More Christmas Pictures

Here are a few more pictures from Gavin's first Christmas. He really loves to match other people, from placemats at the table, to his Daddy and brother's clothes for Christmas Eve Service. We are always more than happy to oblige, unless it is taking longer than 10 minutes to set the breakfast table, while he tries to find matching plates, bowls, spoons, cups, cereal and drink as Layne.

Great Christmas!

We had a wonderful Christmas together as a family, very low key, focusing on Christ's birth and each other. Mike sang at church with Elli and Janika, which was a huge treat. It was the first time he's sung with them in public. It was really a blessing to hear them sing together.

Gavin and Layne have had multiple sleep-overs the past few nights. They LOVE it, but I have to remind them over and over to go to sleep. Gavin said last night, "Mommy, we are having BIG FUN!!" From the giggles I'm sure they were. Fortunately for Gavin, Layne has an incredible imagination and fortunately for her, he is game to go along with just about any pretend play. I honestly don't know how they sleep with 10 stuffed animals in their bed with them.

Kael has been busy, busy, building K'Nex inventions and the little ones love playing with whatever he's built. He and Mike are on day 2 of an Axis and Allies Europe Game. Cousins--he'll be ready for battle this summer!

We have been diligently praying for a sibling group of 4 to find a family by next Christmas. Would you join us in prayer for them? Mike met the oldest boy of the 4 back in June, when we were in Addis Ababa, picking up Gavin. The reality is, orphanages can only keep kids up to a certain age and he is almost to that age. Hopefully, we'll be able to tell you that he and his siblings have a family soon. Maybe, by posting this, someone will contact us about being their family. We would happily put you in contact with our agency, if you have room in your homes to love 4 beautiful kids.

6 months home!!

It's been awhile since I've posted about Gavin. We met our new social worker this week for his 6 month post placement visit--still can't believe it's been 6 months already!! She was amazed at Gavin's language abilities and how easily he seems to have become a part of our family. He was very animated showing her around his house, his room, talking about all the things he and Layne do together. It was a good visit.

Mike and I keep pinching ourselves with regards to his transition. He delights us everyday with the new things he's learning and with his infectious laugh.

It is so fun to watch him get into the Christmas spirit around here. One of the pictures shows him with his own stocking- I think he thinks we're a little crazy hanging them on the mantle, but loves having his "own" anything. Tonight at dinner, he was able to tell his Daddy, that we give gifts at Christmas because God gave us HIS son for Christmas, the greatest gift of all!! In just 6 months, our son has come to a new land, integrated into a new family, learned a new language, eaten all new foods and discovered that he has a LOVING heavenly Father who gave us a wonderful gift many, many Christmases ago.

We are rejoicing in our family this week as our good friends, the Halls wait for their court date for their little girls, our friends, the Hutchesons wait for their court date next week, and 2 more children were removed from our agency's waiting child list this week--next Christmas all of these children will have a families!!

important links

I've been following two family's journeys back to Ethiopia, with Childrens' HopeChest. These families are helping to find sponsors for specific orphanages/carepoints in Ethiopia. The sponsorships are unique in that each sponsor helps to meet the needs of the individual child as well as the orphanage itself. If you want to take a trip to help meet the needs of your sponsored child, you are invited to!!

PLEASE take the time to read the following blogs:



http://familyfromafar.blogspot.com

http://afatherseyes.blogspot.com

Calling Prayer Warriors for the Reed Family

Good morning everyone. As you know, I've asked you to pray for the Reed Family before. They received a referral for a little girl, earlier this year, passed court and two days later their precious daughter passed away in ET. They just got home from ET with their beautiful daughter,Maura, on Saturday. This morning, Maura is undergoing a cardiac cath. at Vanderbilt University. Please pray for this entire family, as they wait, for news that the procedure was a success and Maura's heart was healed.

You can go to reedadoption.blogspot.com to follow their journey and let them know that you're praying for them.

Thank you.

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. Since beginning to adopt a child from Ethiopia, we've learned so much about AIDS. Gavin does not have HIV, but after reading information from many families whose children do have HIV, I wouldn't hesitate to adopt a child with HIV. Did you know?

With proper medication, the viral load in a child with HIV can become ZERO?

Children with HIV, who grow up on medication have a nearly normal life expectancy.

Medication for children with HIV can run as low as $60/month, that's as much as some people spend on a mocha every day.

There are no documented cases of children with HIV passing the virus on to their family members.

NOW, the harsh reality is:
If these children are left in their countries of origin without medicines, they will die and die early.

There are entire nations in Africa that are missing the "parent" generations, nations where one elderly lady might be trying to raise 25 orphaned toddlers.

Let God use you today, to make a difference in the life of a child affected by AIDS.

Check out amazing ministries, like Childrens Hopechest to see how you can make a difference. Consider being the answer for one of these children.