Many Memorable Moments in MAY…and more!

With just about four month on US soil, Hermela continues to have many new experiences.  We all appreciate the opportunity to be sharing in all the new adventures with her!

The month started off with big brother, Josh, graduating from the Leadership Lake County program!  Good job, Bro! 

My trip to Kentucky for the long awaited Orphan Summit, finally came!  I am still processing all that I heard and experienced.  I left inspired by the many testimonies and GOSPEL CENTERED speakers, to continually seek my role in the care of the orphan and widow. Click HERE for a recap and highlights!

The kids’ choirs were great!

One of the sessions I went to was with the author/pastor/adoptive dad  Daniel Bennett (We thought this was funny!)

A Passion for the Fatherless

exposes believers to the Scriptural mandate to care for orphans, helps them understand why God has issued that call, and equips them to joyfully respond to that call. I just ordered this book and can’t wait to begin reading it!

My time at the Summit was also an opportunity to catch up with some dear friends and meet new ones. 

A Child’s Hope International is a wonderful ministry that friends of ours in Cincinnati started a few years ago. Visit their site HERE to learn more about how YOU can be part of this awesome ministry. Many folks spent their lunch hour packing protein packets that will be distributed around the world.  I am looking forward to organizing a packing day in Northern Ohio SOON!

Meanwhile…back at the ranch…

The kids enjoy hiking in the back woods with their “stompers” on and then playing at the creek.

The girls were busy making “food” while brother was out catching lizards and crayfish!  Hermela decided to join Luke at scooping up a fish or two.

Friends joined the kids one day to have fun with the clay/mud.

Hermela does not really understand how we all have the same last name, but it’s not her dad’s name.  In Ethiopia they really don’t have a “last name".” Instead ,they use their dad’s first name after their first name. 

The girls decided to take their bunks apart and put the beds side by side. This makes their room seem much smaller, but they like being able to see each other at night.

Lots of rain, breeds crazy times!!

 

Luke had his first baseball game.  Dad helps coach his team.

We participated in the Heart Walk at the beautiful Holden Arboretum. Bekah, Hermela and Luke really enjoyed seeing all the different dogs that came out for the walk. :)

A BIG highlight of the month was going to the ZOO!  Thank you YMCA Metro Staff for the membership!

This was our first FAMILY outing with Hermela.  (Abbey left for CA a week after she came home.) 

WE just love having big sis home for the summer.

The African Elephant Crossing exhibit was really cool, but…

…the BENNETT WALLABYS (that’s their real name!)were our favorite! Dan captured some of the fun on his itouch. These three were great to watch.

By the time we saw “Mr. Gorilla” and the giraffes during their dinner break, we were ready to leave.  The other side of the zoo will be where we start next time!

These are such wonderful family memories that we will all treasure for a long time.

Turning around and seeing Luke and Hermela holding hands, while talking about all the fun things they had just seen, made my day!  (Especially since she had just been crying and telling us how hungry she was because daddy finished the last orange.  He really did think there was another one in the backpack!)

To conclude this special day, we surprised Hermela with some of her favorite Ethiopian food.  We ordered Doro Wat and injera to go!  A few of the Ethiopians in the restaurant were from Tigray and enjoyed seeing Hermela and asking her a few questions.  She was shy around them but understood what they were asking her.  Hearing them speak and the delicious smell of the ET food got this momma a bit emotional!

So thankful to have had this time to reflect back on another very blessed month!