tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30922691656062248352024-02-07T19:03:43.692-08:00Our Journey TogetherThis is a place for friends and family to keep updated about the wonderful journey of adoption that we are on.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.comBlogger125125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-70552173475586108492009-01-15T19:49:00.000-08:002009-01-15T20:10:57.105-08:00It's All Final!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBablo-32fx-IwUOWlFzaSh8fWXJgemu4udl_X5TZmOB9TM1TatdYZJ8ICwkDfkSTbNfAh0qqJT_7r7__TBJn0XkXHbiJmG1ZucInBZ6eFG4gX9an1IwqkpWsG6nXFTlujl2kp_SqKH7L1/s1600-h/IMG_5586.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBablo-32fx-IwUOWlFzaSh8fWXJgemu4udl_X5TZmOB9TM1TatdYZJ8ICwkDfkSTbNfAh0qqJT_7r7__TBJn0XkXHbiJmG1ZucInBZ6eFG4gX9an1IwqkpWsG6nXFTlujl2kp_SqKH7L1/s400/IMG_5586.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291735805309694514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKUlfrlO-zQWFmtNuNbZKdw7i3PGtY2jai7Axoh3tbnKegY4T5K4ZOOq-6ys8p1gyxAry7bT_mqFGzgXRGFoIZQx0H0UbTfJwTdfLOFeKqbu5SH6TXEFU2dakrUihQOO6kJGPNfqWtTPj/s1600-h/IMG_5589.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdKUlfrlO-zQWFmtNuNbZKdw7i3PGtY2jai7Axoh3tbnKegY4T5K4ZOOq-6ys8p1gyxAry7bT_mqFGzgXRGFoIZQx0H0UbTfJwTdfLOFeKqbu5SH6TXEFU2dakrUihQOO6kJGPNfqWtTPj/s400/IMG_5589.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291735790302162514" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSRLIUofNy33wZHXOhmO-SS_2O3qtXdm71sPGMWW9vAbHUq2FVimOUbDEuNbVOa_Rhh8RF7kFwRbPDRlch_Lm8N2F_jdU5IaR9qw7pW92sp4NivfQ_d7WEIDop4pyfew44NW6EmZe7keG/s1600-h/IMG_5591.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSRLIUofNy33wZHXOhmO-SS_2O3qtXdm71sPGMWW9vAbHUq2FVimOUbDEuNbVOa_Rhh8RF7kFwRbPDRlch_Lm8N2F_jdU5IaR9qw7pW92sp4NivfQ_d7WEIDop4pyfew44NW6EmZe7keG/s400/IMG_5591.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291735785552125634" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGOrdXSsT0xSb_MpTupkkqo5i7DL0SRtcLf9PS-Rcc52EHg5WPZdCYjOBCdLileKuGT_pFAbswCBAfhxim6PuM_T7eDvwJ8QcMg5uO5dbbWtRkLlNgcjGAD-a3P9f9-g97S96ChD9OphS/s1600-h/IMG_5594.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfGOrdXSsT0xSb_MpTupkkqo5i7DL0SRtcLf9PS-Rcc52EHg5WPZdCYjOBCdLileKuGT_pFAbswCBAfhxim6PuM_T7eDvwJ8QcMg5uO5dbbWtRkLlNgcjGAD-a3P9f9-g97S96ChD9OphS/s400/IMG_5594.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5291735779059255890" border="0" /></a><br />Maleah's court & paperwork is all final! ... and just in the nick of time!, as we leave ND in just over 4 days. What's so crazy about that is we just found out a week ago we're leaving so SOON!<br /><br />Today was a special day, as we stepped away for a few hours from the insanity of packing and gathered with some friends to celebrate and say goodbye. And what a fitting end to our time here in ND as we embark on our new journey, working more with adoption and orphan care ministry with the <a href="http://www.abbafund.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ABBA Fund</span></a>!<br /><br />This blog has been dedicated to sharing our adoption journey of Maleah and so with this court finalization also comes the close of this blog. Yet, the story has a life-time of chapters ahead.<br /><br />If you'd like to follow along on our journey of life and ministry .... you'll need to go <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://servinghimtogether.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HERE</span></a></span> in the future. While change isn't easy .... we are excited about the new chapter being written. The Lord has just done an incredible work in providing a new home base for us in IL. We are still trying to comprehend just what all He has done!!! Be sure to visit us at our <a href="http://servinghimtogether.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" >Serving Him Together blog</span></a>. There we'll share family updates for far-away-friends, as well as lots of resources about adoption and orphan care. You might even get to see some home renovations! We have our work cut out for us in IL and we are ready!<br /><br />As we close this blog we just want to say once again that the LORD is the only one that could have made our adoptions possible! He worked through so many people to bring them to completion. In all practical terms, we would probably rank up there with the "least able" to do this. Perhaps you are a family that feels the tug on your hearts for the needs of orphans, but you are just overwhelmed with the obstacles or are fearful of the unknown .... or sense the heavy financial weight that sometimes seems so insurmountable. God can be TRUSTED in your situation. Don't be mistaken .... it's not an easy journey .... it's one that could require great sacrifice and grueling hard work. But today was such a reminder to us that it's all worth it!!! <br /><br />We'll be sharing much more at our new on-line home ... so please visit us there. Our family is so eager and excited to embrace the next chapter. Fun days ahead as we prepare to celebrate Maleah's birthday in IL! If today was any indication (note Mommy holding down her hands from that icing!) ... she is READY for her birthday cake! :)<br /><br />May the Lord be glorified as we journey on with him, one step at a time. The End.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-42365354862413014102009-01-08T12:07:00.000-08:002009-01-08T12:09:05.526-08:00BIG NEWS!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Lord has brought about something wonderful! Read about it over</span></span> <a href="http://servinghimtogether.blogspot.com/2009/01/heads-spinning-boxes-packing-thanks.html"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >HERE</span>!</a><br /></div>Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-61029580332763211182008-12-30T09:32:00.000-08:002008-12-30T10:21:16.310-08:00Cookie Tradition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuGNH7TFYw2ANKxAyh-PBSjXYhyphenhyphenM63g0WaMNN75C0OcOYz4vC2AqBFhYNo4gZ6njWiIpPhj1Swe_269wKxj_rBZzDRBAN1FqbARwcm8XSE4fGYAqUpKCHutxkhU1tKyGtbM_gV3HlfjSa/s1600-h/IMG_5355.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuGNH7TFYw2ANKxAyh-PBSjXYhyphenhyphenM63g0WaMNN75C0OcOYz4vC2AqBFhYNo4gZ6njWiIpPhj1Swe_269wKxj_rBZzDRBAN1FqbARwcm8XSE4fGYAqUpKCHutxkhU1tKyGtbM_gV3HlfjSa/s320/IMG_5355.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285649375174258626" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRu7XfHKnxGOoTG2Df62-2HuRe__8c-2dnYY9iiyFbYu6mnWxtPndt8QnuRxVymaOHLuaco88goF56iVhvut8d2-mOrVs3B-8lzVq49mk4zL1FW9yOSTG2Y4hUn0yeSmj50it5jxJ8ZQp/s1600-h/IMG_5354.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRu7XfHKnxGOoTG2Df62-2HuRe__8c-2dnYY9iiyFbYu6mnWxtPndt8QnuRxVymaOHLuaco88goF56iVhvut8d2-mOrVs3B-8lzVq49mk4zL1FW9yOSTG2Y4hUn0yeSmj50it5jxJ8ZQp/s320/IMG_5354.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285649370919589810" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfL4B28cE7H6eHNOVWY1sJ_vp0H88w3EO2H7_C5R6uxfJBV9e5RH9FzjSiy-yER7O3TSFlcCmhm8m__Uq2dwXrOUf3MgvzQJi17ANQf55kIs7CV0Qwe58RdYljAGaeqMhYbS__U6LS2SCw/s1600-h/IMG_5349.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfL4B28cE7H6eHNOVWY1sJ_vp0H88w3EO2H7_C5R6uxfJBV9e5RH9FzjSiy-yER7O3TSFlcCmhm8m__Uq2dwXrOUf3MgvzQJi17ANQf55kIs7CV0Qwe58RdYljAGaeqMhYbS__U6LS2SCw/s320/IMG_5349.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285649368512114674" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtSMm_e_nLiyg4PASWeslH9TntLuh-pniBVefzsi5u-yKoYORFOwawDmesIzBTKAEy2mvqvErdydS8hQFHH02Jw6E79nLdP7JgqNao0YwnSDHiY8cvC1FQChoVAuChNQ0gNxmOxwPQSQC/s1600-h/IMG_5347.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtSMm_e_nLiyg4PASWeslH9TntLuh-pniBVefzsi5u-yKoYORFOwawDmesIzBTKAEy2mvqvErdydS8hQFHH02Jw6E79nLdP7JgqNao0YwnSDHiY8cvC1FQChoVAuChNQ0gNxmOxwPQSQC/s320/IMG_5347.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285649364487335570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeMEP1L9H8twSylvkcx-lWW-HmXPkaYBEVHBqP5MTU-l_kd4vaE6UF0pjgdvPWHtF3ORy-HjRuwBi761XpwO6EQOMEMhWKGxjO5Tv_nTwi8OMcwxj8sIIYE81eVWiCsraV0QGr2NjcwHw/s1600-h/IMG_5346.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVeMEP1L9H8twSylvkcx-lWW-HmXPkaYBEVHBqP5MTU-l_kd4vaE6UF0pjgdvPWHtF3ORy-HjRuwBi761XpwO6EQOMEMhWKGxjO5Tv_nTwi8OMcwxj8sIIYE81eVWiCsraV0QGr2NjcwHw/s320/IMG_5346.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285649357092911570" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_9L3YnDXEdT8mt0O5E2XiFyPwEuiZ8OYWOGi5pYGRzK0SW0c-wumgETvcbzu3ImA_gGqqUyL2hnCSCNFIuXGgqj8ZujFGc1Vi8JKBfnM-IJee7z7AJduqIgrglV2NiG4Y2AUZLy3iaIi/s1600-h/IMG_5357.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_9L3YnDXEdT8mt0O5E2XiFyPwEuiZ8OYWOGi5pYGRzK0SW0c-wumgETvcbzu3ImA_gGqqUyL2hnCSCNFIuXGgqj8ZujFGc1Vi8JKBfnM-IJee7z7AJduqIgrglV2NiG4Y2AUZLy3iaIi/s320/IMG_5357.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285645249715310434" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFY7LJ6la9NvcE54sUfnxy7JXh-BSA5svvaO9h4sGQBMGWLLUTjuulPMr25MX_pKL3CpPvOlPxRnDCK1Od2ecr9rhoDwau2NgpVK5MRS4T5Is460nDWu5UyFeX6N-Pwm03pL3_3Y-9OiRH/s1600-h/IMG_5358.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFY7LJ6la9NvcE54sUfnxy7JXh-BSA5svvaO9h4sGQBMGWLLUTjuulPMr25MX_pKL3CpPvOlPxRnDCK1Od2ecr9rhoDwau2NgpVK5MRS4T5Is460nDWu5UyFeX6N-Pwm03pL3_3Y-9OiRH/s320/IMG_5358.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285644760771010002" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohusXs06FI7beJrDPb93ch5e5kSYbY2LYBlJydsWDZAHdzJA-ASRWFrooduiKvUBoUeibH_qzW_XcF3Bn3n-8cbbWq5JlJUZ7viYw9NdRlsPJPYPvRtMe_eIpqt9JcbFuUvby3NqR63hZ/s1600-h/IMG_5343.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhohusXs06FI7beJrDPb93ch5e5kSYbY2LYBlJydsWDZAHdzJA-ASRWFrooduiKvUBoUeibH_qzW_XcF3Bn3n-8cbbWq5JlJUZ7viYw9NdRlsPJPYPvRtMe_eIpqt9JcbFuUvby3NqR63hZ/s320/IMG_5343.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5285644754006285634" border="0" /></a><br />Maleah was very happy to take part in our cookie tradition! "YUMMMMM", she kept saying. What a blessing it is to have her here and enjoy all these "firsts" together. She definitely has the present thing figured out and will be all ready to celebrate her birthday in a couple of months. While we'd love to just freeze her in time for a bit .... it is just so much fun to see her blossom and grow. She has certainly acquired a sweet tooth since coming home! It is really hard to resist her precious requests for more "cookie". When you must that sweet voice ends and out comes sobbing like the world is coming to an end! It's difficult not to laugh.<br /><br />At times it seems like it was yesterday we were in Chicago and our boys were this little. Now they are growing into young men and our lives are fuller and more blessed than we could ever have imagined. I figure by the time the girls are little ladies the next chapter will begin with the boys bringing my grandkids for cookie tradition. These years pass so quickly and lately I have been so challenged to reflect on if I'm making the most of this time. It's easy to become distracted by the cares of this world that can come in an rob us of our joy. How I want to embrace each season, trusting in my Savior. I have much room to grow in this area.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-17591210122171413962008-12-24T09:03:00.000-08:002008-12-24T09:09:10.478-08:00Merry Christmas! - 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyreFYIkl1DM9sGZ_rDPy__MJ0aTHlZfC1qQeFJvLYocZgnSip0Lcr8pb19-TYM2gh5At4CSAJwYBBOD-wgiU_iRAQzO7-3MSIJVk_kuI_eC7LzL7PR3S28sD9RvNM-5HT-zOri-zBiHK7/s1600-h/Christmas+card+picture.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 274px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyreFYIkl1DM9sGZ_rDPy__MJ0aTHlZfC1qQeFJvLYocZgnSip0Lcr8pb19-TYM2gh5At4CSAJwYBBOD-wgiU_iRAQzO7-3MSIJVk_kuI_eC7LzL7PR3S28sD9RvNM-5HT-zOri-zBiHK7/s400/Christmas+card+picture.