Our 4 lb 12 oz bundle of joy, Cale Thomas
God has some big plans for this big hearted little guy. We are blessed to be a part of them!
San Diego
10 years ago
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Cale turned 5 today!
Our 4 lb 12 oz bundle of joy, Cale ThomasGod has some big plans for this big hearted little guy. We are blessed to be a part of them!Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Initiations
Silas has been
initiated. We had family worship last night and fixed the traditional popcorn/peanut M&M combo...and Silas loved it. It is a Bunn thing! He and I had a hard day yesterday, so it was so neat for me to see him participate and have so much fun.
Then, the other night (when mom was having some much needed time away), the kids played Kung Fu Panda and the furious four with daddy. The older kids are obsessed so it is only fitting that Silas participate too. If you are a bad guy, it is not safe for you at our house right now!
Silas also had his first haircut today. It didn't go well, but whose does?? :) Look at that handsome fellow!
initiated. We had family worship last night and fixed the traditional popcorn/peanut M&M combo...and Silas loved it. It is a Bunn thing! He and I had a hard day yesterday, so it was so neat for me to see him participate and have so much fun.
Then, the other night (when mom was having some much needed time away), the kids played Kung Fu Panda and the furious four with daddy. The older kids are obsessed so it is only fitting that Silas participate too. If you are a bad guy, it is not safe for you at our house right now!
Silas also had his first haircut today. It didn't go well, but whose does?? :) Look at that handsome fellow!
Friday, September 18, 2009
Testing the Waters
This week has been tough as Silas is testing his boundaries. Professionals tell us that older kids will often test their adoptive parents to see if they are committed. All the other adults in their lives have been in and out, so they are trying to figure out if you are serious-if you love them. We are not sure if any of this pertains to Silas or if he is just being two! Our social worker gave us some great advice and encouragement yesterday, and we are very grateful for her wisdom.
I realized that I was so concerned about getting it right-about doing all the necessary things to bring Silas stability that we were missing out on him-just enjoying him. I actually tend to do this with all three kids. :)
I realized that I was so concerned about getting it right-about doing all the necessary things to bring Silas stability that we were missing out on him-just enjoying him. I actually tend to do this with all three kids. :)
Here are some fun bath time pics. Silas loves the water.
Silas likes to kiss on the mouth.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Sunday, September 6, 2009
We are Home
We are home-and home has never felt so good! Tony and I missed Cale and Mya terribly. We both lost it a couple times on the way home, and then I was so emotional coming off the plane that I think I scared the kids. Crying when you are happy is not something that they understand just yet.
Silas was such a good boy on the plane. We had a blow out diaper and a couple rough moments, but not bad for a little guy. We left our hotel at 10:30 a.m. MO time on Friday and didn't get home until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, so mom and dad were tired and stinky!
I know we are still in the honeymoon phase :) but the other kids are doing so well with Silas, and he is responding well to them. He avoids the cats, but he is really scared of the dog.
Thank you for praying for our safety and our health while we were away. And a big thanks to Don and Laslee for holding down the fort at our home. Internet was also very difficult to access, so we are grateful for Carey's help in getting our messages posted on the blog.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Patience is a Virtue
We left for the Embassy this morning and got all settled in…only to find out that our appt was rearranged for this afternoon. So, we left and headed for the coffee factory to load up. Between the long wait there and a stuck bus plus 14 crying kids and dirty diapers it was 1:00 already and we were heading back to the Embassy. No lunch and no naps was not a good combination for our 2 hour wait.
Silas had two meltdowns while we were out today. It would be difficult for any 2 year old, but add strangers for parents to the mix and it isn’t a pretty sight. I don’t think that the orphanage told him no very often, so he gets extremely upset when he doesn’t get his way. He cries so hard he starts coughing and goes into hyperventilate mode. On his first one Tony just held him close and let him do his thing. It breaks your heart to see him so upset. Silas finally calmed down and had a cat nap. With each successive meltdown, it seems to be less severe. I don’t know if this is a coincidence or if he is starting to feel some comfort from us. We feel like first time parents all over again because dealing with his emotional abandonment trauma is new territory. How do we extend grace yet be firm and consistent? One day at a time…
I think Silas also has some survival, “scrapper”, instincts from being in the orphanage. He is very territorial with his new things…his toys, his sippy cup, everything. Silas also grabs his food with both fists and just shoves it in as fast as he can. And then he tends to push others and be aggressive to get his way. When he is uncomfortable or scared, however, he turns into a cuddle bug and becomes very shy. This could be good for the plane ride home!
We are very grateful for a great Embassy appointment. Silas’ Visa should be ready by 10:00 tomorrow morning, so we can come home tomorrow evening! Yeah!!!!
Cale and Mya, you are both going to have to be patient as we teach little brother how to share. He is going to need you guys to teach him how to be a part of a family. :) Just a couple more days!
