Double the Blessing & Double the Fun + One: Two Years as a Family

Wow, where have the last two years gone? It's so hard to believe that two years ago, January 31st, we came home with the boys. Sometimes it feels as though we've been a family forever and other times I can recall the moments of coming home as if they were yesterday. Then I think back to the journey we took when we decided to start our family....

God put it in our hearts that there were children on the other side of the world who needed a home....first He put one child in our heart, then as we listened closely God told us that we needed to open our hearts to siblings. So we added our name to the sibling list and prayed for two young children (well, mom prayed for baby boys - even though we were told that was next to impossible...but God knows best!). Soon we were number one on the sibling list...

Then Aneata made the call that would change our lives...TWIN 3 MONTH OLD BOYS! What!?! Thank you, Jesus!! Mom drove as fast as she could to Battle Creek (where dad's school was) and soon saw your faces for the first time!

The first photo of Asaye....true love!

The first photo of Amare....true love!

Now we waited to pass court and then for an embassy date. We waited, cried because we couldn't be with you, prepared for your arrival and watched you grow in pictures.

One of our favorite photos of you taken by Travis and Andrea who visited you and hugged and kissed you for mom and dad!

David and Thomas

Thomas

David

Then it was time to leave for Ethiopia...we couldn't wait to finally meet you and hug you, and hug you, and kiss you, and stare into your eyes! It was the longest trip of our lives. Then the moment came when we finally got to hold you both!

Our first sight was Asaye - sitting in a bumbo on the floor (mommy rushed over and picked you up). The nannies got Amare out of his crib (he was sound asleep) and handed him to daddy.

The first time I laid eyes on Asaye!

Finally a family!

Brothers forever!

Travis, Andrea, Mommy, Thomas, Daddy, David

We held you in our arms in the car as we rode back to the guest house.

We enjoyed two wonderful weeks in Ethiopia!

David and Thomas

Thomas and David hanging out at the Guest House.

We had lots of friends at the guest house.

Oh the fun of feeding two sweet boys - you certainly kept mom and dad

busy as we learned all the fun of twins and doing everything times two!

Thomas

David

Thomas spent a lot of time in the front pack carrier.

David enjoying a bottle from Daddy.

Thomas hanging out on the balcony with dad.

Family time!

Those first moments of seeing David and Thomas were amazing. We had waited for what felt like years (even though it was only 4 months) to meet our boys - then waited to bring them home to meet the family - and now it seems like we've been a family forever!

Homecoming - January 31, 2010