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5283404081550258914" border="0" /></a><br />Merry Christmas everyone! We're so grateful for the One who this season is all about. Without Him, we would have no hope. With Him ..... well, we have everything we need. The Lord has been so kind to our family throughout this year. It's been one of huge changes, transition and still unknown. HE is SO GOOD!!!, no matter what the circumstances that surround us. He is so worthy of our praise. Our hearts just rejoice that He cares so much for each of us ... every detail of our lives. How we long to see our family and friends back home. Yet, we can rest in Him and know that He has a wonderful plan ahead. <br /><br />It is such a blessing having all our children with us this Christmas. Maleah thought decorating cookies this morning was quite fun!!! Mmmmmmmmmmmm .... she kept saying! :) More fun pictures to come in the days ahead.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-85720580515813660102008-12-14T06:45:00.000-08:002008-12-14T07:03:52.237-08:00Calling All Gladney Families! - Kolfe Sponsorship<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MrAvlfeaoe8Jf1G5ke8LOBffV5j-6vucU_TyV6wsP7Y5JdqaIwgGBUm7YAmiCnzAjn7_OwCaddk48ZeztsxoGrJl8Q1_ZghGoRUHiA6h87VTtxpsK9IO8JmggX7N5i9WXnMB8giXwvnR/s1600-h/kolfe+tom+davis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 349px; height: 232px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7MrAvlfeaoe8Jf1G5ke8LOBffV5j-6vucU_TyV6wsP7Y5JdqaIwgGBUm7YAmiCnzAjn7_OwCaddk48ZeztsxoGrJl8Q1_ZghGoRUHiA6h87VTtxpsK9IO8JmggX7N5i9WXnMB8giXwvnR/s400/kolfe+tom+davis.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5279661522631744402" border="0" /></a><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HP_ADM%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-7.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HP_ADM%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-8.jpg" alt="" />God is at work and answering prayer for the <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kolfe Boys</span>!!! This week I received an email from a fellow adoptive dad here in ND. His church is working on a sponsorship for KOLFE!!! Did you HEAR THAT? They are teaming up with <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 153);" href="http://tomdavis.typepad.com/">Tom Davis </a>and <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://www.hopechest.org/">Children's HopeChest</a> for this sponsorship. So many of you have had your hearts burdened for these amazing boys and have prayed for them. Well .... now we need your help! Read on.<br /><br />I need stories from you about your experiences in visiting them. Not so much a general overview of their needs, we'll have that. What we need is something more personal. Did you meet a particular young man who made an impression on you? Tell us about that. Perhaps you got to deliver supplies to them. What was their response? I know some of you have done really amazing things . . . which one of you got the goats and shared a meal together? Please share that story with us!<br /><br />I also need your photos. Please respond on here in a comment that you're going to participate. Then email me with your story and photos. robertsfamily@mlgc.com. I will compile everything together and send it onto David (not my David!, another David) who is preparing a presentation for his church in January. So we need all this ASAP!<br /><br />As most of you know we were one of those families deeply changed forever when we traveled to Ethiopia and visited Kolfe. We have had the absolute blessing of seeing what a mentorship across the miles can be. It is such a joy to hear from Getahun and walk with him on his journey in life, even half a world away. When one of his close friends died a few months back, he could write us and have someone to "talk" with about that. When he got ill and couldn't get his needs met at Kolfe he could send word to us and we could help be sure he was checked on. In January we'll get the opportunity to share Getahun's story with this church.<br /><br />These boys are the future of Ethiopia. I believe God will use them in mighty ways ... but they need help. So, now is the time to share YOUR story.<br /><br />Please include your family's name and when you traveled so that I can put this together in a timeline.<br /><br />Thank You!!<br /><br />Oh!, there's also a spot on Facebook that you need to sign up too if you'd like to be kept in the loop of progress on this project.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-18957369135209981682008-12-11T14:56:00.000-08:002008-12-11T15:30:56.041-08:00Arsema's First Christmas<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKA3dl5LEhX5YqpwaaGAu_c4Xc_4Q6n9G-WbbXcEt7xCqu60-Ia4u11CfnJKk_OoUtaFZMwr2pkcpnIX9LVNJG1SK9ZLYErsSGy4UdVe9wlHgyLE5SJfNiDtibYOG_VzqWlnrdl1cwHki/s1600-h/IMG_5284.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKA3dl5LEhX5YqpwaaGAu_c4Xc_4Q6n9G-WbbXcEt7xCqu60-Ia4u11CfnJKk_OoUtaFZMwr2pkcpnIX9LVNJG1SK9ZLYErsSGy4UdVe9wlHgyLE5SJfNiDtibYOG_VzqWlnrdl1cwHki/s320/IMG_5284.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278678899624328130" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ma_vqBJsZQLT1iuCK7cb2IhwMMfhftDqZFy69-8zCnG41gPtZNrsIf7OlNFwEpiyaWmJ3x2US9rMlZDq2Dbdk0Pg-AKy6DcpwspS4WZZse3LHokHv_Qilyf2y_gwMjtOSjlpdGZa7V6c/s1600-h/IMG_5283.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ma_vqBJsZQLT1iuCK7cb2IhwMMfhftDqZFy69-8zCnG41gPtZNrsIf7OlNFwEpiyaWmJ3x2US9rMlZDq2Dbdk0Pg-AKy6DcpwspS4WZZse3LHokHv_Qilyf2y_gwMjtOSjlpdGZa7V6c/s320/IMG_5283.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278678888286338658" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yt1v5lgeGPjGZhRh4x9kQClFnO-nbQCR68m4jMWLnubP66LoS8V6o6S_xFm4QZwYVFN9aS1RtydM-4E6J_Wj3Kbru2nZRJzmQiC2KsJunpK8Hcr1swWpGAEKH84k_1237c1Tl95bt0v6/s1600-h/IMG_5287.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5yt1v5lgeGPjGZhRh4x9kQClFnO-nbQCR68m4jMWLnubP66LoS8V6o6S_xFm4QZwYVFN9aS1RtydM-4E6J_Wj3Kbru2nZRJzmQiC2KsJunpK8Hcr1swWpGAEKH84k_1237c1Tl95bt0v6/s320/IMG_5287.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278677634462928034" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_xUxVr1whBt8PuQ1PctTXRtl668DMzf7g3HXvcBhklw_VB2h9xrnlIS7I5pwZ4DJRXtXGQ4b2ziWSykcGMtvK3wOk53vqRLD8wRMy8KCzZpaYvqUqrnwSrwjtDQXvLK6jTMRaLaHng2r/s1600-h/IMG_5289.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2_xUxVr1whBt8PuQ1PctTXRtl668DMzf7g3HXvcBhklw_VB2h9xrnlIS7I5pwZ4DJRXtXGQ4b2ziWSykcGMtvK3wOk53vqRLD8wRMy8KCzZpaYvqUqrnwSrwjtDQXvLK6jTMRaLaHng2r/s320/IMG_5289.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278673201769777794" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />It took me awhile to come to terms if this is our little girly's 1st or 2nd Christmas. I decided it is kinda really her "1st", at least how we celebrate here as a family. Can I just say once again how BLESSED we are to have her in our lives?! This year has been a very difficult one for us. We've had so many changes and are still faced in the midst of much transition. But no matter what all other challenging things are going on .... we are full of such JOY!!! Not that "oh, life is so smooth sailing, easy kind of joy". No, I mean that deep down incredible joy that can only come from one source. And that is the reason we celebrate this wonderful season.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNe0YEMlkd2NhWfx_g1gnPb34AV12GQSWufS0vcNmLZt_EHYJXgXXOBz0bh3QKo-MEigpeIvlS5EI6xMx_-YzMHMkAqytIBAi37pP9EC6lj2S54ThoX3hc7HiRgs_Fbdcen-Uwfjc83gP/s1600-h/IMG_5298.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUNe0YEMlkd2NhWfx_g1gnPb34AV12GQSWufS0vcNmLZt_EHYJXgXXOBz0bh3QKo-MEigpeIvlS5EI6xMx_-YzMHMkAqytIBAi37pP9EC6lj2S54ThoX3hc7HiRgs_Fbdcen-Uwfjc83gP/s320/IMG_5298.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278676175129789682" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Today I took a few moments break from "life" and pondering all the details of our lives and just soaked up some good 'ole camera time. I do not want to be so consumed on what is going to happen NEXT, and miss out on what is happening right NOW!<br /><br />Yes, I'm sad we're not in Illinois this Christmas. Yes, at times we wonder when someone will come wanting a house in the middle of cold ND in the winter! Yes, we're anxious to settle into our new life and ministry.<br /><br />Maleah is just taking in all the sights, sounds and TASTES of this glorious season. "Loooooook!, Mommy!!", is one of her favorite phrases these days. Next would be .... "Hhhmmm .... COOKIE!! ... YUM!!!". She has sure discovered her sweet tooth! :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01cxzTuH670DCglMSZMADcnoyelItX0fV3oMlwPIJool_QJ0GHjiH0ueUkf6eCKMAyOGIoz5RdfxHQFbmLxQaLXpgyO5e1a1a4UyC1j6OWLmhme2Qa4DODpc6I8XSsc9LZhh_HddMkdt2/s1600-h/IMG_5319.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01cxzTuH670DCglMSZMADcnoyelItX0fV3oMlwPIJool_QJ0GHjiH0ueUkf6eCKMAyOGIoz5RdfxHQFbmLxQaLXpgyO5e1a1a4UyC1j6OWLmhme2Qa4DODpc6I8XSsc9LZhh_HddMkdt2/s320/IMG_5319.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278676170858156930" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />There is SO MUCH to be grateful for this year. On top of our list would have to be our new daughter and her GOOD health!! No longer a sick baby. Plump, busy and full of life! How grateful we are to the Lord for how He sustained this little one's life and brought her all the way from Ethiopia into our family.<br /><br />We got word that our finalization court date will be yet in 2008! What a great milestone to finish <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyihkMT6GlPQy3p2WhmfL7TXWNm-77Cn4EI80gKo7cxnKmikabkIpmAwkdKvlUO31yGAt172js_1yp5-aafPQcQ-2nFLjGi9Tw-qOVpAMJNulhNeC06vaB-9HkKNfmy6NPAikEByTUqU5C/s1600-h/IMG_5312.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyihkMT6GlPQy3p2WhmfL7TXWNm-77Cn4EI80gKo7cxnKmikabkIpmAwkdKvlUO31yGAt172js_1yp5-aafPQcQ-2nFLjGi9Tw-qOVpAMJNulhNeC06vaB-9HkKNfmy6NPAikEByTUqU5C/s320/IMG_5312.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5278676153935761762" border="0" /></a>out the year!Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-90560618926779522232008-11-18T09:49:00.000-08:002008-11-18T10:57:30.742-08:00Arsema's Reflections of 6 Months Home!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtIWkHlhxy4XjZZbO9dpyEnVugmd30q4KZKSv-xSZgtOYmjuiWgA8mBVILf9RYhr-xTO0QZQIBoLJ4GFqChaqJwH0kBUdY1R6Yjtbbg3b7mZ1ukGtI6cV9Zg1y3-nee4U1W8bqUrx6yHZ/s1600-h/Nov+2008+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimtIWkHlhxy4XjZZbO9dpyEnVugmd30q4KZKSv-xSZgtOYmjuiWgA8mBVILf9RYhr-xTO0QZQIBoLJ4GFqChaqJwH0kBUdY1R6Yjtbbg3b7mZ1ukGtI6cV9Zg1y3-nee4U1W8bqUrx6yHZ/s320/Nov+2008+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270073549867367426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwhn26XTkpzRYif4zNQw6XmpB29jYrCzMezGUotJAa6dMxDWOB738a8wKNBIScDPgkv2zzuUYwBYqiIea4nvYsOCWoVpmaGgnrgaRDjFNQLlmW1iJo0HL49Enug4dDo-9VocdGQ52A5y7/s1600-h/Nov+2008+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrwhn26XTkpzRYif4zNQw6XmpB29jYrCzMezGUotJAa6dMxDWOB738a8wKNBIScDPgkv2zzuUYwBYqiIea4nvYsOCWoVpmaGgnrgaRDjFNQLlmW1iJo0HL49Enug4dDo-9VocdGQ52A5y7/s320/Nov+2008+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270073544222365426" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcTtQb6N8apR6NViMY7H8R30ynqsNFUPwSYeAt8E31QSgFFRiVi4vdzraRehzabyMYFNkwESBwn7uwZMPhCGKkBu2S3nq32va_5FPbtoTNBkpSTBx6EYGPXCYdBFhTVQIRip3ofwudcRe/s1600-h/Nov+2008+010.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilcTtQb6N8apR6NViMY7H8R30ynqsNFUPwSYeAt8E31QSgFFRiVi4vdzraRehzabyMYFNkwESBwn7uwZMPhCGKkBu2S3nq32va_5FPbtoTNBkpSTBx6EYGPXCYdBFhTVQIRip3ofwudcRe/s320/Nov+2008+010.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270073539586958082" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Scj8yf6ZpTr4laM6GvUYgqY0gtMyB1sa5fh42NzVVtxek4WsxDCmVNApOyeXNWmFtPF5NNXFr5fejLoJ91WDpZDIWEz-NqFVX56JtOoumLTztA6zuEw6OFZtM-FGdF3Lz-FezsWD_W_u/s1600-h/Nov+2008+013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 218px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Scj8yf6ZpTr4laM6GvUYgqY0gtMyB1sa5fh42NzVVtxek4WsxDCmVNApOyeXNWmFtPF5NNXFr5fejLoJ91WDpZDIWEz-NqFVX56JtOoumLTztA6zuEw6OFZtM-FGdF3Lz-FezsWD_W_u/s320/Nov+2008+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270073536232194066" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBl0RpR4EZcIk5AXraCNV2X1OXqnQDbQ8xpV2SgfT2IsdMJMdi5BYzOgrks4z7Y-qRErlgH_wdTFFvBMSvf9TGzW4_mR4TVdutvSewZd9NZeKYvia5OxXW-YWwbwIPCqnsoKc_UCo-F-t/s1600-h/Nov+2008+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvBl0RpR4EZcIk5AXraCNV2X1OXqnQDbQ8xpV2SgfT2IsdMJMdi5BYzOgrks4z7Y-qRErlgH_wdTFFvBMSvf9TGzW4_mR4TVdutvSewZd9NZeKYvia5OxXW-YWwbwIPCqnsoKc_UCo-F-t/s320/Nov+2008+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270070359399339586" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfLAS40gEhdwRoyMM_5I4ADX_F_S5go3zzW8Sr56HKAQWkE_j14GK23aLvavOVuoK2U32grwaen19qnbtT4avAmBnK3twUwyijl4UshAwCsRwOSBisax58w95yPzN7FAAG_jx8njGGEOz/s1600-h/Nov+2008+017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmfLAS40gEhdwRoyMM_5I4ADX_F_S5go3zzW8Sr56HKAQWkE_j14GK23aLvavOVuoK2U32grwaen19qnbtT4avAmBnK3twUwyijl4UshAwCsRwOSBisax58w95yPzN7FAAG_jx8njGGEOz/s320/Nov+2008+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270070350304685762" border="0" /></a><br />Mommy thought you might like hearing about my six months at home from my perspective! I have lots to share.