Silas had two meltdowns while we were out today. It would be difficult for any 2 year old, but add strangers for parents to the mix and it isn’t a pretty sight. I don’t think that the orphanage told him no very often, so he gets extremely upset when he doesn’t get his way. He cries so hard he starts coughing and goes into hyperventilate mode. On his first one Tony just held him close and let him do his thing. It breaks your heart to see him so upset. Silas finally calmed down and had a cat nap. With each successive meltdown, it seems to be less severe. I don’t know if this is a coincidence or if he is starting to feel some comfort from us. We feel like first time parents all over again because dealing with his emotional abandonment trauma is new territory. How do we extend grace yet be firm and consistent? One day at a time…
I think Silas also has some survival, “scrapper”, instincts from being in the orphanage. He is very territorial with his new things…his toys, his sippy cup, everything. Silas also grabs his food with both fists and just shoves it in as fast as he can. And then he tends to push others and be aggressive to get his way. When he is uncomfortable or scared, however, he turns into a cuddle bug and becomes very shy. This could be good for the plane ride home!
We are very grateful for a great Embassy appointment. Silas’ Visa should be ready by 10:00 tomorrow morning, so we can come home tomorrow evening! Yeah!!!!
Cale and Mya, you are both going to have to be patient as we teach little brother how to share. He is going to need you guys to teach him how to be a part of a family. :) Just a couple more days!
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
God is SOOO Good!
Silas slept all night!!! Yeah!!! We did/are going to have some issues establishing some discipline with him. He is hitting, biting, and pinching. We tell him aye (no) and he just laughs. We find ourselves saying kuru (gentle) a lot. Nah means to come and he steps backwards when we say it. We have an ornery one on our hands! J But after today’s experience, I’m confident that the Lord has big plans for this little boy!
The trip to Kids Care Orphanage today was such an experience. I can’t even tell you what a blessing it was for Tony and I to visit the place where Silas lived for four or five months. As soon as we walked through the guarded gate, kids surrounded me and just tugged on him and called him by name. They were so excited to see him. The nannies did the same thing. The director told us that Silas was a very popular kid there. We saw it at the transitional home too. People love him!!! It was so exciting to see that he was well taken care of, but it was also very sad to know that he is going to be taken away from all that he knows. These kids and nannies communicate with him and we can’t. However, one thing that was so interesting is that Silas didn’t want to go with him. He wanted to stay with us. What
all can this 2 year old little guy understand? I carried him around
in my sling so that he would be secure in knowing that we were not going to leave him there.
The kids at the orphanage sang and played games in front of us. We couldn’t understand their words, but they looked like Duck, Duck, Goose and Red Rover. It was neat to see them have fun. We then had the opportunity to go inside the orphanage and love on the babies and see where Silas used to sleep. One boy became very attached to Tony.
I hope seeing us brings them hope and not sadness. Most kids seemed very content. There was one boy that had something wrong with his eye and a blind little girl that had some mental issues. You just wonder what will happen to those.
The director of Kids Care told us that they have started a couple programs to assist families. They provide meals to poverty stricken homes and provide assistance to moms that are bed-ridden. The goal is to keep the kids in their families as long as they can. What a neat ministry, and what a way to share God’s love.
We also found out that Silas’ mom had to fill out papers and go to great lengths to get him in the orphanage, which just affirms to us that she loved him. She also gave him the name Ashenafi. Back home, he has become Silas, but here it seems strange to call him that because so many recognize him and call him Ashenafi or Ashu. It is neat to see how he responds. So, I think we are going to torture our child J and make his official name Silas Ray Ashenafi Vernon. During this transitional time, we find ourselves calling him his African name more often than not.
Tony and I feel so covered with prayer. It is so amazing. I personally have reacted to situations in positive ways that my flesh would not have normally. I feel more relaxed…I’m taking more in…seeing God work in every detail. He has shown up every time-in small things and in big things. I have testimony after testimony.This trip is life changing and such a spiritual journey for us. THANK YOU for praying for us!!! And thanks again for the much needed donations. Our group was able to stock pile both the TH and the orphanage.
The trip to Kids Care Orphanage today was such an experience. I can’t even tell you what a blessing it was for Tony and I to visit the place where Silas lived for four or five months. As soon as we walked through the guarded gate, kids surrounded me and just tugged on him and called him by name. They were so excited to see him. The nannies did the same thing. The director told us that Silas was a very popular kid there. We saw it at the transitional home too. People love him!!! It was so exciting to see that he was well taken care of, but it was also very sad to know that he is going to be taken away from all that he knows. These kids and nannies communicate with him and we can’t. However, one thing that was so interesting is that Silas didn’t want to go with him. He wanted to stay with us. What
all can this 2 year old little guy understand? I carried him around
in my sling so that he would be secure in knowing that we were not going to leave him there.
The kids at the orphanage sang and played games in front of us. We couldn’t understand their words, but they looked like Duck, Duck, Goose and Red Rover. It was neat to see them have fun. We then had the opportunity to go inside the orphanage and love on the babies and see where Silas used to sleep. One boy became very attached to Tony.
I hope seeing us brings them hope and not sadness. Most kids seemed very content. There was one boy that had something wrong with his eye and a blind little girl that had some mental issues. You just wonder what will happen to those.
