Moving Forward

Abby & Sam are in school full time now. Abby is doing great. She is still shy, but has made friends and is learning academically. Her best subject is Math, but is enjoying meeting with
Mrs. Pasquel who is her English Second Language Teacher. She also likes to do homework which is not normal for our family. Her and Zoe are the only two who we don't have to fight to get it done! Today she got to go on her first field trip on a school bus. We live a couple blocks from the school, so this was her first time. I am not sure what she thought of the play the went to see, but she thought the bus was awesome.

Sammy on the other hand does not want to go to school. He feels his time would be better spent watching The Chronicals of Narnia. Once he gets there he usuailly does pretty good, but to get him out of bed and ready to go is like pulling teeth. Ok pulling teeth might be easier! His teacher has had to pull from the staff to get additional help to keep him on task. He is making friends and everyone wants to help him and hang out with him. It is not school that is the problem so much as submitting to authority; he is not dangeriously deffiant but he certainly has a strong will. We knew going into this that Sam's will is what kept him alive for so long, his lack of family relationships, and selfreiance would alsi be issues that would have to be over come. Considering that he has only been home 2 months Sam has made incredible strides, he has sadly had to start many, many things later than a child should and some behavior patterns will be hard to relearn.

This past weekend we were invited to visit the local ethiopian church. It was educational and the kids had a great time. The people were very accepting and friendly everyone was willing to extend extra grace to us when we didn't know protocall for different things. All in all we are pleased we went it was good for all of us in different ways. We didn't learn much spiritually as it was all in Geeze or Amahric but we all serve the same God and that is what is important!

Week In Review

Abby and Sam both went to 3 full days of school! We had kids home sick almost every day this week but we have survived. No school Friday or Monday so it is a 4 day break! Sam and Abby got to meet their Papa Ron for the first time. That was VERY EXCITING! Abby ran right up to him and gave him a huge hug. Sam waited as everyone squeezed in for a hug but he was very excited to meet his Papa.

Valentines Day is a first, filling out cards was great practice for writing our letters, passing them out was good pratice for sharing! Last night Abby was so funny. She loves to punch people and she started punching Dad in the kitchen. Abby punches, Dad punches back, Abby punches, Dad punches back. About the third time Abby pretends to be hurt and Dad says "Show me the tears Abby" Abby replies "Wait!" She runs to the sink and splashes water on her face, "See Dad, see!" It was hysterically funny. It has been amazing how quickly they are learning english!

Over all things are going well, Abby is starting to become accustome to American food. It has helped a lot that she likes to eat lunch in the school cafeteria. So now Mom's food isn't so bad after all! We have found several things she really likes and a lot of stuff she will eat anyway. Sam on the other hand has found food he doesn't like; including school food! He love cheddar brauts and still laughs with such sheer joy at the silliest things! It really helps when we are having a bad day to be able to listen to that laugh.

The Tax Collector & Us

I have recently picked up an old study that I did on the book of Mark years ago. I love the book of Mark, I got as far 2: 13 - 17 today; The Calling of Levi. Levi is a tax collector and Jesus simply said "follow me" Levi wisely chose to follow and it changed his life forever! Levi is also the apostle Matthew.



This is such a meaningful passage to me right now because I keep hearing comments about how wonderful we are. Honestly don't feel wonderful at all. I know people are saying it kindly but we are nothing special; we are tax collectors whom Jesus called and chose to follow. We have not done anything grand, nothing extordary. We are failing the calling god has put before us in so many ways. We are simply living out the grace that God has bestowed upon us. It is not easy, it is not always fun, it is work just like anything else worth doing well! But there are certainly great rewards. The smiles of our children, the life lessons of compassion, grace, patience, and sacrifice. Comparing the first pictures of the kids we got to the pictures we take now. That is priceless....truely, honestly, and humblingly priceless.