{our winter wonderland}

Oh, how I love watching our kids have fun, being their sweet, silly little selves...yesterday we woke up to a winter wonderland...our neighborhood was beautiful!!! The trees were glistening. It felt like such a cozy, Christmas-y day! Ariyat got a new winter coat, so of course she had to try it out...what better day to do it than this perfectly sun-shiny, snowy day!!! We have enjoyed receiving many Christmas cards...its always so fun to see how kids have grown each year!! The kids race to the mail box each day to see how many cards happen to be in there!!

Well, we are off to the kids' church Christmas program...a night of love & hope!!! May your days leading up to Christmas Day be blessed!! love & be loved.

                                                          Merry Christmas to you!!!!!

{a beautiful story for a beautiful boy}

Today is Agezes 7th birthday. I always seem to get pretty sentimental on this day. Thoughts wander through my mind. Whether it be how quickly our kids are growing up. how tall they've grown. foods that they now love & are willing to try, when just days ago they gave me a frown when I handed them more veggies than sweets. Things change. It comes with getting older, I guess. Reflecting. Savoring each moment we have with our kids. Reminding ourselves even through the sleepless nights (yes, we still have those once in a while.) that someday we would take the sleepless nights in a heartbeat just to have our kids under our roof again. Relieved that they are pretty young yet:)

On this particular day though, my heart continues to go out to Agezes birthfather. What a special man he is. What a special son we have. together. I'm gonna take you back to when we saw Agezes picture for the very 1st time.
The minute our eyes saw his precious face, we just knew. We knew without a doubt that God was placing him in our family for a reason. many reasons, actually. His eyes just got me. They still do. I love that I can tell what kind of mood he is in by looking at those big, beautiful, brown eyes. Eyes with such a story. This boy of ours. what a story he has. He remembers exactly what he was thinking while he was having this picture taken. He remembers his past so clearly. A past that many would think would cause so much pain, but brings so much life out of him when he talks through it. He loved his life in Ethiopia. He loves his birth family. He shares stories from his past on a daily basis...it has brought so much healing. His cow stories are usually at the top of his list to tell & re-tell. He speaks of his birthfather & siblings so fondly. From the minute he could speak a tiny bit of english, he's been sharing about his past with us. What a journey he's been on that led him to us in July 2010.


Each & every time he shares about life in ET, his birthfather, the cow that lived in his house, his siblings...my heart smiles & aches at the same time. How I wish his birthfather knew how special our boy is to us. Because, I know he was so special to him. He had to have been. This boy was one loved little guy. You can just tell by the way he loves. He loves big. He has a heart the size of Africa. he loves sharing his story. He's not ashamed. We are just so thankful that Agezes first years were spent in a loving family. A family that knew how to give & receive love. When we picked Ageze up in ET in July 2010, we had the privilege to meet his birthfather.

We were able to spend a couple of hours with him, talking with him, listening to stories about Ageze, the wishes he had for Agezes future, hugging one another. Assuring him that we would love him. And love him well.

Fast forward to this past March 2012. We were in Ethiopia meeting Ariyat. And, God. He's just so good. Not only were we meeting our daughter for the 1st time & enjoying our time in Addis, He just gave us such an amazing story to add to Agezes life story. A story that brought tears to my eyes & warmth in my heart. A story that we will hold forever close to us. 

We were in Ethiopia from March 5th-March 15th. One of the evenings that we were at the hotel, a friend of ours "E" came to the hotel to pick up a package that we were delivering for someone. Kasey & the kids met him, visited with him ( I was really sick in bed) and then he was on his way. He came up & told me how kind "E" was & how neat it was that they finally connected. The kids were thrilled.

So, we arrived home on a Thursday night. Saturday morning we were out at the park playing in the sun enjoying being back with Ageze & Tesfa. On our drive home, I checked my FB, which showed I had a few messages. Messages that would light up our day. A couple of gals that we know through our adoption agency were in Ethiopia, with their children, visiting their birthplace. One of the gals wrote...

"While driving down south today, we had a driver & a translator. The translator turned around and handed me a tiny, well-worn piece of paper. Through translation, he asked me If I knew the people whose names were etched on the paper. I said YES!!  I asked who he was & he responded with...I am Agezes birthfather!"

She said he practically fell to the ground in the van. He told her he'd been asking anyone he came in contact with if they knew who we were. He said he felt as if he had been given a million dollars.What a small world we live in! She quickly facebooked us asking for permission to show him pictures of Ageze & our family via FB. See, I guess FB is good for some things!! We said, Absolutely!! Someone in the van took pictures of him looking at pictures of our boy. His boy too. 

