A New Ethiopian Movie

Trying to spread the word about a new Movie/Documentary that's trying to take roots. It's called "Bewoket- By the Will of God". (click on the title to be taken to it's website.) Here's a brief summary:

The idea for the film began in 1998. Dr. Rick Hodes was speaking in a synagogue in London, in an effort to raise awareness of his work.
Rick’s story was immediately inspiring. It was an opportunity for a personal and intimate inquiry into the life of a relief worker- what it is that makes a person leave everything and go to Africa, and what it is that makes them stay there.

In April of 1999, Sam traveled to Ethiopia and spent Passover with Rick and his family. He was able to capture Rick’s daily life in the clinic, as well as revealing interviews with various family members.
On his visit to Rick's house, Sam met Bewoket, the title character. Bewoket's personality and his desperate struggle for life against all odds made him a perfect hero. Tens of thousands of children die each year in Ethiopia, and Bewoket is a survivor.

My BFF Ruby!

Fun, fun, fun! We met Natalie and Ruby tonight for dinner and some shopping!! What a treat. Grace and Ruby were in our agency's orphanage together and Ruby went home one week before we brought Grace home. Their cribs were right next to each other and they're 2 weeks apart!! They were so cute together. They just kept looking at each other, smiling, touching, etc. They remembered. :) We got lots of oohs and ahhs tonight-- but who wouldn't-- they're two of the cutest baby girls around!! :) And many people asked us if they were twins! (but that might be due to the fact that their corny moms dressed them in matching pjs!!)

Grace's newest face: She's learned to make "raspberries" and does it ALL the time!! :)

Happy Days!

My kiddos----- I'm so blessed by the two most precious babes. Jake is head over heels in love with Grace! It's fun to hear my words come out of him. I hear... in a higher pitched girl voice.... "Hi little lady. How's my girl doing? I sure love you, etc...." It's a kick! And when I pick him up from preschool, he has to give Grace and hug and a kiss before he does anything else. And then they hold hands in the backseat all the way home!!! And Grace--- you should see the looks she gives him! She's in LOVE with brother.

And my big girl-- weighing 15.5 pounds.... in the 45th% for weight now!!! Who would have thought that she was only 4.8 pounds at 9 weeks!!!!! And she's started solid foods and loves it!

(I just can't get enough of the sparkle in her eyes!!)

Family of 4 pictures!

6 months!!

Today my baby turned 6 months old! 6 months ago today, sweet little Gracie came into this world-- half a world away from her soon to be mommy and daddy. I looked back at my calendar and saw that I had taken Jake to swimming lessons that day. I wonder if I thought more about our referral that day. Was she born yet? How old will she be? What will she look like? But, it was probably just a typical Friday for us.... who would have know that the most precious and beautiful little girl had just been born! Well, fast forward to 6 months later and our lives have been blessed more than we could have ever imagined!!! Thank you Jesus for giving us the gift of Grace! Happy Birthday baby girl!

I Love Fall!!

Fall is my absolute favorite season... especially on days like today when it's sunny and 70*! I took to the kids to the pumpkin patch with our MOPS group a few weeks ago, but it was cold and rainy and Grace slept the whole time in the front pack, so I didn't get many good pictures. So, today I had the kids pose with the pumpkins in the front of the grocery store!! I couldn't miss Grace's first Halloween without pumpkin pictures!

Just so happy!

Nothing new or exciting to post. Just had to post a few new cute pictures. Grace is finally tall/long enough so her feet actually touch the bottom of her exersaucer and she can really enjoy it. She is such an easy and happy baby... and becoming quite a chunk (who would have ever thought!! Woo Hoo!! And maybe someday we'll actually be able to see her neck-- I think she has one. :)