Christmas Sickness

So Christmas was interesting around here. I had 3 kids with high fevers and croupy coughs:(. But they tried really hard to be happy. On Christmas Eve we have my mom's side of the family over and the last 2 years we have done ugly Christmas. So it has been really fun.

This year Joe dressed as Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation. He was hilarious. We had such a great time. But Maya was really feeling bad so I had to go lay down with her and I missed a lot of the party. But I could hear all the laughs and yelling so I know it was a good one.

We woke up on Christmas morning and read our birthday letters to Jesus and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus and then it was on to opening presents. The kids had so much fun and I feel like Joe and I did a good job. We didn't go overboard and they were happy with everything they had gotten. Poor Max Maya and Ade were all still sick. Later we headed over to my parents to eat dinner and open gifts and by this time 2 of the kids had spiked fevers and they were ready to go home. They were done. But we had a wonderful time at my parents, just felt bad that we had to leave so early.

Today has been cleaning and organizing. The kids were thrilled about that let me tell you. Actually Ella helped me a lot. She can be really helpful if she wants to be. I got all the Christmas decorations put away and got the house mostly put back together.

We had to take Maya to Urgent Care because she is so congested and her cough is awful. They gave her a steroid and she is much better. Poor little thing. I am ready to have 4 healthy kiddos again. I'm sure they are ready as well.

A few things I want to remember from this Christmas: We had told the kids not to guess their presents because it is really annoying to the people giving them. So every time Ade would open a gift we would say, "what is it? and he would say, DON'T GUESS!" He is so obedient. He was very into opening presents.

Ella opened a One Direction blanket and said, "Ok boys, come to Mamma!" She is too much.

Maya Jane got black American Girl Bitty baby twins and she named them Tariku and Mekdes. Tariku is Ade's birth name and Mekdes is his sisters name. Very sweet and precious.

Max kept telling us this is the best Christmas ever that we did the best buying that we ever had! It was really sweet.

Sickness, Christmas programs, Snow Days, Tis the Season

Oh boy it has been an eventful couple of days. On Monday I was so tired couldn't even stay awake and I wasn't feeling well, by Tuesday I had the full blown stomach flu. I really think there is nothing in the world worse than feeling nauseous. Can I get a witness? Anyway, I had to miss the Christmas program at school and it was Ella's last elementary program. So that was quite the bummer. But I hear she did great on her speaking parts and she nailed her solo. Maya Jane seems to be quite the performer, Joe said she had strangers coming up to her saying they couldn't keep their eyes of her! And Max was trying to get out of the whole thing! Such a boy, but he did well and they all looked really cute!

So we have a snow day here. I was excited about it until 3 of my kids were up by 6:30. One of them up at 5:30 and I might add she is soooo pleasant today. I decided to make cookies with the kids and my lovely tween daughter started in with an attitude. Oh Jesus please help this to stop. I can't take much more of the attitude. Daddy stepped in and she shaped up eventually. Maya had a blast making cookies and we had to clean up several messes, but it was fun.

Then it was off to play in the snow. Can I just say getting snow clothes on your children is one of the worst most frustrating parts of being a parent. I can't tell you how many times I yelled, "STRAIGHTEN YOUR ARM AND MAKE IT STIFF!" Can we just say Mamma is in a mood today? So I told them I would dress them once and if they cried, whined or complained about ANY item of their snow clothing they were staying in the house. Needless to stay they went out and didn't complain and had a great time.

OK so have I mentioned the mice in our home? I am going to die if we don't catch them. We have one that I think may be a genius and he is in our room and bathroom and he somehow escapes the snares of death we have set up for him every day! So it was wrapping time I needed to finish it up. And it took me 3 and a half hours I might add. I smelled something awful in the storage room and found a dead mouse in one of my rubber maids. Come on people I can't live like this!!! My husband said I was being a bit dramatic and I was having a pity party for myself. In my head I thought it is my party and I don't remember inviting you!:) Did I mention I am in a mood?

I am in a grouchy mood and I don't know why. Maybe it is because I was sick and I feel overwhelmed. But I feel so guilty when I get like this especially at Christmas. But I will ask for forgiveness remember the reason for the season and bomb my house with mouse killer and all will be well with the world!:)

Wow It's been a long time!

It has been a long time since I have posted on here. I was just reading through my book of my blog when we were adopting Ade and it made me realize how much I enjoyed writing and keeping track of things the kids say and fun events in our lives. So I am going to try to do a better job of keeping up with this!

