Quinty

Her name is Quinty.

She is Mihret's 'Best Friend'.

She lives in our neighborhood.

When Mihret opens up the front door Quinty runs over to grab her to play... with chalk, water balloons, riding scooters, swinging on our swing, eating popsicles, finding bugs, dancing, skipping.... laughing.  

I stay back a little... and watch. ....and my heart is happy to see another little person showing so much kindness to my Mihret. 

It's one of those things this Momma will always watch out for. Girls can be so mean, really mean. I honestly think in my 18 years of parenting, besides the 'What to Expect When You're Expecting' books - I had to purchase my share of literature on Mean Girls... And how to help my girls avoid them, deal with them, and never become like them.

Mihret fits our family like a glove. Her personality, her laugh, her facial expressions... Glory to God. She is a Silly Sanders for sure. :) But....

I wonder what struggles she will face as she gets older...
living in a community that is not very diverse....

I wonder if she will be picked on because of the color of her skin

I wonder if people will make fun of her name

I wonder if people will ask her questions about her first momma

I wonder if she'll be uncomfortable

I wonder if she will question her identity

I think right now feels sorta easy, as far as her lil friendships go. I think there will be challenges ahead and I know that I am so ready to show her absolutely all the LOVE and support that I possibly can. I know I will need His guidance to help me say the right things, do the right things....
(I may even need to buy a book or two.)  :)

I do know that being a part of this AMAZING adoption community has been SO helpful - from awesome blogging buddies, to our AGCI friends, Facebook groups, our social worker, and the God of the Universe in our corner for encouragement, guidance and support; I feel like we are in GREAT hands.

Graduating...

...where does the time go...


 

it felt like just yesterday

she was coloring me little pictures
writing me silly notes
singing her ABC's
learning to ride a bike
playing hide and seek
roller skating
skinning her knee
holding my hand

I ordered these today...
{sigh}
 

 ...excited for her to begin a new chapter in her life...

but sad that I am a little less needed.

sad to be seeing her a little less everyday...

she is becoming such a GREAT 'grown up' 

independent

responsible

compassionate

she is going to make an AMAZING Elementary Education teacher!

She's already an AWESOME person

fantastic daughter

COOL sister

I love you HONEY! I can't believe you are graduating from HIGH SCHOOL!

I am so blessed to be your Mommy and I thank God everyday for your precious life.

Go.

BE AMAZING.

Change the WORLD - as I know you will.

Learn, make mistakes, laugh, love...

...but always come home

cuz

I miss you already.

XOX

Referraliversary #2

2 years ago today, we saw Mihret's sweet lil face for the very first time.

We already loved her way before we saw this precious picture of her... 
...She captured our hearts then, and still does.... everyday.

Our lives were changed FOREVER May 2nd, 2011 - and we cannot imagine our crazy lives without her.  We thank God for her sweet little soul.  She is such a blessing.  She has taught all of us more about compassion, selflessness, patience, kindness...

She reminds us everyday by her sweet little smile that there are millions of orphans still waiting for a family to love them like ours... we pray.

Today, she looks at her picture from two years ago and says, 

'That's ME! ...what happened to my hair?' :)

So, we talk about Africa, Ethiopia, where she lived... 

and how God chose her especially for our family.

We are SO grateful for her little life!

Happy Referraliversary Mihret! YOU ROCK our crazy WORLD!

XOXOX