Indescribable JOY!!!!

These adoptive friends of ours also had the chance to meet Agezes brothers & took a few pictures. What a gift!!!!

Agezes birthfather with our friend, "E" who Kasey & the kids met a few days prior to this picture being taken...What a faithful God we serve!!!!

We know that God has such a huge story written for Agezes life!! This is one big, beautiful part of it!!!

Thanking God for Agezes life & his special Birthfather, who loves our son BIG!!!

So thankful that God is the One who is writing our stories!!!!

xo

family. snow. sledding. #7 b-day. New "do" for Ariyat.

                    Our oldest 4 with Aunt Tillie:) She just turned 105!! What a special visit!!

                                                          1st snow of the season!!!

                                                     fun in the sun & snow:)

                                             Our littlest snow-angel:)

                                           our newest niece...Lily!! Precious:)

                                           Ariyats 1st sledding experience!!

                                                the boys & their snowmen!

                                                         Ariyats new "do!"

                                                 Agezes 7th birthday celebration:)

                                                    cousins & best buds!

                                                   some of our family!!

                                                Grandma with her newest great-grand-daughter.

                                                       

 Where have the last few weeks gone??!! We've had our 1st snow of the season. Thanksgiving. Christmas decorating. Sledding. Family time & Agezes 7th b-day celebration( more to come on his actual birthday...Nov. 26th!)....So much on my mind, but my words in writing are coming out very jumbled tonight...so, enjoy our last few weeks in pictures!! I look forward to sharing a beautiful story about our beautiful boy Ageze on Monday! Happy Weekend!!

p.s. I wish you all could see how excited Ariyat is about her hair!! When she's not flipping it back & forth...she's looking at herself in the mirror!! She said tonight..."I am thankful for my hair!"

                                                                             xo 

halloween 2012. first snow.

I'll let the pictures do the talking in this post!! Fun was had by all!! It was a quick night of trick-or-treating, as it was quite chilly!!! The kids received more than enough candy....makes my teeth hurt just looking at it all!! And, the next day it snowed...only a light dusting, but they all had to try out their snowpants & boots...brrr...this weather definitely inspires me in getting things organized, sorted through, tidied up...while hot cocoa is on the stove & a yummy candle burning!! Here's to a cozy week:)

{i am a little pencil.}

About 3 years ago, when we began our adoption for Ageze & Tesfa, I reached out to a few people via FB/blog that lived in Ethiopia. Each family that I contacted had something in common...they had adopted from Ethiopia, had large families & they had mission-minded hearts & were/are living out the gospel. During the last few years, I have asked many questions, picked their brains, prayed together & dreamt about our family making the move into the mission field. I did alot of dreaming. I felt a connection with Heavenly Hope/The Dutton's the first time we messaged back & forth...They gave me another name of a missionary family living in Addis at the time, The Letourneau's. So, I messaged them & stayed in close contact with them all awhile they were living in ET. And, we still do. The Letourneau family came to stay with us a year ago while they were in Bismarck, in which they spoke at our church. But, they did more than just speak at our church. A real, authentic, close friendship was formed in those 4 days they were with us. They are the type of people that you just want to be close to. The love of Christ literally shines through them, their smiles were incredibly bright & they have a love for God & His people that is unbelievably beautiful. The feeling in our home during their stay was nothing short of amazing. The Lords presence was all around. It was so peaceful. Before they left, they gave me "The Hole in Our Gospel." I've read, re-read it & now I'm gonna pass it on...

Here is a paragraph that just won't leave me...

Here I want to make a key point: it is not our fault that people are poor, but it IS our responsibility to do something about it. God says that we are guilty if we allow people to remain deprived when we have the means to help them. It is our moral duty to help our neighbors in need. We cannot look at their situation and simply say, "Not my problem." Neither can we sit smugly in our comfortable bubbles and claim no responsibility for the disadvantaged in our world. God did not leave us that option.

After the Letourneau's went back home, we continued to talk, Skype, fb....they encouraged us to continue to pray that God would show us in mighty ways, the plans He had for us. Like I've said before, we prayed & prayed that God would reveal how our next season in our lives would go. Many times, I tried talking God out of the desire that was placed on my heart. Did we really want to do something that is so out of the norm? Did we really want to follow Him, even in the hard? I mean, "God, this is so crazy...who actually moves their family to Ethiopia??" Once again reminded of the above....Neither can we sit smugly in our comfortable bubbles and claim no responsibility for the disadvantaged in our world. God did not give us that option.