So let's see, Ade is doing fabulous! He is 3 now and I'm pretty sure he NEVER stops talking! It has been amazing how he has just molded into our family. He is a total Freudenthal! He acts a lot like me an says all sorts of funny things that I say! Like "that's cray cray!" He makes us laugh every day and he is such a blessing to our family. He loves his daddy like no other and I'm pretty sure his big brother Max may be his favorite person on earth. He is so darn cute and has the cutest haircut ever! We call it his Fresh Prince hair. He has a serious 90s fade going on and it suits him well!

Maya is in 1st grade and is so smart. She is growing up so fast and she is just so much fun! She makes our life very colorful. She is a fashionista and has such an eye for detail! She is very observant and quite the basketball player. She is a blast.

Max is in 3rd grade now and he is just so handsome. He also is a really good basketball player and is amazeballs at Hap Ki Do! He is so little and flexible and I'm pretty sure he is the best big brother in the whole world! He loves being home with Joe and I and is content to just hang out with us and be with his family.

Ella Rain in in the big 6th grade, she is rulin' the school!:) She is growing up so fast and she is so incredibly smart. She has such a missions heart and such a heart for others. She is such a blessing. She and Joe just got back from a week in Guatemala. They had such an awesome time and it was so great that they got to spend that time together just the 2 of them! I love to see her missions heart!

Joe and I are doing great. It seems like we barely have time for a 5 minute conversation and barely have any time together, but we do have time as a family and we are enjoying this season in our lives, soon enough we will have all the time in the world for each other and we will miss these days.

So that is a little update, I'll post some pics. 

A Heavy Heart for Sweet Lucy and Her Family

Today my heart is heavy. I have been following a blog for over a year now about a sweet little girl named Lucy who is Maya's age who has been battling cancer. Her previous scans showed the cancer was gone and then in the past few days Lucy has gotten sick and they found out that her cancer is back and there is nothing they can do. They don't have long with sweet little Lucy.

Lucy has an older sister and a younger brother Jack. She has 2 loving parents who have been such an inspiration to me. My heart HURTS for them. No one should ever have to endure this type of pain. And Lucy's mamma Kate has handled it with grace and beauty. She is very honest about her feelings and I admire her.

Please pray for sweet Lucy and her family and Jesus please keep that baby girl from having to struggle and please keep her pain-free. Have grace and mercy on her family and Jesus please protect little Ella's heart as she deals with all of this info.

Hug your kids tight and be thankful that they are healthy!

Turning Whittling into Giggling!

Last night Joe was teaching Max how to whittle a stick. He was loving it. So this morning he came into the kitchen with his spear and said, "dad, I need to giggle more on this." He said giggle instead of whittle! So whittling will forever be giggling to us! I love him!

Always Want to Remember This

Today Ella did a presentation in class on Ethiopia, she did such a great job and we were so proud of her. At the end of her presentation she said, "and the best gift Ethiopia ever gave me was this little boy my baby brother." At that point Ade ran to her and hugged her. I mean it was a very precious sight for sure. Such a beautiful picture of adoption and unfailing love! She made me a proud Mamma!

We were watching a really neat video tonight about a baby boy who was born with no eyes and a really bad cleft pallet. Maya had to get up from the computer because it was breaking her heart so bad. She has such a tender heart. A couple of hours later we were all hanging out in our room and she comes in and says, "Mom, I have a great song for that baby boy." She starts singing, "give me your eyes for just one second." The song by Brandon Heath, I almost busted into tears. These are the moments I don't want to end and the ones I want to hang on to forever! I am going to bed with a full heart and a blessed Mamma tonight!

Maya Jane was Baptized Today!

Maya Jane asked Jesus into her heart about a year ago. Well today she got baptized! She was so big and so brave and she knew exactly what she wanted to do. She got up there in front of the whole church spoke clearly and loudly and did her thing. She told me before hand that she was going to get the junk off and come up clean! It blesses my heart to know that my baby girl gets it! She amazes me. She got to pick where we went for lunch today and she picked "Burger King" for her baptism dinner!!! Too funny. And she sure has been milking this baptism thing, I can't tell you how many times we have heard, "but it's my baptism day!" How can you say no to that?:) We are very proud of her and we love her very much! Maya Jane, we can't wait to see all of the awesome things that God has planned for you and your life! We love you!