<br /><br />My new family had been well-warned that I was slow to warm up to strangers. They had no idea how hard that would be. I was so scared, not understanding what was happening to me. Poor Daddy ... I was really rough on him those first weeks. I gave a whole new meaning to the term "cold shoulder", it was more like frozen. Oh, but you should see us now! My daddy is about my most favorite person is the whole world! I save my best giggles for him when he comes home from work. He teaches me all sorts of fun little tricks and I even love his whiskery kisses.<br /><br />Since our house still hasn't sold, Daddy decided it was time to move me up to my own room. Can you believe it? ... he was done sharing his bedroom with me! It's probably better this way, because mommy was right, his snoring woke me up. I am SUCH a good sleeper. You may have heard that my big sister hardly slept the first two years of life, aging my mommy & daddy a great deal! Now that I'm all settled in here with my family, I'm a pro-sleeper. We're talking 12 hours at night and a nice afternoon nap. It really helps my mommy keep her sanity.<br /><br />I have some fooled as being SO "easy-going". One set of my grandparents think I'm really mild-mannered. They'll probably eventually see that deep down I really have some spunk! All is well, unless it's time to sleep and my bed is no where around (like long days into the city). Then I truly just LOSE-IT! A girl's gotta get her sleep, ya know? OR ... when I don't get my way. I can REALLY put up a good fuss!<br /><br />Everyone wants to know how things are going with me and my big sister. Well, between you and me, I think she's been intimidated by my size. I'm not all that much smaller. And ... if we're being really honest, then I have to say that I'm kind of a cry-baby. It's true. Back in the Gladney Center I had Mr. Belay really figured out! When he came into my room, I'd put on a good show acting like I wanted him to hold me SO MUCH. He fell for it often! But just as he'd reach in and get me out of my crib, I'd dive for my favorite care givers. I'm kinda tricky like that. Who could blame me ... I was rather sick of being in my crib. Besides, I had some of the best care givers in the whole world and I could never get enough of them holding me and loving me. Back to my big sister ... she can be a little territorial, but really we're gonna be great friends. It's hard on us both to share Mommy. Good thing Mommy has a big lap!<br /><br />Did you know that I have the greatest big brothers??? I mean the BEST! They think I am pretty amazing and have taught me SO many new words! I crack them up all the time with the new things that I say. Now I'm figuring out how to put my words together and I rarely stop chattering. EXCEPT when company comes! You wouldn't believe how QUIET I can really be if I want to. Mommy says it's like I have a mute button. She wishes she could push the mute button when I'm too noisy in church!<br /><br />I suppose I should tell you that one of my most favorite things still is bottle-time. Yes, I still get two bottles a day. No flack, okay? ... I came home taking at least 7 a day! I like my bottle/snuggle time about as much as Mommy loves her cup of coffee. I really love it when mommy kisses my forehead and tells me over and over again how much she loves me. We're doing our best to make up for lost time.<br /><br />Mommy shows me on the computer that many of my friends at Gladney are now home with their new families too. It really took me awhile to get used to all these changes. I looked scared for awhile. I wondered if this was for real. Now I'm doing great. OH!, except for when Mommy took me to the doctor. That scared me to death. I screamed the whole time so loud that Mommy and my doctor could hardly hear each other. Mommy said it was to get papers for the court. Aren't we DONE with all those yet? It really was not necessary to scare me so badly, was it? <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4GSmd_vRMVmXj9rJi4I_rhSQwBqt38XujFLc-16oIzxBskvbayK_y94LgZwPqDEb2Bz2kVaj7SCt8JMkN8f_pFM9vZJvED_0NvYhHh_kDszUSqq-zPrhDkO77sj1b0Mu8NTvkhzsBQES/s1600-h/Nov+2008+014.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4GSmd_vRMVmXj9rJi4I_rhSQwBqt38XujFLc-16oIzxBskvbayK_y94LgZwPqDEb2Bz2kVaj7SCt8JMkN8f_pFM9vZJvED_0NvYhHh_kDszUSqq-zPrhDkO77sj1b0Mu8NTvkhzsBQES/s320/Nov+2008+014.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270070343713291138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I LOVE music and dancing! The reason I'm screaming in a couple of these pictures is because my mommy took away my music toy in hopes I'd stop moving to get some non-blurry pictures. As you can see, I didn't like that one bit! I am even learning to sing along now and it makes my family smile really big. I especially like listening to music and dancing while I look at my favorite books. It's great fun! <span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br />That's about it I guess. It looks like I'm all settled in. Now only strangers or goofy cashiers get my timid/shy looks. Oh, I suppose I should add that I'm not really crazy about getting my hair done, but then again who is? I can really screech and fuss about that. Usually mommy gives me something amusing to play with and it's not so bad.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-2673925521913335172008-11-13T09:47:00.000-08:002008-11-13T10:09:48.851-08:00See This!!!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5xEcMXtPMjtKuPQx6x60-xR07nmWfSXVBqHSDmKDCDM6U9L64VSFE0ypNm3-yIiPwUUEbIlD0SXZF8XNlCjog4BgbeGbXWUkqTvXgty312oCW_iUXoR2gTEUCabkYROzv-E-EVz8HUnD/s1600-h/At+Home+055.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5xEcMXtPMjtKuPQx6x60-xR07nmWfSXVBqHSDmKDCDM6U9L64VSFE0ypNm3-yIiPwUUEbIlD0SXZF8XNlCjog4BgbeGbXWUkqTvXgty312oCW_iUXoR2gTEUCabkYROzv-E-EVz8HUnD/s400/At+Home+055.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268205570001084674" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Please check out <a href="http://tomdavis.typepad.com/tom_daviss_blog/2008/11/want-to-sponsor-kebebetsehay-orphanage-in-ethiopia.html#comments"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);font-size:180%;" >Tom Davis' entry</span></a> on his blog about Kebebetsehay! This is where our precious little one spent the first 9 months of her life and we are SO encouraged to see Tom working to help network and find sponsors for this orphanage! Please go check it out!!<br /><br />It was such a privilege to meet Sophia, the director of Kebebetsehay. She was able to share with us the story of Arsema's first days of life. She was the one who helped Arsema's birthmother through the painful process of making plans for their lives while they were both so ill.<br /><br />I will never forget the look on her face when she was told we were holding Arsema! "ARSEMA!!!", she said. "You were so thin and white! .... now you are dark and FAT!!! (literally, these were her words and we all burst out laughing)." <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3Zy1IU3ohYkwEM_ayIhyMDgvcGHamAervAncqclbo3ce_EHhgZbIEJ5ChFdIhqJTwq7Vcby0o_4EI6Jw1tSxNJUMOZepxIMiCY2pOXYb5JB9FCyqFhY_UkfRlNz5JWOQGblnh7jy2fpw/s1600-h/At+Home+056.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE3Zy1IU3ohYkwEM_ayIhyMDgvcGHamAervAncqclbo3ce_EHhgZbIEJ5ChFdIhqJTwq7Vcby0o_4EI6Jw1tSxNJUMOZepxIMiCY2pOXYb5JB9FCyqFhY_UkfRlNz5JWOQGblnh7jy2fpw/s400/At+Home+056.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268201603276067746" border="0" /></a>Arsema was so frightened to leave my arms and after a failed attempt of her sharin' some love with this dear woman, she handed her back to me and shook her finger and told her some heartfelt advice. "I was your 'first mother' .... you were a SMART one! .... don't you ever forget all I did for you!". It was just precious. It brought her such joy to see how Arsema had grown and thrived in Gladney's care. We could see the peace she felt knowing this babe had a family now.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrPHyDJQViSsBdFmfD5Zhn69U_qeEb-0nhpwOIlvHX2lD5x8aPihBu-p3Ksm5H25LgZBdOaYW8rwy-RpFgAVge-j4dW5fWdkmfj01tVMB-56mE38WCpWul0itRVrVTKkS359Z3kSKbqAN/s1600-h/At+Home+057.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrPHyDJQViSsBdFmfD5Zhn69U_qeEb-0nhpwOIlvHX2lD5x8aPihBu-p3Ksm5H25LgZBdOaYW8rwy-RpFgAVge-j4dW5fWdkmfj01tVMB-56mE38WCpWul0itRVrVTKkS359Z3kSKbqAN/s400/At+Home+057.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5268203591754070402" border="0" /></a> Sophia is full of spunk, and we're so grateful for all she is doing for the children of her country.<br /><br />This woman has needs swarming around here every single day, but she does not forget the children God has entrusted into her care. Five months later she recalled the story of the previous nine months as it was just yesterday. We are forever grateful for our time with Sophia and for all she did for our little one.<br /><br />Gladney families! ... you too will get the experience of visiting Kebebetsehay when you travel to bring home your child(ren). I'd love to send some photos with one of you for the director, Sophia.<br /><br />Let's pray that people will rise up to help meet the needs at Kebebetsehay!Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-5947529718960851112008-11-06T17:19:00.000-08:002008-11-06T17:56:42.035-08:00About a Year Ago<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMEuqb9OQL13P03FCHDDC6Y6yiORdYDQ1pRhfOO5KoNDqPNnMTzVd5Ki7teaZV3ZY-fYPZ55p0wj2E8fuEHN8gWKbhuerVcYoTc5EO7w7S87yclPbMqloRUNZSETNvTPVYb1A2cRgi5KF/s1600-h/Arsema+Photos+from+Gladney+044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMEuqb9OQL13P03FCHDDC6Y6yiORdYDQ1pRhfOO5KoNDqPNnMTzVd5Ki7teaZV3ZY-fYPZ55p0wj2E8fuEHN8gWKbhuerVcYoTc5EO7w7S87yclPbMqloRUNZSETNvTPVYb1A2cRgi5KF/s400/Arsema+Photos+from+Gladney+044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265722237992088034" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNZoEoYCOXd_b-G1Fu0yLUVLPqIa6NETyIQLfc54NvsoyA_0KfuPLM1AZ9VHrrUHudjXx0ZmKBQ-zfAbzSUpOMQ7A0V0RpmSN1yVO6QXnay2axn-wZoX6Soq8X4sdWt03NwT_ejdS1I6f/s1600-h/Arsema+Photos+from+Gladney+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkNZoEoYCOXd_b-G1Fu0yLUVLPqIa6NETyIQLfc54NvsoyA_0KfuPLM1AZ9VHrrUHudjXx0ZmKBQ-zfAbzSUpOMQ7A0V0RpmSN1yVO6QXnay2axn-wZoX6Soq8X4sdWt03NwT_ejdS1I6f/s400/Arsema+Photos+from+Gladney+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265719682451055698" border="0" /></a><br />Well ...... about a year ago I was WEARY .... waiting for that beloved call about our referral. It's interesting once the call finally comes ... then when you travel and get the full collection of pictures of your child as they waited. All the pieces link together. This photo was taken around November of last year when Gladney took our precious Arsema into their care. If you've followed our journey, you might remember she spent the first nine months of her life <span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-size:130%;" ><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://ajourneytogether-momtocnjn.blogspot.com/2008/05/friday-continued.html">HERE</a></span>. We were incredibly blessed to<br /><br /><br />get to take her back there and meet the incredible women that helped care for her while she was ill.