It's been a while...
I know, I know. Some days, between laundry, food (preparing & purchasing) for 8, homeschooling, animal care, Pampered Chef...there's just not room for anything else. Some days, actually sit down to blog & can't think of a single thing to write about.
Blessedly, with Atsede & Kebrom, the last few months have gone really well. Kebrom LOVES watching basketball & thoroughly enjoyed the entire March Madness season. (Thrilled Paul's soul). Now, Atsede loves basketball also, but for different reasons. Much to Paul's chagrin, the girl is constantly drawn to the cheerleaders, and actually practices with pom poms (thanks to Nana) in the living room. Kebrom was quite disappointed to learn there aren't any more bball games for a while (he'll be confused when Paul pulls out the ones he recorded to tide him over), but Atsede is trying to learn to enjoy televised baseball. She was cheering wildly during a Mariners game, then was completely grossed out when 'bad guy on the other time SPIT ON THE GROUND...oh no, our guy did it too.'
Both children are counting the days til Easter. Every large family gathering (and with our families here, any gathering is really large) is eagerly anticipated. Aunt Serena's party is this Sunday; they can't wait.
The children survived staying with Nana when Paul took me for a much needed few day break in Seattle, to celebrate our anniversary. We visited where we had our first kiss, where we went on our first date, where he proposed, the first Starbucks at Pike's Place...it was great fun. We slept in & enjoyed each others company, where we could finish our own sentences, at one time.
Kebrom had several days of adjustment when we got back. Not sure, but I think maybe he was worried we weren't coming back. More importantly, he was worried PAUL, the center of Kebrom's universe, wasn't coming back. We're still having a few tantrums these days, let's face it. He's cute, and with 7 immediate family members to spoil him, it just happens. Not any one person going overboard, just the combined effect. He got a Happy Meal toy and McDonald's recently, think it's some superhero. Kebrom calls it his 'good guy' and has it with him always.
Atsede had Nana wrapped around her little finger the entire time we were in Seattle. Now, Nana would disagree with that...saying Atsede was PERFECT the entire time. Well...have to say, Atsede was probably very good, and Atsede was probably very spoiled. Geoffrey calls her the ultimate manipulator. The child is just good at working every angle, without it appearing she's working the angle. Honestly, as long as the other children are fine with it, I don't really care. But, it is hard when it causes hurt feelings in the other children.
This learning to be a family with 2 new members, complete with their own pasts, isn't easy. It's not easy for the 2 little ones ripped from everything they knew & into an entirely new situation. It isn't easy for the older siblings, who, at times get tired of all the attention (that used to be directed at them) directed elsewhere. They've handled it admirably, but at times now, it gets old. Actually heard them arguing over who HAD to hold Atsede's hand in the parking lot, where it before, it was who GOT to hold Atsede's hand. (Atsede hasn't figured out how to hold hands without pinching the other person with her nails). But, you know what that tells me? We're becoming a new family unit. Not new & old, but melded together. That whole refining process isn't easy, and I'll be the first to admit, I've had my moments.
Atsede calls it a microwave now, only Kebrom still calls it a 'beep, beep, beep.' Gonna miss that.
My mom is still fighting Lou Gehrig's disease. I was quite thankful she FLUNKED her hospice evaluation last week. That means, they said she was too healthy for hospice care. A glimmer of good news in this continuous stream of negative news relating to my mom's health. My Dad is a rock, caring for Mom, and Mom, is a spiritual leader like I've never seen before. Personally, I struggle with being angry at God for mom's health, Geoffrey's head, well, and anything that doesn't go my way. Lately, it's that battle of emotion vs. logic. My faith is not based on emotion, but there are times when it's nice to FEEL it, rather than just KNOW it.
We're counting down til Geoffrey's graduation. Well, not really, more like striking items off his list. He's down to one more scholarship application to complete, he's turning in job applications...and WAITING for replies to many the applications out there. And in the meantime, the calendar seems to race forward, toward graduation.
The calendar says spring is here, but hard to believe when it snowed on Sunday. AFTER I'd taken all snow clothes, washed them & stored them neatly in the attic. Haven't gone & looked to see of the snow clothes were returned to their proper places. Who knows, it may snow yet again.
Lambs are getting bigger, llamas look at the kids warily, trying to see if the kids have a halter hidden somewhere...life on the farm is good.
Aunt Jeanette was reminding me, that soon, we'll be past all of our first with A&K. It's hard to believe a year ago at this time, we were still waiting on our court date, purchasing clothes, etc. SO much has changed in our lives in the past year. How boring our lives would be in comparison to how life is now. Kebrom often asks to watch 'this is home' (he sings that in a high pitch), meaning, he wants to watch the adoption montage. He never gets tired of it. Can't say that I do either, somehow it's watching a miracle piece together, when I often get caught up in the day to day issues...it's easy to forget the big picture, the master plan.
