Friday Night with the Kids

(More pictures below)

It's 9:24pm and all the kids have been in bed and sleeping for an hour and 1/2 now. Can I get a witness?!?! Wife is out tonight, getting a much deserved break from all the poop, pee-pee, feedings, baths, laundry and crying (mine and the kids :) ). Tonight was my night to be Dad and Mom. It went over pretty well.

I'm sitting here now with Shrek playing on the TV (yea...for me and not any children!) and thought I'd post a few notes about life. Here is how I see my children a week and a 1/2 into our "new" life.

Uno: It seems as though she is really enjoying being a big sister, especially to baby Siete. She walks around with him on her hip and it's pretty funny to watch. She's been truly amazing in how she's handled the new kids and how helpful she and Dos have been. She also had too much on her plate with the Gifted program at school. She was going to the GEM program, which is a program for the gifted kids in Mayberry. It's held at a different school for 2 days of the week. She is perfect for the program intellectually, but emotionally it took a toll on her. I was driving her to GEM on Monday and she was so worked up, she puked in my hat!! Wife and I discussed it and decided it just isn't worth the emotional toll on her. She's an A+ student at regular school, and that's more than awesome. Maybe she can try the GEM program next year. But now she can just enjoy her new siblings and be the best big sister 6 kids could have.

Dos: What an amazing little guy. He has also embraced being the big kid in the house. Watching him play with Cinco, running around the house and being boys makes me so happy. I'm so stinking happy that he finally has a brother to play with. And when Dos comes near Siete, Siete just smiles and giggles. Dos has been so helpful and has sacrificed some of his little life to help out a tired and frazzled dad a few times this past week. It's funny to say, but I wouldn't have been able to be as good a dad if it weren't for Dos and Uno's unselfishness and great attitude towards helping out! In 2 weeks Dos and I will be in Dallas to see the Patriots beat the Cowboys...I can't wait for that 1 on 1 time with him.

Tres: She has taken well to be American :) We have a good amount of work to do, in terms of manners and learning how to interact with her new siblings. I assume orphanage life does this, but she tends to be very bossy and tell the T.O.T.'s (see previous post for definition) what to do and how to do it. I've had to raise my voice a few times with her and she doesn't like that too much. We had a melt down the other night at dinner when I tried to teach her to say "Yes Sir" when I tell her something. She told me no. She promptly went to her room wailing. After about 10 minutes of wailing, she calmed down, we talked (as well as we can) and now she knows and says Yes Sir when I give her direction. All of our kids have learned...it's yes ma'am, yes sir, no sir, no ma'am. We are the parents, not their school yard buddies. That all being said, she has been so much fun to play around with. She has a GREAT sense of humor and she gets it when I'm joking around with her and she even jokes back. I love that.

Quatro: I'll say this about Seis as well...Our African-American daughters have taken to talking African!!! I guess it sounds cool or being around it all day, it just rubs off on you. Quatro has actually been a lot better since the kids came home, compared to before they were home. She's slowly embracing being the 4 year old of the house, not quite a big kid, but not a little kid either. Although she really, REALLY, REALLY wants to be Tres. It's funny to watch her walk and talk like Tres . She comes out of her room and tells us how she has pretty hair like Tres or she is big like Tres. Pretty funny stuff.

Seis: So Seis has reverted back to being in pull-ups and "forgetting" how to put on her clothes. I think her place in the family is in question in her mind. It's frustrating but understandable. She was the baby of the family and now she's a big sister and one of 3 toddlers/pre-schoolers her age. She's such a a funny little girl and has such a goofy spirit. I hope we can help her through this adjustment time and she can just enjoy being the Seis of the family. She also talks about Siete as if he is a girl..."Her sock is off...She is laughing...." Drives me nuts!! :)

Cinco: Oh our little Cinco...our little human tornado. Everything he does, its loud, messy, clumsy, boisterous and full of chaos. It's hilarious to watch him just bounce off the wall because he wasn't paying attention to where he was going, fall to the ground, pop back up and run off to play. He has no sense of pain, as Dos will attest to, listening to Cinco slam his head into his head board at night and not wake up!! I also think the boy is French. Everything is prefaced with "le"...le car, le truck, le peepee, le drink. It's funny to hear. It also makes it hard to teach him to talk normally. He doesn't quite comprehend what we say to him most of the time, so he just repeats what we say or says "yeaaaa". You ask him, how do you ask nicely, his reply: how do you ask nicely. :)

