Referral-versary

A year ago .... we saw this face for the first time.

I remember such a feeling of disbelief and wonder that our child had a face and a name. There was never a question that we would say yes to the referral. We had prayed and believed that the child that was sent to us would be the child that God intended to add to our family. So despite difficult details in his file, we said yes.

Nine months later ... it is harder than I could have imagined ....

and I'm jealous ... of those whose stories seem to have just fallen into place.

and I want things to be easier ....

So, I need to keep looking at these pictures ... and remember to connect with the child he was then and his very difficult story ... so that I can renew - on a daily basis - my compassion and empathy ... so that I can be the instrument of healing that I've been called to be for our son.

What a difference a year makes for all of us!

Happy Easter and Catching Up...

So I gave up Facebook for Lent ... kind of a spur of the moment thing since I'm not Catholic ... but I loved the idea of sacrificing something to keep me mindful of the sacrifice made by my Savior. I started late ... and had to get on a few times to connect with people who I had no email for ... but overall, it was effective on the sacrifice level. But it was extremely hard as I realized that, first of all ... 40 days is a long time ... and second, I .... and most of my friends ... use Facebook as our primary means of connection. So I felt disconnected and lonely quite a bit.

That said ... I'm grateful ... for Easter ... for the hope that the resurrection of my Savior gives me.

Here's few of the things that happened during the past 40 days ...

* 15 year old started his first Track & Field season. He loves it ... from my point of view having one more thing on our schedule is exhausting.
* My dad and my sister and her 3 kids visited over their Spring Break. There are not words for how completely delightful it was to have them all here. It was a surprise for Ethan ... don't think he stopped smiling all week.
* We had a laid back Spring Break ... only outing was to OMSI as a family.
* Celebrated David's 47th birthday.
* Took Kristen for her first orthodontist appt.
*  Visited our adoption attachment therapist ... received a somewhat discouraging diagnosis ... but that's for another post.
* Went to an amazing Chris Tomlin concert thanks to my friend, Jilly.
* Resumed Kenen's swimming lessons after a 6 week break.
* Attended an inspiring Embrace Compassion meeting ... so great to see all the work that is happening in Ethiopia.
* Passed our one year "referral-versary" ... which in adoption speak simply means it was a year ago that we saw Kenenisa's picture for the first time. Hard to believe ....

And a few pictures to go along with the happenings ...

Riding his friend, Cassidy's bike

Easter 2011

Coloring eggs

First Easter Basket