Christmas blessings

We had a joyous Christmas celebration this year.  We were able to spend time with both sides of our family, some of whom we haven't seen in a while.  As we approached Christmas it was a special season for our family.  The kids were more involved in the activities and festivities, and engaged in the discussions we had about the spirit of Christmas.    

A few days before Christmas we celebrated my birthday.  However, it did not end the way I thought it would.  I was under the impression that we were going to have sushi.  Just before we were to leave my mom and dad showed up.  I thought, oh they are going to join us for dinner.  After all it is as much a celebration for our mama's as it is for us on our birthday's.  Then my mom told me she was going to take me shopping to get a few new things.  During our trip Dan called me a couple of times asking when I would be back home, because my dad was getting hungry and cranky.  After browsing the stores a bit more we returned home to pick up the rest of the crew.  I walked in and noticed that the house was dark and my couch was moved.  My first thought was they must have been playing basketball (we have a small hoop that hangs from the door).  Then I hear SURPRISE!!!!!  My family and friends were all waiting in the living room, h

anding me a flower one by one.  It was such a wonderful night!  My sweet husband had set it all up, and with help from the ladies we shared great food and drinks (chai tea...my favorite).  My heart was full of love and thankfulness. 

Here are some pictures of the kids with their Christmas gifts...

 My little adventurer now has a rock climbing wall in his bedroom.  

Thank you to his great aunties and uncles.

My sweet girl has a play kitchen.  

Thank you to grandma and grandpa Marion for your hard work in constructing this.

142

We are officially on the wait list!  Number 142!  This number may seem high, but the list is not separated by age, or whether a family is okay with special needs or not.  For example, if there is a child that is younger than 18 months and special needs, and nobody above us has those specifications then we will get the referral.

While we wait it is my goal to become knowledgeable and proficient in cooking Ethiopian food.  My first recipe to try is Injera.  Injera is like a flatbread with a spongy texture.  Injera is also used as the plate and utensil for the other food items served.  It is quite a process.  It takes about 5 days to make, due to allowing the teff flour and water mixture to ferment.  I am on day 3, so we shall see how it turns out.
Along with the Injera I am going to make a couple of stews called doro wat (chicken stew), mesir wat (lentil stew), and abesha gomen (collard greens).

Traditional Ethiopian Feast

I am also in the process of opening a store on Etsy.  Currently I am making things to be able to sell.  All of the money that comes from selling the handmade items will go towards our adoption fees.  My hope is that once our adoption is complete and we bring home our baby, that I will continue to make things in order to help out other adoptive families.  I will post more information once I get my Etsy store up and running.

Blessings,

Sonja

Dossier is Done!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today was a special day for us, because we were FINALLY able to turn in our dossier to our adoption agency!  It is done!  Finished!  *sigh* I am thankful!
So, where do we go from here?  Next week we should find out where we are at on the waiting list.  The waiting period is approximately 2 years, unless we are referred a special needs child.  In the meantime we will continue to save, save, save, and pray about possible fundraising events.

  

Funny moments with the kids

Conversations with Selah-
Recently I convinced Selah that I have eyes in the back of my head, even though the eyes she can see are not looking at her.  So, I did trick her a little bit to prove this to be true.  I stood in front of the microwave so that I could see her reflection, and I asked her to hold up her fingers and I would tell her how many she was holding up.  In the end she was stumped as to how it was possible.  At a later date Dan was putting Christmas lights up and she wanted to go outside to play.  I said not at that time, because daddy couldn't watch her since he was up on the ladder.  Her response, "Well, daddy has eyes in the back of his head too, and he can still watch me."  Touche!

Conversations with Eli-
Eli has been quite fascinated with heaven and hell recently.  So, we have actually had some great, age appropriate conversations.  Eli always asks the really deep, theological questions, such as, "Will there be potties in heaven?  I don't want to have a potty accident."