<br /><br />When she first got to Gladney she couldn't yet bear weight on her legs. Tiny and frail. SO the complete opposite of now! :) She is anything but tiny and frail!<br /><br />These photos don't make me as sad as they once did. For now when I look at them, while knowing how are daughter is today ....... I am just in awe of God's incredible faithfulness. In His great mercy He sustained our precious babe. I can't deny that seeing her orphanage and imagining her there all those months ..... well, it crushed me. But my heart is just overflowing with gratitude for all that God has done in our little one's life.<br /><br />She is so bright and full of life. The girl KNOWS what she wants, let me tell you! She's somewhat shy and timid and definitely cautious of anything new. Yet!, she is strong and can loudly proclaim what it is that ails her! Ha. :) We rejoice in it all ..... for it is who God created her to be. It is an absolute JOY and BLESSING to see her transform and thrive into this amazing little girl she was designed to be.<br /><br />Last year at this time we found ourselves putting in 10-12 hours many days a week doing assembly lines of making hand-made cards and other items that in turn would provide to help bring her home. I humbly confess to you that there were days I wondered what in the world we were doing!! As much as I believed God has called us to adoption, in my humanness and flesh I grew weary. It was during those times I'd just stop and cry a bit and think about our babe waiting ..... how she was counting on us to finish the course. I'd cry out to the Lord to give me more strength to keep persevering .... both in the task and hand and in the anxiety of the wait. All I can say to you now is that when I look at these pictures of the time line ...... I am SO GRATEFUL that we listened to the Lord and obeyed.<br /><br />I don't share this with you to shine light on what we did. It's not about that at all. But I share it all because perhaps you are like us .... feeling God pierce your heart to follow Him on the journey of adoption but there are SO many limitations in your vision that you can barely see through them. We could give you a long list of reasons that it was not "practical" for us to even attempt the adoption journey. And we were even told by some others, some directly, some indirectly, things like "what are you doing???" (okay, perhaps they worded it a bit more vague). What we can tell you is this ....... standing on this side of the journey? ...... there are NO regrets!!! Was there sacrifice? .... well, certainly there was. Brutal long hours/weeks/months working toward it? .... yep. But it is NOTHING ...... NOTHING compared to the needs our daughter-to-be had.<br /><br />God has been SO faithful! .... both to Arsema and to us. NONE of this could have happened without Him.<br /><br />We just passed the "6 month mark" of being home together as a family. In the next couple days we'll share more with you about that .... along with some updated "happy pictures"! :) But these pictures are part of her story too .... I am so grateful for them all.<br /><br />Some of you are stuck in this most long and wearing wait. Know that we pray for you often. You will have no regrets on the other side of your journey. May the Lord encourage you and carry you through til you reach the finish line.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-71974025532684923262008-11-03T11:09:00.002-08:002008-11-03T11:30:08.871-08:00Oh dear, it happened again .... okay, here we go.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja20eJe8mkWrbWbnePef1LrA-0BsWHPEOY6XhDldA1rhOiRAvUW7-Q7hBYBTsscmBIeTz0TvDe1m5c1oT5qYAB1L-DaOcZIqVQGuYQCfGMd9HtDz6MUzvmiR_sdDVMglISI68gQN7dzUKX/s1600-h/tagged.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 249px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja20eJe8mkWrbWbnePef1LrA-0BsWHPEOY6XhDldA1rhOiRAvUW7-Q7hBYBTsscmBIeTz0TvDe1m5c1oT5qYAB1L-DaOcZIqVQGuYQCfGMd9HtDz6MUzvmiR_sdDVMglISI68gQN7dzUKX/s400/tagged.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264510570277735170" border="0" /></a>Okay, okay .... I'm it. So .... I've been "tagged" in blog land more than once and just never seem to get around to it! <br /><br />Seven random and/or weird facts about me. Yikes.<br /><br />1. I can't stand to hear people smack their mouths when eating. I mean it makes me almost lose my dinner!! <br /><br />2. My real name is Michelle. My mom ALWAYS wanted a "Michelle" and then had me and gave me that lovely name. Then she changed it when I went to Kindergarten! In her defense she thought it might be too hard to spell (poor thing had a very long name herself both first and last). Now it would seem odd to hear her call me that. On the other hand my dad and brother only call me Michelle and it would feel really weird for them to call me anything else. <br /><br />3. Four out of five of our children have been born in different states/countries. <br /><br />4. I love to decorate ... our home, paper crafts ... love it all!<br /><br />5. I am petrified of heights. (NO exaggeration) I feel about the same way about airplanes! It was a LONG way to and from Ethiopia!<br /><br />6. I am a recovered pack-rat. Living in small spaces with lots of little ones forced me to overcome!!! Lots of moving helped too. <br /><br />7. I love to curl up on my husband's lap on the recliner just as I always did with my dad growing up. The kids giggle and say we're gonna break the chair. We never have!<br /><br />Since almost everyone I know has already done this game ... I'm not tagging anyone. Oh ... hey, there's a #8 ..... I'm not athletic! Like seriously athletic challenged!! Thankfully my family loves me anyway! :)Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-49819420777917250252008-10-19T08:43:00.000-07:002008-10-19T09:32:56.206-07:00Grandma & Misc PicsWe just enjoyed a wonderful visit from my mom & Bob. It made my birthday extra special for sure! Unfortunately we were invaded by a nasty cold last week and mine went into a miserable sinus infection (still working to get over that!). But her determination to visit us surpassed the germs in our house! We are SO grateful!!! :)<br /><br />Our home is a bit more busy and bustling with energy since their last visit. The excitement of visitors puts Naomi over the excitement barometer. Oh my! The girl truly had me about worn out. Neither of the girls were quite sure about sharing all the attention, which was kind of fun to watch.<br /><br />Attempting to share Grandma's lap. Maleah learned to say "Gramma" just in time! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljRtteX3KJaBsGOQ7oloiJpVY8cC2caHdGCay91sqVnENL9LgrNArhfn9kYlxax8Jd1zk5wJ5IkObY-c9ofNKUiJdbbnXnnYAkRvffCNjk-BXLzK0cFIZNO8PMNIlx3xtfprIjIt5OSRJ/s1600-h/October+2008+006.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljRtteX3KJaBsGOQ7oloiJpVY8cC2caHdGCay91sqVnENL9LgrNArhfn9kYlxax8Jd1zk5wJ5IkObY-c9ofNKUiJdbbnXnnYAkRvffCNjk-BXLzK0cFIZNO8PMNIlx3xtfprIjIt5OSRJ/s320/October+2008+006.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258893407519606786" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Our Maleah is such a different little girl than the one that came home almost six months ago. I'll post more on that later. I am just truly amazed at the transformation in her life. Her latest development is feeding herself. She comes across as this somewhat passive, mild-mannered disposition ..... UNTIL you mess with her food! She'll all about using the utensils BY HERSELF and it's serious business to her. Hard to believe just months ago she was unwilling to open her mouth for a spoon after coming home. Now she thoroughly enjoys mealtime! :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HJnTdlPmSmxc09WE47ak8ZE74GBnhHgI8FiUDZnQ32kWtp97Ih-QVZKNgBxbREROEyVaDQgZOBiyAYluIHAAOqLvGVG-j9Sw2p573lUCX8sToBWKH7moaWpD3av-cngtn6XLOaauxqHK/s1600-h/October+2008+007.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0HJnTdlPmSmxc09WE47ak8ZE74GBnhHgI8FiUDZnQ32kWtp97Ih-QVZKNgBxbREROEyVaDQgZOBiyAYluIHAAOqLvGVG-j9Sw2p573lUCX8sToBWKH7moaWpD3av-cngtn6XLOaauxqHK/s320/October+2008+007.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258894337505086498" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These brown eyes just melt my heart. She absolutely LOVES toddling around the house.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EVsBpu6BKyMLkIp-eXnMVw_BCijmvaCyqzCV0aqwNCGg4QSQ_D3V3lnLrcLUJFN2aDURZFxtHbIq0vgaoWlIvB2Vz27WBg2fUX-NmiRGXGWc64WovkApcu9F8DMW9uGxvG_YFWX2R_Y3/s1600-h/October+2008+003.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3EVsBpu6BKyMLkIp-eXnMVw_BCijmvaCyqzCV0aqwNCGg4QSQ_D3V3lnLrcLUJFN2aDURZFxtHbIq0vgaoWlIvB2Vz27WBg2fUX-NmiRGXGWc64WovkApcu9F8DMW9uGxvG_YFWX2R_Y3/s320/October+2008+003.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258895015703947746" border="0" /></a><br />After good-byes this morning, it was time to tend to hair. We washed last night, so the next morning is always a big job. I usually give Naomi's head a rest after wash day and leave it loose. Grandma and PaPa agreed the girl has BIG hair the next morning! :) Since it was a leisurely morning here, I decided to give Maleah a "do" as well. The verdict is out if it will stay. I still prefer hers loose. Naomi declared that sister was BEAUTIFUL though, so we've left it in for awhile today.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeUBBie7pcTHX_QHNfCBD-7d4KiA9PMWAMErjdkNzeMkCsfjNZF1cqbNHoKMPuNM77nx1kKXIeMF2zej7s9jv28TPU-x00j8WYtt_6Ux6QEYzMU15R0fyDG2xqQ9it7Td2CzYTInZMHpr/s1600-h/October+2008+013.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdeUBBie7pcTHX_QHNfCBD-7d4KiA9PMWAMErjdkNzeMkCsfjNZF1cqbNHoKMPuNM77nx1kKXIeMF2zej7s9jv28TPU-x00j8WYtt_6Ux6QEYzMU15R0fyDG2xqQ9it7Td2CzYTInZMHpr/s320/October+2008+013.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258896644802353058" border="0" /></a><br />She was not sure what to think of things in her hair. :)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLy3stAT1zbk7Mq9LbU2zD01YYho8abXsRtiH6DiDonLMA7rv8jscTzzTE52tCraml1VwSA4ekQLIkjqVhVizq2k_2eykPvCX5VwIZ1wnsI9ONgTO6eucgdUaE96UnBT3lHg-Zfxh8S6a/s1600-h/October+2008+017.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdLy3stAT1zbk7Mq9LbU2zD01YYho8abXsRtiH6DiDonLMA7rv8jscTzzTE52tCraml1VwSA4ekQLIkjqVhVizq2k_2eykPvCX5VwIZ1wnsI9ONgTO6eucgdUaE96UnBT3lHg-Zfxh8S6a/s320/October+2008+017.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258897362702891218" border="0" /></a><br />Maleah was happy that "snack time" was coming!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyxeiGfRw-ReJSwdwnSHUKwWKKyI3cxQ7yaAhr0iGUmwu-puzHdAGk_1DOHW7zOZUIcDrxOEtV-HSEtY3G6Da5P9VlmLifcTE-oPBrEmGcdfFTtxvaBQZszLXvUh1b8CjZ_f3OirAFzrd/s1600-h/October+2008+012.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyxeiGfRw-ReJSwdwnSHUKwWKKyI3cxQ7yaAhr0iGUmwu-puzHdAGk_1DOHW7zOZUIcDrxOEtV-HSEtY3G6Da5P9VlmLifcTE-oPBrEmGcdfFTtxvaBQZszLXvUh1b8CjZ_f3OirAFzrd/s320/October+2008+012.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258898206215268946" border="0" /></a><br />HAPPY SNACKER!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91mxO3g9vMKUeW0cJ3VqGRB-Zkz5CJSTEzuLGaxu5LWQ-GswnEzOslmXXLK6hI4IPX9pjjbRSi5R45ahR_twxJFxQxRsi6m74ArYmSXp-6q8vV3XCYGWKuW3rWACNUpzCovaIVXjggSIL/s1600-h/October+2008+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg91mxO3g9vMKUeW0cJ3VqGRB-Zkz5CJSTEzuLGaxu5LWQ-GswnEzOslmXXLK6hI4IPX9pjjbRSi5R45ahR_twxJFxQxRsi6m74ArYmSXp-6q8vV3XCYGWKuW3rWACNUpzCovaIVXjggSIL/s320/October+2008+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258899162755429250" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6WQ3VYYU3zngliipkMLF-lcGm32H1wpdi0tD_545UyGhVjlzW_FNCwLnR7zFBKsRWKcGNz2YBGuMAp79cFKhJbdLpnrs7qb0zdkh8-q80ajnUhyphenhyphenJoPDLBs9Plqy2GSpiGVTjFhc9g4A-/s1600-h/October+2008+001.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB6WQ3VYYU3zngliipkMLF-lcGm32H1wpdi0tD_545UyGhVjlzW_FNCwLnR7zFBKsRWKcGNz2YBGuMAp79cFKhJbdLpnrs7qb0zdkh8-q80ajnUhyphenhyphenJoPDLBs9Plqy2GSpiGVTjFhc9g4A-/s320/October+2008+001.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258899831978122466" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Naomi is always eager to give kisses. Poor sister wasn't sure if she was messing with her snack or comin' to give her lovin'!