Dedication

Today was Ella's dedication at church.  What a week!  We celebrated her Gotcha day, received her US birth certficiates in the mail, got her first manicure and then had all the Grandparents with us to dedicate her, wow!  It makes me tired just talking about it.  Looking back at the last year, I couldn't have imagined all of this but am speechless for how God continues to be our guide. 

I thank our Heavenly Father for showing us what true adoption is and how to love unconditionally. 

US Embassy anniversary

One year ago, April 11, 2011, we stood in the US Embassy building in Ethiopia and promised forever to be a family of five.  We were asked if we knew this was not reversible, that it was permanent....and here we are a whole year later.  When I remember that day, it is as clear as if it happened yesterday.  The van pulled up in front of our guest home with Ayelech, Mazou, and Chou-Chou, the caretaker, ready to whisk us off to the US Embassy building in Addis.  We were dressed nice and about to take one of the last legal steps of this faith journey.  Little did we know what God had in store for the day, because Ayelech threw up all over my pants and my shoes and we hopped out of the van to continue the vomitting.  A kind, loving Ethiopian woman on the side of the road stepped forward with a pitcher of water to help us clean up and Chou-Chou had a lime in her purse that she had Ayelech suck on. 
As we continue to lean on God's strength alone to keep stepping forward, I am thankful for all He has given us and how He blesses us with unconditional love. 

WOW moment

Last Saturday, God gave us a gift...we went to O'Hare to see another Buckner family arrive home from Ethiopia!!!!  And here he is, Ashebir, standing in Chicago with our 3 daughters. 

We were able to meet some of the extended family as we waited for them to exit customs and walk through those doors.  What anticipation, for you see I remembered almost 1 year ago doing the exact same thing. 

Funny

Twice today Ella's had me chuckling about what she says.  So first, we were playing in the backyard and I noticed she had hiccups.  When did you get those hiccups? I asked her and she replied "they were from the apple I ate...cuz it had the meat on it".  What?  And then as she washed her hands for lunch, she told me she wants to be a soap lady when she gets bigger.  I asked what they meant because she had told me before she wants to "do hair" when she's bigger.  She said the soap lady puts the soap on the shelf at the store and she can do both so no one gets mad. 
Wow, that little imagination is really at work!  I wish God would give me just a little glimpse of what's in store for the future (:

Adoption

Today our church campus formally met to begin an adoption ministry.  Although many of us have informally come together and walked the road of adoption, it's such a blessing to be a part of this.  Whether it be foster care, domestic adoption, international adoption, Safe Families program, or any other ministry God has called you to, we are confident that God has a plan for each one of us to help those who can not help themselves.  As we continue to watch Ella grow and thrive, I praise God for the gift of adopting us as His children!  His love never changes and His promises never fail. 

Hair!!!

I had heard about the trials of working with Ella's hair but never imagined myself learning so much!  Yesterday we bought a flat iron and have been playing around with it.  She loves her hair a little straighter but it's not laying as flat as we thought it would.  So she had a ponytail in yesterday and today she's got adorable pigtails and a headband for those flyaways.  Her hair is so many different lengths that I'm struggling to fit it all in the rubberbands.  This learning curve is still going but thankful she sits so patiently and lets me try new things.  Cuteness (:

1 year ago

It was one year ago today, February 6, 2011, that we met face to face for the very first time.  Incredible to believe!  In that 1 year, she has grown 4 shoe sizes, from size 2 to size 5 in clothes, along with speaking better English than most of the kids in her preschool.  She continues to amaze us and has an unquenchable desire to learn more, more, more!  Today we celebrated Hailey's birthday at Pump it Up.  She bounced more than I thought possible.  So as I remember where we were exactly one year ago today,  I'd like to share these pictures of her on each day.  First picture is 2/6/11 in Ethiopia and the second pictures are from today 2/6/12 (she went on the rock climbing wall!)

 

A moment

I'm having one of those moments when I find it hard to believe this beautiful little girl calls me Mom.  I look at her and can't stop the tears.  She asked why I was crying and I told her to always remember that I love her, no matter what.  Wow, all I can say is God has a perfect plan and I am forever grateful.

What God has done

Let me tell you what God has done, because it blows me away.  It is so obviously His hand at work that I can't contain myself!  Almost exactly 1 year ago today, I was packing, getting malaria medicine and preparing for the longest, most exhausting, yet amazing, trip I would ever go on.  And yet this trip changed our lives forever as we met our youngest daughter for the first time.  There were obstacles...such as a huge snow storm that shut down everything; a weight loss plan that I never intended to take on (lost 7 pounds in 3 days), a plane ride that had flight attendants ready to transport me to the hospital upon landing, and we had to leave Hailey on her birthday.  When I made these problems big, God seemed small and I was fearful!  When I handed these things over to Him, the problems became small and insignificant as He became the big, awesome God that He has truly always been!  Never doubt what He is capable of friends and family, because He can do anything!

2011

From our first trip in February....

....to our first night together as a family of five in April....

....to our last court appointment on 12/29....

God has been so faithful!

When I think of 2011 and how far we have traveled, I cry and laugh and thank God for what He has done. In the past year, Nick and I have taken 2 trips to Ethiopia. Hannah and Hailey have taken 1 trip to Ethiopia and Ella has taken 1 trip home.  This past year's journey has been an incredible one; full of fear, laughter, tears, anxiety, and love.  Looking back on how the year began, it is simply amazing to see us here.  And now on to 2012, I wonder what God has in store for us this year.