So, "Yes, God!!" Even when it's hard. We will follow You!!

In between talking with Destiny & Joey and Terina & John, we knew without a doubt that God had a very clear vision. A plan that began stirring in our hearts 3 years ago. Wow, has God been patient with us!! So, fast forward to about 4 months ago....Terina & I were talking one morning, I explaining that my heart, along with Kasey has been stirring for so long. We had/have been praying that God would either close the door loudly or open it & open it wide, so our hearts & minds wouldn't toss back and forth. We prayed & prayed some more. We just knew/know that our lives are meant for more. More HIM. Less of us. Less of our stuff. More of Him. She said, "you know, actually John & I have been praying since February that we would love to see the right family step up and out into the mission field with Heavenly Hope in Addis." My jaw dropped onto my keyboard. Our dreams & desires were clearly laid out before me over the phone. God was clearly speaking. We visited/laughed/dreamt about how we could be used for Gods glory in Addis. Thankful that even in the moments of doubting, blurriness, frustration...that God would continue to speak to us. And, He continues to do so, every. single. day. We are on the right path. Standing strong. Praying steady.

Mother Teresa once said, "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." She had it right. We're not authors, any of us. We are just the "pencils." Once we understand that, we might actually become useful to God.

Excited to share with you our HHM website soon!!!!    xo

{we found love.}

I like to say..."we found love!" And, if you haven't heard the song called "We found Love"....you should most definitely check it out here..



We took a leap of love 2 1/2 years ago & in the process of that leap, we found exactly what God had in store for us. His love. His faithfulness. His goodness. His strength. We found all of those things in Ethiopia. And in America too. I've been a christian for many years now, but up until a few years ago, I honestly never fully grasped how Great our God was/is! We set off for Ethiopia in 2010 to pick up our 2 youngest sons & I could never have imagined that we would also find love in the country that held our children. I mean, I knew it would be a great experience & all. I just didn't understand or know how deeply it would impact me & the rest of our family. I am in complete awe when I look at each of our children...tears fill my eyes and all I can do is thank God. The healing & restoration that only God could perform is incredible. And, not just for our Ageze, Tesfa & Ariyat...I think the same for Grant & Kate too...for a few different reasons obviously, but He is just so good. After returning home to the States in July 2010 with our 2 newest children grasping onto us...there was no denying what was left behind. Ethiopia. From the minute we left Ethiopia, we knew we'd be returning. Just 2 short years later, Ariyat came home to us!! Again, Ethiopia would not leave our minds. Yes, there were days I would beg that it would. Life would be so much easier to live here in our comfy, cozy little home in the States. A steady, stable income, a reliable car, (or 2 for that matter), our family all within a 10 minute drive, drive-thru restaurants at every corner, Target.

But, God. God doesn't want me to live an "easy, comfortable" life.

He knew that my heart would stir after visiting Ethiopia. He knows me. He knew that once my heart was stirred, it wouldn't stop. He knows each of us so very well. And, I'm so glad He does. He knows what is best for me. He knows how our move to Ethiopia will impact our whole family. He knows every thought & concern that passes through my mind. He puts me at ease & gives me peace. God & I have had many talks in the past few years...they've gone something like this..."God, thank you for opening my eyes. To You. To others. To others needs. Our desire is to follow you Lord. In all that we do. Lord, if that ever means that You pick our family up & move us somewhere out of our comfort zone, Lord, we are willing...did you hear me...we are willing. We want to live each day to glorify You Lord, whether it be in our neighborhood or across the ocean, may You be glorified." I would pray this many times a day. I'm not even kidding. Then one morning while I was showering, I heard the Lord clearly say..."Go! You said you were willing, what are you waiting for, what are you holding onto?" In my head many things came to mind...my house. my reliable car. my kids' beds. their bedrooms. my backyard that I landscaped on my own. my flowers. our FAMILY. And, once again He said..."your flowers, really? Your stuff? It's all just stuff, Kristen. I can understand you missing your family Kristen, but they are MINE. Hand it all over to Me!"

"Ok, Lord...I get it...You want all of me!!!" He has my heart. He has our family in the palm of His hands. He has yours too. So, we give up what is comfortable and follow Him. Obviously, each of us has a completely different, unique, special story. This is just a brief part of the story He has written for mine. I'd love to hear yours:)

Can't wait to share with you how we became connected with Heavenly Hope Ministries!!!
                                                           xo