The director of Kids Care told us that they have started a couple programs to assist families. They provide meals to poverty stricken homes and provide assistance to moms that are bed-ridden. The goal is to keep the kids in their families as long as they can. What a neat ministry, and what a way to share God’s love.
We also found out that Silas’ mom had to fill out papers and go to great lengths to get him in the orphanage, which just affirms to us that she loved him. She also gave him the name Ashenafi. Back home, he has become Silas, but here it seems strange to call him that because so many recognize him and call him Ashenafi or Ashu. It is neat to see how he responds. So, I think we are going to torture our child J and make his official name Silas Ray Ashenafi Vernon. During this transitional time, we find ourselves calling him his African name more often than not.
Tony and I feel so covered with prayer. It is so amazing. I personally have reacted to situations in positive ways that my flesh would not have normally. I feel more relaxed…I’m taking more in…seeing God work in every detail. He has shown up every time-in small things and in big things. I have testimony after testimony.This trip is life changing and such a spiritual journey for us. THANK YOU for praying for us!!! And thanks again for the much needed donations. Our group was able to stock pile both the TH and the orphanage.
Gotcha Day
We loaded up the van with our donations for the Transition House then headed to the post office district to do a little shopping before lunch. It was quite a time. We are not good at bartering!
After shopping, we drove to our lunch spot which was an Italian restaurant with Ethiopian art hanging all over the walls. It was awesome! The food was great but the conversation we had with Robel (AWAA Travel Coordinator) was extraordinary. He has an amazing testimony and a big heart for street kids. We had already sat down and the waiter had squeezed a chair in between Sarita and me for Robel. It was rather strange…but okay. Apparently, God wanted us to hear what he had to say because he blessed our socks off. Our minds are already turning as to help his ministry here.
Next, we headed to the Transition Home to pick up our little ones for good. They will be with us the rest of the week so Sarita and I deemed September 1, 2009 as Gotcha Day. Some of the people in the group took pictures for other families waiting to travel and also give the kids care packages from their moms and dads in the States. It was really cool to see how much joy these kids experienced when receiving the gifts. They just lit up with excitement and thankfulness; a good reminder to take pleasure in the small things in life.
We then talked with the head nurse about Silas’ medical history along with his eating and sleeping schedule. The nanny brought Silas to us and he was groggy because they woke him up from his nap. His main nanny’s name is Shinti. She hugged and kissed all over him and said bye several times. You could tell she really loved and cared for him.
Sarita just lost it!
At the hotel, we got out the beach ball and Silas started going to town kicking it around the room. We grabbed some dinner at the restaurant and cleaned Silas up a little bit. We put him to bed and he was out in about 20 minutes hugging the monkey that Cale gave him.
Thanks Buddy!
Our Wednesday and Thursday schedule have been switched so we will be visiting orphanages tomorrow then the Embassy on Thursday. Pray for us as we visit the orphanages. It is emotional enough seeing the kids at the Transition Home so I can’t imagine how it will be visiting a place with kids that have not been placed with a family.
Cale and Mya, we hope you are doing well and we miss you guys a ton.
We showed Silas a picture of you guys and he grinned from ear to ear.I think he will be excited to see you guys. We love you!
After shopping, we drove to our lunch spot which was an Italian restaurant with Ethiopian art hanging all over the walls. It was awesome! The food was great but the conversation we had with Robel (AWAA Travel Coordinator) was extraordinary. He has an amazing testimony and a big heart for street kids. We had already sat down and the waiter had squeezed a chair in between Sarita and me for Robel. It was rather strange…but okay. Apparently, God wanted us to hear what he had to say because he blessed our socks off. Our minds are already turning as to help his ministry here.
Next, we headed to the Transition Home to pick up our little ones for good. They will be with us the rest of the week so Sarita and I deemed September 1, 2009 as Gotcha Day. Some of the people in the group took pictures for other families waiting to travel and also give the kids care packages from their moms and dads in the States. It was really cool to see how much joy these kids experienced when receiving the gifts. They just lit up with excitement and thankfulness; a good reminder to take pleasure in the small things in life.
We then talked with the head nurse about Silas’ medical history along with his eating and sleeping schedule. The nanny brought Silas to us and he was groggy because they woke him up from his nap. His main nanny’s name is Shinti. She hugged and kissed all over him and said bye several times. You could tell she really loved and cared for him.
Sarita just lost it!
At the hotel, we got out the beach ball and Silas started going to town kicking it around the room. We grabbed some dinner at the restaurant and cleaned Silas up a little bit. We put him to bed and he was out in about 20 minutes hugging the monkey that Cale gave him.
Thanks Buddy!
Our Wednesday and Thursday schedule have been switched so we will be visiting orphanages tomorrow then the Embassy on Thursday. Pray for us as we visit the orphanages. It is emotional enough seeing the kids at the Transition Home so I can’t imagine how it will be visiting a place with kids that have not been placed with a family.
Cale and Mya, we hope you are doing well and we miss you guys a ton.
We showed Silas a picture of you guys and he grinned from ear to ear.I think he will be excited to see you guys. We love you!
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