Siete: Still one of the coolest babies you will ever meet. He has learned that being an American baby means, cry for whatever you want. Granted my precious wife has fed into it...something I would NEVER do *wink. Still though, he cries when hungry (which is every 18 seconds) or if he is tired (seems to be every 18 hours!!!). I taught him how to give kisses, which is awesome. Big huge wide mouth kisses, drool everywhere, can't beat that. Wife has started teaching to wave bye-bye, which makes him smile huge. He has put on some weight since being home, he is a whopping 15 pounds now. And to keep him "distracted" (as that "helpful" lady in Liberia suggested), we have found if Siete has a "forbidden toy" he is so happy. A forbidden toy would be: a block, maybe a random sock, a plastic cup, any toy Cinco may have breathed near.

Well that's all for now. Life is still awesome. It's tiring and hectic but as my good friend Jon says:

It's Worth It.

T.O.T's....

Quatro, Cinco and Seis...coloring...or are they really plotting against us?!?!?!?

Triplets of Terror aka T.O.T's...this is my new name for Quatro, Cinco and Seis. Named in love of course. We went from twins of sorts with Quatro and Seis to now triplets of sorts with Cinco added to the mix. They are funny and cool and just short goofballs. I also think they get together and plot against us...the plot nothing but 3 and 4 year old evil :). Lots of noise, toy banging, fighting over toys, fighting over mom and dad's attention. It's too funny watching them try to be sneaky in the things they say and do, yet be so obvious in their plots. It should be quite interesting to see how these 3 will grow and take on the world, hopefully together and not against each other.

Life has been like one big blur for the last 2 weeks. Since I got home it feels like everyday has blended into the next. Yet it feels like I've been home for ever. I think people take for granted how hard it is going to Africa and back. Missions trips are tough when you get back, dealing with what you saw, heard and experienced. BUT, this trip was 10 times harder than the trip I went on in November. I brought Liberia back with me! It's never quiet or calm in this house now :) I think it's fun and great, but it makes the time to debrief and get your wits back so much harder. I'm not saying this in a whoa is me kind of way, just being honest with whats going on inside.

Tomorrow (Monday) starts the beginning of "real" life for us. I will be back at work for my normal time and the kids will be off to school. I am praying that new routines start to take shape and people in this house understand their rolls, whats expected and not expected of them and the overall "Ways of the "

It's funny to me how easily these kids have adapted. There have been times of struggles, and thats been expected and understandable. But for the most part, Siete, Cinco and especially Tres have been doing remarkably well. Tres acts as if she's been an American her whole life. Lounging on the couch in the morning, listening to Wife and My conversations (just like her big sister) and helping set and clear the table after dinner. Cinco has had the most hard time, in my opinion. He has been very tired, very whiny at times but still gets right in there with the kids and the toys. He's the most extreme kid I've ever met...the over dramatic sadness, over dramatic happiness, the over dramatic food explosions...the over dramatic bathroom explosions :). And Siete, just like in Africa, he's the coolest dude in the house. Feed him, change him and let him be. He loves playing with the forbidden toys...Cinco's trucks...or the remote control...he's really a dare devil :)

Jsut as I was about to post this, we just had a visitor at our house...nearly our entire COM group from church. (COM group is a home group). They brought over about 15 bags of groceries!!!! Sweet gravy that's awesome. WE won't be purchasing rice until Siete graduate college!!! What an incredible blessing. Thank You guys so much if any of you are reading this. It is such an incredible showing of love and we thank you oh so much.

Till later...God is Good!

Settling In...

(too bad too it was a good picture of the fam)
(FYI...getting 8 people to sit and all smile and look at the same time at the camera....impossible!)

Wow...What a whirlwind the past few weeks have been. I think back to just one week ago and it's mind boggling to me that I was in Africa. A week ago I was ripping my hair out (I know I don't have hair, funny) with the loudness and whining of 5 kids and a baby (The Stewarts kids plus ours). A week ago I was missing my family in America, who was waiting for me to come home and start the next phase of the family. Today I'm sitting in my recliner, typing away on normal speed internet access, listening to the noise and loudness of the newly formed household.

