A Few Updates .......
I have been MIA for several days because of my crazy work schedule. I have a few minutes right now before going into work at 930 tonight while Tedi watches Lion King. (He loves it.)

Sunday.... Just being silly with mommy before she goes to work...Since I am the one usually behind the camera... I love this boy.

more and more and more lines of cars

Saturday.... I managed to stay awake well over twenty four hours to spend the day with my two favorite men.... We started the day having breakfast at Toast in downtown Louisville, where a lot of coffee was consumed by ME.... The best part of our day was the African Adoption social hosted by Highview Baptist church. There were so many many Ethiopian children playing together. One family just returned with five siblings from Ethiopia that were in the same orphanage as Tedi. He was able to play with them and had a great time. We then went to the Gap because I had purchased the Groupon...pay $25 and get $50 worth of clothing... From there, we headed the fourth bday party of Maysen McClain, a beautiful little Ethiopian girl. We went through the process with her family. There was an inflatable water "thing", which Tedi loved..... Enjoy the pics.

Being silly with Daddy at the Gap

African Social: Soccer was a big focus!!!!

The Group...how beautiful

Tedi with his buddy, Hassan

Friday...... Before I went to work, we went with JT's parents, brother, and his wife to Famous Dave's to take JT's dad out for his bday. Tedi loves Pop and had a great time

And we learned he LOVES corn on the cob

Thursday...... Before work, I talked JT and Tedi into shopping with me. They were having a huge consignment sale here in Louisville called Little Treasures. It was all fall and winter clothing and shoes, as well as toys, jackets, cribs and basically anything you could think of. We did get Tedi some winter clothes. However, his favorite purchase were the Kangaroo shoes we found for him. He wanted to wear them immediately! Daddy showed him how to put money in them and everything!!!! He will only wear them now. His school does not allow laces so tomorrow should be interesting...

Wednesday..... Random Picture before going to Awana

Tuesday..... After Tedi's first day of school, he went to his first baseball game with Daddy, Pop and D. JT said he was restless after a few innings but loved the time he was there. The boys in front of him caught a foul ball and gave it to him! He got arm bands and a bobble head and gave Buddy Bat a high five!

By Your Side...

(Picture of Tedi and I at our Embassy Appointment)

I was listening to one of my favorite songs, "By Your Side" by Tenth Avenue North. I wanted to share the lyrics with you. In January, after we saw Tedi's picture for the first time, I really got into this song. My draw to this song was two-fold: 1) this perfectly sums up my relationship with Christ in that He is constantly reaching out for me. No matter how many times I screw up, I can never outrun him. He is alway by my side. I constantly live within God's grace. What a great feeling for someone like me who is far from perfect!!! 2) The second verse and chorus was my song to Tedi before I met him. I desperately wanted to hold him and tell him that I would always be there for him. In fact, when I held Tedi for the first time, he was very apprehensive and shaking. I repeated the lyrics of this song to him.

Why are you striving these days

Why are you trying to earn grace

Why are you crying

Let me lift up your face

Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love

Why are you searching as if I'm not enough

To where will you go child

Tell me where will you run

To where will you run

And I'll be by your side

Wherever you fall

In the dead of night

Whenever you call

And please don't fight

These hands that are holding you

My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side

They swallowed the grave on that night

When I drank the world's sin

So I could carry you in

And give you life

I want to give you life

*This song is on our blog. If you would like to hear it, go to the audio box on the right side of our blog.

I am shocked at how Tedi has changed in the eight weeks since we met face to face. It seems as if we have been together forever. He is just like me. He loves to laugh, make others laugh and be goofy. He is the most OCD three year old I have ever met. Sometimes it is hard to believe we do not have common DNA. When you see the two of us together, one cannot argue the omniscience of God.

I have been thinking about Tedi's birth mother a lot lately. My heart aches for this woman who I may never meet. All of the joy I experience with Tedi for the rest of my life is at her expense. She has a huge hole in her heart that completes my heart. I wish I could speak to her although I do not know exactly what I would say. I pray for her that God would somehow speak to her and assure her that Tedi is warm, fed, comforted, and LOVED!

