African Family Gathering

A few weeks ago, we were invited to an African Family Gathering. They meet four times a year. This would be their 3rd meeting of the year with the next one being in November. I thought it would be great for us to go to meet other families that look like us and share our experiences.

It was in Bellingham, which is an hour north of us. I wasn't looking forward to the drive with the kids but thought we should at least go and check it out. It was held at a gym in a park.

Most of the adopted kids were from Ethiopia, with the newest one arriving in the USA 3 days ago. I got to know one family that adopted two kids, 12 and 9, plus they have 4 bio kids that are older. It was nice to share our stories with one another.

There was also an African family there from Lesotho, which is really close to the country Naomi is from. They were so excited to meet Naomi and said she was a beautiful, strong African girl. They were all built exactly like Naomi (body). A lot of people from Ethiopia are built more slender and very different from our daughter.

Naomi enjoyed running around with the other kids. Micah and Jacob just hung out together.

As we were walking back to the car, with a huge smile Naomi said "Mom, those kids were all black like me!"

That made it all worth it!

Bad Day

Today was a bad day, as far as the kids emotions go. Jacob just woke up angry and mad. About breakfast time he had a complete meltdown. I tried to comfort him, but he just kept screaming "I don't want you, I want Daddy!" I said we could call Daddy. "No, I don't want to talk to him". We could Skype Daddy. "No I don't want to see Daddy! I want to hug Daddy!" What could I do? His heart was breaking and I couldn't fix it. I cried too. It hurts so bad to see your child hurting.

Then while I was doing Naomi's hair today, Jake went into the garage to get something and the door shut behind him and was locked. The rest of us were upstairs and after awhile I wondered where Jake was. We eventually found him, locked in the garage, crying for us.

Then tonight we were coming home from someones house we had dinner at and Naomi and Jacob were just fighting and bugging each other. I couldn't take it anymore and yelled "Stop it!" That started all of us crying. Yes, every single one of us cried the rest of the way home.

As soon as we got home I called Darrick and said that we needed to Skype him because the kids were freaking out. They saw him and cried for him, yes all of them. I'm sure it was hard for Darrick but they needed to see and talk to their Daddy. Micah asked him to get out of the Navy today and come home. Their Skype conversation seemed to help a lot. They were all able to calm down and went to bed great for me.

It is so hard because all of our emotions are crazy right now and we each deal with Darrick being gone differently. And it hits us all at different times. I'm really tired today.

Dairy Farm Tour

As part of our homeschooling studies this past year, we studied about farms and cows. Our friend, Josh Timmermans, arranged for us to have a private tour of a dairy farm in Mount Vernon. Gerrit, the dairy man, was so awesome and let the kids experience so much, and we learned a lot!

The first thing we got to do was see the cows being milked. My kids had never seen anything like that and they were pretty interested.

They got to feel the udder and try to squeeze milk out, put their fingers in the machine that goes on the udder to feel how it squeezes the milk out and see the milk going through the tubes. It was all good until a cow pooped and it splattered on us.

Our next stop was the calves. The newest one was 2 days old. They really are so beautiful with their big brown eyes. They each live in their own little hut to prevent the spread of diseases. The kids were able to touch them and let the calves suck on their fingers.

Next was to see where all the other cows live and eat. It was feeding time so all the cows were busy and the kids could watch and touch them. There was also an area where the cows can come and get salt or baking soda if they have an upset tummy. They were licking it off the kids hands.

We also got to see the big tanks where the milk is stored and sit in a tractor.

The last thing we did was feed a calf a bottle. The kids loved it!

What a cool hands on learning experience!

Kangaroo Farm

We took a trip to the Arlington Kangaroo Farm with our friends the Timmermans. The kids were all very excited to get our tour started!

First, we went to see the lemurs. Since lemurs were in the movie Madagascar, the tour guide said whoever danced the best to the song, "I like to move it, move it" would get to feed them. The winners were Hendrik and Naomi!

After seeing some other animals we headed into see the wallabies. We were able to go into their cages and feed them bread and pet them. So awesome!

There was a mother with a baby in her pouch.

Then we went to meet Kangaroo Jack. He was so cool and the kids got to feed and hug him.

After seeing and feeding other farm animals we went to see the alpacas. Everyone was able to pick a long pellet, put it in their mouth and let the alpaca get it!

Micah was not going to kiss one and was not too sure about them!

The kids even convinced me to try!

At the end we got to see Kangaroo Jack's baby. It was named Peanut Butter and was 8 months old.

This is one of the coolest things we have ever done, such a cool experience!

My kitchen helper

Who says gymnastics is just for girls?

