Hagirsa.  We have pictures of her now looking at the book we sent halfway across the world.  It was an amazing feeling to know that she was so happy to "see" him again.  On her lap was a two-year old little girl.  As we were reading our report, we found out that she is Hagirsa's half sister.  I felt in my heart that he had another sibling so it was so good to see her picture (his mom remarried).  Her name is Denekenesh.   This was a quote from the report: his mother "expressed her gratefulness unto the Lord and the Sills that Hagirsa is well protected and raised."  I thinking she has no idea how much that means to us.  We are so grateful as well and can't imagine our lives without him.  Can't wait to see what the next year brings for our family. Happy Gotcha Day!

Photo Book

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Peek-A-Boo

I just had to put this on here because it was so cute.  Last night Hagirsa was looking at our full-length mirror and kept peeking around the corner at it.  I came over by him and he said, "Where'd he go mama, where'd he go?"  I just lauged and hugged him then he put his little face over the mirror and said, "Peek-A-Boo" at himself.  So darn cute.

What a Difference a Year Makes

A year ago tomorrow, we got a call from Bethany telling us we have a little boy.  It's amazing how much has changed in a year.  We love you so much Hagirsa!!  Hagirsa was just baptized on July 24th at Harderwyk Ministries in Holland.  It was a beautiful service with so many loved ones who could be there.

Family Picture

We finally got our family picture done this morning. We can't wait to see all of the pictures from today. The kids did such a good job. We are so lucky to have our whole family together. The pictures were taken by April Kornoelje Photography.

Camping with Families who Adopted from Ethiopia

Hanging out with my best buds, Reese and Eli

Yummy breakfast on the campfire

Sammy is playing with me - love that kid

All the kiddos

Ian dug a hole for Kendal and Hagirsa to play in

I hope this is a yearly event.  We had friends drive from Pennsylvania and fly from Kansas to be here.  It was so heartwarming to see some of these kids for the first time again since we've seen them in Ethiopia.  Thankfully, we are blessed in West Michigan to have a lot of the families right here.  It was a lot of fun.

Summer Fun

Does Hagirsa love the water you ask?  Oh my goodness.  I've never seen a kid gravitate to water like this kid does.  He knew what the word, "bath" meant right away.  He is hysterical to watch in a lake or pool.  He goes in like he owns the place and doesn't care about going under or how much he gets wet.  When he does go under, he just comes up smiling and laughing with his eyes and mouth wide open!  He can count to three now due to us dunking him on "three."  He'll say, "two" to get you to do it again. 

He's growing so fast.  His budda belly seems smaller now.  Maybe we're just getting used to it.  He feels taller though and he's cutting more teeth!  Yes, this will be nine of them since we've been home.  I guess he'll get them all out of the way.  We've attributed his constant runny nose to this. 

His new thing when he gets mad is to say all the naughty words in a row while pointing his finger at you....."no, mine, stop."  I literally just laugh when he does it.  I wouldn't let him get in the dishwasher yesterday so all the words went flying along with the pointed finger at me.   He means business!  :) 

Having a great time with him this summer and introducing him to all sorts of new things.  I can't wait for what each new day brings for him and us as a family.  His baptism will be July 24th and we are so exited.  We have water from Lake Awassa near where he was born to baptize him in.  It will be an emotional day.  God is good!