The kids are all adjusting as well as they possibly can be. I'm actually shocked and amazed at how well everyone is getting along. After being in that African hotel room and listening to the constant cries of Cinco, the non stop calls for "beeesket" (Liberian for cookie or cracker), wiping poo-poo hiney's 4 or 5 times a day, I was so nervous about how this all was going to work out. But God is glorious. It's been pretty fun here. Kids playing, talking, laughing. Mom and Dad finding time for everyone, even though it seems like someone is always being forgotten or lost in the crowd. Cinco hasn't whined as much, heck hardly at all. Although he is still a stinking poop factory. Tres is so much more comfortable now that we are in "America". She has taken to having her room with Uno, her dolls and a virtual toy store of toys to goof off with. She hasn't had one of her wailing fits since being home. and Siete...Well he's still the man. He's learned that crying is the way to get what you want in the U.S.A! And that food is here all the time and his mouth is open all the time, what a perfect marriage.

At dinner last night, I'm looking at these 7 kids and it hit me that, there are 7 freaking kids at my table!!! Good grief. Each one has their own little personality and future ahead of them. It's going to be interesting to see how it all plays out and what the new routines will be like and which kids gravitate towards each other. We have the momma wanna be in Uno, the quiet yet confident singer in Tres, the human tornado in Cinco, the proud big brother in Dos, the confused yet goofy Sies, the want to be 9, but still only 4 year old Quatro and then the "I'm the man...feed me" Siete. How amazing is this? How cluttered and loud and congested is this? How Awesome!!

God is so merciful and gives us all we need to make it through the challenges of this life. He's given us the means to take in 7 children. He's given us the patience to get through the days of stress here at home as well as in Africa. He's blessed Wife and I with a love for each other that is like no other. He's blessed us with an instant desire to love these 7 kids, which is a miracle for me, because frankly...I do not like kids, toddlers especially. (As 3 of them are in the playroom yelling at each other and fighting over toys!).

And so the chaos of our life will now continue. It's going to be a fun, interesting, stressful, rewarding, tiring,, loving and funny time. But most importantly, I pray it's a time/life of God's blessing's on these kids. All are hand picked by God to be a part of this family, in order to bring more people to His family.

God is so Good!

And We're Home!

Praise God We are HOME!!!

What a crazy trip home. It started out on Sunday after we went to church at Greater Love Baptist Church. Pastor Wesley preached and we worshiped Jesus together, African style. It was fun and of course pretty hot in that little church. Had some fun times talking and joking with a lot of the people we met in November on the mission trip.

We went to the Airport after church. I told Pastor Wesley we wanted to be at the airport early and he joked with me, saying I was going to be there waaaay to early. Well I'm glad we insisted on leaving at 2PM instead of the 4PM he was trying to convince us to leave at. We got to Roberts International Airport in Monrovia after an hour long drive. We made it into the airport with only a few people looking for money. When I went to check in, they told me I didn't have a ticket for Siete. I showed them I had tickets for him from Brussels to Dallas and tickets for everyone else from Monrovia to Dallas, I wouldn't have NOT purchased the cheapest ticket of them all for the baby. The fought with me, sent me to the Brussels Airline office and made me sit there for a half hour before the figured out THEIR mistake. I was already tired and annoyed, but I took my boarding pass and went back through security and got passed a few more attempts at bribes by the security personal.

While I was fighting with Brussels airline to let me get my baby on the plane, Kevin was fighting with the Liberian Customs and Immigration people. They wouldn't let him past the passport stamping process because he didn't have the "adoption packet" that all adoptive parents have presented to him for the past years when they leave Liberia. We were on the phone to Addy's Hope and eventually the man and Pastor Wesley talked and Pastor Wesley was able to get us through. For about an hour or 2 we all thought we were going to be trapped in Liberia for who knows how long. But God is gracious....and we were allowed to pass through and by the time we all had made it to the waiting area, our flight was boarding. Had we waited until 4, like Pastor Wesley wanted, we would have been stuck there even longer. Thank You God!

Finally after all that, we got on the plane and started our 28 hour or so travels home. The flights were decent. God put in our paths some great people who were naturally curious why a few white guys had a gaggle of brown children making lots of noise and running around. So many people helped out at different times on different flights, giving the kids some distraction from whatever was making them sad.