Blessedly, with Atsede & Kebrom, the last few months have gone really well. Kebrom LOVES watching basketball & thoroughly enjoyed the entire March Madness season. (Thrilled Paul's soul). Now, Atsede loves basketball also, but for different reasons. Much to Paul's chagrin, the girl is constantly drawn to the cheerleaders, and actually practices with pom poms (thanks to Nana) in the living room. Kebrom was quite disappointed to learn there aren't any more bball games for a while (he'll be confused when Paul pulls out the ones he recorded to tide him over), but Atsede is trying to learn to enjoy televised baseball. She was cheering wildly during a Mariners game, then was completely grossed out when 'bad guy on the other time SPIT ON THE GROUND...oh no, our guy did it too.'
Both children are counting the days til Easter. Every large family gathering (and with our families here, any gathering is really large) is eagerly anticipated. Aunt Serena's party is this Sunday; they can't wait.
The children survived staying with Nana when Paul took me for a much needed few day break in Seattle, to celebrate our anniversary. We visited where we had our first kiss, where we went on our first date, where he proposed, the first Starbucks at Pike's Place...it was great fun. We slept in & enjoyed each others company, where we could finish our own sentences, at one time.
Kebrom had several days of adjustment when we got back. Not sure, but I think maybe he was worried we weren't coming back. More importantly, he was worried PAUL, the center of Kebrom's universe, wasn't coming back. We're still having a few tantrums these days, let's face it. He's cute, and with 7 immediate family members to spoil him, it just happens. Not any one person going overboard, just the combined effect. He got a Happy Meal toy and McDonald's recently, think it's some superhero. Kebrom calls it his 'good guy' and has it with him always.
Atsede had Nana wrapped around her little finger the entire time we were in Seattle. Now, Nana would disagree with that...saying Atsede was PERFECT the entire time. Well...have to say, Atsede was probably very good, and Atsede was probably very spoiled. Geoffrey calls her the ultimate manipulator. The child is just good at working every angle, without it appearing she's working the angle. Honestly, as long as the other children are fine with it, I don't really care. But, it is hard when it causes hurt feelings in the other children.
This learning to be a family with 2 new members, complete with their own pasts, isn't easy. It's not easy for the 2 little ones ripped from everything they knew & into an entirely new situation. It isn't easy for the older siblings, who, at times get tired of all the attention (that used to be directed at them) directed elsewhere. They've handled it admirably, but at times now, it gets old. Actually heard them arguing over who HAD to hold Atsede's hand in the parking lot, where it before, it was who GOT to hold Atsede's hand. (Atsede hasn't figured out how to hold hands without pinching the other person with her nails). But, you know what that tells me? We're becoming a new family unit. Not new & old, but melded together. That whole refining process isn't easy, and I'll be the first to admit, I've had my moments.
Atsede calls it a microwave now, only Kebrom still calls it a 'beep, beep, beep.' Gonna miss that.
My mom is still fighting Lou Gehrig's disease. I was quite thankful she FLUNKED her hospice evaluation last week. That means, they said she was too healthy for hospice care. A glimmer of good news in this continuous stream of negative news relating to my mom's health. My Dad is a rock, caring for Mom, and Mom, is a spiritual leader like I've never seen before. Personally, I struggle with being angry at God for mom's health, Geoffrey's head, well, and anything that doesn't go my way. Lately, it's that battle of emotion vs. logic. My faith is not based on emotion, but there are times when it's nice to FEEL it, rather than just KNOW it.
We're counting down til Geoffrey's graduation. Well, not really, more like striking items off his list. He's down to one more scholarship application to complete, he's turning in job applications...and WAITING for replies to many the applications out there. And in the meantime, the calendar seems to race forward, toward graduation.
The calendar says spring is here, but hard to believe when it snowed on Sunday. AFTER I'd taken all snow clothes, washed them & stored them neatly in the attic. Haven't gone & looked to see of the snow clothes were returned to their proper places. Who knows, it may snow yet again.
Lambs are getting bigger, llamas look at the kids warily, trying to see if the kids have a halter hidden somewhere...life on the farm is good.
Aunt Jeanette was reminding me, that soon, we'll be past all of our first with A&K. It's hard to believe a year ago at this time, we were still waiting on our court date, purchasing clothes, etc. SO much has changed in our lives in the past year. How boring our lives would be in comparison to how life is now. Kebrom often asks to watch 'this is home' (he sings that in a high pitch), meaning, he wants to watch the adoption montage. He never gets tired of it. Can't say that I do either, somehow it's watching a miracle piece together, when I often get caught up in the day to day issues...it's easy to forget the big picture, the master plan.
Wow, great blog! I LOVE reading about your family and the new additions. You guys are such a great example of SO much! Thank you for taking the time to write this :)
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