tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56026225308855238842024-03-13T09:18:29.980-05:00 Spears Family NebraskaLife. Love. Adoption. Family. Metastatic Breast Cancer. Type 1 Diabetes.Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.comBlogger429125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-79940446420529343542017-05-14T16:53:00.000-05:002017-05-14T16:53:41.625-05:00Lisle's First Holy Communion<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A LOT of water has flowed under the metaphorical bridge since my last post, and some of it was very dark indeed. And some of it was the very essence of lightness. But that is for another day. Today I return to my blog to celebrate our sweet Carlisle Fitsum, or Lisle as he is generally known. He has been through so much in his young life, and continues to amaze us with his charm and resiliency. He is now eight years old and finishing up second grade. This weekend, he took a big step forward in the Catholic faith...he celebrated his First Holy Communion.<br />
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<i>Mom, Dad, and Lisle</i> </div>
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<i>Grandma Miles and Lisle</i></div>
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<i>A serious Lisle during Mass...not a common sight.</i></div>
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<i>Father Au speaking to the First Communicants and presenting them with scapular medals.</i></div>
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<i>Lisle and classmates Ricardo and Janessa presenting the gifts at Offertory.</i></div>
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<i>Receiving the Blessed Eucharist for the first time. Thomas is serving as an altar boy, and although Tom is not in this picture, he was an acolyte at today's Mass, which made it even more special.</i></div>
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<i>The 2017 First Communion Class with Father Au and teacher Mrs. Kasuske.</i></div>
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<i>Father Au and Lisle</i></div>
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<i>We had a celebratory brunch at home with this pretty and yummy cake.</i></div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-43529577994830908722016-08-30T09:33:00.001-05:002016-08-30T09:34:34.346-05:00Breast cancerOn August 15, I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. The same day Lisle was hospitalized with initial onset of Type 1 diabetes. You can get updates on both Lisle and me on Facebook.<div><br></div><div>You can also read about my battle against breast cancer here:</div><div><br></div><div>https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/paulalovespink/journal</div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-21492213667956414792016-04-10T18:09:00.003-05:002016-04-10T18:09:59.854-05:00Dark curtain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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At first, each step on the treadmill brings a lightness built of purpose...hey, I'm getting my steps in! But as each foot pounds out a repetitive rhythm...thud, thud; thud, thud, my thoughts wander darkly as I trouble over the concerns of myself, and even more strongly, the concerns of my children. The dark curtain starts to fall around me as I plod on. I worry so about this same curtain falling around my beloved children. Parenting is hard.<br />
Depression sucks.<br />
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-37363067816284890652016-03-27T19:27:00.000-05:002016-03-28T16:22:16.684-05:00Blogworthy, part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
A photo dump of blog-worthy 2015 moments that weren't blogged about, in approximate order of date.<br />
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<i>Thomas was a huge star on the Pee Wee football field. His team was runner-up in his league.</i></div>
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<i>Anna was selected as a Princess of Aksarben! A huge honor for our family...trust me on this.</i></div>
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<i>We spent Thanksgiving at Lost Valley Ranch in Colorado.</i></div>
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<i>It was cold, snowy and gorgeous.</i></div>
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<i>On December 10, our youngest son officially became Carlisle Fitsum Spears.</i></div>