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYI-6CTFjStkBKtgx32IuDDnksF3heM_-eDYYHQ9sVVDlmoog5hx-1XQ8_utf1F1ABYCuFINCNZa8kCUPfymnbvpON2TmSuSlSWPJ-wYLjfMgBOQXL3p8y80iBt69W0s4MObKwkqsb0pDt/s1600-h/October+2008+020.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYI-6CTFjStkBKtgx32IuDDnksF3heM_-eDYYHQ9sVVDlmoog5hx-1XQ8_utf1F1ABYCuFINCNZa8kCUPfymnbvpON2TmSuSlSWPJ-wYLjfMgBOQXL3p8y80iBt69W0s4MObKwkqsb0pDt/s320/October+2008+020.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258900543600806898" border="0" /></a><br /><br />These two are quite the combo, I tell ya!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU65ahsJ0nanQzCnRsyjrm-MMMhanjmr16lQ2Tscx1N-vDCFn7Tn7Kx-q-giPtr4lWjpwOByudCB9O0OCicFzTUm4MswQfN3OSWKfEH8jrgFFv6dv_6E9MkxVGXpD1zqtucl0VrZpDaEx/s1600-h/October+2008+018.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQU65ahsJ0nanQzCnRsyjrm-MMMhanjmr16lQ2Tscx1N-vDCFn7Tn7Kx-q-giPtr4lWjpwOByudCB9O0OCicFzTUm4MswQfN3OSWKfEH8jrgFFv6dv_6E9MkxVGXpD1zqtucl0VrZpDaEx/s320/October+2008+018.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258901256899448306" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Grandma wanted a pic of her and her big boys before she headed out the door. They've grown into young men for sure. We are incredibly blessed!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfRqvdtP0-jTHa2dhx2MSMPvIX_xE52hy8VdfcYxB6w9vuBjF1gcljzBAxGuR4FATgLhAFDNFpkVbe0mv8dVTzquPi4UtGG94w0FSLGaDAzqqqVsPBP61S0EPDc9PE1DysKmbDxt4Zclx/s1600-h/October+2008+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfRqvdtP0-jTHa2dhx2MSMPvIX_xE52hy8VdfcYxB6w9vuBjF1gcljzBAxGuR4FATgLhAFDNFpkVbe0mv8dVTzquPi4UtGG94w0FSLGaDAzqqqVsPBP61S0EPDc9PE1DysKmbDxt4Zclx/s320/October+2008+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258901942138809250" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Thanks SO MUCH for coming guys!!! And for putting up with all our germs and blowing noses .... gross! I hope all this hacking is over soon!!! We pray that our next visit is in Illinois. :) I'll be ready for another UPWORDS match, mom!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qlOUYlvSU0QHAdfj91zvpXzXOHgOT5IKrzTkZ6LjsCDv-4diDoKC6K2-_MC-DB0-bd72GChkqYOaETN3kExCVKEXLALrRbsxQ8-B7UX-fdTLMksMJsyIaxXVDegRYSM3bErJLhfAHuRz/s1600-h/October+2008+009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6qlOUYlvSU0QHAdfj91zvpXzXOHgOT5IKrzTkZ6LjsCDv-4diDoKC6K2-_MC-DB0-bd72GChkqYOaETN3kExCVKEXLALrRbsxQ8-B7UX-fdTLMksMJsyIaxXVDegRYSM3bErJLhfAHuRz/s320/October+2008+009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5258903260658013698" border="0" /></a>Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-41932304976017742522008-10-10T08:31:00.001-07:002008-10-10T08:41:42.901-07:00Gettin' Better! - Thanks for Praying!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMFWFz79h-XjmPDe6uERqZ8YqSbG3Xk7pDDxhM6mA9u8-ZoMGIYyRprYewbqqVNvupuLVucX81tMC2cS9nfDh2YV2-n9c982I4tNbeemrzUdJXSx-8BfYUN7hFly1LEa_lKzj1lp-_7LT/s1600-h/good+news.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMFWFz79h-XjmPDe6uERqZ8YqSbG3Xk7pDDxhM6mA9u8-ZoMGIYyRprYewbqqVNvupuLVucX81tMC2cS9nfDh2YV2-n9c982I4tNbeemrzUdJXSx-8BfYUN7hFly1LEa_lKzj1lp-_7LT/s400/good+news.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255550442479236530" border="0" /></a>Hello everyone ..... thank you for all of you that wrote to ask how Getahun is doing. It is indeed a blessing. I just got word from him this morning that he is BETTER! .... and went back to school yesterday!! (huge big deal - he needs to be able to stay in his school). Thanks for praying. Will you continue as he comes to mind? It's difficult being so far apart and not being able to get very lengthy info .... but what a special relief to hear from him again this morning!<br /><br />Like many of you, we came home with heavy hearts for the orphans remaining in Ethiopia. One of the blessings of adoption is that families are going over and seeing with their own eyes these amazing children. Lord willing, we all can be a voice for them and more of their needs can be met.<br /><br />I realize we are way overdue on an update and pictures of our little one (who is NOT so little!). She has a dreary cold this week that's now been shared with both myself and one brother thus far. So soon ... we'll get our act together and post some updated photos. She has changed SO much. Quite the little communicator these days. Hopefully we'll all be well in time for special visitors next week!!!Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-52565667113173949152008-09-26T10:20:00.000-07:002008-09-26T10:28:15.252-07:00Huge Prayer RequestYour prayers are needed for our <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);" href="http://ajourneytogether-momtocnjn.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-have-another-son.html">"far away son"</a>. We received an email from him this morning that he is ill. He won't get the care he needs at Kolfe. Our hearts are extremely broken for him right now. He is such an amazing and bright young man .... was SO eager to get back to school ... now might not be able to even go. We're looking into finding more information both of his medical condition and if there is a way to help him. Everything is so complicated. There are no easy fixes for the fatherless.<br /><br />Would you join us in praying for <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://ajourneytogether-momtocnjn.blogspot.com/2008/08/email-poverty-and-fragile-heart.html">Getahun</a>? Pray also that God would make a way to get him the medical care he needs. Pray that he'd be strong enough to keep attending school. He is an outstanding student and an education is his only way to make it there. <br /><br />Thank you.<br /><br />Remember, you can now find us over at our new on-line home <a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);" href="http://servinghimtogether.blogspot.com/">Serving Him Together</a>.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-38220985345987840672008-09-19T08:55:00.000-07:002008-09-19T08:59:38.965-07:00Upcoming Adoption Conference!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-l0v1QwIM8FJZ74pG6l-fIYLiyVE1ZClql5juioWJUx8eqIJkYFXAE-qQR9iE8KE2mpbkafM_tUXN0FoGncQy9mbUje0oMpYCQIquHGLmMsbP1a5ud3qeRVwRTd3Ww-OnSgByReepBDhD/s1600-h/t4a+blog+badge1.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-l0v1QwIM8FJZ74pG6l-fIYLiyVE1ZClql5juioWJUx8eqIJkYFXAE-qQR9iE8KE2mpbkafM_tUXN0FoGncQy9mbUje0oMpYCQIquHGLmMsbP1a5ud3qeRVwRTd3Ww-OnSgByReepBDhD/s400/t4a+blog+badge1.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5247762667478090210" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Be sure to come over to our new blog <a href="http://servinghimtogether.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Serving Him Together</span></span></a> to find out about a wonderful upcoming adoption conference!Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-57567545678812948462008-09-17T17:39:00.000-07:002008-09-17T17:56:39.154-07:00Transition, Changes and a New BlogDear Friends,<br /><br />Well, as many of you know by now who have followed our adoption journey, we are in a new adventure. No, we're not adopting again .... but we are beginning a new ministry with some folks that are very dear to us, over at the <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://www.abbafund.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >ABBA Fund</span></a>. We won't be posting very often at this blog anymore, but invite you to join us over at <a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" href="http://servinghimtogether.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Serving Him Together</span></a>. <br /><br />Right now we're still in the midst of transition, waiting to sell our home and prepare for the new chapter of our lives in Illinois. We are really excited about the future and look forward to seeing how God will work out all the details of our lives and ministry. Our hearts are also heavy for the dear friends we're leaving behind.<br /><br />We hope that our on-line home of <a style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);" href="http://servinghimtogether.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Serving Him Together</span></a> will provide a place where we can encourage, strengthen and equip families in their journey of adoption. Primarily it will be "adoption focused", but I have a feeling will be a whole mix of things as we live out what God has given us to do. <br /><br />If you are a family currently in the adoption process, be sure to come visit us and let us know where you're at in the process and how we might be able to pray for you. If you are just friends & family who enjoy seeing "happenings" and pics of our crew, you are certainly welcome as well. Perhaps you have become more aware of the needs of orphans through following our blog and want to know more about how you can be part of that .... we invite you to drop on by our new on-line home.<br /><br />This time of transition has not been an easy one. It has stretched us beyond anything we thought we could endure. Through it all ... God has been so gracious, loving and faithful to us. Easy??? ... not one bit. But we'd much rather be right where He has placed us, than have an "easy/comfortable" life .... because that's where true joy is found ... in Him.<br /><br />Thanks for following along on our journey to Maleah. So many of you have literally prayed us through and we are forever grateful. We are constantly amazed at God's goodness and are still at times in disbelief that He would choose to put these little ones in our lives. <br /><br />With Love,<br />The Roberts FamilyShelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-12189461854602388662008-09-16T07:28:00.000-07:002008-09-16T07:38:30.508-07:00Flowers from Ethiopia<div>God never ceases to amaze me by the creative ways He encourages and blesses. This morning, I received "flowers from Ethiopia". If you're new to our journey ... you might want to read the background of the story <a href="http://ajourneytogether-momtocnjn.blogspot.com/2008/08/email-poverty-and-fragile-heart.html">here</a> and <a href="http://ajourneytogether-momtocnjn.blogspot.com/2008/05/i-have-another-son.html">here</a>. <br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGYO6aZO1x0T9lr8t6VOxJU9TGJgH23NjAg7p5BQsimr_V81y8vF8XJpgD22Hvi-wztqD6OkGBBWidka9AxrVFUXRzLGnrpXSBQupGFhc35aSg-WZaYEVh_4MezYVplgfYL5Lih5GNHBE/s1600-h/love-blooms-roses_bunch-of-flowers.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKGYO6aZO1x0T9lr8t6VOxJU9TGJgH23NjAg7p5BQsimr_V81y8vF8XJpgD22Hvi-wztqD6OkGBBWidka9AxrVFUXRzLGnrpXSBQupGFhc35aSg-WZaYEVh_4MezYVplgfYL5Lih5GNHBE/s400/love-blooms-roses_bunch-of-flowers.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246626475992655218" border="0" /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">"Dear mom,this pictures are for you and for all of your families.<br />I love you very much."</span><br /></span></div><br />Thank you, my dear Getahun ... my long-distance clever son. You truly warmed my heart today and gave me courage to keep pressing on in this new ministry journey that sometimes seems like too big of a mountain to climb. <br /></div>Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-41045320844399960542008-09-12T09:56:00.000-07:002008-09-12T10:45:13.776-07:00Reflecting on God's Faithfulness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_TwrtnGcuR9hxAGg9Ukh9UmaKbXOSrQHH3Rw2NiWlKzuo7_VOF2XKRqDBQnw-fdHypLu4IJ1K_D2EnM1kTR97Elw9BPujbqmG2-8Kaherpg6YGKGjh8VkC16O3ix1R1cZI-9KORgIlve/s1600-h/Naomi+newborn.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_TwrtnGcuR9hxAGg9Ukh9UmaKbXOSrQHH3Rw2NiWlKzuo7_VOF2XKRqDBQnw-fdHypLu4IJ1K_D2EnM1kTR97Elw9BPujbqmG2-8Kaherpg6YGKGjh8VkC16O3ix1R1cZI-9KORgIlve/s400/Naomi+newborn.