Each flight got progressively worse for Tres. She naturally got more tired as we got off planes, waited in airports, got on planes and move all about. She ended up having some large meltdowns on planes and in the airports. But again different people helped out, and having a stranger come up and talk nicely and trying to comfort her helped so much.

When we finally landed in Mayberry, it all made sense. She asked me if we were in America? All those flights, taking off and landing, she was sad we weren't in America and was questioning if she was ever going to go to America, which is what she was promised by Pastor Wesley.

Today being home with my family, it's so much fun looking at my kids and seeing the future of family name all together in one house. Communication is a little difficult, but Cinco and Dos have been playing, Tres has been looking at books and dressing her new doll, all the kids have been playing in the playroom. I know, as it is with all kids, there will times of stress and craziness, but I am so glad to call this crew my family. God has blessed me so many times over I don't even know how to express to Him in prayer or action how in awe and grateful I am for the opportunities he has given and allowed us to do for Him.

Brown and white faces, boys and girls, Liberians and American....Our's.

Praise God!

Last post until I am home!

Today we went to the reception with the birth families. It was awkward but not too bad. Tres's mother and aunt were there and were very outgoing. They were very happy to see Tres going to America to have a good life. Cinco and Siete's mother and his father (or so I think) was there. Their mother seemed very quiet and it was awkward. The father was more outgoing. They took turns holding the boys. Cinco had a great night after we got home, Tres had a meltdown, but recovered and went to sleep. I am sure it was an emotional day for all of them. Siete still has very wet poopy diapers, so pray that it gets better for the plane ride.

This is the last time I will be able to post until I am home. We are flying out Sunday night and will be in A CITY Monday night, then Mayberry Tuesday morning. Pray for a smooth flight.

I Love You Guys!

I Love You God!

Visa's in Hand!!!!

Praise God we have our visas. Not without some drama, but they are in hand.

Pastor Wesley came by at 1 o'clock like he said he would, to bring us to the Embassy to get the visas. Only he was pretty flustered and talking about 3 hours of traffic and how Fanny (one of the other kids being adopted by the Stewarts) needed to have her finger prints done. He wanted to take me and fanny to the embassy to get her prints done and for me to pay my last fee. I told him heck no, we were all going. The whole ride there and wait I thought her prints needed to be run by the US government. After waiting outside for about 30 minutes at some restaurant while Pastor Wesley and Fanny were in getting her finger prints, we finally were allowed into the Embassy and we waited for the visas and our immigration packets to be processed. Thankfully the visa for Fanny wasn't held up because of her prints and everyone left with an immigration packet and visa. Turns out, since Fanny's passport says she was born in 1993 (absolutely no way she is 14 years old), she had to have finger prints done. New policy for anyone 14 and older coming in the country. So since her paperwork says she is 14 (again...she must have been born in 1993, not 1998) she needed finger prints. While waiting of course Siete had a sloppy poopy.

Spent some good time with our friend Matthew tonight. We met him when the missions team came to Liberia in November. He is a solid guy and working hard to finish his degree in Accounting. It was good to spend time with him and hear his stories of life in Liberia. We all sat around and talked tonight; Ryan, Kevin, Matthew and I. It was fun to share our stories and life with each other.

Tomorrow is our day of fellowship at the church. It should be interesting. We will be meeting the birth parents of the children we are adopting. Those who know me know, when I say it'll be interesting, I mean I think it's going to be weird. I pray that it will go ok. I'm told that the relationships with the parents and kids aren't like they are in the US. Still, if the kids see their birth mothers, it could get awkward and potentially sad.

Random thoughts about Liberia: All the wood carvers make the same stuff...are they really wood carvers? Or is there a wood carvers outlet somewhere?It's the rainy season here...probably should have packed a parka or 2The roads here are a major mess. Holes the size of Rhode Island!! (For you Texans...that's like the size of a most hats worn in the Lone Star State)The electricity here in the hotel stays on consistently for about 18 minutes.Ryan looks pretty stinking funny holding baby...19 years old and wiping boogy noses and rocking babies to sleep. He is so freaking incredible.

Thanks Jon, Sara, Mike and Chuck for stopping by the house! You guys are awesome.