Tedi's First Day of School

Today is Tedi's first day of pre-school at St. James. We tried to photograph what we could, but Tedi is not a fan of taking pics, only looking at them on the screen afterwards. We didn't cry and neither did he. Once his teacher came to the auditorium to take him and the other children to the classroom, he grabbed the hand of the little girl he had been playing with (Aidah) and walked away...no goodbye or otherwise. He is growing so quickly...SOOOO FASSSTTTT. I hope school goes well for him and he doesn't shut down. I pray his teachers are patient with him because he does not speak much in new situations. This is my biggest prayer. I do not want him to have a bad first experience at school. I will update everyone tomorrow.... Off to an overnight in the emergency room!!!

Still Sleeping

Waking up

With Daddy!!!!

With mommy (who looks a bit rough)

Getting in daddy's car with our Teddy Bear, since it is bear week in school

walking towards school

Holding Aidah's hand, heading to class

Bedtime

We have been working on a bedtime routine each night. Finally tonight he went through it without prompting. JT asked Tedi if he was ready for bed and he walked to his room willingly. Upon crawling into his bed with me laying next to him and JT standing above him, he said his Bible verse "God loved us and sent his son." Then, he folded his hands, ready for his prayer...though his favorite part is saying AMEN. Following the prayer, he went directly into singing Jesus Loves Me. It was beyond words!

Tomorrow he starts school!!! I can not believe it. I will definitely let everyone know how it goes. Below are pictures of him and his cars from his day with me today. He is a little obsessive...don't you think?

Welcome Home Party!!!

Tedi has been home seven weeks now. However, JT's family wanted to give us time to adjust before having a shower/party for Tedi. We are blessed with so many supportive family members and what a great day it was !!!!! JT's cousin Rhonda opened her home for everyone and JT's two aunts and another cousin hosted the party. We asked for books because Tedi has plenty of toys and clothes....Boy was Tedi blessed!!!! He received so many great books. Once I get them all put away, I will post their names a pictures! My mother and stepfather drove up from Tennessee to spend time with Tedi yesterday and for the shower. We so appreciated it!!! In true Tedi fashion, everything was TOY STORY!!!! Enjoy the pictures below.

Welcome Home Tedi Cake....with all of his favorite Toy Story characters

Entering the party with Daddy.... a little scared of the dogs

with Me

Sporting new sunglasses and trying his first Capri Sun

My highly organized son lining up the cars his friend CJ gave him

Still....

1) Ethiopia is STILL weighing on my heart. Sponsoring a child through World Vision and one through Children's Hope Chest and my adopted son, Tedi, do not settle my need to do more. During residency, I am not sure what else I can do (well adopt again..eventually).... For now, I will continue to advocate for adoptions, help to give to other families in the adoption process (domestically and abroad), and pray.... pray for guidance on what is next....

So in the mode of supporting orphans, please check out http://feedingtheorphans.blogspot.com/.
This is the blog of a young girl, Sydney, who has raised several thousand dollars to feed orphans in Ghana. Her family, who live in Knoxville, are adopting two children in Ghana and leave next week for their embassy appointment. PLEASE consider supporting this little girl. She has more world perspective than most seasoned Christians, myself included.

2) We are STILL praying on what church we will attend. This is very important decision for us and for Tedi....and a very difficult decision. We love loud, rocking contemporary worship with a church focused on missions and not appearances... I say all of this knowing that churches are people, thus completely imperfect. I will never find perfection as I am imperfection. We are praying for the place that is ours...

3) Tedi is STILL growing and changing each day. He is saying more words each day..... For instance, he knows all of "Jesus Loves Me", can do alphabet sounds and is using complete sentences....even if the pronouns and prepositions are not correct. He is doing so well, but still has typical three year old behaviors. He starts school on August 24...three day per week pre-school. We are all very excited!!!! Also, he is going to be starting soccer in September. He is going to play in the Highview Baptist soccer for 3/4 year olds. It is a five week league....so rather than putting him in a more competitive, expensive league, we are going with a shorter option to ensure he likes soccer as much as he seems to.

4) Residency is STILL very scary and overwhelming. I am back to work in the ED...my schedule is all over the place. I work again Friday and Saturday during the day, but then nights next Tuesday through Friday. Crazy. Then, I work in the wards (inpatient medical floors) sleeping at the hospital every four nights....well not sleeping. Thus, scary and overwhelming! Yet, despite the fear and anxiety and sleep deprivation, I love it and feel I am doing what I am supposed to be.

Oops...