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<i> We also formalized the adoptions of both boys and got Nebraska birth certificates.</i></div>
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<i>Candace and Sarah had a successful meet season as USAG level 5 competitors. </i></div>
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<i> The littles posed with Santa Claus.</i></div>
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<i>Lisle was worn out on the big day of Christmas.</i></div>
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<i>Yep, he's good at basketball, too.</i></div>
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<i>We had these lovely wild swans as visitors to our lake for several weeks.</i></div>
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<i> We've only had swans on the lake one other winter...so beautiful.</i></div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-14464883546004449642016-03-27T18:40:00.000-05:002016-03-27T18:40:04.614-05:00Easter<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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He is risen. Alleluia<br />
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-15348670994866562902016-01-24T17:05:00.000-06:002016-01-24T17:32:33.354-06:00Blog worthy, but not blogged about<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't been a good blogger for some time now. Lots of reasons...many of them live beings that require an awful lot of time and attention. I'm going to try to fix that; mostly for my own mental health...clearly, I need some kind of a creative outlet. At any rate, there is a certain amount of housekeeping that I feel must occur, so that in the future a sixth or seventh child doesn't ask reproachfully why there are no pictures of them on my blog. I've already walked the 1990's version of that path.<br />
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So the following are some events that while certainly blog-worthy, didn't get put on the blog when they happened.<br />
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<b>1. Thomas's First Communion and Lisle's Baptism</b><br />
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<i>Before Mass with Mom and Dad...looking very handsome.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dTkNq64jIik/VqVK5GrJLjI/AAAAAAAAwSM/uIRM3XJl7HY/s1600/Thomas%2Breceiving%2BHoly%2BEucharist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dTkNq64jIik/VqVK5GrJLjI/AAAAAAAAwSM/uIRM3XJl7HY/s640/Thomas%2Breceiving%2BHoly%2BEucharist.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Receiving the Holy Eucharist</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oc3RPj0Ay-k/VqVK5KLaAkI/AAAAAAAAwSQ/VtTpHRxfAUA/s1600/Thomas%2Band%2BFr.%2BAu.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Oc3RPj0Ay-k/VqVK5KLaAkI/AAAAAAAAwSQ/VtTpHRxfAUA/s640/Thomas%2Band%2BFr.%2BAu.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Thomas with our pastor, Fr. Au.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qrj_2RSnUPY/VqVK3Sc5QfI/AAAAAAAAwSE/kmD5M-GBRyo/s1600/Lisle%2Bbaptism%2Bfont.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Qrj_2RSnUPY/VqVK3Sc5QfI/AAAAAAAAwSE/kmD5M-GBRyo/s640/Lisle%2Bbaptism%2Bfont.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Carlisle Fitsum Spears being baptized. Godparents are best friend Bill and my sister Teresa.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NaGYXT2hSGw/VqVK0ZDkFOI/AAAAAAAAwR0/HllIE2r8luY/s1600/Lisle%2Bbaptism%2Bcandle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NaGYXT2hSGw/VqVK0ZDkFOI/AAAAAAAAwR0/HllIE2r8luY/s640/Lisle%2Bbaptism%2Bcandle.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>Lisle was very excited that he got to hold the burning candle.</i></div>
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<b>2. Spring and summer sports-a-palooza</b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aL6zTbzrqiM/VqVNHDCxMPI/AAAAAAAAwSg/QRN1UkfxmEQ/s1600/Lisle%2Bsoccer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aL6zTbzrqiM/VqVNHDCxMPI/AAAAAAAAwSg/QRN1UkfxmEQ/s640/Lisle%2Bsoccer.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Lisle loves soccer.</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ViozbpfjpQo/VqVNNm5VPXI/AAAAAAAAwTA/goZRVTICVEY/s1600/Lisle%2Bsoccer%2Bmedal.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ViozbpfjpQo/VqVNNm5VPXI/AAAAAAAAwTA/goZRVTICVEY/s640/Lisle%2Bsoccer%2Bmedal.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>The obligatory participation award. Lisle also loves medals.