Love You Guys....Love You God

Made it Through the Embassy Appointment

Thank God, We made it to the embassy...filled out about 4 million forms...didn't know what to put in most of the boxes on each form...fudged our way through it all and God willing we will have visa for all the kids tomorrow at 2PM. It was a long hour or so at the embassy with 6 kids and 4 guys packed into a very small room and the kids getting tired and bored, but once again Ryan was a champ and kept everyone as calm as possible.

So only a few more days and we'll be on our way home. Kids are napping now...by kids I mean Siete, Cinco and Ryan!! :)

Not too much else to report from here. We have been spending time in the hotel. The kids all play together. I think having Charles, Giftie and Fannie here has been a great help. They all get crazy and loud at times, but it gives them all people to play with. Hawa and the Stewarts kids play all the time so it seems fun for them.

God is so good to me for allowing me this opportunity, I just pray next time He'll allow Wife and I to do it together. Adoption is a God ordained WE thing, but this trip makes it feel like a ME Thing, so sorry for hogging all this stuff Wife, you can have the first week home with them :). But I don't question His plan for us and this trip. I haven't had as much time to spend in the Word as I wanted to being here, but He has full on shown Himself to me through these little people. It's amazing how, through all the bodily fluids and stresses, I immediately have a love for these little ones. I can't explain it except to say...that's how God loves each and every one of us. He shakes his head at us and says why oh why....but I still Love You.

No pictures this post...the internet here is so darn slow. And we keep losing power. It's like I'm living in Africa or something....

oh and will someone...Jon, Mike, Chuck...someone PLEASE check in on my beautiful wife. In one day I hear about a flood in the kitchen and a fire in the oven. I'd like to make it home, to a home and a family!!! :)

Love you Guys!
Love you God!

Wednesday

I am putting this up for Randy
---Wife

Just a quick post tonight. Today was out chill out day at the hotel, which went surprisingly well. No one really got too restless and we all played together, napped a little of the day away, ate some snacks and colored.

I did get to enjoy the wonderful experience of cleaning up vomit. Tres ate too many different snacks and ended up toss her snacks into the sink. It's like I can't avoid puke with my kids. Here and Uno should get along just great!! I had to transfer her tossed cookies from the sink to the toilet, because, well because of it's consistency. Ended up cutting a water bottle in half then scooping it out and moving it to where it belongs. Stomach's starting to hurt thinking about it!!!

Siete is still very congested. He is sneezing out HUGE boogie strings, which anyone who knows me knows, I can't handle boogies. give me the puke, but the boogies and *shivers.
Tomorrow is out trip to the embassy. Pray for a smooth process. Some stories are good and others are bad about the lady we need to deal with, so I pray this all goes smoothly and we get the visa on Friday morning. I'd rather not spend more time here.
Love you Guys!
Love you God!!

Just another Tuesday in Liberia

PICTURE REMOVED

We went to the Greater Love Children's Home today. We took tons of pictures and handed out gifts to the kids. It was a mad house!!! It was fun to be able to give to the to-be adopted kids the packages their new families sent for them. The older kids seemed to "get it" but the little guys and girls had no idea what I was about :) All the kids really like looking through the photo albums families send. It was tough leaving though, so many kids were crying, thinking that this was their turn to go home. One little girl kept hugging my leg. I also felt bad for Tres (our little 6 year old girl). She was crying a lot before we left and she was really clingy to Ryan and I when we were at the Children's Home. I'm not too sure bringing them back there is a smart idea, but it seems like that is the customary thing to do.

Pastor Wesley has done some great work at the orphanage. There is a cement wall that now surrounds the facility and an additional class room was built. BUT, more importantly is the new well on the property that a previous adoptive family raised the money to have drilled. Now, instead of walking 1/2 to 3/4 of a mile to get water, they can just go right outside. Thank God for that!

Tomorrow will be a hang out day at the hotel, Which really means, scramble to come up with ways to keep the kids entertained :) Glad I brought Ryan. Hopefully the DVD's I brought and music and toys will keep them entertained. So far the kids have been pretty good. Kevin and I keep our doors open for most of the time we are here, so the kids run around from room to room and play together. I'm glad Kevin is here adopting his 3 cute kiddos. It's helped having another person to talk to, but even more so it's helped the kids (mostly Tres) have fun playing with her friends.

