A year ago...

Tess and her new big sister in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, JULY 2008.  Tess had no siblings so she was very happy to  get a houseful!!

Tess and her new daddy at the Sheraton in Addis Ababa.
I LOVE this photo!  It is the first photo we ever took with Tess!!  This was in our hotel room right when we had gotten back from picking her up at the orphanage.  
At breakfast the following morning at the hotel.  Tess has her new doll. The first toy she ever owned!!  SHe named her MIMI.
Some of the street kids with Christine.   We will never forget their faces!!
Tess and I at the market buying Ethiopian art.
More street kids...
The happy new family!  We were so excited to get back so Tess could meet her brothers too.

What a year it has been for us!  We have come through the most amazing journey!  A year ago this past week we were in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia picking up Tess.  I look at these photos and she looks like a little Ethiopian girl. She did not speak a word of english!  I can hardly remember what that was like...we must have all just been in survival mode.   I look at our daughter now and she is very much an funny, giggly American girl and an absolute part of our family.  I thank GOD every day that she has been able to adapt so well, with her personality and Joy intact!  She has learned so much and yet so have we!!  An entire new world opened up to us.  We have met such amazing people and families with a heart for helping orphans!  Our journey took 4 years from filling our first paper to meeting Tess...I am greatful that God put adoption so firmly on our hearts that we just conintued to be open to whatever was meant to be.  There is no doubt now that Tess was to be our little girl. 

 As our daughter Christine explains...

" I get why our process (of adoption)  took so long...God sent us to China first to pass some time because Tess was still with her mom when we started in 2005.  God knew she was meant for us and so when she needed a family, her photo was sent to us and we just knew.  The timing was perfect because we went to get her within 4 months of learning about her.  God had us on hold until he was ready for us!  It was the plan all along!!"   

AMEN!!

GOD"S country!!

We hiked at SUndance up to the waterfalls.  It could not be more beautiful!  Tess was so excited because this was her first time seeing a waterfall and this one was amazing.  Nothing like a day in nature to really appreciate God's great work!!

footall buzzcut...

We had to say goodbye to Cameron's gorgeous head of hair for his football buzzcut.  We had a goodbye hair ceremony and then...
this is the first time ever that Cameron has cut his hair short since he was born!!
BEFORE............
AFTER..................
What a cutie pie!!!!

mother-daughter day!!

Everyone went in different directions today so Tess and I had the day together.  We started with going to the harbor and renting a kayak.  How great that we live in such a beautiful place!!  We had so much fun kayaking and then going out to lunch!  It was her first time but she caught on quickly...of course!

Our dear friends...Aunt Harriet and Uncle Bernie

It was Uncle Bernie's birthday...Tess and Cams helped blow out the candles.

Tess and her new best friend ...Aunt Harriet.  They love to chat on the phone!  My mom and I were laughing because they are perfect for each other...on our hikes, Tess and Aunt Harriet talked the whole way up the mountain...we told them if they talked a little less, maybe they could walk a little faster!!
Bennett still remembers making jello molds with Aunt Harriet!!

The handsome boys...

Beach fun- summer 2009

summer camps...

Last week Tess went to VBS (vacation bible school) and just loved it.  It was her first camp experience and she had a great time.
This week she is in camp at the Ocean Institute at the harbor.  Today the kids went out on an the SEA EXPLORER.  She told me not to tell anyone that it's only her 2nd time on a boat (the first being her grandma Ann's memorial at sea).  She seemed a bit nervous but I know she'll have a great time!!  


At Ocean Adventure camp waiting for the boat...