Gotcha Day Anniversary #1!

Mike and I first held Moges Michael in our arms one year ago today in Addis Ababa Ethiopia.

Since that day he has filled our life with craziness, love, adventure, crying, laughing, snuggling, messes, discovery, and joy in and throughout it all.


We met 5 amazing families who were there for the same reason and I carry inspiration from each of them today and into the future. From one the beauty of doing family adventures (like adopting 2 kids from Ethiopia!) together. From another the way to expand the adventure by adding in some ministry work and the beauty of trusting God by adding older girls to your family of boys. From yet another the reminder that we are never too young to start the adventure.........and let it be the step that leads them back to Ethiopia. From another family that you can add twin toddler girls to your three boys at home and continue as a full-time homeschooling mom who loves the Lord and people in beautiful ways. From the fifth family I learned that our journeys do not always take us where we think we are going. Life is complicated and God is good but it doesn't always feel that way when life takes a turn that is painful and confusing beyond words. Yet faith remains.

So, there is my shout out to these families who have such a special place in my heart. May God bless you today and every day with joy for today, hope for tomorrow and a deep abiding love that fills in all the cracks.

And to our precious Prince Moges Michael. You have turned our life upside down in the most unexpected and wonderful way. You belong in every sense of the word. We know that God has an amazing plan for your adventurous spirit and we are beyond thankful that His plan for your life includes us as your forever family!

Wordless Wednesday ~ 4th of July Edition

Such a Daddy!

My kids have the best daddy I could have ever dreamed up for them

He loves on them every day

He comes home from work as quickly as possible after working hard to provide for his family

He plays soccer, basketball, Wii, wrestles, rides bikes, hikes, fishes, colors, and whatever else sounds fun to the kids

He trains and helps us all learn Bible verses

He prays............early in the morning

He laughs

He snuggles

He rocks!

Happy 12th Birthday Silas!

Our firstborn turned 12 today! Oh, such memories. I was shopping at Lamonts when he was born. How many of you moms out there can say that about the day your son was born? I was a nervous wreck since he came a couple days before we were set to have dinner with his birthmom and make a birth plan. I didn't have a cell phone yet either. So, Mike got the call to go to the hospital and I...............kept shopping. I did make it to the hospital an hour later but sadly we did not get to meet our precious son until the next day. That was the longest and hardest 24 hours of my life. I had yearned to be a mom for years and it looked like my dream was coming true, or was it? So many uncertainties in adoption but it in fact was.
Silas has been a delight and a challenge from day one. A delight due to his cheerful personality, cute factor, and curious nature. A challenge due to his perfectionism, ability to focus on one thing for far longer than should be humanly possible, and ability to wear his emotions all over his entire body (saying "shirtsleeve" would not state this point nearly enough). Yet, he has been perfect. His life story has been beautifully written by his Creator and he was meant to be born to Andrea and meant to have Mike and I for his dad and mom. I wouldn't change a thing about him or his story. He belongs, mostly and always to his Father in heaven but also always in the heart of his birthmom and forever in our family in the place of honor as firstborn.
Silas you continue to delight daddy and I every day. Your talent for art and creativity astound us, your joy is contagious, and having you for a son is one of the greatest honors of my life. Happy Birthday Si, I love you to the moon and back!

Moges turned ONE today!

It has been a beautiful day! We are just soaking in God's riches as we celebrate Mo's first birthday. We got to have lots of Abbotts, one Brady (my brother, Eric) and our friends, the Taylors, help us celebrate. I will let the pictures speak for the party. You may note a bit of blood on Mo's nose ~ he took his first little tumble down a couple stairs yesterday. : (
The pic above shows Mo and I as our guests arrived. Nothing like a bottle to get him in the best possible mood to do some partying!



The party ended with rocking time with daddy and another bottle to wrap the day up. Night, night MoMo. We can't wait to see all that the next year holds for you. You delight us every day and we are eagerly awaiting those first words even while we are all still in awe of how well you are toddling about. We love you, our precious gift of grace.

Wordless Wednesday

Life-giving Reading

I had the joy recently of going to a "Mom's Heart" conference by a grace-filled woman named Sally Clarkson. She has written several books on motherhood that have greatly inspired me. She has 4 children mostly grown now and does several conferences every year.
One of the highlights of my time there was having Sarah Clarkson (her oldest child - 25) sit next to me during the luncheon. Quite an unexpected blessing considering there were around 500 women there! I had bought Sarah's new book, Read For The Heart, a few weeks before the conference and loved having an opportunity to chat with this young woman who radiated grace, peace, hope and a zest for life. I highly recommend her book and it has inspired us to embrace the beauty and benefits of reading more fully in our home.
We are doing Just David as a family read aloud book every evening and I have been reading Strawberry Girl to the girls at bedtime. I love exposing my kids to book that look at lives different from theirs and help them see that this life is a HUGE adventure and that their God and Creator has great adventures in store for them!
I am reading Greg Mortenson's Stones into Schools on my own. I highly recommend his first book, Three Cups of Tea, and am sure this one will be equally inspiring at what one person can do with some conviction and determination.