As far as these kiddos go...I'll tell you what, it is EASY to fall in love with Tres. She absolutely precious. She acts like a 6 year old and has a little bit of a selfish side (to be expected) but she is so mild mannered you can accept it and still want to give her a hug. She accepts a short "Don't do that" and moves on, usually with a smile. Only time she won't respond to me is when she is sad, which has only been 2 or 3 times so far. Siete is just a cool little dude. He is sick I think but he just hangs out and rarely makes a noise. He is however in that I want to reach out and touch everything in and out of my reach and whine if I can't have it stage. Also playing the drop my toy and daddy will pick up game....I love that game...he usually wins. Cinco...I'm still confused about. I'm not sure if he is just really good at playing the whining game or he really is THAT whiney :)He can be and is very adorable but he is absolutely stubborn. If he can't have his way...then he'll just whine and cry and still try to do what he wants. Oh and the kid can eat!!! Unfortunately the by-product of that is: 5 trips to the potty and all I can say is it the most unHOLY of experiences.

FYI: I didn't proof read this, so I apologize for any misspellings or weird looking sentences!!!

Thanks for all the notes guys....We love it and can't wait to be back home.

HE Is our Solid Rock!

Day 2....

Today we went as saw the medical clinic. It was so awesome to see how much has been done. They were in the process of tiling the floors so there will be no more cement dust for the patients. Also they have started to build a radio station for Pastor to broadcast his sermons.

He also showed us the building that will be known as the Marion house. It's the infant home for the babies to stay in, away from the older children and potential illnesses. It is named after a baby girl who was going to be adopted, but got sick and passed away a few months ago. Her to be adoptive parents have raised money to help build it. It's being built on the property that Pastor Wesley and his family live on. It'll have a place for the infants, an office for Addy's Hope as well as a second floor for visitors, missionaries and most importantly adoptive parents.

We are spending the rest of the day today at the hotel and man, 5 kids and a baby...that is one loud combo. We did have one "emergency" after breakfast when Ryan picked big Z out of his stroller and dripping out of his pants was a mustard looking, sulfer spelling substance. It was absolutely nasty. He had exploded all out of his pants and up his back. Ryan and I both kind of froze, he held Siete out with two arms and just held him there...I...well I just stared for about 30 seconds. I had no idea what to do :)...finally I came too and got the wipes, cleaned up Siete's legs and stroller then up into the shower we went...oh the joy of diapers.

I realized today that most of the clothes we brought Quatro and Siete are just way too big. the shorts I put on Siete today he needed a belt, so I think this will be a week of onsies and 1 piece outfits. Too bad I didn't bring him a nice pant suit.

It's going to be an interesting dynamic when we all get home. I know Dos and Uno are going to want to play with Tres and Quatro and I'm sure they will do fine, but the Liberian kids are very hard to understand. And the way these kids interact with each other, it's like they lived in an orphanage or something. They are surprisingly sharing, but also very territorial. If a toy or food is dropped, they will yell at each other to get it back, but if they feel like sharing, they'll offer up the same toy that they just fought for.

Today Quatro has really come out of his shell, almost too much :) He is one of the louder kids and very vocal with what he wants. I was able to make him giggle and he responded to tickles. I was so nervous last night that he was going to be so quiet and withdrawn, but he seems like he's going to fit in just right as a .

Tomorrow will be a day at the children's home to visit and give out the adoptive parents gifts they sent to their new children. Wednesday is a day to just hang out at the hotel (which could be 1 loooooong day), Thursday is our trip to the embassy, Friday back to the embassy to pick up visa's (God willing), Saturday there will be a fellowship time with the biological parents and members of the church (not sure I knew about that and trying to figure out how comfortable I am with that), then Sunday we start our short 2 day trek home.

Last 2 things. 1. Thank you all for the comments and emails...nothing like being a 30 yr old guy along in restaurant, weird techno music playing in the background, in the middle of Liberia Africa....wiping tears off my face. I love it!! and 2. God is so stinking amazing...He sent with me the most incredible friend in Ryan...he's 19 years old and is making this trip even more fun than it would have been by myself. I absolutely wouldn't have been able to do this with out him!!! Great job Reich's in raising one heck of a kid!!