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245180397268669090" border="0" /></a>Three years, 8 months and 4 days ago I met this little one in a Houston, TX hospital. We'd waited what seemed like so long for her (we did not know babe would be HER, for the record!). :) As the holidays approached just before that, I'd grown so weary. My heart was feeling very faint, so sensitive to the needs of children who had no place to call home ... yet wondering why it was taking so long to get that call. During "the wait", we'd gone through a big health scare, which eventually led to surgery that was grueling for me to get over. All of these compiled has just worn me down. Well, shortly after the new year, we put in an email to the agency we were using to check in ... that prompted them to email us back with a special situation they had. A little girl, African American, 4 days old, about to undergo major heart surgery, no family available. We knew right away this was the child that God had been preparing us for. A little math and we realize God was relentless in calling us to obey him at the time of her conception. God is in the details, in case you've ever wondered. :)<br /><br />So after having the absolute privilege of praying for her that day as she underwent surgery .... then hearing she made it through and was beginning the long road of recovery ... we made travel arrangements and soon I was on three different flights to get to her.<br /><br />I'll never forget walking in that room. The huge sense of JOY from the Lord I had in knowing this is exactly where He'd led us ...... and the horrendous realization of just how alone she was. Here in America. She was still on a breathing machine, dialysis, and a host of other wires and gadgets ... yet those BIG brown eyes were WIDE open and met with mine as I walked up to her side. The nurses later told me I looked like a deer staring into headlights as I walked into the room. They were concerned something was unexpected to me. No ... I was just taking it all in.<br /><br />I remember holding her little hand. Thoughts in my mind quickly drifted to her birthmom .... the amazing and brave woman who chose to give her life and not end it in a culture where it's so commonly accepted.<br /><br />Well .... time has passed and now this spunky 'lil Texan is doing just great. We returned recently from our heart-doctor check up and she got a wonderful report! How grateful we are to God for protecting her, bringing healing through doctors to fix her heart and for giving us the JOY of watching her grow up. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibldibbieNowWpCswdiPvFoaI6HLVlqtD2gpN-Im6BEgaXUvvns9t5-dIwJld2_Qx_k0W21y4V3aPq_G8SZBaOAtKGsEXK8Ai6LGCuAmCDdc5P29PRAFcmroKZNYYRqdvfFBblQ3Yp2S8f/s1600-h/August+048.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibldibbieNowWpCswdiPvFoaI6HLVlqtD2gpN-Im6BEgaXUvvns9t5-dIwJld2_Qx_k0W21y4V3aPq_G8SZBaOAtKGsEXK8Ai6LGCuAmCDdc5P29PRAFcmroKZNYYRqdvfFBblQ3Yp2S8f/s320/August+048.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5245191912053570770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />We knew that children with heart conditions, such as hers could easily have "delays", or issues later on after some trauma after birth. But we also knew regardless of what lie ahead, we needed to be obedient and trust the Lord had a plan, no matter what it looked like to us. Those of you who know Naomi, know there are no delays. :) She is the spunkiest of all our children. She's witty and some days a challenge to "out smart". She asks me questions about her life that you expect an 8 or 10 yr old adoptee to ask.<br /><br />Looking back I cannot imagine life without her. What if we'd not obeyed when God was drawing our hearts to feel the needs of orphans? What if we had listened only to "practical reasoning" and not trusting in the God who owns everything? What if we'd given into fear of issues regarding becoming a multi-ethnic family? For us, it was an issue of obedience. Would we trust God with EVERYTHING ....... every detail.<br /><br />These days we're in a new season of trusting. Huge things like selling a home, embracing a new ministry, raising support during a questionable economy and a long list of others. We find ourselves wrestling with the big and the little. Do we really trust that God is good, no matter the circumstances we see? Do we really believe He has our best in mind? Will we be faithful to walk this journey, even when we only see a tiny glimpse at a time of what is ahead?<br /><br />I have been so deeply challenged by Philippians 4:4-6 these last days. Not a new passage ... one that has brought hope and encouragement in times past. But these days it's bringing something different. It is challenging me in depths I've not been to in awhile. Perhaps, it might bring encouragement to you in your own life.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!<br />Let your gentleness be evident to all.<br />The Lord is near.<br />Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything,<br />by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,<br />present your requests to God.<br />And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding,<br />will guard your hearts and your minds<br />in Christ Jesus.<br />Phil 4:4-6<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">As I wrestle through the things I need to trust God about .... it brings me hope to look back at all the times in our lives we've experienced His abundant faithfulness. We left for Houston, TX with a lot of questions. We had a back-up plan, that was not a desirable one for us. Earlier on in our adoption process we had applied with the <a style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.abbafund.org/index.html">ABBA Fund</a> for a no-interest loan. At that time, they didn't have the funds yet to honor our request, but "perhaps" they "might" be having more funds soon. It was a big "if". BY FAITH we purchased the tickets for me to get on that plane and David to follow later. During our time in the hotel, while Naomi was recovering from surgery, we got the notification from Eugene that indeed they could stand with us for our loan. That was a couple hours before we needed to write a check to cover the rest of her financial needs to bring her home.<br /><br />So while we wait for God to reveal the details of the future, and answer the "unknowns", we look back and recount HIS FAITHFULNESS and praise Him. He is GOOD. He is ABLE. We must do our part and trust Him to do His.<br /></div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HP_ADM%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HP_ADM%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-3.jpg" alt="" /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HP_ADM%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-4.jpg" alt="" />Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-26590136423167281232008-09-11T07:31:00.000-07:002008-09-11T09:49:41.652-07:00September 11, 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuzXJlSI5HdSW05Tfou9sMJV89N1c7pV3u4QNcMing2zrq9Y5h7kVBqPjb-6MvS-Fos0N023T3KPXzUqnMVuaOvz7wi7oXeGuiPRcf4P8jirBRBozNgBS3_3b01Gfkg213ydQnHuTz5tm/s1600-h/flag.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuzXJlSI5HdSW05Tfou9sMJV89N1c7pV3u4QNcMing2zrq9Y5h7kVBqPjb-6MvS-Fos0N023T3KPXzUqnMVuaOvz7wi7oXeGuiPRcf4P8jirBRBozNgBS3_3b01Gfkg213ydQnHuTz5tm/s400/flag.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244771869823544226" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Let us never forget what happened seven years ago.<br /><br />Let us never take for granted the freedom we have here.<br /><br />Let us cry out to God for His wisdom and help.<br /><br />Let us lift up the families who still grieve and mourn those who have lost their lives.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">edited to add: This is a powerful account of a personal reflection by </span><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);" href="http://www.crosswalk.com/11581499/page1/">Eva Marie Everson</a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> of 9/11. I encourage you to read it.</span>Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-72630522938686133922008-09-03T11:54:00.000-07:002008-09-03T12:18:37.457-07:00We are Blessed!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtDpT8bXnLL3Fc5yaz3YoIzX0u3ErFwBWk16YuBLcQq1HuEyQS2Z4wfOnzT90xpg4VJv_AVyiHaX447fe3d1a4E8aOaNutUkrh0aWiqtsTTm899Jj_nofmqvbxguqTJKpqW8ajtdjyr0E/s1600-h/August+045.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtDpT8bXnLL3Fc5yaz3YoIzX0u3ErFwBWk16YuBLcQq1HuEyQS2Z4wfOnzT90xpg4VJv_AVyiHaX447fe3d1a4E8aOaNutUkrh0aWiqtsTTm899Jj_nofmqvbxguqTJKpqW8ajtdjyr0E/s320/August+045.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241871043331159106" border="0" /></a><br />How my life is blessed by this man! When we started our journey together ... I'm sure it's a good thing we didn't know all that was ahead! There have been valleys that have gone pretty deep that broke way to mountaintops that reached great heights. We have learned to be content in times of great joy and in seasons of heartache. Four years ago we didn't know if we'd celebrate many more anniversaries together (health scare). <br /><br />Little did we know our family would one day expand and grow both in diversity and depth, the way it has. We are so undeserving of all the goodness the Lord has blessed us with. He has been our Strength, our Hope, our Refuge, our Redeemer, our Friend, our Shepherd .... our Rock. Without His grace we would not be standing today. <br /><br />God has given us the absolute privilege and overwhelming responsibility to raise up five children for His glory. He has given us a heart for orphans and sharing their needs with all who will have ears to hear. He's given us a passion for family ministry, as we know ourselves both of the trials that come in this life .... and of the mercy and hope that is found in Him. <br /><br />How I hope to have many, many years with this man by my side. I long to learn how to be a better wife, so that I can be a greater blessing to him. Happy Anniversary, Honey. Can't wait for you to get back home.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-66185390983737918382008-08-29T19:37:00.000-07:002008-08-29T20:41:24.777-07:00Email, Poverty and a Fragile HeartCrazy huh? .... the stark contrast of our current technology and the poverty crisis that so many face today around the world. You see, I struggle sometimes with what to share. Opening your heart to feel the needs of orphans is gonna hurt. Allowing your eyes to see their reality ... well, it's gonna sometimes be hard to even look. Keeping your ears open to hear their reality .... it will make you cringe.<br /><br />As you know by now, if you've been following our journey ... someone claimed a part of my heart in Ethiopia. All during our preparation time I had this growing burden for the boys at Kolfe. If you've never seen it, you'll want to see <a href="http://myethiopiansisters.blogspot.com/2007/12/photo-and-video-editing-at-www.html">this video</a>. I thought maybe it was perhaps because I had three boys of my own and so seeing other boys in such circumstances just tore at my heart. But now I know that God was preparing me to meet one special boy in particular. Perhaps you heard about him also <a href="http://almostmom.blogspot.com/2008/06/getahun.html">here </a>where my dear friend Angie got a very surprise package! And so after being home, we've been writing to each other and I just never know when I'll grab my morning cup of coffee and sit down to check my mail and see a letter via email from our far-away-son.<br /><br />At first he called me Shelly, then Mom Shelly, then My Dear Mom ... and now I'm sometimes Ma. We write about various things ...<br /><ul><li>the current economic crisis facing his people</li><li>how he tested to pass the national exams (so he can stay studying in his program)</li><li>about his parents that died</li><li>how his grandmother is a good woman</li><li>the need for a jacket in this rainy weather</li><li>his belief that God is real and His Word is true (smart boy!)</li><li>his questions of when God will come and help his people</li><li>what his shoe size is</li><li>his sister and the tragic way in which she died</li><li>how he wants me to visit him again in Ethiopia</li></ul>As a mom, we want to "fix" our kids' lives ... at least as much as we're able. Right? When they outgrow their shoes, we get them another pair. When they face hard times, we walk beside them helping them back up again. When they are cold, we get out the winter blankets. When it's supper time and everyone is hungry, we sit around the table together. When they are grieving ... we wipe their tears.