I forgot to add these cute pics from my vacation. We took one day and went to see my friend Jacqueline who lives an hour from us. Tedi went swimming with her fiance's sons, Will and Nate. He even went off the diving board with the boys! He had a great day. OH, and he saw horses for the first time. He loved it!

Mommy's Duck

too cute!


What a big boy!!! Jumping off the diving board!

with Will and Nate, my friend's soon to be step sons..... They had a great day!!!

Smiles....

Here are a few shots from our weekend. Tedi spilled gatorade on our camera so these are from my phone. We will be looking for a new camera, eventually. There were more but these were two favorites. I put each of my "pictures a day" in a folder tonight and realized I missed Friday August 13....I know, how I could miss that one? I start back to work tomorrow...two weeks in the Emergency Department then onto a month of call every fourth night. It will be a long six weeks, but worth it in a few years :-)

laughing at daddy...this was a real laugh

helping daddy mow in his pajamas

The Least of These.....

Below, I chose six organizations (for fab "five" Friday) that are stepping up to protect "the least of these." I know there are many many many more of these organizations but I have chosen six with which I am familiar. The first three are larger organizations that serve many countries and here in America while the last three are situated locally in Louisville. I just wanted to highlight those who are stepping up

1. World Vision: We have been sponsoring Demekech from Ethiopia for the last several months. They do good work for orphans and communities all over the world. If you haven't, check them out!

http://www.worldvision.org/

2. Children's HopeChest: Like world vision, we sponsor a child through them as well. They work for orphans and sexually exploited children all over the world. Please, please check them out!

http://www.hopechest.org/

3. Ordinary Hero This organization was discussed in yesterday's post...with the video of Korah. Their motto is Change the World for One. They are based out of Nashville and service those in their community as well as Rwanda, Ethiopia, and elsewhere. She is doing amazing work and is an inspiration to me. Plus she has awesome tshirts I am dying to get my hands on!

http://www.ordinaryhero.org/

4. Home of the Innocents: This is a large children's home in Louisville that serves the local children. They work with the convalescent home through Kosair as well as foster care and intake for abandoned local children. Just as kids are abandoned abroad, they are in Louisville as well. I am not well versed on everything they offer so please check them out.

http://www.homeoftheinnocents.org



5. Family and Children's Place: THIS IS JT'S NEW EMPLOYER. He is working in their development department to raise funds for this organization that raises funds for women and children who are victims are domestic/sexual abuse. They have 10 different centers around Louisville and have been established in different forms for about 100 years. JT is very pleased with his new job and is glad to make a difference for "the least of these."

http://www.familyandchildrensplace.org/

6. Arise for Children.... OUR ADOPTION AGENCY. Centered in Louisville, 35 children were brought home from Ethiopia in 2009 and there are many more, including us, this year. While it is a small agency, they work hard for the good of the children they serve. They are opening their own orphange, LIA, in Ethiopia and are still waiting on families to bring home these beautiful children.....Check them out, especially if you feel called to adopted (whether you are in Louisville or not.) Thanks Susan!

http://www.ariseforchildren.org/

Fab Five Friday: Top 5 Toys in Our Home (currently)

1. Any Type of Ball, but Soccer is #1:
The other day JT and I looked up and Tedi had placed a soccer ball, a basketball, and a baseball on top of my decorative candle sticks in the living room. Unfortunately I did not snap a picture. Now, finding a soccer league for him!
2. LeapFrog Letter Factory:
He was very "un"interested in this at first. However, since I have been home with him, I have gone through the letters multipe times per day so now I am getting requests for the "Letters" dvd. He is not remembering the sounds perfectly but we will get there!

3. Hot Wheels:

Tedi Loves his hotwheels. We actually do not have that many of them in our house and he even "borrowed" one when we toured his school. Thankfully, the principal gave him permission to do so. He is very protective of these and will hide them in his pockets. Too cute.

4. BUZZ LIGHTYEAR:

I should just call this Toy Story because I feel like we have 10 Woody dolls of all sizes, three Buzz-es, MR. and MRS. Potato Head, a mini Dinosaur, Jessie.... He LOVES them and can even say "To Infinity and Beyond"

5: MegaBlocks:

We have two sets of these, one given to us by a former co-worker of mine and one as a shower gift. He will ask me to help and then never want my help all at the same time. He builds towers, forts, and all kinds of structures. He is very anal and only wants it his way. These are a big hit and I am sure we will end up buying more sooner rather than later.