Cool & Humbling

We did not have the good fortune of being able to take our three kids at home with us to Africa to meet Zeb. I wish we could take them when we travel to pick him up, but with airfare pushing $6000 for the three of us as it is, we're tapped out in that department.

But, the coolest and most humbling thing is that despite the fact that Zeb is simply a face in pictures and a name to our kids at home, they include him in everything, even though he's not here yet.

They keep a place for him at the table when we eat, they talk about where he'll sit in the car, they count him as one of us when we talk about how many kids we have, they remember that he also needs a new coloring book when we're shopping for treats ... he is always present even though he is thousands and thousands of miles away.

They also pray for him with such intention every single day. They pray that he wakes up with a cheerful heart ... they pray that Jesus will whisper to him that we're coming ... they pray that he is safe and that he has enough to fill his tummy ... they pray that he has fresh water ... they pray that someone prays with him at bedtime.

Children and their selfless ability to love everyone and show compassion indiscriminately is a lesson for us all.

♥Our Family Tree♥

Little Brothers

It's been over ten months since we started preparing for Zeb's arrival into our family. We've read countless books on adoption, attachment, parenting, older-child adoption, etc etc. We've met with our case worker (a clinical psychotherapist ... that was stressful) and emptied the nitty gritty of our souls for countless hours. We've flown across the globe to meet him, to play with him, to hold him, to tell him that we are his. And, we've prepared in ways that have been a salve for our weary, waiting hearts ... putting the boys' room together. ♥

Awesome feeling to make Zeb's bed with fresh, new linens to match Jack's, put his lovie and donkey on his little pillow, scoot his bed alongside his little brother's, and picture us reading stories in there, rocking in the chair, watching the frogs from the windows, and playing in the tent hidden in the closet.

I cannot wait to tuck him in that first night home.

Until then, we imagine.