Daddy Comes Home Tomorrow

Joe left for Florida on Thursday for his annual trip to visit his brother. I used to really dread this trip because I thought of how much work it was going to be with the kids all by myself, but the last few years I have really enjoyed it. I am glad for Joe that he gets to spend some time alone with his brother and relax and I get to hang with my kiddos and enjoy the Mom and Kids time!

We have had all sorts of fun. On Saturday I went to Hobby Lobby and bought all sorts of crafts. One thing I got that I absolutely love was a 4 pack of canvases. The kids each painted something on their canvas and I did as well and we hung them up in the playroom. It looks so cute and it something we can always look at and remember doing that together! My kiddos are craft crazy, they would do crafts all day long if I would let them. I on the other hand have to mentally prepare myself for the mess it is going to create! But it is always worth it because it brings them so much joy. Ade was a hoot, he was more interested in painting the paper plate that the paint was on rather then paint his cross! He is a crack up. We also got all sorts of beads and made necklaces and bracelets! They have been beading fools! It is also so good for their fine motor skills.

The kids also swam several times this weekend in the cold pool on these super windy days! But they don't care! They are loving life. Accept for Ade again, I put him in the pool and he got out as fast as he could and said, "I cold"! He was the smart one! I on the other hand was sitting in a corner with a towel wrapped around me because I was so cold. This pool is going to be a God-send this summer!

Today we went to church and headed to my sisters for a party. It was a lot of fun and we got some cute things. We came back to town and headed to WM and came home for a relaxing evening. Although the power did go out for about an hour due to the wind. But we had fun making bracelets and talking!

I am reminded this weekend of how blessed I am to have a husband who really helps me out a lot and loves being with our kids. And I am reminded of what great kids I have and how they are an inheritance from the Lord. If only I could remember that when they are telling me no, making messes, asking me a thousand questions and not giving me one ounce of privacy!:) But I wouldn't change it for the world and I need to appreciate this blessing the Lord has given me, the blessing of 4 littles that call me MOM!!!

I Just Don't See It

I was getting my hair done today and I was talking about my trip to Ethiopia and how there were kids with lice, ringworm, scabs and sores all over their faces and crust around their mouths and noses. One woman said to me I don't know if I could do that, if I could touch kids like that, with all of that stuff, she said, I don't know how you do it. And my answer was simple," I just don't see it." I went all the way to Africa to LOVE on these kids, who knows maybe the ones with the open sores and flies all over them never get touched. What if I was the only one to touch them and love on them in weeks? I'm sorry, but they are people and we need to act like Jesus and to LOVE!

Happy Resurrection Sunday!

We have had such a wonderful Easter weekend. On Friday Maya and Ade got to attend the Easter Egg Hunt at Vintage. They had so much fun. And got A LOT of candy! Later that afternoon we headed over to Joe's parents and we got to meet a very special little lady! Little Annika! Sheldon and Denise are in the process of adopting their 3rd child. She is absolutely precious and has a smile that would melt any heart! We were all instantly in love! I thought it was super precious of my girls, they were really concerned about Amos, because they said they know what it is like to have a new baby in the house that gets all the attention! So they were really trying to make him feel special. It melted my heart.

Saturday we headed up to Grant City with my family. We always have such a blast in Grant City! I can't even get enough of it! The kids have so much fun and I so much enjoy all my family! We had some very tired children on the way home. My sis and her family stayed all night so that was a special night for the kids as well.

We woke up this morning and headed to church and then over to my parents house for a very yummy dinner. It was a great Easter.

This Easter I am especially reminded of how I have no room to complain about my day or say this is the worst day ever. I'm pretty sure the worst day ever would be hanging on a cross and getting beaten. I have nothing to complain about. I have a lot of prayer requests and goals in my life that are going to take JESUS to accomplish. But if he could hang on that cross, I can overcome some things that need to be overcome!

I am super excited about tomorrow evening, my team from Ethiopia is coming over for pizza and I can't wait to see them all! Happy Easter! HE IS RISEN!!!

Sort of Feeling Normal Again

I am starting to feel back to normal after our trip. I have been grouchy and feeling guilty for it. It is due to adjusting back to US life. I saw so many things and met so many amazing people that it is hard to just process that and come back home to being a mom full time and doing all the necessary things mom does. Especially when you have jet lag and are just trying to readjust.

