Doo Dads

photo.

Just heard that the Doo Dads, a rock and roll band for kids, will be at the Record Bar tonight, 6pm! A friend said they play quite a show and always have a lively audience!

Happy Birthday Gpa Jones!

Happy Birthday Grandpa! Can't wait to party with you tonight!

A Night with Steven

Got to see Mr. Chapman on Friday night after he performed a wonderful concert in Kansas City. It was good to see him, and he was glad to meet you, Gunyea.

Brought some friends, Aaron and Heather, who are on their journey to bring a baby boy home from Ethiopia. Aaron plays music, too.

Nice to meet you, Uncle David!

Nice to meet you, Mr. Steven. I liked dancing to your good music! Can't believe I slept through the second half of your show, but can you believe that my mom and dad would have me out that late? I mean, what are they thinking? I go to bed at 8pm, not 11:15! I had lots of fun. Hope to see you and your fam again soon! Love, Gunyea

Steven has some amazing new music that shares what God has and is bringing him through these past few years. And Mrs. Mary Beth wrote a book called Choosing to See, which I'm sure will be on shelves soon. Check out their huge hearts for adoption through Show Hope.

elmo tee

you are 2.

and i think elmo is the first and only cartoon character you know.

american apparel has a great line of sesame street tee's for tods right now.

super soft and cute.

would have bought you this shirt, but we were at the S.A. and i found you a good looking sesame street shirt for 25 cents. with elmo of course.

Again?

The 6 month marker is when we go to the Jackson County court house on your behalf (I think you actually come with us!) and when we can start the adoption process again. As we seek God's direction, the voice in our heads says yes...adopt again...God is faithful and good. We are 4 months in, so we will see where the next two take us.

With that said, I think I will say a prayer.

Dear God,

You are good. Your love has overwhelmed me. You provide and you look after our family of three. You take us through a storm, to show us the rainbow in the clear sky. May we surrender our being to you each day. Thank you for our beautiful, precious son, Tegegne. May you show him your ways, Lord. May we love like Jesus, so Gunyea will have good examples to follow. People can see his joy already. His prayers are sweet. Thank you for this gift. Our son.

As we look to the sixth month, will you help us? Our hearts are full as we think of adopting again. We have seen your faithfulness, God. Please increase our faith and guide our hearts. I can picture the children now. The ones waiting and hoping for a mommy and daddy. The ones too young to understand, but still confused. It's so hard to imagine that Gunyea was once there, fatherless, sick, and hungry. Oh God, please calm my overwhelmed heart and tell me that you are with these children. And God, please provide a way for us to bring another child, so worthy of love, into our family.

Amen.

Deck Addition & SW Mtg

With the help of a good friend and Ababayeh the craftsman we have a lovely new back deck. You and I eat lunch on the deck every sunny day, and the three of us have eaten most dinners back here. Ababayeh bought a nice grill off Craigslist and wheeled it home on foot about 12 hilly blocks. His forearms were sore after that! Thank you for our new deck, Ababayeh and Geo!

Our 3 month social worker meeting went well last week. There is a lengthy report that we should have had done for the meeting that I somehow missed even though I'd looked at the papers numerous times before the meeting. We must have it finished in the next few weeks, and your dad has started working on it. You played in the living room like a very well mannered boy while we sat at the table and talked about you.

She cleared up confusion I had on the readoption process. Jackson County makes it somewhat difficult to readopt a child in the States. We must hire an attorney (cha ching), gather documents, and have an official court hearing. None of this can occur until you've been home for 6 months. After we pass the court hearing, we will apply for your SS card, US birth certificate, and you will be a U.S. citizen.

Hugging Olive

Meet Olive, our new friend and neighbor. You guys hugged, and hugged, then you gave her a kiss on the cheek. Each time Olive and her mama come strolling down our street in Olive's pink car you spot them from afar and there is no way they are getting by without playing for a bit. We hope to do dinner with their family and hang out more! They are in the "want-to-adopt-but-where-to-start" phase and are interested in Ethiopia. Exciting.

A Gardening Interruption

"Ladies and Gentleman, we interrupt this gardening day to play with your chickens, throw worms from the dirt, and to say hello." And that is just what we did at Cherith Brook last weekend.

We said, "Hello Taryn, good to see you. Will you wipe off my wormy hands?"

"Hello Jake and Nikki, long time no see. May I try on your yellow gloves?"


"And hello Nick and Micah. I've missed you. Will you take me to see your chickens?"

"What's up Bethany, Blakely, and Anna. Nice to meet you! Did you find a worm?"



"Mommy, help me rake up their freshly planted collard greens, please?"

They were working hard on an herb garden that Taryn was in charge of, planting lavendar by the walkway so they could catch a lovely whif to and fro. Also planting herbs with medicinal qualities. Beans and collard greens were being added to the large array of vegetables in the back yard. This year they have chickens who will lay eggs, which they have built an elaborate home for. Quite a lot going on at Cherith Brook. Lord, may their harvest be rich and plentiful so they can continue to feed and care for the homeless in the Northeast neighborhoods.

Family Outing

We rode bikes to Ababayeh's school to help him till his garden. Brought a picnic too. We were able to transplant some cilantro from his plot to home, so we hope to make some good pico di gayo this summer. You call the bike trailor "Gunyea's bike" and don't mind the long trek across town. Half the time you are pushing the helmet up so you can see out.

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy Birthday Grant! We think you are the coolest. An your photos are the coolest. Thanks for teaching Gunyea how to "pound it."

Happy Birthday Kate! (I am so glad we got to visit you guys in Fayetteville. It is so fun to be a mom with you. Gunyea wants to tell Norah hi. Can't wait to meet your little one on the way!)

And happy first birthday Cousin Chloe! We had a blast at your party on Saturday! You are precious!