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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!

Yezalalem Minch Fundraising Walk

The Future Hope Campaign was developed to raise money for Yezalalem Minch in Ethiopia.   While we were in Ethiopia, we were given the opportunity to be a part of the most wonderful program, Yezalalem Minch (yezalalemminch.org). The family that we staying with in Ethiopia runs YM. We have been so blessed to have them in our lives. YM helps orphans get food and education in Ethiopia among many other things (child sponsorship, adoption, family education, etc.) Their vision is to see all orphans and vulnerable children in Ethiopia be productive and valuable citizens to their country.

Kreg I have been working with four other families in MI who started the Future Hope Campaign to raise money for this cause. YM is about to lose the land they facilitate all of their programs on due to rising costs and goverment involvement. We are trying to raise money for operational space and a future vocational school that is their OWN.

If you go to the website, www.futurehopecampaign.org (started right here in West MI), you will find information and a pledge form. Any money donated will go to pay for the "Land of Opportunity" and you will receive a tax deductible receipt in the mail. A lot of times we give our money to great causes but never know where it's really going. I can testify that I have met and been a part of where the money will go.  It will be the best money ever spent.

Fellow Ethiopian adoptive parents and supporters walked this weekend at Kent Trails to raise money.  At the walk itself, more than $11,000 was raised!  Thank you so much.  We will still be raising money through August 1st, 2011.