But today I feel somewhat normal. I got up this morning and went for a run outside in the mist, it was awesome. It was a great time to clear my head and talk with Jesus about how I was feeling and the things that I saw. One thing I love about Jesus is that He is good all the time. Then I came home and did MORE laundry and I washed all of the couch covers, they were pretty knarley! That took a long time to put back on. And I started going through summer clothes. My kids have seriously almost outgrown everything. The only one who can still wear most of their stuff is Max! He is so little. But that will be good on my checkbook.

During my bible study today I was wondering why I feel the need to shop? It doesn't matter what I have. I am asking the Lord to help me to stop the shop!:) Also, why do I care so much about my weight? Why can't I be content with where I am? I am also praying that the Lord will help me through that as well and show me where I need to change things in my life. I am doing the Beth Moore study on the book of James and let me just say it is excellent!!! It is really causing me to stop and think about a lot of things. I have so far to go in my life but at least God is faithful and forgiving. Without that I would have nothing!

Ethiopia 2012 Part 2

So it is 4:30 here and I can't sleep, I need to get myself acclimated to MO time again! I was so grouchy yesterday, it is hard getting back into the swing of being Mom to 4 little kids and all the household responsibilities and all of that good stuff when you have been gone for 9 days. I guess I was in "culture shock!"

So on to the rest of the trip. We went shopping on Church Hill Rd. I remember the last time I was there in ET and shopping just completely stressed me out. Children tugging at you, calling you Mamma, telling you your beautiful, just begging for you to buy something or give them something. Mamma's on the streets with their sick hungry babies begging. So many different sights shopping. I developed a massive headache and just wanted to leave. Once we got in the van I just lost it. It was too much. I cried and cried and my headache was gone. I had been so tense there just trying to process all of these super sad things I was seeing. But through the whole experience I was thanking God because I pray a lot that God would break my heart and give me a compassion for the orphaned, widowed and poor and He continues to do as I ask!

We went to a school called Trees of Glory which is affiliated with Children's Hopechest. The night before we had gone to Yo Abbsynia a traditional Ethiopian restaurant which was so much fun. I got to dance with one of the dancers there! Funny story, I texted Joe and told him that he and the kids don't think I can dance but my peeps in Ethiopia appreciate my sick dance moves!:) Anyhow the next morning I was feeling sick, but I really wanted to go TOG so I had thrown up and thought maybe that would make me feel better so I went ahead on the 2 hour drive. About half way up there I was feeling BAD, I laid down in the van and slept the rest of the way. When we got there I was shaking and so dizzy and I knew I was going to vomit. I ran to the "bathroom" and threw up. Ended up sleeping in the bed there and throwing up for about 4 hours. When I finally woke up I just sat and watched the team hand out care packages! That is one of my favorite things to watch. By evening I was feeling so much better.

One of the things that touched my heart was these kids literally have nothing, I mean nothing and when they would get their care packages, they would share everything with the people around them. They are so giving. It was so awesome to see. One precious sight I saw was the whole issue with clean water. One little girl had stolen my water bottle:) but I didn't care because I saw here pouring the water into the lid and sharing it with her friends! I mean really come on, there is A LOT to learn from that people!

On the last day we woke up and went to MIssion Ethiopia, it is a place where single moms, widows, the poorest of the poor come to work. They make paper and clay beads and make necklaces and such to sell and support themselves and their families! It was very cool. All the profits go directly to them. I loved that. We got to sit in on their devotion for the morning and it was a very touching time. The way they give themselves in worship is amazing to me. And they have this really killer rolling of the Rs sound they make.:)

After Mission, we went to do some more shopping and then to a fun restaurant called Island Breeze. On the way there, I dropped my water bottle and leaned over to get it and smacked my nose and head on the bar in the van, pretty sure it may be broken, it is purple and swollen. We got a great laugh and a great story out of that one. Only when I got to the states and I am out with the family it feels like people think Joe hit me and it's a little embarrassing!!! Going tomorrow to have an X-ray!

Our flight home was LONG!!! That is the worst part about the whole trip is the flight. But I try to make the most of it. By the last flight though, I was really about to lose it. I was so ready to see my family. It was an awesome trip!

The guys that were taking care of us were AMAZING. We had such a blast and they were so kind to us. I find myself wondering what they are doing during the day. Tesfaye was so sweet and had the best laugh ever. Mastie was a strong guy and the ET Reggie Bush. He was very kind. Habti was just awesome! "Who's house" Habti's house!!!" Henok was very good at what he did. He reminded me a lot of what Ade will look like. And Fikre has such a heart for those kids!

I ams o thankful and blessed that I got to go on this trip and form so many great relationships! Until next year!

