Celebrating Jesus

I've made a lot of plans lately that haven't gone as planned....one being to get our trip to Congo journaled within a month and not post anything in the meantime.  However, life's a bit crazy right now and we've now been back for almost 2 months and I've yet to finish our 8 day journey (oops).

AND, today is Dec 26 and I can't help but write a quick post about Addy's first Christmas!!

Our house is A.L.M.O.S.T done, but not before we had to be out of our old house so we are staying with my parents for a few weeks.  We are thankful they were willing to take on the entire bunch and all the hustle and bustle that comes with 4 crazy kiddos who are out of their ordinary routines. 

Here, there, anywhere, this Christmas is one we won't forget!

I don't know if it's the holiday cheer, the change in living arrangements, her age, or if she's just now feeling 100% comfortable with us, but little Miss Addy has changed sooooo much this past week!  She is still a very happy/hardly ever cries baby...but boy oh boy does this girl have spunk and personality!!!  She is HILARIOUS!  She literally wakes up giggling and hardly stops all day.

Addy enjoyed every minute of the family gatherings on Christmas Eve & Day.  She was more interested in eating the wrapping paper and bows than the presents she received, and enjoyed all the hugs and kisses she got from everyone.

It's overwhelming to think about the meaning of our lives thanks to God's love for us. 
It's so easy to get caught up in the busy holiday season and not remember what the season is really all about.  But the thing is, we really hope to not only celebrate Christ during this time but every day of our lives.

Oh how our lives would be so completely different if God had not sent His Son to save us. 
To give us new life. 
Just as God has chosen us to give Addy new life. 
I look at Addy playing with her siblings and it's hard to remember life without her.
It's hard to see her once as an orphaned child living in an orphanage a half a world away. 

She is a constant reminder to us that God has redeemed us and adopted us into His kingdom. 

Thank you God for loving us, for adopting us into your heavenly family through Christ Jesus whose earthly life we celebrate.

Yes, this is a Christmas we'll NEVER forget!

 

Congo Adventures Day 5--Hair &Fabric

Thursday, October 25, 2012:

We traveled to Congo with four large suitcases: two filled with donations, one for Bobby and me, and one for Addy. And let me tell you, that girl had a LOT of clothes! We had packed extra outfits in anticipation of the stomach issues we'd been warned about, which unfortunately turned out to be a very accurate prediction. We'd also been told that Addy was wearing size 2T at just eight months old! I certainly hadn't been prepared for that, considering I already had all these adorable little 12-month outfits washed and ready for her. So, just to be safe, I brought clothing ranging from nine months all the way up to 24 months.

One of the outfits I packed was the very first matching outfit Ayla had picked out for her little sister. Unfortunately, it was a size 12 months! I was determined to see Addy wear it anyway, so I squeezed her into it despite the rather obvious size problem. Not exactly my brightest idea, and the outfit lasted all of a couple of hours! But at least I got to see her wearing something her big sister had lovingly picked out for her.

After our usual breakfast buffet with A and Josee, we headed back to the room for a quick snooze. Well, at least Bobby and Addy did. I watched a movie while the two of them slept, and judging by the amount of sleeping they did that week, I think Daddy got in more than his fair share of cuddles! ;)

 

I had also come to Congo with a brilliant plan regarding Addy's hair: I simply wasn't going to touch it until we got home. The nannies had arranged it into the cutest little puffs, and since I had absolutely no idea what I was doing, I figured it was best to leave well enough alone. Surely, her hair could survive a few more days without any help from me.

Well, that plan didn't last long!

The thread holding her little puffs together began breaking, and before I knew it, several sections were coming loose. I decided that rather than letting the whole thing fall apart, I had better figure out how to take care of her hair. Somehow!

So off to the bathtub we went again. This time, I blew up the little inflatable bathtub we had brought along (thanks, Mary!!!), and Addy LOVED it! What a difference from our first attempt at bathing her! I let her sit and splash for a while before tackling the shampoo and conditioner.

(She really did like the tub----but was still very leery of the camera!) 

The one thing I knew before traveling to Congo was CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION! So I lathered her sweet skin with lotion and generously applied leave-in conditioner to her hair. Much to my surprise, combing through her curls was incredibly easy, and she seemed to thoroughly enjoy the little head massage.