<br /><br />At times I feel so limited by what I can do for Getahun. It took me about 3 months to get him to tell me he needs a jacket and a pair of shoes. What JOY for not only him to finally feel close enough to tell me, but for him to also begin to realize this is part of what love is!!! ... to help meet needs ... not just physical, but also emotional and spiritual. How I look forward to seeing my handsome boy is his warm jacket.<br /><br />You may be wondering how he emails me. Well, this clever young man has gotten himself a job and earned favor with his boss. For part of his "pay" he is able to use some time to email. Yeah!!! ... happy American family are we!!! And his boss helps him to be able to purchase some shirts he needed. Those will be a great help when he goes to school again and works hard to make it in a system that forces so many odds against him.<br /><br />Today he wrote me more about the situation with his living distant relatives. He also shared about how he is tutoring some other young boys. I was so pleased to learn that one of those boys is Solomon, which you may have read about <a href="http://jobsdaughters.blogspot.com/2008/08/todays-letter-from-solomon-and-another.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Will you have ears to hear?, eyes to see?, and a heart to feel their needs? My dear Getahun is only one boy.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl593FrI7VzJQEEMWb8uoLtNUstZ8y568llMN1EB_0MXCnHqIkpbh7cfrNJzx9nxlI6Cl24xeDOpkFTglHwPQnJL-QtIgRlvzQsZxKqlfQ49oPD1aqU1F27rBsP1RjL2j_rWO8v2beR3Z/s1600-h/At+Home+023.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnl593FrI7VzJQEEMWb8uoLtNUstZ8y568llMN1EB_0MXCnHqIkpbh7cfrNJzx9nxlI6Cl24xeDOpkFTglHwPQnJL-QtIgRlvzQsZxKqlfQ49oPD1aqU1F27rBsP1RjL2j_rWO8v2beR3Z/s200/At+Home+023.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240134980248103586" border="0" /></a><br />This is the kitchen in which<br />their food is cooked.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwn-DzN-p77haM1LnhJDt5rXofFjTD4kvoRFdTEFSzaaxwfaPtHbP2CYl9S9FsAL6Bzrh44cam9nIh-QJFQ3KZXcjSLd8bUCs3mkgO3Vk6-UXTpU-4pGHEIJWaIATRzaEBtKCS-uWUUYC/s1600-h/At+Home+016.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtwn-DzN-p77haM1LnhJDt5rXofFjTD4kvoRFdTEFSzaaxwfaPtHbP2CYl9S9FsAL6Bzrh44cam9nIh-QJFQ3KZXcjSLd8bUCs3mkgO3Vk6-UXTpU-4pGHEIJWaIATRzaEBtKCS-uWUUYC/s200/At+Home+016.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240143271226600706" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is an area that needs torn<br />down and replaced with working<br />restrooms. Don't you agree?<br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2inkHb95Xj4QAja9a0PZZTb68YBkYu1Yn-DrgtW_5KNOf9Cp258HKQUv3it_9Ee4EDED59VxWInkeN2EX_UareMjTkeB9BZmo69AxU5w4nw1EJ-_Kr8m0aR7UqRmAXyKWY7jaf-rs6gHk/s1600-h/At+Home+024.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2inkHb95Xj4QAja9a0PZZTb68YBkYu1Yn-DrgtW_5KNOf9Cp258HKQUv3it_9Ee4EDED59VxWInkeN2EX_UareMjTkeB9BZmo69AxU5w4nw1EJ-_Kr8m0aR7UqRmAXyKWY7jaf-rs6gHk/s200/At+Home+024.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240144138223972914" border="0" /></a>This room needs chairs and tables.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />You see ... I can't just come home and forget what I saw. These are real people with real needs. Most have lost their parents, they get cold and wet .... they desire an education. Many are bright and eager to learn. They long to have family. For Getahun, he is to old to be considered "adoptable" by current laws. But Lord willing ... he will never question again if he has a family. Even if we never share the same name or dinner table. What absolute JOY fills my heart when I see my dear son Getahun's message in the "inbox" on my computer screen. I'll admit ... my heart is fragile ... it sometimes hurts deeply to be open to feeling these needs. The poverty can be overwhelming and cause a person to just grow numb or feel inadequate to even make a difference. But how I thank the Lord for email!! .... crazy or not .... it is a link to our son that we treasure.<br /><br />Thanks to the <a href="http://ourfamilytapestry.blogspot.com/">Baggett Family</a>!!! .... there is a package going to him very soon. I am SO excited! :)<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R47wpm167rMQl_KMjJB74j1FZaEucRurAu5mYc0Gyf7Q7EVWdz50FIkqXfL9STUOY4PTWXMO0mjV6cG9h6pSxd6Q0ZSrMGAQA2EOxZOL0BiD-41myrLP1WK1wJ1bvQr5yPBNGSQE8TZZ/s1600-h/ethiopia+180.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R47wpm167rMQl_KMjJB74j1FZaEucRurAu5mYc0Gyf7Q7EVWdz50FIkqXfL9STUOY4PTWXMO0mjV6cG9h6pSxd6Q0ZSrMGAQA2EOxZOL0BiD-41myrLP1WK1wJ1bvQr5yPBNGSQE8TZZ/s320/ethiopia+180.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240149076709313906" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />Perhaps some of you families preparing to travel will have someone claim residence in part of your heart, just as what happened to us .... a few short months ago.<br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HP_ADM%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.jpg" alt="" /><br /><img src="file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/HP_ADM%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg" alt="" />Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-90344144762320675372008-08-23T18:57:00.000-07:002008-08-23T19:16:11.652-07:00Maleah is 18 months old!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrSpXM2Ee2COdgaehRRuGJDjQffJADLwDB5a_OuADH7v4-aosYa5XHemhzT3sd11k-lh6vt7Uegt6NVTLoqZjB7Z9Hvtbu6pzDnYGr8alAs9tVl1rWJ4hOI0vTS1cO5ektkF3pB20561R/s1600-h/August+040.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrSpXM2Ee2COdgaehRRuGJDjQffJADLwDB5a_OuADH7v4-aosYa5XHemhzT3sd11k-lh6vt7Uegt6NVTLoqZjB7Z9Hvtbu6pzDnYGr8alAs9tVl1rWJ4hOI0vTS1cO5ektkF3pB20561R/s400/August+040.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237900890748795890" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxCSwGXaKiL-JGQPlpFYTqKuiUOK46BYzRsE-pjrWKwVmhj_fB9ZeZ5iSckY17dP0r_KWcLrlG7I4vlPH13lwFfRk1ivy7XGcLSWyibkOLeeoPqYGSDtlkhIuD9LcWGptcd82fCF-qI98/s1600-h/August+041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlxCSwGXaKiL-JGQPlpFYTqKuiUOK46BYzRsE-pjrWKwVmhj_fB9ZeZ5iSckY17dP0r_KWcLrlG7I4vlPH13lwFfRk1ivy7XGcLSWyibkOLeeoPqYGSDtlkhIuD9LcWGptcd82fCF-qI98/s400/August+041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237900895387059314" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUbzKpPd1GGLP_Arc8ptL1LPloW1ibYZ82tEUnMVEybAj6FSYtqjgb8qZ7C6RmdQV7Ezel0Zo5FxfIL6YiGNA6Kvj9R-5cFhGmPFVOMxd-eKaxosl35ds0T2YJG7_QlKKnMbpu4thoET9/s1600-h/August+039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUbzKpPd1GGLP_Arc8ptL1LPloW1ibYZ82tEUnMVEybAj6FSYtqjgb8qZ7C6RmdQV7Ezel0Zo5FxfIL6YiGNA6Kvj9R-5cFhGmPFVOMxd-eKaxosl35ds0T2YJG7_QlKKnMbpu4thoET9/s400/August+039.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237900899482449266" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPau5KNBemIhItFbSyUMNMgxv18SkepGQspe4l8rNhN7XYZVqyOsawzZeGJdbGR7JdBwl0pNfB0Ws3ZbVKWJtuATJHxkuoYRipu3DHzzC4dRvVtH1nDHrhNC9ATcskW6YbAF_JH8WSyeoD/s1600-h/August+044.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPau5KNBemIhItFbSyUMNMgxv18SkepGQspe4l8rNhN7XYZVqyOsawzZeGJdbGR7JdBwl0pNfB0Ws3ZbVKWJtuATJHxkuoYRipu3DHzzC4dRvVtH1nDHrhNC9ATcskW6YbAF_JH8WSyeoD/s400/August+044.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237900901395760114" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbB9MZj66xZs3FhdqMeFAg178oMR33PLB2eOtSnk_EIhSoNCq_ipYUBlicBnuDNuXlUTtq8O8BxzW16uwQrIeyMKLb-wb1sBCLGy4geuvt_4ngoar3KPU2nj7oL5XA6FDpwV34JouRoew/s1600-h/August+050.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkbB9MZj66xZs3FhdqMeFAg178oMR33PLB2eOtSnk_EIhSoNCq_ipYUBlicBnuDNuXlUTtq8O8BxzW16uwQrIeyMKLb-wb1sBCLGy4geuvt_4ngoar3KPU2nj7oL5XA6FDpwV34JouRoew/s400/August+050.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237900908876687778" border="0" /></a><br />What a difference a few months makes! Our girlie is now walking, talking and blossoming. She is quite comfortable with us now, not afraid to whimper or show preferences and certainly not afraid to spat a bit for a toy. All the "normal things" that toddlers go through and I have to say we are rejoicing to see them! I'll never forget the day she learned the word "MINE!" and could say it with such force! My first reaction was to say "No!" and go into a little lesson on sharing, etc. But I found myself saying "Yes!, that's right!" .... she had figured out the comprehension of yet another English word. No worries, now that she "gets it", we for sure teach her to share. :) <br /><br />Long ago are the days of her giving Daddy the cold shoulder. She now squeals in absolute delight at the sound of his voice when he's coming home from work. Gone are the days of being afraid of most any food. She's even learned to enjoy ice cream with the rest of us! Having to sit by her crib in a chair while she falls asleep is no longer a necessity to every nap and bedtime. Now we go from snuggling and rocking with her night-time milk bottle to saying "baby?" .... "blankie?" ... and she just smiles huge with delight!, knowing it's time for bed! (we have our sleeper back!! - thank you God!)<br /><br />It has been quite a summer in the Roberts family. Maleah coming to join our family was only one part of this huge time of transition the Lord has taken us through. We came home for Ethiopia with an even greater burden about what we, as a family, were to do about the needs of orphans. We find ourselves on a new adventure of trusting in our Heavenly Father in great and amazing ways. We rest in His Faithfulness and praise Him for His Goodness to us for carrying us through. More to come on that in the days ahead.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-37885688793061584582008-08-13T09:18:00.000-07:002008-08-13T09:31:28.683-07:00They Need Someone<object height="344" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/GO2PFoDRi9k&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/GO2PFoDRi9k&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />While much of our recent adoption journey that we've shared with you has been about the children's needs in other countries .... never far from our minds are the needs right here in the US.<br /><br />How can it be we're all so busy in our daily lives that we don't stop and listen to their cries? I encourage you to take a few moments and view this wonderful video put out by the Dave Thomas Foundation. <br /><br />Some of us are called to open our homes and make room for a child. Some are called to foster-parent through an especially difficult season in another family's life. Some are called to give. <br /><br />As we wrestle through what God is calling our family to do it all comes down to one simple, yet profound truth. These children need someone.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-52111869956631069632008-08-10T18:51:00.000-07:002008-08-10T19:07:12.622-07:00Thoughts of my distant son<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2CX4XivHEnuC_psf4qFQmO11s6NAsvypQ3YmuLhlkZqxrQUxHwlgZNxXtwGv-kB1E8jr-h9oq9UrIMPlsNrjuxQZcqyCKhfYjy2CG7MgoU7yCLxtVM53rm2RGWRBE1Ru3ElaHDQsah8Z/s1600-h/world.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2CX4XivHEnuC_psf4qFQmO11s6NAsvypQ3YmuLhlkZqxrQUxHwlgZNxXtwGv-kB1E8jr-h9oq9UrIMPlsNrjuxQZcqyCKhfYjy2CG7MgoU7yCLxtVM53rm2RGWRBE1Ru3ElaHDQsah8Z/s400/world.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5233072191437727874" border="0" /></a>Tonight, as I catch up on some correspondence, I come across one of the most precious people to me .... our "distant son", Getahun. As I begin to write to him, my heart breaks once again. How does a mother love from so far away? I have only come across one regret that I have while being in Ethiopia ... and that is much too little time with this boy that I love so much. While I am so grateful that he is in our lives . . . it is also incredibly bittersweet. There is so much I want to do for him, yet I feel so limited. What he longs for is family. Tonight, I pray .... Lord help me because I feel so inadequate.