Kisses from Katie

Luke 12:48 - But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
During our 6 months waiting there have been times we've been questioned why we're waiting to adopt a child from Ethiopia... and if I'm honest with myself, sometimes that question has snuck into my thoughts.  But I know the answer and it immediately resonates from the deepest recesses of my soul: God has commanded us to do this.  He calls for followers to care for the fatherless more than 65 times in the Bible.  While caring for the orphans looks differently for everyone, for us, it means adopting.  For some it means advocating for orphans or financially helping bring orphans to their forever home.  And for others, it means moving to a third world country and jumping right in.  Working in orphanages, teaching marketable skills, building churches, providing medical care and even adopting children there. 
Katie Davis, founder of Amazima, has moved to Uganda to help educate, empower and share the love of God with the people of Uganda.  She has also adopted 13 young girls.  Katie provides these girls with a home, a place to live, learn and grow.  For some she's the first mother they remember and for others, she helps heal the hurt of losing their families.  But for all of them, and the 100s of other children Amazima sponsors she provides hope and the knowledge that God loves them.  When asked why Katie, a young woman of 24, has adopted these children she answers:

"My family, adopting these children, it is not optional. It is not my good deed for the day; it is not what I am doing to 'help out these poor kids.' I adopt because God commands me to care for the orphans and the widows in their distress. I adopt because Jesus says that to whom much has been given, much will be demanded"

-excerpt from Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis.

So even when the journey is long, the wait seems endless and my heart aches to be with our next child I'll dwell on Luke 12:48 and know that we are doing what we have been told to do.  And reaping the amazing benefits of having more children in our life to love.

On a side note, Kisses from Katie is an amazing book, I encourage you to read it! 

Another Texas First

Until March 12th, we'd never been to a rodeo.  And as of March 12, we still have never officially been to a rodeo! But we did have a great time at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.  While our tickets included rodeo seats and passes to the Zac Brown Band concert, a two year old in tow who doesn't like loud noises and being in crowded places made us consider all the possibilities and all of those possibilities kept us to sticking to the Livestock show and carnival outside. 

                                         

Matt took a half-day vacation and we left right after lunch.  Getting there early won us a great parking space and even though it was the first day of spring break for Houston schools, we definitely beat the crowds.  Gabe had all the time he needed to look at all the cows, pigs, horses and chicks.   Gabe really loved the cows.  His eyes became round as saucers when he saw them.  I don't think he could believe how big they were as they ambled up and down the aisles.  The smells were pretty big too! Right next to all the animals there was a photo opportunity with a Texas Longhorn, but there was no way Gabe as going to sit up there this year!

Trying on a cowboy hat.

Outside at the carnival was the onslaught of fried food, carnival delicacies and lots of BBQ. I had what could possibly be the best fried pickles ever but we did stay away from the frog legs at the next stand! Frog legs? Yuck!



The view is always better on Daddy's shoulders.

By the Live Stock show there was also a great petting zoo.  There were lots of animals in the pen but Gabe was partial to the goats.  I was partial to the potbelly pigs scrambling around and the llama's sitting regally in the center of the petting zoo.

And then we checked out my new car the big trucks just waiting to be purchased.  I'm pretty sure I could rock out driving a truck this big!

Here's to next years Livestock Show and Rodeo where we will actually see the rodeo, eat more fried food and hopefully get Gabe's picture with a Texas Longhorn. 

Catching Up

It has been too long since we last updated with pictures of Gabe, so bare with me as there are a lot of pictures with this post!  We have been blessed with some amazingly beautiful weather that has prompted a lot of outside time soaking in the sun and chasing down a very busy toddler. 

Our backyard has turned into a bit of a swamp with all the rain (and bad drainage) so Gabe mostly plays in the front yard.  He loves his car, but he mostly loves pushing it down the driveway while I run after it.  At least I get some exercise and am rewarded with hearing one of the sweetest sounds, Gabe's laugh.

                                           

A few weeks back, Gabe had his third hair cut.  This was the first haircut where a lot of hair was left on the ground.  We love his golden locks but were tired of it always being in his eyes.  Gabe was a champ and the stylist claimed he looks like Justin Beiber.  I disagree, Gabe is much cuter. 

We had a family trip to the Children's Museum after church one Sunday.  Gabe showed his daddy all the fun things he does there and Daddy showed Gabe how pulley's work!

Because the weather has been so nice, we've been spending lots of time at the park.  Gabe loves to swing, he loves to slide and he is getting awesomely good at climbing on the jungle gym.  He is so tenacious that I'm not sure why I was surprised the first time he just pulled himself up and ascended to the top. 

 The downside of all this beautiful weather (and rain! yes, it's finally raining in Houston) is that Matt has a lot more yard work to do.  At least he has a cute helper!

Gabe has learned to cheese it up for the camera.  And I can't even begin to count the number of pictures we've taken like the one below. 

 When the sun has set or the rain is falling, Gabe can be found at the base of his book case, perusing his books.  He's gotten past the point of just pulling them out to create a mess but pulls them out one at a time and 'reads' through each one.  I especially like when he reads allowed. 

And that is a little snippet of what we've been doing while our computer has been away.  Our computer is still away, and had better be working like brand new when we get it back.  But Gabe and I are now in Ohio, so we could finally post some pictures! 

Have a great week!

6 Months Waiting

Today marks 6 months of waiting for our little one(s).  Half a year.  6 months plus 1 day since this is a leap year.  Right now, if we'd gotten pregnant in the traditional sense, I would be sporting a baby bump right now.  There would be an end in sight, a date in mind and names picked out.

However, God has called us to do something a little different. Adoption is not easy nor is it for the faint-of-heart.  I would have to say that it's not for impatient people but considering I'm not a very patient person, that's obviously not true.  Actually, I'm very patient when dealing with children and most adults, I'm just not good at waiting.  But I'm learning to wait, to be patient during the wait and to use this wait as an opportunity to grow in my faith. 

God’s purposes are not for me to understand His plans: His plan is for me to understand Who He is.

- Ann Voskamp

(love me some Ann Voskamp)