We're Home
February 17, 2010  |  August 28, 2010  |  July 29, 2011

Wednesday, February 17, 2010 James 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. We are home! It feels heavenly to be in our own home and in our own beds. Well, that last one is almost true - we are still working on jet lag, time zone changes, and Eli feeling secure sleeping, so one of us is in with him each night and one of us sleeps with Philip for now. Gradually we will all move back to our own beds and sleep will reign peacefully once again. Even though Kevin and I are going through our days like zombies (and looking a little like one too), the trip home is behind us and we are having a fairly easy transition. The long, long trip home was difficult. Eli only felt secure in Kevin's arms, screaming and arching his back whenever I held him. That made it so hard on Kevin who never got any sleep or even a moments rest all the way home. I had motion sickness during the long one of three of our flights back home and felt awful for some time. Between Eli's dependence on Kevin, my motion sickness, the three flights home, all of the security checks, immigration, and customs, we were pretty wrung out by the time we stepped on Indiana soil. However, once we saw loving family and friends standing by with "Welcome Home Eli" signs, we perked up! That was such a nice gesture by all who came by the airport. Thank you dear people! Then there was the ample food, cards, and flowers given to us as well over the course of this week. It was all deeply appreciated. We feel well cared for and very loved. Once home, Eli has begun to bond with me too, and it is sweet! We snuggle and play often, and Eli reaches for me about as much now as he does Kevin. He continues to be "Daddy's boy" as well. All of our sons love their dad. Who wouldn't? He is a great one! I am a fan of Kevin, too! Eli has the funniest sense of humor, often cracking himself up over something he has just done. He is a cuddly little guy and happy most of the time although he has his fair share of tantrums. These seem easier somehow to deal with than when our Philip came home. Maybe we have grown and changed and are better able to deal with the transition, maybe the situation is just different, or maybe we all know there is an end to it eventually. Poor Philip had to break us in a year and a half ago, but he seems fine for it and is quite bonded to us now, so we know Eli will one day feel we are his forever family. Philip and Eli have a blast together most of the time. However, Philip is still getting used to having a little brother around who messes with his stuff a lot! It is comical to watch those two interact! Ted is thoroughly loving being home this time around to begin the bonding process. He is making good progress, and he loves having two little brothers at home; however, I do notice he takes himself off to the safe confines of his bedroom more often than he did before Eli came home! Too funny! Soon we will be able to include the many, many wonderful family and friends patiently waiting on the sidelines into the bonding process. Soon Eli will know he is not only part of our small little family of five, but he is also part of a much larger circle of love. How special it will be to see him grow up surrounded by that love. How special it will be to introduce him to the ultimate love in this life - our Lord Jesus Christ. What a life Eli will have! What a life we will have! Kevin and I often talk about what our lives would be like right now if we had not followed God's leading into the miracle of adoption. Wow! It almost blows us away to realize that if we had not gone down this path (not once, but twice) we would have missed so much joy and happiness! Oh, I know the road of adoption is not an easy one. It is filled with so many "what ifs" that can bring you to your knees. The journey between applying and now is quite hard. And I know that many people do not feel this is the life God has called them to live. But if you are feeling that calling . . . Even a little . . . We strongly urge you to follow it. Trust God and go. . . I have seen between 143 million and 187 million as the number of orphans there are currently in the world. Is one of these precious children a member of your family? Is there a glimmer or a tug to adopt? If so, we urge you to follow that lead. Your life will never be the same. The life of your immediate family, extended family, and your many friends will never be the same. Our three sons are good and perfect gifts from God. We cannot imagine our life without them now. Thank you for following our journey to adopt Eli. We appreciate each and every one of you. We will only be updating this sight a couple of more times, probably at 6 months and again at 12 months home. If you would like to follow Eli's journey as it continues, you can visit us at our family website here.

Ted meeting his new little brother for the first time Our first picture as a family of five A loving crowd of family and friends welcoming Eli home at the airport Partners in crime Settling in on that first night home Singing "Happy Birthday" to Ted who turned 24 on Valentine's Day "Helping" Papa in the chaos called our living room

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