Unexpected Blessings

Mula is someone who entered our lives in the most tragic of situations. Although the grief and pain of that loss is still very much real, our family will forever be grateful for the blessings found amongst the pain. Mula has become family and will forever be family. It was the three kiddos who made the decision to give him the title of Uncle and we wouldn't have it any other way. We were honored to join him in celebrating his accomplishments and graduation. Much love to you Uncle Mula!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Celebrating with Godfrey and Mula

Miss Ruthie

Today our family said goodbye to some very dear friends. We have been so grateful for their friendship and all they have offered to our family, especially the past 6 months. It is hard to imagine Laramie without them and they will be deeply missed. 

Lunch Date

The youngest babes finally got to meet my dear friend today. She has provided so much support, encouragement and love throughout this journey. I am so grateful for her!

Muscle Men

Dear Tesfaye

Dear Tesfaye,

     I wasn't expecting to receive the news that you were suddenly taken away. None of us were expecting this.....

Five years ago our friendship began and it was just as we were being the process of adopting M. We felt as if your introduction into our family was a confirmation that we were making the right choice and moving in the direction that God was leading us. Long before we visited Ethiopia, you filled our hearts with a love that connected us to this country, giving us a glimpse of all the joy and pain it would bring into our hearts.

Shortly after receiving the phone call that matched us with M. we called you to share the news. After we began pouring out the details of this sweet boys life, we were amazed and excited to learn that you were from the same region and a neighboring village. What an unexpected blessing to our family and we knew without a doubt that it had been orchestrated by God. You were an answer to our prayers that yearned for a way to help our child remain connected to his birth country.

Adjusting to life as parents, work and school kept us all busy and our moments of sharing life together felt few and far between, but each moment that was shared brought so much joy to our family. In those first months that M. was with us, you were there to offer him the love that is found from an uncle. You were there to tell us what exactly he was saying (Please ko nea) and how our little man was speaking sentences using all three languages. You were there to offer encouragement and reminders of his birth country. You were there. So when graduate school called you away we were so sad to see you go. You paid us one last visit and placed a bracelet on M's wrist that was from your recent trip to Ethiopia.

Despite your departure from Laramie, you were faithful in keeping in touch with our family and always checking up on M.

And now here we are with news we weren't expecting and we have yet to feel okay with letting you go.  

An Unexpected Gift

My dear friend surprised me with this lovely bracelet. It is absolutely beautiful and I greatly appreciate the gift, how well she knows my heart and what has sustained me these past two and a half years. 

Old Friends Reunite

I had the opportunity to meet up with my dear friend Cassandra this evening. 

Her friendship has been a true blessing over the past 15 years. She has definitely seen me in some of my worst moments. Despite this, and the fact that our conversations grow fewer and farther between each time, she is someone that I feel knows the depths of my heart and offers encouragement with truth. We met having the energy for a brief visit, but two empty cups of chai and five hours later we finally parted to make our way back to our families of boys. I was so thankful for this time with her.

A Little Taste of Korea

A little taste of Korea with the lovely Melissa while away at a conference. 

Buddies

519 Friends

Hiking Buddies

Oldies

Met up with this lovely lady at the park today. We let the kids play and tried to cram in as much catching up as you can do with four kids to watch. It is always so great to reconnect with her and remember all that has happened in life since our "younger" days.

Cape Buddies

A Special Date

Enjoying a Cowgirls Basketball game with our friends!

Christmas from Korea

We received a package from our lovely family in Korea and spent the rest of the evening reading Christmas cards from students in Korea. They brought a lot of smiles and laughter, but we were especially excited for the paw mittens (which are being worn constantly) and the instant coffee and "napping pants" (which are being enjoyed constantly). This surprise package brought a lot of joy but as always, brought with it the accompanying feelings of missing our dear Harrington family.

Thinking of Melissa

The Blomberg family is over at the house as well as Jon. I decided I should try to be more hospitable so I made some pumpkin cream sandwich cookies.

The whole situation has me thinking of the lovely Melissa......

Some friends just come into your thoughts in the most unexpected moments and they take up camp in your heart.

A Great Way to Spend the Day

M. got a LOT of loving today from these wonderful children. So thankful for them and the opportunity to have them be a part of our lives.

Clean Water for Ethiopia

We have some incredible people in our lives.

Our friend Matt dedicated this week to writing about the impact of clean water and what a difference it can make.

Beyond that, today is his birthday and he is asking others to join him in giving the gift of clean water.

Please check it out.

A Welcomed Visit - Take 2

This post is a little over due because lovely Chelsea actually visited on October 15th and attended the UW football game with us, but I just now got around to loading the photos onto the computer.

As you can tell from the photo, Chels is the beautiful and funny one of the bunch. She has been a part of my life since I was fresh out of finishing up my first year of college in South Carolina. We met at the camp we both worked at, and I can tell you that those few summers alone have given me a ton of silly stories to share about her and her dynamic personality!

We live about 60 miles away from each other - and somehow we still manage to squeeze in a couple of years in between each of our visits. Ridiculous - I know - but despite the extend year stints we throw at our friendship, we always seem to pick up right where we left off (which I am so thankful for because I wasn't really in to watching the football game).

It feels so good to have those friendships that extend a length of time and help you remember how much you have grown and reflect on the sustaining truths of who you really are.