Sweet Dreams?

Tonight as I poked into Macy's room to check on her, I found her lying wide awake in her crib. (Not surprising as the big kids were making a mighty loud ruckus while decorating the counter with toothpaste brushing their teeth down the hall.) When I got to the side of her crib I noticed she looked sad. I'm still not sure why exactly. It was probably because it was WAY past her bedtime or because she didn't really want to be in that bed. I happily took the opportunity to scoop her into my arms and cuddle up in the rocking chair with her. After about 20 seconds of rocking and singing, I realized she was fast asleep. And she looked so peaceful tucked into the crook of her Mommy's arm. I just stared at her and prayed thanking her Maker for bringing her home to us. The longer I rocked the deeper her sleep became. And then I started wondering what she was dreaming about. Do her dreams place her here or in Ethiopia? Are they happy dreams or sad ones? Is she heartbroken in them or joyful? I mean think about it: she's only been here for two months. I imagine she still has dreams of Ethiopia. I mean my family moved from our childhood home on Bluegrass Drive around 17 years ago, and I STILL have dreams several nights a month of living in that house. Weird, huh? But my point is: I wonder what she dreams about. Is she upstairs right now dreaming about being strapped to her birthmom's back as she worked in fields of coffee beans? Or being toted down dirt roads while her siblings searched for water? Or of being the tiniest kid in her overcrowded room at the orphanage? Or is she dreaming about running wild at the First Baptist Church play area this morning? Or playing dress-up with Hannah complete with glittery boots and pink feathery boa? Or riding on Jason's back until she laughs so hard I'm scared she'll puke? Or having a bubble bath tonight with her new brothers and sister? What's going through that sweet little fuzzy head of hers? I'll probably never know. But whether they are dreams of Aleto Wendo, Ethiopia or Hendersonville, Tennessee, I sure pray they are sweet ones.

Happy One Month Home, Big Birthday Bash and SNOW!

Macy has been home one whole month!!! And on her "One Month Home Anniversary" (well, I gotta call it somethin') she woke up to SNOW for the first time ever! (I can say this pretty matter-of-factly, as I doubt she ever saw snow in southern Ethiopia.) She enjoyed standing at the window in her jammies and watching it. Of course we didn't get any accumulation, but I have a snowsuit and sled waiting for her when we do! The other big news for the weekend is that it was PARTY TIME!!!! Houston turned TWO last Thursday, Macy turns THREE on Wednesday, and Hannah turns FOUR on this coming Saturday! Whew! So we threw one great big party for all three of them last night. And let me tell ya, the gift opening was rather overwhelming. Imagine your house on Christmas morning, and then multiply that times about 20. It was C-R-A-Z-Y! The kids got a TON of new toys. It's nuts. Macy rather enjoyed her first birthday party, and even blew out the candles on her cake just perfectly. (If I can figure out how to upload video to the blog, I will.) She enjoyed opening her gifts and playing with all of her new loot. Folks you would be SHOCKED to see this girl! You would never know she's only been home ONE MONTH! She fits right in with all the kiddos, and can even hold her own when push comes to shove. (Oh, and she will totally tell you off in her native language. I have no clue what she's saying when she's wagging that finger, but I am pretty sure it isn't nice.)

Three yummy cakes!

Blowing out her candles.

The Birthday Girl and her cake!

Opening gifts.

Yes. I do in fact have my hands full.

Happy One Month Home Macy! And a BIG Happy Birthday to Hootie, Macy and Hannah Lee! Wowzers - you guys are fun! We love you TONS!

He places the lonely in families...

We are home. ALL of us. And I am adjusting to being the mother of four kiddos, ages 5 and under. And I couldn't feel more blessed. It's funny, because in the past several weeks we have heard multiple times, "Oh, she's such a lucky little girl." Really? Because WE feel like the lucky ones. God took a precious little girl, from half a world away and not made of any of our DNA, and placed her perfectly into our family. She's quirky. She's independent. She's strong-willed. And she's OURS. WE get the privilege of raising this little girl. WE get to see her big toothy smile each morning. WE get to cuddle her during her two-year-old girl tantrums. WE get to be her moral compass. WE get to teach her about the love of her Heavenly Father.

No folks...she's not the lucky one. We most CERTAINLY got the better end of this deal!