Spring Happenings

Dubale continues to grow and learn at what seems like warp speed.

Today he offered to make lunch for us. See picture. He says he used to make and eat these in Africa!

Easter. Well it was quite possibly one of our best. Our family is growing so much. While reading to Dubale about the Resurrection last night he through his hands in the air and announced......HE'S ALIVE!!! What a huge blessing.

Last week after Sunday School he retold me the story of the 4 friends who carried their paralyzed friend to Jesus, lowering him through the roof for Jesus to heal. WOW!

Dubale now weighs 46.8# and is 43.5"tall Dubale. On 8/24/11 37" and 37.6#.

Tella and Casey continue to do well. They love their little brother. Tella is getting ready to leave on Visiting Orphans Mission trip on May 6-18 to Uganda and Ethiopia. Then in June she will be joining the staff at Camp Cowen for the summer. Please pray for me as my first born is getting ready to fly the coup. Momma's and pappa's hearts are being stretched in all directions. Casey is busy with school, working part time at Peking as a waitress and preparing for her first Prom. Time is flying by and we are enjoying this point in our lives. It is amazing to see our older daughters following God's direction. Thank you for all who are praying. Dawn

Coming unglued~

I had planned and wanted to post on Dubales's 6th month home, but you know things happen. He is now nearing the 7th month. I didn't post because I had it in my mind that I wanted to post "Happy" and I just couldn't do it. I wanted to post that everything is "great" and "perfect" and it is not! Truth is, it has never been. BUT that is ok! God didn't ask me or any of us to be "perfect". Hello!!!! That we are not is why we celebrate The Cross.

I really don't know why any of us try to put on such a farce. Yes our struggles may all look different, but we all have them and we all need God.

I really do believe that our transition of adding another child to our family has been relatively easy. Relatively I say. We have struggled with some issues though; like "Ole my goodness I can't sleep whenever I want anymore or I can't just pick up and go? Our girls are soon to be 17 and 21. We were by "American Standards" almost home free. Now, there are bedtimes, consistency of schedules (and for those of you who know me know to take that with a grain of salt), What I have to work my stuff around another person again...............you know; being of the fallen race, we all struggle with selfishness.

Then there is a matter of rejection or the fear of! The fear of coming unglued from those important to me. Until the 6Th month home, Dubale was not able to willing sit on my lap. My love language is physical touch. As a momma, I am "supposed to" cuddle, rock, snuggle with my children. Tim and God have been so gracious with this one. Tim has gently encouraged Dubale to grow closer to me. When Dubale would "reject" me entering the room where he and papa were or didn't want me to sit on the couch with him, Tim would say "Dubale momma is important, Dubale we love momma, we want momma to sit with us, etc teaching Dubale how to accept me as a momma. God has been so incredibly graceful in teaching me to "love Dubale" "accept Dubale" when my feelings just were not there or I was feeling rejected.
Then there is the matter of being at such different points with each of my kids. That is a challenge in and of itself. This is so powerful. They may seem trivial, but I believe that whatever it is that causes you to turn from the path that God has placed you on is so significant. I could have escaped from this bonding in a variety of different ways out of my own fear of rejection, but God is teaching me through this. In the past two weeks, I have had the awesome opportunity to rock my baby boy to sleep two times and just rock and hold him also. God is so Very Good. He knows me and you. Psstt He is the one who places those desires in us. He knows our strength and our weakness. He knows when we are going to stumble. He knows we need Him.

It's really about being obedient to God's call in our lives. Can we really make a difference in the millions of children orphaned in the world. Really? We can't change anything. We are simply called to be obedient. In order to do this we have to stay close to God. We have to search for Him. We have to be quiet, position ourselves, and listen. In doing this, God, who is the maker of all things can and will make the changes according to His will.

Would I do this all over again? You better believe it! I want to be closer to being like my Jesus every day and that takes work, laying down what is not mine to pick up in the first place, and staying closer to Him.

In your Eyes

i found this video and it was really a good reminder, with things that are going on in my life. You know things could be way worse..I could be like these children and not have a home, a family, food, a mommy and daddy. But God gave my a home a family a school to go to and a HUGE heart for these kids!!
I'm go to share a dream with you, I don't know who you are but this is my dream. When i graduate high school I want to go back to Ethiopia and live, really getting to know the people in Africa. I want to know their stories everything little thing i want to know!! then i want to come back to WV and write a book, I don't know maybe ill go to the mountains and live in a cabin while writing this book, blasting the KLOVE radio in the back ground! the second part to my dream is to go to the place my Little brother is from, and teach them about God, I have a fire burning inside my body to help MY family in Ethiopia know God!

I feel as if people look at Ethiopia or any other place in the world with this much pain and suffering and they say "IF I COULD I WOULD, BUT I CANT" well ya know what that isn't working for me and it really isn't helping these poor little kids get to know God before they pass away. why not say "I LOVE GOD HE LOVES ME NOW I'M GOING TO LOVE THESE KIDS AND GO!" why not go. if you don't like it you can always come home to your nice life here . but i promise you will fall in love with at least one kid and that will start the fire in your heart to help make a change for the others!

thinking of you; Casey

Blessings!!

How can one little boy bring so much joy?

I wonder sometimes if it is God's reward to us for our obedience.......even in the face of doubt, pride, selfishness, and all of our humanly faults...............Whatever it is WE ARE THANKFUL!

I have to share some of the cuteness Dubale, Casey and Tella have brought to our home.

