let's have...

a puppet show!

the moose

the monkey

or the giraffe

which one do you want to be? i bet auntie jessie will thumb wrestle you for the giraffe.

via designmom

little eskimo

(old navy)

Your dad and I keep talking about how we are going to have to dress you like an eskimo this winter when we take you outside. Burrrrrr. I thought instead of eskimo atire that you may want to sport a pair of these cute little fleece-lined jeans. Or maybe you prefer the eskimo look. You tell me...

(eskimo boy)

Hello there

Hello there dear. Gosh I've missed writing to you. How is life at the transition home? They making you eat spinach and collard greens? I sure hope not. We won't make you eat that stuff until your 12, okay? Do you even know that you are in transition? It's okay if you don't know. Maybe we will show up there and you will be very surprised. But if you are expecting us in the near future, that is good too. Your dad and I are doing well. He is working hard to install a ceiling fan in your room tonight, because next weekend we are getting a wood burning stove insert. The fan will circulate the heat so you will stay cozy and warm through winter. Winter means cold temperatures, so we must wear extra layers and heat our homes. It's also a time for us to drink hot cocoa and sled down the big hill at the park. Winter is cold, but very fun. Lots of family gatherings also happen in the winter.

Your sweet Grandma Debby spent the weekend here preparing for you. We painted your room SW Raindrop and your door is covered in chalkboard paint. Your Grandpa Ben also sent a sweet gift along. I'll let you see it when you get here.

Did I mention that we are so glad that God created adoption? God adopted us into his family just like your dad and I are adopting you into our family. Adoptions are really special.

I have one more thing to tell you. Son, above all else God is good. He is good and he loves you.

Let's talk soon.

Mom

slight delay

by Uncommon Goods

Little T,

What's up buttercut? Hope you are enjoying the day. So there is a delay in the Ethiopian courts opening. They have been closed for a while and were supposed to open towards the beginning of October. Now they say they are opening back on Oct 12 will not schedule new appointments until a week or so after because they have to catch up on the already scheduled appointments. As we wait, I do not want to get caught in the waiting. I want to prepare and pray and be present here. I know that the good Lord is watching out for you. But I hope you know soon who we are and that we are coming for you. We got to ask 5 questions about you today that will be sent to Ethiopia and answered by your caretakers. One of the questions regarded your personality. I am excited to get the response to that question.

In the mean time, it's turning into fall. We have a large window in our attic bedroom and we see the treetops turning from green to yellow. It is beautiful around here. It's also time for warm tomato soup and grilled cheese. Yum.


Talk soon dear child.

What if...

Son - 

Lately your mom and I have been thinking collectively and by ourselves about what it would mean to adopt more from Africa.  What if you aren't the last one we adopt.  What if you have other brothers from Africa, some older or younger?  We are excited to see what the Lord stirs in our hearts.  Something is stirring, something is growing.  We know that part of it is the desire to have you and be with you.  Another part is unknown and even hard for me to communicate.  I just wanted to tell you that I am eager for your arrival and ready to hear your loud breathing when you sleep.  

Just know that the Lord is good, and He will provide the means for our stirring hearts, whatever that means.  We know that He is good, and you will come to know Him closely with your mom and me.  

Come home soon.

Two Nice People

Little Guy -

This is Tim and his wife Mimi. Ever since we started going to church here in Kansas City, Tim has been the pastor of our church. Jacob's Well Church is probably one of the best things that has happened to us and our marriage. Personally and as a couple we have grown in more ways than we can imagine through the Lord's hand in this place. I came there as a broken man, mostly dead from a grave ministry experience (we'll get to that story when you are older), and we were looking for a new place to call home. We went to Jacob's Well on Oct.29 2006 for the first time and never looked back. You, too, will call it home away from home. It is quite an amazing place.

Tim is the main guy, but his wife, Mimi, is one of the sweetest women we know. She was in charge of the children and making sure that they know about Jesus too. Tim was with the big people, Mimi with the little. Mimi makes us feel like we are the most important people on the planet. The thing is, she is like this with everyone. She is so nice and loves so many children. They have 3 kiddos, Mabry, Annie, and Blaise.

The reason why I want you to know about them is because they are part of the reason why we adopted you. As you will come to find out, there are hundreds of people who want to meet you. These are two of them. Tim spoke about taking the opportunity to love on Dec. 7th 2008 and that Sunday morning your mom told me that we were to adopt. She heard from Jesus that this is our time to not let the opportunity to love pass us by. Tim engaged her in a way that spoke deep to her soul and she still holds on to those words today.

Mimi has been a support the entire process. She always smiles and always is so eager to hear news about you son. She is more than a lovely woman, but I can't seem to express it with words how she makes Kristyn and me feel. Tim is as well very encouraging and any words from him to me makes me feel so special and cared for. As you are coming to understand, we look up to them in many ways.

We just found out that they are moving very far away to a country called New Zealand so Tim can teach there. He loves to teach and the Lord is telling him to move. We are so excited for their journey. They are going to bless people so much in New Zealand. Remember when I told you that I was very sad when we moved to Jacob's Well? I was hurt by some not so nice people and Tim and Mimi were part of the reason why I am standing today. They came along side me and supported me and your mom while I healed. We feel so close to them, like so many others do.

They are leaving in December, so we hope, hope, hope that you will be able to come home before they leave. They so want to meet you. If you need to meet anyone other than your mother, it is Tim and Mimi Keel. Son, they want to meet you so much, especially sweet Mimi. She is so nice. I just imagine you looking at her and her smiling a huge smile over you and blessing you as she goes. I hope Tim gets to hold you to, or give you a high-five.

Please come home soon so you may bless those who have blessed us so greatly...

See you soon Son.

Ethiopian Adoption Story: NY Times

This is a good story. (short video with sound.)

the duffle shuffle

creative mama

Hey Little T,

Your pops and I can't stop thinking about you, so we discussed packing last night. We think we will pack the XL north face duffle and medium duffle, instead of rolling suitcases. Those bags hold a lot. The XL duffle is definitely extra large! I told him that I would not be able to carry it. He convinced me that he can hold you on his back in the carrier with the huge duffle on his front. That will be a sight to see. I'm sure I'll be able to carry you some, too. And of course we know that you can walk, but we are guessing that your legs will get tired quickly. Anyway, I'm trying to think of all of the items that you will need, so I'm going to make a list. Must also get our pictures together for your care package. Lots to do and I love doing it because it makes it more real that you are coming home soon!

Love ya,

Mom

With You

I'd like to be with you today, it's true.

I'd like to be with you. We could go to the zoo.

(And of course we would bring dad, too!)

I'd like to be with you all day, to play.

Oh I'd like to be with you today.

-Mom

more birdies

Hey Little T.
Your great grandma asked what colors your room are. It is a WIP (work-in-progress) but here are a few pics. So far, you have some birdie drapery, a green door, an eskimo pie doll (thanks uncle eric & auntie erica), some good books, a borrowed lamp and bookshelf (thanks cousin andie), a nice dresser, and a sweet little yellow bed. I'll show you more pictures later.