Getting pictures up here is so tough, I apologize for not having more. The internet connection is amazingly, painfully slow.

Love You All!

We Made It!!

Well it's 7:45AM Monday morning and Ryan and Tres are still sleeping, Cinco is laying on the bed but wanting nothing to do with anything and Siete is sucking his fingers laying next to me.

We made it! Mayberry to Don'tKnow to Washington to Brussels to Monrovia....30 whatever hours later, we are here. The flights were for the most part, not that great. There was a lot of turbulence and at one point on our way to Brussels, the plane dropped a few feet unexpectedly, which promptly made people scream and one person called out to Jesus. Scared the junk out of me. Once in Brussels we met up with Kevin, who is one brave man. He is also adopting 3 children through Addy's Hope, only he came here alone.

We landed in Monrovia and didn't have any troubles getting our bags and getting through customs...that right there is 1 HUGE Praise God! Met the kids last night and took "ownership" of them, not too sure how else you say that. We went to Pastor Wesley's house after checking in at the hotel.
Tres seemed very nervously excited. She wanted to come and be by my side but didn't want to make too much eye contact. Cinco wanted nothing to do with any of us. Seite came right to me and just chilled out, but he's a baby and that what they do best. The 3 children Kevin is adopting seemed to accept him as soon as he got there. IT was very dark out and a lot of people were all around, so it was hard to keep straight everything that was going on.

Afterwards, We brought them back to the hotel to get some dinner. Ordered up 2 plates of Liberian style chicken, which I forgot is pretty spicy. BUT...Cinco and Tres ate it like champs. Tres almost ate a whole plate by himself. Tresput back her share, but she didn't eat as much as I thought she would. I sat with Seite on my lap the whole time, no high chairs in Liberia I guess.

After eating and talking with Pastor Wesley, we finally came back up to the room for the night. I will tell you the next hour and 1/2 or so was one of the most stressful, doubt filled times in my entire life. Cinco and Tres were very quiet and didn't seem to want to have anything to do with us. And Seite....he cried...and cried.....and cried. He cried through a bottle, a new diaper, new pjs....he just wailed. I had no idea what to do....this would be the time I would say Wife....here! He finally fell asleep as I rocked him, but man I thought he was going to cry all night long.

So now, when everyone wakes up, we'll go get some breakfast and maybe head over to the medical clinic to drop off the medical stuff Kevin brought with him. After that I'm not sure what the plan is. What I do know is I didn't plan on the rain. It's is pouring out and I don't have anything to cover us.

Stupid battery in the laptop is dying....I'll try to get more pictures up later.

It is indeed worth it.

And We're Off....

4:30 AM....not fun. But neither was 2AM, 2:15AM, 3:06AM....you get the point...I was up a lot last night...I'm ready to go.

Spent last night with Ryan and his awesome parents. It was fun sitting around, eating pizza and laughing together. It's easy to see where Ryan gets his incredible spirit and love.

OK I'm off to go give my kiddos some last minute hugs and kisses. Oh and wipe away the tears Dos has running down his face!

God is AMAZING!!!

Tick Tick Tick

44 hours and counting. Packing has been funny...I think I've counted my outfits about 30 times and I'm not even close to being done packing my clothes. I just want to be sure I have enough outfits to not have to worry when I'm there, but don't want to carry more than needed.

All the logistical things are starting to weigh on me a bit. Like, what exactly am I supposed to be getting after I go to the embassy? How early do I need to be at the airport when we leave Liberia? How can I be sure the hotel has a confirmation for me? It's not like we used Hotels.com to book the thing :). Did I bring enough snacks?

I am realizing through all of this though, I love it. I love the fact that God has empowered me and prepared me to be strong enough to travel to Africa to pick up 3 children. The "stresses" of doing this all could be so much more damaging had God not hand picked me to go to Liberia last year and gotten my international travel feet under me. God's made me such a closet Type-A person...I've got my lists, my itineraries, my lists about my lists, my printed emails, items in zip lock bags with labels on them and more lists about my lists. It's awesome.

I still giggle at the thought of two guys walking up to the embassy with the 3 little kids saying..."Yes, We are here to adopt them"...it's a very "happy" thought....if you know what I mean. So many of my friends in Massachusetts would be sooooo proud!

