Off to Paris with Cameron to visit Christine

...from our visit in January...

We are sneaking in a quick week in Paris to see CHristine. Jeff is in Portugal and will meet Cameron and I there for a week. Even though we skype and talk almost daily, I really miss her and can't wait to spend the time with her in Paris. She says she has a list of places she wants to take us to...Cameron was 6 months old last time he was here so he will just love it! Tess and Bennett are staying home with Dorothy. Be back soon with pictures and stories from my favorite city!! Au Revoir mes amis!!

Jonas kids watching the olympics...

We sure love watching the olympics at the Jonas house!! Tess was a bit disappointed that Ethiopia didn't have a strong showing!! I had to explain about the lack of snow in Ethiopia making it hard to train for winter sports...I think she got it! Our favorites are Shaun White and Apollo Ono!! GO USA!!

crazy hair day

Every other tuesday we go see "B" and she braids Tess's hair. It's our job at home to take out last weeks braids so B can get to work on this weeks doo. This is how long Tess's hair is now. We never know what B is going to do. She always comes up with some creative new braids. last week Tess had a cornrow mohawk!!! We are trying to let it grow but that is no easy task!!.

...God's greatest blessings...

Being a mom to these 4 kids is the biggest blessing ever! It makes me be a better person and strive to do better things!! It brings me the highest highs, the biggest laughs and the best ahh-haa moments ever. They make all the hard work worthwhile and all the mistakes forgivable. I really do try to stop and take in each one at this very moment and where they are in their life's journey. I look out at the sea and pray a little prayer for each one. They honestly teach me as much as I teach them. We are all on this journey together. I am so proud of their compassion and will to help others. I listen and teach and help and sometimes shout, but I thank God every night that I have the honor of being called "mom" by these 4 great kids!!

the calling...

I can't explain how strong the calling is for me to be in Ethiopia and for me to be helping these kids! I am often baffled because I thought my calling was to adopt and bring them home...so how can I be there??? I follow so many inspirational blogs and read countless testamonies of God's work being done all over Africa. It just calls me to join them!

I have to do a lot of self talking to remind myself that my 4 children still need me here...my work is not done here yet. So the compromise is that I will work here on behalf of those who can be over there right now. I will raise $ and collect supplies and we will bring these things to them. I am so excited to be organizing this trip to Ethiopia. I am so grateful to have such great friends to come along with us and join us and take on our passion as their own. I am grateful and humbled!!

Getting ready to go...back to Ethiopia

We have begun to really prepare for our mission trip back to Ethiopia to help work on completing the new orphanage at Acacia Village. (www.acaciavillage.org) We will be a team of 12 that we put together from friends in different countries. We will be 9 from home and 1 friend from Portugal and 2 friends from Italy including an Italian doctor (who is in Haiti right now). We each have specific tasks we are going to work on when we get there. I will be on the painting team along with Christine who is flying in from her semester in Paris to work over her spring break. Jeff and the guys will be put to work on whatever needs to be completed when we arrive. We will also be traveling south to Awassa to visit Tess's home town. We did not get there when we went the first time. It is about a 4 hour rough ride from Addis Ababa...let the fundraising and supply gathering begin!!

YAY!! Water is finally in...

We are winding down with our pool project! We finally have water and the kids used the jaccuzzi for the first time! It will be so nice to be able to have them swim at home form now on! Tess is a good little swimmer so it will be fun for her and Cameron!

sleepovers...

How cute...I went to check on the kids and each one had a sleepover buddy...Cameron had Jake in his bed and Tess had Mick in her bed...and all sound asleep.

Bennett's winter formal

Tess

I can't believe it has only been 1 1/2 years that Tess has been our daughter. I can hardly imagine life without her sweet little presence in our home. She has really blossomed and grown in so many ways. She always asks me if I need help with anything and if I'd like to sit and watch a movie with her. She is my only side kick since the boys are always out and about. I am so grateful that God has blessed me with the honor of being her mom!!

AHHH...to be young and living in Paris!!

Just got done with a 1 hour skyp with Christine. She is loving living in PAris!! She has already traveled to Amsterdam and brussels and says they are already planning their trip to Copenhagen...and she hasn't even been there a month. So thankful she has met some great friends and has such a nice family to live with! It makes it easier being so far away!!