“How’s everything going? How’s Abby adjusting? How are the other kids? “How is it with four kids?” Here are the standard questions I hear on a daily basis. You think I would get tired of answering again and again but…I don’t! I love telling people how we are doing. I love telling people how amazing God is in the details of our journey. I love that after all the years spent talking about adopting and staring at other adoptive families and wondering what our family would look like…we are now THAT family! Seriously, it is so surreal to me.
Every night before going to bed we always check on the kids, cover them up, give them kisses. The other night after checking on the big kids I had come to Abby. As I peered over the side of the crib at that sweet face and fuzzy hair I found myself crying. She has blessed our lives already.
So many emotions come out when you have come home with your adopted child. So much joy, so much love, so much gratitude, so much that is good. But, there is this other side, the side that is so sad for her loss, so sad for her family and the sacrifice they made, so sad for all the orphans of the world wanting to find families. I am so grateful for the gift of Abby, so thankful that God chose us but I will never forget her birth family and the sacrifice her parents made. I will continue to pray for them.
On a much lighter note, Abby is adjusting really well. She is so happy and playful. She adores her brothers and sister just as they do her. The big kids seem to be doing just fine with our new family dynamic but we are keeping a close eye on them to make sure that they are not feeling left out or not as important. The four kid thing…well…let’s just say that it adds a new level of “excitement” to our house. It is very busy, never a dull moment and the house is not so well cared for but hey, the kids sure are! Life with four is a good kind of crazy and I wouldn’t have it any other way. (Unless, of course, God leads us back to Ethiopia for number 5. 
)
~Kristi
*disclaimer-please disregard any grammatical errors as Jesse is out playing with the big kids and unable to proofread for me.
Five is a wonderful number
I love big families and can tell you do too! So much fun! You ARE blessed!
By: Luanne on May 31, 2010
at 3:05 pm
Totally cry like a baby several times a week (sometimes more) looking at my children & thinking about the miracles that led them to us & us to them!!
By: Dawn on May 31, 2010
at 7:27 pm
I’m so happy to hear things are going great for you, and your family. I’m also glad to hear Abby is adjusting to her new home. She is so lucking to have found her new forever family, and she has such wonderful parents to help guide her through life. All my love to you! Take care.
By: Sandy on May 31, 2010
at 8:50 pm
I so get it. Every night I lay next to Maliha and am overwhelmed at the gift God has given us. I also get sad thinking about what she doesn’t or didn’t have as far as family goes. But realize she is now part of our family and even greater is that she will now have the opportunity to be a part of God’s family.
By: Val on June 1, 2010
at 2:30 am
I came across your blog from someone else’s blog–so happy for you! Hey, you might want to come check out a new Christian adoption website http://www.wearegraftedin.com — there is a room on the forum dedicated to Ethiopian adoptions. Come and join in and get the discussion rolling in there. Hope it becomes a place of mutual encouragement and helpfulness!
Kelly
By: Kelly Raudenbush on August 16, 2010
at 4:40 pm