On to DC

I just drug erin through the airport after she took the pill that was supposed to "take the edge off."

It is actually sort of funny. I always wondered what she would be like drunk.

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In the airport

Yes. I am the geek with the blackberry taking pictures and posting them to the internet.

We are about to head to Chicago!

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Off to Ethiopia!

We are trying to stay up late to cut down on the jet lag once we get there, so here is our last post from the United States. There is supposed to be free internet access in the lobby of the hotel, so we will try to post as much as possible.

Pray for Erin, as she HATES airplanes. Being stuck on one flight for 15 hours won't help that at all. We can't wait to hold Addis, and we will upload as many pictures as we can.

Our other kids are going to stay with their grandparents for the week. They are really pumped for the visit, but even more excited to see their little brother.

And, since Sophie didn't make the last post, here is another funny picture of our little firecracker.

Bad News...

The day has come. After four years, Easton is preparing to go to preschool, and they won't let him have long hair anymore. With our trip to Ethiopia just around the corner, we decided that we better do it now. We took one last picture with his long hair.

Mrs. Lindsey does a great job and we were thankful she could squeeze him in this week.




And the grand finale...

A before and after for grins. If you are wondering why Sophie didn't make the cut, she has cried all day. She is moody like that.




So there it is. I don't really think it is bad news after all. What do you think?

Introducing Addis Zachary Yeabsera Kennedy!

We found out today that Addis is officially a Kennedy! We have to be in Ethiopia on August 4th to meet him for the first time. We are so excited and feel extremely blessed to be able to share his pictures with all of you.

Thank you for all of your prayers.
We appreciate everyone being a part of our journey.

We Miss You!

Look at his eyes.
Though we have only seen pictures, we miss those eyes.

He weighs 17.64 lbs.
Though we have never held him, we miss those chubby legs.

He now objects to toys being taken from him.
Though he has never been home, his brother and sisters ALREADY fight over his toys.

We miss you Addis. Mommy and Daddy are coming to get you soon.

Sophie Turns Two

Besides being one of the cutest two year old little girls in the whole world, Sophie also happens to be one of the funniest. Even after living with her for two years, she still makes us laugh every day. While she can be feisty at times, her smile always shines through and we couldn't imagine our lives without her in it.

We love you Sophia! Happy Birthday!

Still Waiting

Today was tough. We were supposed to be in Ethiopia today, picking up our baby boy. However, due to in country delays, we are unsure when that day will come.

We feel like we are missing out on so much. Every day that we have to wait, he gets a day older without us there to watch it. I suppose it would be easier if we had a date that all this would come to an end, but we don't. We just have to wait.

I think God teaches more in waiting than any other experience of life. That is probably why he put Abraham through all of the ups and downs... to teach us the value of patience. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for their promised child. Sure, he got desperate a time or two, but Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. They hoped in the promise of God, and God did not let them down.

John Piper says it this way.

That’s exactly how God wants his children to live: by faith in future grace—the assurance of things hoped for; the conviction of things not seen. You can either stand in His place, or go at His pace.

So, here we are. Relying on faith and not sight. Hoping in the promise of God and believing that he has a purpose in all of this. Going at His pace.

Patience is one of those things that God doesn't give you. He gives you opportunities to develop it. Here is our opportunity. It is our prayer that we don't squander it.

The Yard Sale and Catch Up

It is time for the annual Kennedy yard sale, where we once again drag out those sweaters Erin wore in Jr. High and try to convince her that they are NEVER going to be in style again.
It is time for our friends to peruse through said sweaters and find the ones that just might make it back into a stylish wardrobe and steal them before the sale ever starts.
It is time for a strange old man to purchase a bikini for 25 cents for reasons no respectable person cares to know, only after he attempts for 15 minutes to haggle it down to a mere 10 cents while my stubborn wife refuses to back down.
It is yard sale time.

Saturday at 7 am, let the festivities begin.

Now, to catch up on weeks gone by.

Catherine had her first dance recital a few weeks ago. She was beautiful, and she made us all very proud. Notice, even when she has all of her make up on and her hair done, she still manages to find a baby to carry around with her.

Easton gave her a rose after her award-winning performance.

We have been visiting family since last Friday. Grammy and Poppa (Erin's Mom and Dad) held the first annual Kid Camp. Every day was planned with fun activities for the kids, and the whole family had a blast.


This is Easton with his cousins, Harrison and Everson.

Catherine tubing with Peyton and Mackenzie.The whole family.
Here is Grammy and Poppa with all 9 of the grandkids.

One Last Step

We got an update on Baby Addis. Here are the details.

"Addis is really special! Some people have super cute personalities and some people are just plain good-looking. Addis has both! He is in a constant good mood and if he was not an innocent baby, I would think he is trying to get something! Addis' cocked eyebrows and sideways grins are irresistible and he has only been spotted crying in regards to food! He is healthy, strong and very active."
Weight- 16.76 pounds Height- 25.98 inches

Nesting

We have known since November that we were adding another member to our family, but it is only now, two weeks away from our potential travel dates, that my wife decides to "nest."