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqDHNshyYyI/VqVTx8NAQmI/AAAAAAAAwTs/fn6LYOI9uY8/s1600/softball%2Bpitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqDHNshyYyI/VqVTx8NAQmI/AAAAAAAAwTs/fn6LYOI9uY8/s640/softball%2Bpitch.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Candace and Sarah played softball again this summer. They frequently played as a twin pitcher-catcher power duo. They are both pretty good at either position. And also first base.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqZkhRGCQZk/VqVT08CxAYI/AAAAAAAAwT0/_NwhwnPejWk/s1600/softball%2Bteam.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LqZkhRGCQZk/VqVT08CxAYI/AAAAAAAAwT0/_NwhwnPejWk/s640/softball%2Bteam.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>End of season softball team photo.</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SS0q_FO57FY/VqVNKlKrFQI/AAAAAAAAwS0/bj1MvvpWgB0/s1600/another%2BLisle%2Bt-ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SS0q_FO57FY/VqVNKlKrFQI/AAAAAAAAwS0/bj1MvvpWgB0/s640/another%2BLisle%2Bt-ball.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>T-ball for Lisle.</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s8HbjedXlKw/VqVNJUBWs9I/AAAAAAAAwSo/Xd4k0WKJxU8/s1600/Lisle%2Bt-ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s8HbjedXlKw/VqVNJUBWs9I/AAAAAAAAwSo/Xd4k0WKJxU8/s640/Lisle%2Bt-ball.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Could he be any cuter in those pants?</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BsEEjjiuTf8/VqVNPFkRhWI/AAAAAAAAwTI/_qYQuGfrQNg/s1600/race%2Bwith%2Blittle%2Bdudes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-BsEEjjiuTf8/VqVNPFkRhWI/AAAAAAAAwTI/_qYQuGfrQNg/s640/race%2Bwith%2Blittle%2Bdudes.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>A kids' fun run with friends!</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPD-iSIU99E/VqVNJxxm2kI/AAAAAAAAwSs/5LsY_fDXSOk/s1600/Thomas%2Bbaseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yPD-iSIU99E/VqVNJxxm2kI/AAAAAAAAwSs/5LsY_fDXSOk/s640/Thomas%2Bbaseball.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Ever the professional, Thomas is up to bat. He was excellent in all positions. Naturally.</i></div>
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<b>3. DeSmet, South Dakota and The Laura Ingalls Wilder tour</b><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-thasqd7LcW0/VqVVnPYQ9dI/AAAAAAAAwUE/xsP2iI42DjQ/s1600/Tour%2Bsign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-thasqd7LcW0/VqVVnPYQ9dI/AAAAAAAAwUE/xsP2iI42DjQ/s640/Tour%2Bsign.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>My sister Laura and I had a ridiculous amount of fun on this trip.</i></div>
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<i> We let the twins and her husband Richard tag along, too.</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-escwzfHTvWo/VqVVo41DaaI/AAAAAAAAwUY/sUU6wWY98DI/s1600/clothes%2BWashing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-escwzfHTvWo/VqVVo41DaaI/AAAAAAAAwUY/sUU6wWY98DI/s640/clothes%2BWashing.jpg" width="498" /></a></div>
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<i>The twins thought washing clothes with this wringer and washboard was the most fun ever.</i></div>
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<i> They do not show this amount of enthusiasm for chores at home, strangely.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kKC_Z3Ab5Cc/VqVVtMVRtrI/AAAAAAAAwUk/BL_DpCIGfpE/s1600/kittens.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kKC_Z3Ab5Cc/VqVVtMVRtrI/AAAAAAAAwUk/BL_DpCIGfpE/s640/kittens.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Kittens in the barn!</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JmFrOFhUCq4/VqVVt-g7IPI/AAAAAAAAwUs/NIlBSIbGphY/s1600/old%2Bschool.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JmFrOFhUCq4/VqVVt-g7IPI/AAAAAAAAwUs/NIlBSIbGphY/s640/old%2Bschool.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>School is in session.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WksqZUJKIGo/VqVVs0g61aI/AAAAAAAAwUg/5_k_1kWgJFs/s1600/piano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WksqZUJKIGo/VqVVs0g61aI/AAAAAAAAwUg/5_k_1kWgJFs/s640/piano.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Playing Mary's piano at the Ingalls' house.</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CIl_vm5MUfM/VqVVnfqPjNI/AAAAAAAAwUI/C5vNJ9b3Ca4/s1600/Pioneers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CIl_vm5MUfM/VqVVnfqPjNI/AAAAAAAAwUI/C5vNJ9b3Ca4/s640/Pioneers.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>Solemn pioneers...the twins with Aunt Laura and Uncle Richard.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iqx8Cmv7BX0/VqVVnCENrjI/AAAAAAAAwUA/UkfFMmRN9e4/s1600/Tiny%2Bhorse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iqx8Cmv7BX0/VqVVnCENrjI/AAAAAAAAwUA/UkfFMmRN9e4/s640/Tiny%2Bhorse.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Our visit included petting this friendly tiny horse.</i></div>
