Beauty for Ashes

This morning we went to the embassy early hoping that we could have an early appointment and receive our visas before the Muslim holiday tomorrow.  Normally you receive your visas the next day and the embassy will be closed tomorrow.  That would leave Monday---and we are supposed to leave on Monday.  Hopefully we'll have them today.


The kids woke up so happy.  Their manners are impeccable.  Pochi has done such an incredible job preparing them at the orphanage.  They made their beds as soon as they got up, brushed their teeth without being told and folded their jammies.  They clear the table after eating and always say thank you for everything ---they take off their shoes inside and keep up with their things.  Maybe some of this will rub off on our kids at home!


We went to eat lunch at the Hilton after our embassy appointment and afterwards took Mercy to the beauty parlor to get her hair washed and combed out.  The look on her face when she realized that we were there for her was priceless!  She is the picture of "to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning and a garment of praise instead of despair.  They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor."  Isaiah 61:3.  She has a quiet regal quality mixed with a humble spirit that radiates from her.  She is SO very thin...a result of all that she has been through.....she has never been cared for in a way that lets her know how beautiful she is to our Lord.  That's all changed now.  One more thing--she loves to stand with me in front of the mirror hugging each other.  This girl is so thankful to have a mama.  We both end up crying!


James continues to crack us up constantly!  He has boundless energy and only stops to give hugs and kisses.  He talks really fast---in Amharic---it's hilarious!  Jimmy calls him "Jamo" and on his napkin at dinner tonight he wrote, "me Jamo Abenet."  He is living up to the namesake he's been given.  The comparisons to Jimmy are endless and kind of scary!


Nati is so much like Nash.  They both laugh at the same kind of things, are careful observers and tenderhearted.  They will be instant Bffs.  Nati is definitely the quiet and wise leader of the bunch.  His way with the others is just precious!


Isaiah has the sweetest, most gentle spirit I've ever seen!  He smiles all the time and the way he cares for his siblings just breaks my heart.  He is an artist and draws and colors beautifully, can tie his shoes, loves to play ball and is so kind and considerate to everyone.


They all LOVE running water.  It makes them so happy!  They love to take showers---even cold ones---and they love to wash their hands in a sink.  They just stand with their hands under the water laughing and chattering like crazy.  I cry every time they wash their hands.  Actually, I'm fighting back tears most of the time.


Ethiopia is wrought by unbearable poverty, and knowing your children are survivors of this kind of life brings it to a whole new level.  I couldn't sleep at all last night because of the pouring rain and knowing that our kids lived in a hut that flooded with every rain shower-----and praying for all the mothers trying so hard to keep their babies dry and all the orphans with no one to protect them.


We went to visit Aster at Kid's Care this afternoon.  We love her so much!  Jimmy got to see where Levi used to live and the crib he slep in with a bungee cord strung across.  He was even a substitute teacher for a class.  Aster is broken hearted about the news stories casting a negative light on adoption in Ethiopia.  Our enemy is hard at work to keep as many children suffering as possible.  The government is sending most of the abandoned children to a government orphanage---not the best opportunity for them to find a home with a family.  Please pray that more children will not die alone because of the dishonesty of a few.  Adoption is the Gospel.  I know I say that all the time----but that is why it will always be opposed and misused by some.


I'm beyond grateful that God has chosen us to parent these children and all of our children.  These 4 have suffered more than anything I could ever imagine and His Spirit still shines through them.  I'm not at all under the delusion that everything will always be joy, joy, joy like it is now; but whatever is ahead our Savior has already walked before us------and our family will be better for it!