We have cleaned out every closet, the carpet in every room was professionally cleaned, Easton got new shelves in his closet, every toy box has been emptied and purged. Next up, she wants to clean out the Kitchen cabinets! Why? Because that is what women do when a baby is on the way. Babies care about clean closets and cabinets, you know!

To top it all off, she has scheduled a yard sale for June 14th, two days before our travel date. Instead of packing, we will be pricing. Hopefully we will make enough dollar at the yard sale to cover our expenses while in Ethiopia, and then maybe all our work will seem justified to me.

If you have been following our journey and have told yourself that you would like to do something to help the children of ethiopia, here is a simple way to help. Below is a list of immediate needs of the orphanages and foster care facilities. We will be taking a suitcase or two full of these items. You can bring them to us at church, or call us and we can figure out how to get it here. We are required to take $200 worth of these items, but we would love to take more. Thank you in advance for donating!

a. Children’s clothing (new or slightly used); Boys and Girls; sizes 0-8 years. Clothing needs include day clothes, pajamas, underwear, and shoes.

b. Huggies Baby Shaped Diapers Club Case – Size 1 or 2; $34.99 each (no tax or shipping on www.1800diapers.com. Use Referral Code: THCE5959 and get $2.00 off the order. (2 recommended) Even though diapers are readily available in Addis, it is more expensive to purchase them there and they tend to leak.

c. Huggies Natural Care Wipes (Unscented); 576 count; $19.99 (no tax or shipping on www.1800diapers.com) (2 recommended)

d. Nestle Good Start Supreme DHA/ARA; powder; 25.7 oz. can; $27.99 per can (no tax or shipping on www.1800diapers.com) (at least 3 cans recommended)

e. A + D Original Ointment, Diaper Rash and All-Purpose Skincare Formula; 1 lb.; $9.49 on www.drugstore.com. (1 lb. recommended)

f. Purell Hand Sanitizer NXT Refill, 1000ml Item # 2156-08EA $10.95 ea. (1 recommended) http://www.cwimedical.com/purell-hand-sanitizer.html

Our court date is next Tuesday, June 3rd. It will actually be Monday evening in our time zone, so please pray that there are no hold ups. We are ready to go get him!

Big News!!!!

We heard today that we have a court date!!!! We are so excited. It is June 3rd. I can not believe it is so soon. I think there are a few other families with court on the same day so I am praying that it is a successful day!

Four Years Old

Easton and Catherine are officially four years old as of last Thursday. We had a week full of birthday surprises.

Before I go on with the details of the big day, we got an update on baby Addis today. “He is a man after my own heart! He loves his feet rubbed! When I would rub his feet he would hold them up in the air to make it easier for me! He would lay back and enjoy the moment! It was so cute! He is eating well and has an incredibly strong grip! I have a criticism though. He smiles way too much. So every time I go past him, I have to stop working and pick him up!” We are so glad that he gets so much love while he waits for us to go get him!

Last Sunday afternoon, we went with Lovey and Poppa to Branson. I bought Poppa a grande caramel macchiatto and he took care of everything else. I think it was a fair trade. The guy at the Starbucks drive-thru thought I was the nicest person ever, wanting to pay for the guy behind me in the line and all.

This is Sophia going through the hotel lobby. She insisted on dragging the suitcase ALL THE WAY to the room.


This is the train from the parking lot. Poppa has the rest of the pictures from the day, so we will post those at a later date.


On Friday, Aunt Marci, Cousin Mark, and Baby Seth came to visit. Mark put the princess dress on Sophie and asked her to dance with him. He is so smooth, just like his daddy. Right Josh?


Catherine LOVED baby Seth, which was encouraging as we are about to add another baby to our crew. She took care of him all weekend.


Check out Mark's sunburn after a day in the sun. He won't let you pick him up without saying "owie!"


The kids got new bikes for their birthdays which were a big hit. The helmets and knee pads came in handy on the first trip down the side walk.



The Poppas helped with the bike riding.
Happy Birthday Easton and Catherine!


And, for good measure, here is a funny picture of Sophia that will make your day.

Piles of Reflection

We have been overwhelmed by the response of friends, family, and blog-friends over our referral. It is a very special time in our lives and we are grateful for everyone's love and support. I am convinced that our kids are the most loved in the whole world, and I can't wait for baby Addis to get to join in.

In the mix of the blessings and congratulations have come innocent comments like, "We could never do that," or "You guys are so special to do something like that," and my all time favorite, "Four kids, are you crazy!"

While we might be crazy, and we certainly feel special, it isn't because of anything we have done. Looking into our little boys eyes, we feel special and privileged to call him our son.

We have bad days, petty arguments, and various other shortcomings just like everyone else. We just looked at our lives and decided that we had room in our family for one more. We looked at our family and found love and support to go forward with adoption. We looked at our circle of friends and found generosity and encouragement beyond what we could have ever imagined. We looked to God for direction and He said, "I wrote instructions for that a long time ago."