I decided to leave her hair alone for a while and let her sport a cute little fro. Of course, that only lasted until after lunch, when I couldn't resist getting my hands back into it and arranging it into a few little puffs. I still had plenty to learn, but I was having so much fun figuring it out!

After another nap, we headed downstairs to wait for D, who was supposed to pick us up for an afternoon outing. Our plan was to visit a fabric store and, hopefully, a local market. D had told us to expect him around 2:00, so we were downstairs right on time, although by now we knew better than to expect that everything would happen according to schedule!

After waiting about half an hour, we decided to order a Coke. Naturally, just as our drinks arrived, so did D. But unfortunately, he wasn't there to take us shopping.

The one major hurdle we still needed to clear before leaving Congo was obtaining Addy's exit letter. We had been told to expect the letter within four working days of our arrival in the country, and we were hoping it would be ready that afternoon. Once we had it in hand, we could finally relax a little and know we could leave on Sunday as planned.

Unfortunately, D arrived with some disappointing news. The DGM, Congo's migration officials, would not release Addy's and Josee's exit letters unless we paid an additional fee. So we handed over the money and settled in for another round of waiting while D went to take care of the paperwork. He promised to return afterward and, if there was still enough time, take us on our outing.

About an hour later, D and M, our driver, returned, and we were FINALLY off to do a little Congolese shopping!

The fabric store was only a few blocks away, so it wasn't long before we were out of the hotel and walking among the hustle and bustle of the city. I was thrilled to have the opportunity to experience a little more of Kinshasa beyond the walls of our hotel.

The store itself was rather small, but there were at least twenty people inside, all searching for the perfect fabric. And WOW, were there choices! From floor to ceiling, the shop was filled with rows upon rows of beautiful, colorful African prints. There were so many patterns that I hardly knew where to begin!

We spent about forty minutes taking it all in and deciding which fabrics to buy. Every time I thought I had found my favorite, another pattern would catch my eye. In the end, I simply couldn't choose, so I bought six yards each of four different prints!

While we shopped, M happily held Addy. It was so sweet to see how much love the ALBB in-country staff had for her and all the other children. The moment we stepped out of the vehicle, M asked if he could hold her, and he spent the entire time walking around with her, smiling from ear to ear.

Once we finished shopping, we climbed back into the Jeep and began another bumpy drive through the city. Unfortunately, D told us that we wouldn't be visiting the market after all. He still needed to get back to the embassy, and the afternoon was quickly slipping away. He promised to try to take us another day if our schedule allowed.

I was definitely a little disappointed. Visiting a local market had been something I was really looking forward to, and I knew our time in Congo was limited. Still, even this short outing was a wonderful opportunity to get out of the hotel and experience another little piece of the country.

We returned to the hotel for another nap, followed by a wonderful dinner and some time Skyping with our family back home. Before we knew it, another day in Congo had come to an end.

Our week was going by so quickly! We were enjoying every moment with our sweet girl, but that exit letter was still hanging over our heads. I was praying that everything would come together in time for us to make our flight home.

And, of course, I was still hoping we'd have another chance to visit the market before we left!

Congo Adventures Day 4---Who Are You???

Wednesday, October 24, 2012:

Addy spent most of the night snuggled between the two of us. Around 4:00 a.m., she woke up, looked at us, and seemed just as confused as ever. I pulled her onto my chest, and she quickly nuzzled into my neck and drifted back to sleep for another couple of hours. Oh, how I loved having that sweet girl in my arms!

Once we were up for the day, Bobby and I were anxious to give Addy a bath, get her cleaned up, and spend some time bonding with her. Unfortunately, she wasn't quite as excited about our plans! The moment we tried to put her in the bathtub, she looked at us as though we had completely lost our minds. She refused to sit down, and even after I helped her bend her little legs, she continued giving us a look that seemed to say, "Who ARE you people, and WHAT are you doing to me?!?!"

Judging by her reaction, I'm guessing this was her first experience with a full bath. She didn't cry or whine, but she was clearly unsure of what on earth was happening. And honestly, who could blame her? Here she was, in a completely unfamiliar place, with two people she had only met the day before, and now those same people were trying to bathe her!  

For the first couple of hours, Addy remained incredibly timid and uneasy. She never cried, but it was obvious that she was still trying to make sense of everything. We cuddled her, played with her, and did our best to help her feel safe and comfortable. She watched us closely, taking it all in, but we knew it would take time for her to become comfortable with us.

