Here she is!

This was her referral picture we received on July 20, 2011.

Here she is on November 22, 2011, the day after we passed court.

Bezawit Rose Politzer





In Ethiopia!

We arrived in Ethiopia today!  We just got our bags into our room when our driver asked us if we wanted to go meet little sister/B/our brown-eyed girl.  I told him we were scheduled to meet her tomorrow.  He said we could go today if we wanted.  Yes!  We quickly changed the clothes we had been wearing for the last 26 hours and jumped back in the car.

As soon as I stepped foot in the room I saw her.  Oh.my.gosh.  It was pretty surreal.  There she was.  Just like in her photos.  Beautiful.  Shy.  Nervous.  We played.  Koen even got hugs and kisses from her.  She held his hand and led him around the room.  She played with his hair.  He loved it.  He doesn't want to leave her here when we go home.  Me neither.

It was a visit filled with many emotions.  I have so much more to share.  And I will as soon as I get some sleep:)

Koen is 5!

We had a Halloween Costume Party planned for Koen's 5th birthday.  18 of his little friends were expected at 12 noon on October 30th.  Then some crazy noreaster blew its way through our neighborhood!  There are times we don't ever see snow until January or February.  We got almost 8 inches of snow!

All this snow brought down trees that hadn't yet experienced fall and many lost power - including the building that was to host Koen's birthday.  One hour before his party was to start we received a call giving us the bad news and we had to tell a very excited little boy that he would not be having a birthday party :(

There were a few tears but we dried them off and did this instead!

Lou was having so much fun until all the snow balls he was making bogged him down.

We didn't need power for our community Halloween party.

It was a fun weekend. 
My little bug just moments after he woke up on the morning of his birthday.  The very first thing he says is "Am I five right away?" 

I absolutely love celebrating the birthdays of my children.  I love to go back to that moment in time when I first held them and felt the warmth of their skin on mine - just love it.  I close my eyes and I can still feel it.

Koen's favorite food group is pancakes.  And we happen to have an awesome restaurant right down the street that serves pancakes 50 different ways.  We were off to find us some special pancakes.

We sit down and I start to tell him all of the great new ways he can have his pancakes.  "I just want plain like at home."  I convince him to try fruity pebble pancakes.

I thought he was going to gag that small bite right back onto the plate.

Short stack of plain pancakes please.

Got some loving from one of the big brothers.  (the other big brother is at Duke and big sister is working now in DC)

Birthday dinner was cheese sandwiches in the shape of dinosaurs.  Donuts were the birthday cake of choice.

The favorite birthday present ever.

I say to him "you look just like the real Mario!"  "No, I'm just Koen.  This is a costume."  He cracks me up.

His party was rescheduled for the Saturday after Halloween which made for very happy children.

Mummy the daddy game.

Even Riley gave birthday love.

Happy birthday to my snuggle bug.  He promises no matter how old he is he will always be my snuggle bug.

Now I have to go start packing.  Cause we leave for Ethiopia in 7 days!!!!!!!

Sophia's Angelversary

I can't believe it has been three years.  Still feels like yesterday.  I wish I was able to write Sophia's birth story.  Three years ago today I almost died, and she did die.  While it's not a story with a happy ending it is a story of undying love and faith.  And one day I hope to be able to sort through the feelings of that love and faith which are so intertwined with tragedy and suffering.

I'm just a little baby

 who didn't quite make it there;

I went straight to be with Jesus

 but I'm waiting for you here.

Don't you fret about me mommy.

I'm of all God's most blessed.

I'd have loved to stay there with you

but Heavenly Father knows what's best.

Many who dwell here where I live

 waited years to enter in.

They struggled through a world of sorrow

 and their lives were marred with sin.

So sweet mommy don't be sad.

Wipe those tears and chase the gloom.

I went straight to be with Jesus

from my lovely mother's womb.

Thank you for the life you gave me.

It was brief but don't complain.

I have all of heaven's glory

suffering none of the world's pain.

Thank you for the name you gave me.

I'm thankful for all you've done.

I'll be waiting here for you

in heaven up above.

I would have loved to stay with you

and lived life by your side,

but the Lord called me home

I know it's hard to understand why.

Thank you mommy for making me,

you made me out of love.

I can't wait for the day I see you again

so you can see what I've become.

I'm an angel here in heaven.

The Lord's here by my side.

He wants me to let you know

He's sorry he made you cry.

He has a plan for me up here,

and a plan for you here too.

Someday we'll be together again,

and this I know is true.

(author unknown)

Some people only dream of angels, I got to hold one.