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Stay tuned for Blog Worthy, part 2!<br />
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-51904830360920232802015-11-04T21:15:00.000-06:002015-11-04T21:15:28.045-06:00One year for Lisle<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
One year ago today, Ethiopian Airlines flight 501 touched down in Washington, D.C. After going through immigration, the USA had a new citizen, Festum Thomas Spears... a train wreck of a name; we'll be fixing that next month. To us, he is Carlisle Fitsum Spears; our Lisle. It's been a wonderful year getting to know our new little boy, filled with many joys and many challenges. He's done a ton of growing: physically he's about eight inches taller and ten pounds heavier; he's also speaking English, going to school, speech therapy, occupational therapy and playing organized sports...growing as a little person. We can't imagine life without him.<br />
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<b><i>Then</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4hWI07SwMS8/VjrHVvWrA6I/AAAAAAAAwKw/8zU_dY9zOIA/s1600/Lisle%2Bparents%2BDC%2Bairport.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4hWI07SwMS8/VjrHVvWrA6I/AAAAAAAAwKw/8zU_dY9zOIA/s640/Lisle%2Bparents%2BDC%2Bairport.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Dulles Airport </i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hoOr-EN1UAc/VjrHdkoerJI/AAAAAAAAwLI/QX8gRMrEr1Q/s1600/Lisle%2Bsnow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hoOr-EN1UAc/VjrHdkoerJI/AAAAAAAAwLI/QX8gRMrEr1Q/s640/Lisle%2Bsnow.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>First snow</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdkyw7t3lrU/VjrHaDlJ8jI/AAAAAAAAwK8/dJiseRuCQlU/s1600/Lisle%2BXmas%2Btree.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qdkyw7t3lrU/VjrHaDlJ8jI/AAAAAAAAwK8/dJiseRuCQlU/s640/Lisle%2BXmas%2Btree.JPG" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>First Christmas home</i></div>
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<b><i>Now</i></b></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FrlhiAMM0Vs/VjrHa5Ibu1I/AAAAAAAAwLA/TUxVSPpc1fY/s1600/Lisle%2Bparents%2Bnow.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FrlhiAMM0Vs/VjrHa5Ibu1I/AAAAAAAAwLA/TUxVSPpc1fY/s640/Lisle%2Bparents%2Bnow.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Today at our house</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nNTVJxPgZPg/VjrHfO__oJI/AAAAAAAAwLM/uuiQ6mtG_UM/s1600/Lisle%2Bzoo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nNTVJxPgZPg/VjrHfO__oJI/AAAAAAAAwLM/uuiQ6mtG_UM/s640/Lisle%2Bzoo.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Henry Doorly Zoo in September</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOA-_Z8egIU/VjrHZO-D8AI/AAAAAAAAwK4/yozQ4OHDMgE/s1600/Butterfly%2Bhunter.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yOA-_Z8egIU/VjrHZO-D8AI/AAAAAAAAwK4/yozQ4OHDMgE/s640/Butterfly%2Bhunter.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Last month, hunting butterflies</i></div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-3566304395337940052015-11-02T21:35:00.001-06:002015-11-02T21:35:07.620-06:00The final firsts<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's hard to believe, but we are coming up on one year as a family of nine. The end of summer and the beginning of fall leads to the last of the firsts for Lisle...here are some pictures documenting a few events.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_iPxERrsIww/Vjgk4VQ5aII/AAAAAAAAwJI/k71VqBS2zuY/s1600/cowpoke%2BLisle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_iPxERrsIww/Vjgk4VQ5aII/AAAAAAAAwJI/k71VqBS2zuY/s640/cowpoke%2BLisle.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Lost Valley Ranch in Colorado with our little cowpoke.</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4fz5kHiXwQ/VjgiiK0QdII/AAAAAAAAwHc/7NwSMx1iWkc/s1600/lisle%2Bhorse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v4fz5kHiXwQ/VjgiiK0QdII/AAAAAAAAwHc/7NwSMx1iWkc/s640/lisle%2Bhorse.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Lisle rode Astro everyday for a week all by himself.</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-12UrLvNnon8/VjgipOGAqqI/AAAAAAAAwH0/Z2I87QL_9fs/s1600/lisle%2Btubing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-12UrLvNnon8/VjgipOGAqqI/AAAAAAAAwH0/Z2I87QL_9fs/s640/lisle%2Btubing.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Tubing with Thomas...Lisle was Mr. Cool until he was dumped minutes later.</i></div>