I think one of the neatest things I have been given the opportunity to do is to hand out photo albums and gifts for some of the children being adopted by families here in the U.S. I hope some of those kids will understand what the pictures mean and start to get that excited feeling, that they will have homes soon enough...no more cramped living and sleeping...no more wondering about how much food or water there is...no more wondering who their forever family is. God is so Awesome to give me this opportunity!

Totally off subject...if you haven't seen Wild Hogs and/or Blades of Glory...you are missing out. 2 very funny movies.

Post more soon!
God is Amazing in all He does in our lives.

Random Thoughts from the Past Month

I really have been meaning to post more, but life has gotten so busy, so here is a recap of random things I've wanted to share:

Fantasy Football Time is here!!! I drafted my "important" team...it's pretty good, hopefully I'll finish in the top 3.

I miss home. I hear New Hampshire is really nice this time of year!

Red Sox are leading their way to the playoffs. 1 month left and they have a 6 game lead. Sure it was once at 14 games, but I'm not panicking.

Had Dos's friend birthday party this past Saturday. I pretty much just lived the kid birthday party of my dreams, through my son! He wanted a sports party, so I painted a 50 yard football field out in the back yard (end zones and all), set up a kickball/baseball diamond, put up the volleyball net, horseshoe area and water balloons. The football field was fun and Dos seemed to like it. That right there is what being a dad is all about. Giving your family all that you can and trying your hardest to make their lives happy and dreams to come true. I love that part of being a Dad and Husband.

One full suitcase is packed now. For the record, I'm bringing a bunch of stuff. Donations for the Children's Home, snacks for us and the kids, 9 outfits per child (that's 27 total outfits for the multiplication impaired), diapers, pull-ups, books, toys, extra socks and undies for each child and stuffed animals. And I haven't even thought about putting my stuff into a suitcase yet. 2 gynormous suitcases, a stroller and a huge backpack...awesome :)

I'm really feeling God in me the last few days. Leading up to this trip, I was feeling Him moving in my life and some how, as the trip became a reality, with real dates, I kind of took over and allowed the stress to come into my days. Sunday at church, God just slapped me in the back of the head and set me straight. The trip will be stressful, but I have a peace and excitement that I didn't have a few days ago.

Weight Loss Update: I've lsot 6 pounds so far. Could have lost more, but frankly some food is too good to pass up. Still trying to pray my way to 185.

All for now...More updates as the trip starts.

HE is the Solid Rock

Ryan and Randy's Excellent Adventure

Ya dude....Down to like one gnarly week....AIR GUITAR!!!!

Been a month since I blogged here....and now it'll be like a flood of info. Ryan and I are leaving in exactly 1 week. Visa's, Passports, Malarone....all are in and ready. One big suitcase is packed, another is partly packed. It seems like we've been waiting forever to finally go and now the date is 1 week away!!!

I am so blessed ot have an incredible friend in Ryan to share this experience with me. He is a champ and a half and has his head on straight with the Lord. I can't wait to spend this time with him. I'm nervous to see how Cinco, Seite, and Tres respond to us, but I feel good knowing Ryan absolutely loves kids and kids love him immediately. So even if they are freaked out by me, I know they'll respond really good to him.

On the home front, we are pretty much prepared. Just finished putting the crib up. Installed the car seats earlier this week...(Have been asking God to forgive me for the swears...stupid things...). Going to help Wife build up a stand up thing for Seite to play/sit/stand in. Still need to get a couple of dressers. Lots of clothes have been donated/bought. I think it's safe to say...we are ready! not sure we will feel ready those first few days, but we are ready. God has prepared us and given us all we need for this next stage of life.

I find myself doubting a little, how ready I am to travel around the world with 3 little ones I don't know yet. It's going to be pretty interesting trying to understand who these 3 little humans are, get them to trust who I am, feed them at the right times, bathroom breaks with a 6 year old girl, going through customs, trying not to sleep on the plane with them with me, being the person in charge, taking all the pictures and notes to document the whole thing properly, hand out the gifts for the next adoptive families. It's official....I need a list!!

As the date to leave gets closer I'll be posting more up here. While on the trip, I should have internet access, so I will be posting up pictures and thoughts for that day. Please keep track of our trip and and comments would be great. It's great to hear and feel the encouragement.

God is truly Amazing!