Ethiopia 2012

I just got back last night from my trip to Ethiopia! Oh my was it wonderful! We had a such a great trip. God was doing wonderful things in our group and in my heart. I will try to write a few things down I am still processing a lot at the moment!

We went to an Ethiopian church service which was so much more charismatic then I was used to and I go to WOLC:). There was so much energy and love and faith in that church. It was called Beza, it was an international church. It was such a great morning of worship. Except for that fact that I was really feeling sick. And I threw up in the middle of service!:) But it was so encouraging to see the people who have so little and are in such dire circumstances lifting their hands and giving their all to Jesus! It was very humbling.

Later that day we went to the Layla House which is an orphanage. Oh my were those children precious! We saw one of the fattest babies I have ever seen and she was delicious! I just wanted to much on her chunky little thighs! So many precious children their waiting for their forever families! It was a great time.


We went to Kind Hearts school and handed out supplies and did small lessons with the kids. We also had 4 teachers with us that did some training with the teachers at teachers at the school and gave them flash cards and such to work with the children. We also handed out sponsor care packages. Each of the children there are sponsored by someone in the US so they can go to school and have a meal each day. They are from the poorest part of Addis and school is really their only stability! So sad. We also bought each child a new pair of shoes and it was great to see them beam with pride when they put on their brand new leather shoes. So many emotions. I met my baby girl if she ever comes up for adoption!:)

We also went to a Young Life meeting in Addis too, it was very hot in the building but very cool to see God working in those children as well. A very big ministry.

I will try to write more later but that is good for now!

MIA

Soooo I have been MIA lately. I don't know why, I just haven't written a lot lately. A lot has been going on, but just haven't felt the need to write about it.

We are all doing very well. We got through birthday season. Ella broke her hand on her birthday, she was spinning with a friend and let go and she flew back and whacked her hand on the Lego table of all things. So she has been a cast for about a month now and it not thrilled with the whole thing. She has had to miss out on a lot of basketball tournaments and she is so bummed.

Max has had a very nasty cough for some time now and he is getting really irritated by it. He is playing basketball and is active as ever.

Maya is going today to get an eye exam, she didn't pass the exam at school so we are going to get her checked out. She is actually hoping she gets new glasses because they would make a great accessory to her wardrobe! She has also been telling me she needs hearing aides! I really don't know where she comes up with this stuff! She is a riot!

Ade is growing up and not so much a baby anymore. He is talking like crazy and he love love LOVES basketball. He cannot get enough. He plays in the living room on a hoop, in Max's room and in his room. I feel like my house has turned into a basketball court! He is all about Daddy right now which is sort of heart breaking and warming at the same time. But he could want me a tad more!

Our high school basketball team has made it to the sectionals, both boys and girls and we have had so much fun spending time with Max and Ella and enjoying those games together. They play tomorrow so GO LIONS!!!

I am leaving for Ethiopia on Friday. We will be working with Kind Hearts and Trees of Glory schools. Also working with Ethiopia Young Life, I guess they have thousands of kids come out for that every week. We will be hanging out with the soccer ministry. I am so excited yet so nervous to go. I like to be at home and this will be the longest I have ever been away from Joe. But God has a plan and I am sure once I am there I am going to LOVE it. I really can't wait to get back to my sons birth country and serve the beautiful people.

Well, that about does it for now. Not sure when I'll post again, maybe after my trip.

2011 in a Nutshell!!!

I haven't been blogging lately, honestly every time I sat down to do it I just couldn't think of anything so I didn't do it! I wanted to give a quick recap on 2011.

In 2011 we adjusted to being a family of 6. It is loud, it is crazy, it is lovely and it is fun! I may get irritated at the whining or the loud noises or the tattling but honestly, I wouldn't change it for the world! You are 4 of the craziest, most funny beautiful children I know! I love you so much and I love how much I learn from you!

2011 was a bit of a yucky health year for me. I had giardia, strep too many times to count, countless sinus infections, ear infections and on an on. I started allergy shots and I am on the road to being well! Praise the Lord! The girls had their tonsils out and have been healthy little people! They boys have done very well this year and have barely been sick!

Some highlights of 2011:

-Ade's first birthday here in the states.
-Ade's dedication-
-Ade's finalization
-Max in hap ki do
-Maya's dance recital
-Ella having solos in the school plays
-Joe surprised me with a new car with a bow it!

Oh shoot, I just saw what time it was, I need to go get Ade, I'll finish this later!