<br /><br />I think of him as I prepare dinner and I would love nothing more than for him to share our meal. For tonight, a letter must suffice. I must continue loving him from afar . . . praying for him, writing to him ..... and never cease asking the Lord to make a way for more children like Getahun to have a family.<br /><br />He calls me Mom ... I call him son ... how I love him.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-44116671762824971902008-08-04T11:18:00.000-07:002008-12-10T18:25:32.086-08:00A Call to Prayer<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64ud9nYcaZaQNVk3vfJlgfC6J0TOL6AiZphd5omZuXCGd-Ujxev56opM2z1zER54D3MvPhAhRqEcvevoUq_Mv_MDsKUPVuPeMbft0UK3RiyoYNWeKJOi7JnrzEhIn8kfWFp_LUGsBITA2/s1600-h/praying+hands.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj64ud9nYcaZaQNVk3vfJlgfC6J0TOL6AiZphd5omZuXCGd-Ujxev56opM2z1zER54D3MvPhAhRqEcvevoUq_Mv_MDsKUPVuPeMbft0UK3RiyoYNWeKJOi7JnrzEhIn8kfWFp_LUGsBITA2/s400/praying+hands.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230731600412294738" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Today my heart is heavy for all the many families waiting for their court date ... Aug 5th Ethiopian time .... which means for us tonight (the 4th). Several of these children we met on our trip. We touched them. We took photos of them. We prayed that soon they would be united with families. Arsema is a daily reminder to me of all the many, many children still waiting ... either to pass court and meet their parents .... or to still be in the long process of waiting on God to provide them a family.<br /><br />Will you join us in praying today for these precious families that are SO READY to make that long, tedious flight across the world to bring home their children? Will you pray for court processes to go smoothly, extra strength for the incredible Gladney staff working on these children's behalf, and for the families who sometimes feel their entire life is on hold just waiting for that news that they passed and they can go.<br /><br />What a comfort to know that GOD CARES about these children. "A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling." Psalm 68:5 Lord, may your will be done in the lives of each of these children. May you bring beauty from ashes. May you minister to them in ways we cannot even fathom. We trust you ... and we call out to you for your help.Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3092269165606224835.post-57482435239398523832008-07-28T08:54:00.001-07:002008-07-28T09:47:20.201-07:00Bonding & Overcoming Language Barrier in the Older Baby AdoptionAt last, I'm going to try and share some thoughts on "Bonding and Overcoming Language Barrier" in the older baby adoption. Beware, it's gonna be jumbled. So bear with me. I know many of you adoptive families are traveling SOON (we are SO excited for you!!) and you're probably like I was, searching for every/any bit of info to prepare. Let me first start by saying that EVERY adoption is different and EVERY child is unique. So I'll just share our experiences with you about Arsema and hopefully you'll find some of it beneficial.<div><br /></div><div>As many of you know, adopting a toddler baby can be one of the most challenging ages. They are older than "baby-baby" and very aware that every single thing is changing in their lives. And they are not into the "preschooler" stage where you can have someone help to prepare them with words what is about to happen. I was always afraid of toddler adoption. That would be one reason for the age we requested. I felt I was simply not up for it. </div><div><br /></div><div>Well, when sweet Mary called us with our referral, she had two reservations. One was Arsema's health (she was finishing up treatment for TB) and one was her age. She was at the very, very end of the age we had given them and with not knowing how long court process would go, obviously she was only going to get older. Right away David and I said, no problem (to both) and proceeded. We trusted more than ourselves and knew God had planned everything. Now having said that, which is deeply true ........ I had this weary pit in my stomach. Fears of her not accepting us, concerns of how to communicate with her. At times it tried to even rob my joy. We'd received the "infamous updates" saying how leery of strangers she was, how we'd have to work at the relationship, etc. I just wanted to GET THERE and begin the process and I felt so out of control in the situation.</div><div><br /></div><div>Arsema held up to her "image" so to speak. She was extremely leery of strangers, even many that were "familiar" to her. In some ways this was a good sign for me .... smart girly ... nobody was gonna trick her! But it is truly hard to prepare your heart to finally see your child and have him/her handed over to you and feel their stiff and reserved body in your arms. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Bonding came s-l-o-w-l-y.</span> But as I look back now, just 3 months later ... I am just in awe of how far we have come as a family of 7! WOW! We went through SO many stages between then and now. Here are a few things that worked well for us and really helped get to where we are. </div><div><br /></div><div>1) Feeding - We kept her on her current feeding schedule, which was primarily bottles til she was ready to accept new things. This means you throw out the "U.S. normal" and just watch and listen to your child. I had to constantly just lay aside her "age" and treat her at her current emotional/developmental stage. As we did that, she learned to trust us and before we knew it would be inching her way towards progression. She was plenty plump!, and did not need as many calories as that many bottles would provide, so we diluted her formula down, which also helped with her constipation issues she had when we got there.</div><div><br /></div><div>2) Sleeping - I'm well aware there are many opinions on sleeping and babies/children. I'll just share with you what really helped us and Arsema. We moved her crib into our room before she arrived home. We wanted to be the first ones she saw when she woke so she could learn to trust that we were there to meet her needs. This really seemed to help her, as she would wake frightened, yet often too sad to cry. She'd kinda stare at us like ... hhmmm ... so you're still there ... this dream is still happening. But over time (like within a couple weeks) those "sad looks" faded away more and more. We would also bring her to our bed often in those early days and have her sit between us in the morning as we were all waking up. This helped her to "accept" her daddy as part of the package (see previous post during after our homecoming for more on this). </div><div><br /></div><div>David got a really bad, nasty respiratory cold after we returned home. That's the LAST thing we needed to spread around. So he actually slept downstairs in another bed for several days. During this time I had both girls on two floors of the house at night by myself (older sis with the same nasty cold upstairs) and Arsema up at night also. During this time, I just brought her to bed with me when she first woke up. We also spent some of her naps like this. I have to say this was a HUGE key in me bonding with her. Everything was really starting to get to me a bit. Carrying that BIG baby around so much and not "receiving back" much affection .... well, it can make a momma's heart grow pretty sad. So if she wouldn't "snuggle" with me awake, she would when she was sleeping! Finally David got better and didn't appreciate her feet kicking him at night ... I was so sleep deprived at this point, I never even noticed her feet!!, I was just enjoying SWEET SLEEP! Ha. So we eased her back into her own bed again and it went just fine.</div><div><br /></div><div>3) Carrying - that's a big help to the bonding process as well. I used a sling some which was a nice change of pace for the weight being more on my body, instead of my arms. Just keeping them close to you helps a lot. This may sound really weird, but some kids need to "learn" that they like being held by you. Oh, she preferred being held, no doubt .... but she had to "learn" that she "enjoyed" being held. Not just that being held was better than being sat down. Along those same lines, we had to really work with her to show affection. I knew it was in her ... she had attached to her caregivers, but it was going to only come by earning her trust. We started slow and safe by "blowing kisses". About 2 months plus into it she would give us real kisses and hugs. This took a LOT of work and coaxing. By this time it also REALLY helped that she grew jealous of her sister. Yeah!!! ... this is good! :) Thankfully Naomi is extremely cuddly to us, so she got to see this a lot. Finally she decided it must be good stuff and started giving hugs/kisses and some cuddles on her own initiative. I never envisioned so many tiny parts to this process. But as each new phase would come it felt like huge victory.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Language was a p-r-o-c-e-s-s</span>. I could tell right away that she could only handle so much English chitter-chatter without feeling overwhelmed, or just kind of looking at us in a fog like what are you saying! :) We began using a few words that were a part of our everyday life and just using those very, very often. Ex. "puppy" was one of the first, because our dog Honey's kennel was just outside the kitchen window. Before long she was saying "puppy" back at us wanting to go over to the window to see. She'd get SO excited when she said the word and look at us like "Hey!! ... see? ... I said your word!!". It was so neat to see the little lightbulb of her mind shining brightly at familiar words. Same with "milky". Each time it was feeding time I'd say, "Let's get some milky", or "Do you want milky?". One evening I was leading a class for some ladies and said that to her on my way to the kitchen, having NO idea how familiar she was with that routine. I got side-tracked and turned around the other direction to go get something for someone. She LOST IT!!! After a minute I realize what had happened. It was then I realized how much progress we were making with language. So I kept that up adding a couple new words each week. It's amazing how much this has helped. Not just in teaching her the language, but in bonding and connecting with her .... communication, what an important thing! </div><div><br /></div><div>Another thing we worked with early on was coaxing her to respond to us. For example, each time I'd go get her out of her crib, instead of just picking her up (after we were home settling in) I would hold out my hands to her and wait until she'd reach for me. Just these little things were really helpful so we could "praise" her and help her see it was a good thing. :)</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing to really keep in mind if you end up with a child that is slow to warm up to you is to remember they are not rejecting "YOU". They have just had every bit of their life turned crazily upside down!!! And at this age, no one can explain to them very well what is happening. They are facing trauma. But day by day, it will get better. And before you know it, you'll be weeks/months into it enjoying many snuggles and affection with the one you traveled across the world to bring home. </div><div><br /></div><div>Looking back, while it was challenging in some ways to adopt a baby/toddler .... it has been SO rewarding!!! I have learned so much on this journey. It brings me such joy to be the receiver of Arsema's wet kisses. To look into those deep eyes that once were full of SUCH caution towards me .... now shine back at me with joy and happiness ... well, I can't quite imagine a better sight.</div><div><br /></div><div>It's still a process, but I have no doubt there are more "victories" ahead. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Shelly Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10083694308527761405noreply@blogger.com16