reflection

through these doors are 89 children waiting for their families to come. on the day this picture was taken casey and i were there to meet our son, david bereket butler. i had imagined this moment for two years and it was finally here. my palms were sweating, my stomach was in knots and my eyes were focused on this door. wondering - will he like us? will we know what do to when he cries? how will we say good-bye? i am amazed at how it was almost instantaneous that those questions left as david bereket walked out the doors of the house to meet us. those questions no longer mattered. i was finally able to hold and kiss my son after 2.5 years of praying for him.

did he like us - not really. he was terrified of casey, as in, screamed and tried to climb away in your arms to get away even if casey was two feet away from him.

did we know what to do when he cried - nope. we had no idea what he needed or wanted. so we tried the usual - hug, kiss, food, diaper, games until he stopped.

saying good-bye - awful. not because of the place he was staying, the transitional home is amazing. the nannies are amazing. we couldn't have been more pleased with his care while he waited for us to come but knowing that he is ours and yet he can't come home with us was hard. i wanted to hold him longer and kiss him more. i wanted him to sit with casey and realize he how much fun they can have together.

and here we are a little over a month later. i told you i would share with you what God has been doing in david's life as well as ours and here it is...

everyday we see more and more of david's sweet personality:
- he is sensitive and cries easily
- he wants to help me more than he wants to play. he would rather help me sweep the floor than ride his truck by himself
- he can be very strong willed

his favorite things:
- he LOVES when casey comes home.
- bath time
- to be chased down the hall only to turn and run into your arms for a big hug
- to climb in and on everything

we are blessed far more than we deserve. i had no idea what God was going to do when i can back from ethiopia three years ago with my world crushed. i stood on the stage of sunnybrook and said "i have no idea what God is planning but i know i can no longer be the same". i fully believe our adoption is but a very small piece of God's plan. i pray that God continues to break our hearts for the things that break his. that casey and i would be obedient and submissive to his call on our lives.