I found a quote this evening that sums up things up quite nicely.

I'm only one. But still, I am one.
I cannot do everything, but still, I can do something.
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.



I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him. 1 Samuel 1:27

The Details...

I told her so. Erin left town yesterday to go to Hot Springs to see her parents and grandmother for a few days. Before she left, I told her that we would get the referral this week and we wouldn't be together for it.

At 4 pm today, Jessica from Gladney called and told me that she had our referral, but that she hadn't been able to get a hold of Erin. My heart was about to pound out of my chest as I tried over and over again to get her to answer. I called her cell, her parents house, her parents cell phones, her grandmother, her brothers (they don't even live there, so I am still not sure why I called them.) 15 minutes later, Erin called me back. That was THE LONGEST 15 minutes ever. I later told Erin that it was almost like getting to tell her we were pregnant, something a man never gets the opportunity to do.

I went to my office, and all of the people that work in the worship ministry office came in to be a part of the moment with me. Erin went to her parent's computer with the kids.

He is absolutely adorable. He is pretty pudgy, with big eyes and a cute smile. His name means "The work of God the Father." He is 5 months old, 30 inches long, and 15.5 pounds.

He couldn't be any more perfect.

Introducing...

Introducing Kennedy #6!

He is 5 months old.

I will post details later on... Crazy times!

The Kennedy Zoo

First off, the adoption news. We have now been waiting for 13 weeks, which officially puts us in the 3-5 month window that the agency said we could expect a referral. We are looking forward to getting pictures of our little boy any day now. We are being cautiously optimistic that we will make our court date before the rainy season starts, though one of us is much more optimistic than the other. We will let you guess which one that is.

We never updated after the surprise trip to the zoo. It was more like, surprise you have the stomach bug and you get to puke all morning. I (Erin) woke up in the night with it first, then Easton, then Catherine. I was still convinced, even while throwing up my insides all morning, that we could make it the two hour drive to the Tulsa zoo. When you have a plan, you stick to it.

While getting the kids ready to go in between trips to the bathroom, Sophie decided to complicate the morning by emptying the diaper rash cream all over the living room. Here is what our coffee table looked like. It ruined the carpet.

As we walked out the door, Easton threw up one last time in the sink. Zach covered the back of the van with trash bags and we headed to Tulsa. The kids slept on the way over there, but Catherine woke up feeling sick again. Here we are in the zoo parking lot.

When we finally made it into the zoo, the kids perked up and thoroughly enjoyed the day. Catherine only threatened to throw up once, but it was a non-event. I am sure the other mothers at the zoo loved seeing us whip out the Wal-mart sacks in the line for the train.




We ate dinner at the cheesecake factory to end the day of all days. Well, at least some ate. I had to leave dinner and head to the car. I slept the whole way home.

All in all, a successful trip to the zoo. Surprise!!!

The Lord's Prayer

Surprise Trip

We are taking the kids on a surprise trip to the Zoo tomorrow. They are really excited about their surprise, and they have no clue where we are going. We will post some pictures when we get back. Until then, here are some of the recent pictures from the ever growing Kennedy family album.

Easton found the old swimming pool and drug it out to play in. It was pretty exciting, as you can tell.

Catherine wanted to carry her baby like they carry them in Africa. Her daddy showed her how after his trip to Malawi last summer. Of course Sophie wanted to be exactly like her sister.


I think Easton has his daddy's creative side. Above is a model of his mommy, and the red and yellow blocks on the bottom are he and his sister in mommy's tummy. He was pretty proud.

And this is what I did all day today. Literally, all day.

I hate laundry.

Minivan

It is official. Erin has officially joined the ranks of the soccer moms of the world. It has all of the fun stuff in it for the kids, and it is much more convenient and fuel efficient than the suburban.

If only it was a convertible...

Some day Erin, some day.

Week Eleven!

We have now officially been waiting 11 weeks for a referral. I (Erin) get on the blog sites everyday to see who is getting referrals and working out the math in my head as to when ours might come. It is getting harder to be patient, especially with the rainy season drawing near. The kids think they are getting Baby Addis for their birthday, which is May 15th. That is what they tell everyone they want. I am praying we can wrap up his picture to give to them that day.

In other news, my husband is trying to talk me into getting a minivan. Yes, you read right... A minivan. My apologies to those who already own a minivan. It has just been something I have been trying to avoid until I turn thirty. Since I just had my 25th last Saturday, I am a few years off from my goal. We found a used one and are talking to the dealership tomorrow. We will let you know what the final decision is. I know, you can't wait...

We haven't been great with the photos lately, but here are a few of the kids. After all, it wouldn't be a Kennedy family blog post without kid pictures. I actually told Zach yesterday that most people have no idea what we look like, because we never post pictures of ourselves. Maybe I will take a picture in my new minivan.

The twins started soccer.

Easton learned how to cross his eyes. I keep telling him they are going to get stuck, but his daddy thinks it is hilarious and encourages it. It is pretty funny looking.

Guilty - Short Film