One Year Ago
It was at this time last year, that we had just turned down a referral for a boy and a girl ages 3 and 7. We knew after one day of prayer that those were not the children that God had chosen for us. We didn’t even look at their pictures. We were waiting for another referral. That 2nd referral came on January 29th. I will never forget opening the attachment from Terra and seeing our boys’ faces for the first time. I agree with the statement: “Love at first sight.” My heart lept, because I knew it was them.
I would say that life in the Redding home has really settled into a natural rhythm. Things don’t feel forced. The bonding between Emma and Mamush is so much better. We picked her up from school yesterday and she hugged and kissed him when she saw him. HUGE!! Levi’s stories have more detail than before, and he is clarifying ones he has told us before. We are getting a clearer picture of his life in Ethiopia. He is starting to share more stories of times he got into trouble. He is very excited about the support that his siblings will be getting. He really wants to send the $100 that he has saved. I told him he didn’t need to do that, but he has insisted that he wants to. I think I have realized why this is so important. See, his perspective on being a part of a family involves helping earn money. He would carry things for people, get water for people, return bottles for deposit money. He is used to providing some income for the family. He came to me last week and asked when he could get a job. I told him when he was 15. He wants to work, now! I told David that I think he feels like he isn’t contributing financially and it bothers him. So, we are trying to find odd jobs for him to do, and I ask him to help me with more chores. I hope we don’t squash that mindset.
Things are very busy between Victoria’s club volleyball and Emma’s physical therapy twice a week. It only leaves Thursdays with no after school appointment. Then, I have joined a team that is training for the Danskin Triathlon in June. I haven’t done a triathlon in four years. And, I could train whenever because the girls were in school. So, this will be an extra challenge, with a toddler at home. Training starts on Monday. I am committed to making 2010 the year where Nancy gets healthy and physically fit.
Also on Monday, Emma will go to the doctor and hopefully get out of the boot and start walking in her own shoes. This will mean she can take showers again. She has had to take baths since Nov. 20th!
The biggest news we have to share was overlooked. I kind of forget what I write about in each post. And, I thought I had shared the best news, but I hadn’t. On December 13th, Levi prayed and asked Jesus to come into his life and be his Lord and Savior. This is something that we thought would take a while for him to understand, but we were wrong. We were at church and I let him come with me to big church instead of going to his class. Well, it was Communion Sunday. Before the tray was passed down our row, I told him that he could not participate until he understood what it meant. He said, “I know, Mommy. It is delicious.” I told them that while that may be true, he needs to understands why we do it and what it means. I said that we would talk about it at home after church. Well, he didn’t forget. So, during “Sunday nap time”, I explained the gift of salvation. He said that he knew and that I had told him before. I have learned that he understand more than we think he does. Anyway, there in our big king bed, he bowed his precious head as I lead him a prayer for salvation. It was the best moment, ever! I never imagined that it would happen so quickly. One of the things I love about him, is that things are so black and white. He doens’t let things get confusing or try to make things hard. Things are simple and clear for him. There could not have been a better way to end the year.