After watching Naomi have her class last week, the boys agreed to try out the free class this week. They invited their buddy Hendrik to join the fun too. They were not sure if they would like it, I wasn't sure either, but I was so proud of them for giving it a try.

I was happy to see that their class was very different from the girls classes. They had a great coach and she was perfect with the boys. After warming up they started with circuit training. She worked them pretty hard. They had to run, jump on a springboard and land on pads, walk on balance beams, attempt handstands. I was anxious to see their reactions when they came over to get a drink, they were sweaty, had red cheeks and said it is awesome.

They did more work on the floor mats and learned how to do backward somersaults.

The best part was watching them climbing the rope. Hendrik was amazing and made it to the top. The boys gave it their best efforts.
Hendrik

Jacob

Micah

They ended their time on the trampolines. Jacob loved running super fast and then doing a flip at the end.

Naomi had a great time at her class and had fun swinging on the bars and rings.

At the end of the boys class, Micah and Jacob said they had so much fun and wanted me to sign them up for the class! Olympics here we come!!!

Happy Anniversary

Today is our 13Th wedding anniversary. Darrick has been away for quite a few of our anniversaries. Since we celebrated it before he left it is not too big of a deal. But he did send me a beautiful vase of flowers.

We are doing good so far but the kids are having a rough time understanding. Jacob forgot and asked when Darrick was coming home from work. Naomi knows Darrick is in Cuba but keeps asking when he is coming home. Micah cried last night, Jacob cried tonight, I cried with them.

I am trying to just take it one day at a time. Today I went grocery shopping with all 3 kids. I have not done that for a long time because Darrick will watch them. It went pretty good.

I still on super organizing mode and I am trying to get on a schedule. I am getting up early so I have time to exercise, shower and read the Bible before breakfast.

Darrick called yesterday and he made it to Mississippi safely. He said there is a lot of people being processed. Most of them are going to Iraq. They are all staying at hotels near the base. A bus picks them up and takes them where they need to go. He said it is super humid.

What happens when Darrick leaves...

He's Gone...

Two Great Days

Thursday and Friday, Darrick and I were able to get away for an overnight mini-vacation. The Timmermans offered to take the kids and Oliver for us. We dropped them off at 12:00 pm on Thursday with all their gear. It would be Naomi's first overnight visit and her first time away from us for 2 days.

It took us about an hour to get to our destination-Salish Lodge and Spa in Snoqualmie. Snoqualmie is famous for the falls and the Salish lodge sits right on top of the falls.

Before we checked into our room we went to the Falls Park to see the falls. They were stunning and so powerful and majestic.

Our room was so awesome. It had a feather king size bed, fireplace, 2 person soaking tub and screens by the tub that you could slide them open to see the fireplace as you take a bath.

After we unpacked and relaxed for a bit we decided to go down to the spa. You are required to wear a robe and slippers, they provide, to the spa.

Once at the spa we soaked in the mineral tubs, and sat in the steam room and sauna. Then we drank tea and ate nuts and dried fruit while we waited for our massages. We had a couples massage in the fireside room, which was divine.

In the evening we went out to dinner at a nice steak house and then relaxed in the tub by the fire.

In the morning we slept in and then went to the dining room for our 10 am reservations for breakfast. The dining room windows look out onto the falls. This morning it was cool so they falls had mist rising from them which so really beautiful.

It was recommended to us to try the Salish Lodge Country Breakfast. Which is 4 courses. It started with fresh squeezed OJ, freshly baked pastries and Darrick had a mocha and I had the most delicious hot chocolate ever. Our second course was 2 buttermilk pancakes and fruit with cream to dip the fruit in. Our third course was steel cut oatmeal with brown sugar and cream. The fourth course was eggs, potatoes, bacon, ham and sausage. We did not eat it all and more like sampled each course and had the rest wrapped up to go.

In the evening when we went to pick up the kids, Darrick did not know that about 40 members of our church were waiting there to throw him a surprise going away party! He was shocked and had NO idea.

Jenn Timmermans helped the kids made posters to decorate. We are still trying to figure Jake's out. He said it was a turkey in Cuba?!?

Everyone made yummy food and offered to make some of Darrick's favorites like hot wings and pulled pork BBQ sandwiches.

The time ended with many well wishes and a time of prayer for our family. The most touching thing was said by our Pastor wife. She said "Darrick, we want you to know that we will take care of your family while you are gone. They will not be alone and we will support them." Of course then some guy shouted out "But, you, Darrick, you're on your own!!!" Everyone got a huge laugh out of that!

It is times like this when you can really see God hand in your life. We had no idea that we would be facing this deployment but God did. And all the time before this, He was orchestrating things for this time and putting them into place. He is so good. God led us to this church and these amazing people who have taken us in as their own family. I don't know what I would do without them.