our dozen beautiful feet

I realized last week that I took a picture of Meryn's first night in her bed, on May 20th, and didn't take another one until a few days ago. We've bee busy.  But, here are a few highlights of the last week, at least since I've been a bit more intentional to take pictures of her! Meeting our friend! Loving her jumper! She found my stash. :) Snack time! Already siblings.  Take that elbow to the chin, Meryn. Love this! The spray off the water coated her hair.  Kiryn thought it was hilarious! Kiryn and Meryn's new room! That's all I got for tonight! :)

Last year, when we started first grade, I made choices for our curriculum that I felt sure I would stick with.  I didn't want to be hopping around from program to program every year simply because I didn't like what I'd chosen.  I always thought that if we needed to change because the kids weren't doing well, then that's something I couldn't necessarily predict and would be fine. : )  Well, going into our third year of homeschooling, we're changing it up!  : ) For next year, we'll be using: Grammar: Shurley Grammar and Composition Spelling/Phonics: All About Spelling Math: Math-U-See History/Geography/Literature: Tapestry of Grace Science: Elemental Science : Earth and Astronomy Bible: Veritas Bible-Genesis to Joshua Art: Artistic Pursuits Okay, so now to explain. I'm really excited about this year!  Because we're starting fresh with grammar and writing, and there's a lot in Shurley Grammar level 1 that we didn't cover in Fir...

I was really determined to stay committed to taking photos and documenting our school year.  I did really well until this adoption overtook my life the last two months.  Plus, we had a sweet friend come and volunteer to help us through the transition, which has been a total blessing.  Since she's been doing school with the kids, I've been able to focus more on our handicraft business, and see some neat projects get done with that.  I'm so thankful for the time she's given us out of her life.  It has been a huge blessing to me for sure! Since Hannah has been doing school since week 32, I don't have any pictures or really even know what they've done!  But I know she's done a great job, and they finished out the school year well! As a reward, this weekend we had a "School's Out!" Party and celebrated their graduation from first grade and kindergarten!  We've been inspired lately by the Junior Masterchef Australia show, and so the kids wan...

We're home.  Sound asleep in her very own bed for the first time.

Well, we made it home.  I can't believe it.  Ten days is a long time to be away from a husband.  Two sons.  Home.  Good food.  It's just a really long time.  I'm so thankful to be back with my boys, and there's not going to be anything that will justify this long of an absence again for a very long time. I still can't believe that everything went just according to plan.  You know, when we were flung across the globe, three of us in Ethiopia, three of us in Nepal, all coming back to India within 12 hours of each other, needing two visas in an Ethiopian passport, just all the details, that it all came together is amazing.  I kept waiting for the disaster to hit.  So thankful to the Lord that it never did. (Although, Paul had a mini-disaster in the form of a strike in Nepal.  He had to take the boys to the airport at 5 A.M. because no cars were allowed on the road that day, and their flight wasn't until 5:30 p.m.!!  No restaura...

I'm telling you all, for any of you who are traveling to Ethiopia in the future to pick up your children, please make a visit to Adams Pavilion at Sar Bait in Addis and check out the soleRebels showroom there. They have some amazing designs, and I love that their shoes are handmade from old tires! Plus, buy six pairs, get one free.  I know.  I did it .... TWICE!  Haha!  I stocked up for Christmas gifts and gifts for friends back in India!  : )  I LOVE their stuff! These are the shoes I got for myself (which I totally love): This is one of the signs hanging in the shop, displaying how their products are made. A view of the show room.   Word to the wise: pickings are slim in different sizes and styles.  If you plan to be there over 5 business days, go on the first day, or call, and give them your order. Yep, you can custom order shoes.  If you browse their website before hand, you can tell them an exact style name and c...

On Monday, I called the investigator and asked him if he might have some time this week to come and meet me. I wanted to hear more from him, just in a personal story setting, as well as thank him personally for all the help he gave us.  He said he would be at my hotel in an hour! Sure enough, he showed up right when he said he would.  We had a nice visit over coffee in the lobby.  He didn't really have any new information for me, but he did say that in the area where Meryn was found, there are a lot of hyenas at night and he felt she was very lucky to have made it through the night on her own.  Holy cow.  God was watching over her and we are so thankful and amazed at his protection and goodness..... Then, just an hour later, I was able to meet the man who actually found Meryn and took her to the police. When he saw her, he was moved to tears at how healthy and happy she looked. He couldn't believe she was the same malnourished baby he had found by the...