It wasn't until breakfast that morning that we finally saw a little more of our girl's personality. The moment she saw Josee, her whole face lit up! There was our sweet, smiley Addy! What a relief it must have been for her to see someone familiar amid so many changes. She even ate a great breakfast, polishing off some yogurt, potatoes, and a few bites of mango.

We spent the rest of the day in our hotel room, cuddling, playing, and doing everything we could to help Addy feel comfortable with us. Oh, and NAPPING. Lots and LOTS of napping! We were SOOOOO tired! Between the exhaustion of traveling, the excitement of finally meeting our daughter, and the emotions of the previous day, I think we were all perfectly content to spend some quiet time together.

We also managed to Skype with the kiddos back home for a little while, and it was SO wonderful to see their sweet faces! As much as I loved every minute of finally having Addy in my arms, seeing the rest of our crew reminded me of how incredible it would be to finally arrive back in North Dakota. Our WHOLE family, together at last!!!!

As the day went on, Addy began to open up a little more, but it wasn't until we met A and Josee for dinner that we really saw her personality come through again. Having familiar faces nearby made such a difference for our girl. I cannot begin to express how thankful I am that we were able to spend the week with them. Their presence helped Addy transition from everything she had ever known to these two crazy white people who were suddenly holding her, kissing her, and loving all over her!

Wednesday evenings at Hotel Royal featured live African jazz and a dinner buffet, so we decided to enjoy both. We started in the courtyard near the music but quickly moved inside when we found ourselves surrounded by people smoking. Thankfully, we could still enjoy the jazz from inside, and we were now just steps away from the BUFFET!

Oh, my goodness. What a dinner! I seriously wish I had taken a picture of our plates. There was beef, tuna, salmon, chicken, potatoes, and an enormous assortment of salads, including one with large tomatoes stuffed with crab and tuna. Everything looked incredible, but the SAUCES! OH. MY. They were absolutely D.E.L.I.C.I.O.U.S! There was one spicy orange sauce that I swear nearly lit my mouth on fire, and yet I couldn't stop eating it!

We also had the chance to try Primus, a local beer we had heard so much about. It was surprisingly tasty, reminding us a little of Blue Moon, only without the citrusy flavor. Between the delicious food, live jazz, and wonderful company, it was a fantastic evening!

After dinner, A and Josee came up to our room for a while, and we settled onto the balcony to watch the streets below. As we sat together, our conversation gradually turned from the excitement of the day to the poverty surrounding us. The three of us still couldn't get over what we were witnessing.

At one point, I almost felt horrible sitting there, looking down at the streets as though we were watching a television show. Except this wasn't a show. These were real people, real families, and real children going about their everyday lives. We had just enjoyed an incredible dinner in a beautiful hotel, while only a short distance away, people were living in circumstances we could hardly imagine. The contrast was difficult to comprehend.

We had a wonderful conversation about our faith in the Lord and the things we had seen. I kept thinking about how difficult it was for me to imagine enduring such extreme poverty and sickness while still holding tightly to the belief that God loves you beyond all measure. And yet, so many people facing circumstances far more difficult than my own have a deep and beautiful faith in Him. What an incredible reminder that God's love and presence are not dependent on our circumstances.

As we talked, I began thinking about all the times I've questioned God over the smallest things. All the times I've wondered, "Where are You, God?" when life hasn't gone the way I wanted. I complain about a difficult day in my comfortable home, surrounded by my healthy children, while there are mothers living on the streets with their babies and young children, some facing serious illness and unimaginable hardship.

My heart ached as I thought about the people we had seen that day. I was overwhelmed by the contrast between their circumstances and my own, and I couldn't help wondering why I so often allowed life's smallest inconveniences to overshadow the incredible blessings God had given me.

Oh, how much I still had to learn.

As we ended another unforgettable day in Congo, I found myself praying for those mothers, fathers, and precious children. I prayed that they would know the Lord's love and care in the midst of their circumstances and that one day, they would inherit the highest seats in glory.

I was reminded of the beautiful promise in 1 Samuel 2:7–8, which tells us that the Lord sends poverty and wealth, humbles and exalts, raises the poor from the dust, and lifts the needy to places of honor.

1 Samuel 2:7-8

The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.

What a beautiful reminder that the Lord sees those whom the world so often overlooks.

And what a humbling reminder of just how much He was teaching me through our time in Congo.