Casey and Dylan were going for a drive the other night and they asked Dubale if he wanted anynything while they were out. He asked for ice cream, but said wait, wait....while he was searching his pockets for his money. Casey tried telling him that she would get it, but he insisted on buying his own ice cream. All 4 cents worth. Priceless.

Dubale and I were grocery shopping yesterday and as I was about to pay, he said....wait, wait....while he was searching his pockets. He was so proud of himself........buying our groceries for 2 cents.

He always fusses at me when I say "let's read a book", but once I start I had better have a glass of water because he will have the couch filled with books before we are done. Some of his favorites are Dr. Seuss.

You should see him play the drums and guitar. He loves to sing and dance; sometimes improvising with his Lego microphone.

During one of his Story Hours at the library he learned about making snow angels and has been practicing this skill.

He has learned red, blue, yellow, white and black. Can write A and B and loves to count money.

Pretty much whatever we are doing he is up for it and ready to help.

One of his friends showed him how to stand on his head which he has been practicing also.

Thank you Jesus for our children. They all bring us so much Joy!!!

A FATHERS LOVE

As I look at our family, I can't imagine my life without any of them in it. I can't believe God has blessed me with such a wonderful husband. One who at ALL times is looking out for me and for his children. He would and has gone without so we could have. He has carried sleepy children to bed, woke in the middle of the night to sooth their cries, while he has also been stern in his discipline so they know right from wrong and have respect for others while also respecting themselves. Proverbs 3:12 says, "but the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in."
He does things that take him way outside his comfort zone if he thinks his kids or I need him to. He prays for us each day. I remember when Tella and Casey were little, it wouldn't be unusual to see them walking together while Tim had a baby doll dangling from his hip pocket. He was actually the first of us to change and diaper. Once when Tella was 2 years old we had her at the fair and she wanted to ride the motorcycles. With a little hesitancy, Tim decided to let her, but said he would walk alongside of her so she wouldn't fall. Little did he realize just how fast those things move and how long a time they run. I think the carney was having a good time! I was standing by myself along the rail and was literally hanging onto the rail laughing with tears running down my face. People must have thought I was crazy....a little crazy I guess. Tella was safe and sound when the ride ended. Tim enjoys taking the kids hunting. He and Casey got a deer last year. What dad do you know would take his 16 year old daughter hunting. They both came back so happy. Now with Dubale it is like a whole new world. Don't get me wrong, this man loves all his kids, but having a son has truly been a whole new world. He is so funny doing "boy things" with him. While all the time teaching him how to treat momma and siters with kindness and plenty of hug and kisses. He works with him in the wood shop, watches and plays cowboys, wrestles of course and most recently went swimming. For those of you who know Tim, he has always said "I don't swim!" Oh yeah he also said "I will never go to Africa". We made two trips there last summer.....Thank you Jesus for giving my children such a wonderful father!

2 MONTHS HOME AS FAMILY OF FIVE

WOW I really can't believe that we have been home for 2 months. In some respects it feels like just yesterday and in others it seems we have been together for ever!!!!!

God has been so good to our family. We are so Blessed by Him. He has strengthened our family and given us 3 beautiful, healthy and happy kids.

I have gone back to work after being at home for 2 months. Dubale has adjusted well to this so far, but we would appreciate your prayers for him in this new transition. He and I have been going to story hour at the library each Monday and he is really enjoying that. We read a book, do a little craft and eat a little snack.

Dubale and I have also been going for lots of walks. He loves to be outdoors as he is very energetic.

Tella is doing well in college. She just recently was hired at a middle school which is close to her college for an after school program. She is home on the weekends. We had a wonderful time this weekend shopping, sorting out and organinzing at home. It was good to have this time!

Casey has been busy with school, Band competitions, Friday night football games, Youth Life, ABY, Homecoming Dance......She is one busy young lady. Oh she is also helping to watch Dubale while I work. These stories are very entertaining:)

Tim has been working about 3 hours away from home, so he is gone from Monday morning to Thursday afternoon. He is loving being a new pappa.

Adjusting well to our new life as a family of five! I just want to encourage you, whatever God is saying to you.....telling you to do........I know that sometimes what God tells us to do can be very scary, seem impossible, plain not be in our plans............BUT He knows the plans He has for you and for your family. You can rely on Him. You can give all of your worries, anxieties, etc to Him. He is a Big God! He knows Best! He is always with you! He will guide you! He will protect and strengthen you! I Encouage you not to run from God's plans for you......because if you do you will miss out on some pretty awesome Blessings! Dawn

Mommy Goes Back to Work..

As you could tell my mom went back to work tonight..If you didn't know she is a nurse at Ruby (WVU) Hospital , in Morgantown WV two hours away from home. So That mean I got my first taste of being the big sister totally in charge for the night! holy cow!! I don't know how she does it! He almost drove me crazy. We went for a walk, talked to random people as we walked down Main Street, Played soccer, Rode bikes, Talked to Daddy on the phone, watched a movie, read a book,took crazy pictures, laughed so hard we cried, cleaned the kitchen, and went to bed! Oh and did i mention my mom didn't leave til five and I put him in bed at eight! yeah we were busy!! All I have to say is my mom is an amazing mom for being able to deal with all the change that has happened. I love you mom!! I don't know how you do it, You put up with a sixteen year old a four year old annnnd on weekend a twenty year old! You are awesome! I love you mom
Casey.

Sometimes LAUGHTER is the best conversation a brother and sister can have.