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<i><b>Vala's Pumpkin Patch</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stdLyK7TQ0w/VjgicILMY0I/AAAAAAAAwHU/bfxmjEWlZs4/s1600/haunted%2Bhouse.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-stdLyK7TQ0w/VjgicILMY0I/AAAAAAAAwHU/bfxmjEWlZs4/s640/haunted%2Bhouse.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>The not-so-haunted house.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44ZhyrogkLU/VjgikuQVxkI/AAAAAAAAwHs/XgrncAUqIHQ/s1600/Lisle%2Bcorn.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-44ZhyrogkLU/VjgikuQVxkI/AAAAAAAAwHs/XgrncAUqIHQ/s640/Lisle%2Bcorn.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Corn!</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2FfuXO1hGic/Vjgk011AOaI/AAAAAAAAwJA/Jgev8c_lmwo/s1600/danger.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2FfuXO1hGic/Vjgk011AOaI/AAAAAAAAwJA/Jgev8c_lmwo/s640/danger.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Danger at the Pumpkin Mine</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bi_c649EnYA/VjgoRS39LTI/AAAAAAAAwJc/04qYUzj18oU/s1600/lisle%2Btrain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bi_c649EnYA/VjgoRS39LTI/AAAAAAAAwJc/04qYUzj18oU/s640/lisle%2Btrain.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Lisle and Sarah on the train.</i></div>
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<i><b>Halloween</b></i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dQOxpXdSe08/Vjgit4QuLYI/AAAAAAAAwIE/4SJ6fmTD0AY/s1600/lisle%2Bpumpkin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dQOxpXdSe08/Vjgit4QuLYI/AAAAAAAAwIE/4SJ6fmTD0AY/s640/lisle%2Bpumpkin.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>The twins helped Lisle make a jack-o-lantern</i>.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MUi0M4iu8UU/VjgiibEEbII/AAAAAAAAwHg/IbJSWxNBdUY/s1600/kids%2Bcostumes.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MUi0M4iu8UU/VjgiibEEbII/AAAAAAAAwHg/IbJSWxNBdUY/s640/kids%2Bcostumes.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Ready to go...disco diva Sarah, vampire-businessman Candace, </i></div>
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<i>zombie Thomas, and Spiderman Lisle.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOk3xAyAkxg/VjgiwkjpOwI/AAAAAAAAwIM/napv6WmpLyE/s1600/spiderman.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aOk3xAyAkxg/VjgiwkjpOwI/AAAAAAAAwIM/napv6WmpLyE/s640/spiderman.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Super amazing spiderman.</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wduQh5-_A9w/VjgiwxJD01I/AAAAAAAAwIQ/rr_XewxNvdY/s1600/trick%2Bor%2Btreat.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wduQh5-_A9w/VjgiwxJD01I/AAAAAAAAwIQ/rr_XewxNvdY/s640/trick%2Bor%2Btreat.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Trick or treat?!</i></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dobdLMQOPJc/VjgiqqCeqOI/AAAAAAAAwH8/wOSwa-qKOlo/s1600/pumpkins.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dobdLMQOPJc/VjgiqqCeqOI/AAAAAAAAwH8/wOSwa-qKOlo/s640/pumpkins.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The littles carved their own pumpkins this year.</i></div>
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More to come in an upcoming post...so much is going on here ALL THE TIME...I need to make more of an effort to keep up.</div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-11147683930027037742015-05-10T21:09:00.004-05:002015-05-10T21:09:55.689-05:00On being a mom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N-eC0sOz2jM/VVAAgBVCHLI/AAAAAAAAtfE/cIE0Ki90Pi4/s1600/Kenneth%2Band%2BMom%2Bnewborn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-N-eC0sOz2jM/VVAAgBVCHLI/AAAAAAAAtfE/cIE0Ki90Pi4/s640/Kenneth%2Band%2BMom%2Bnewborn.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Me as a brand new mom</i></div>
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On a hot summer evening over a quarter of a century ago, after hours and hours of grueling labor, a nurse placed a bundle in my arms, a son, and I became a mom. Just like that. <br />
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I didn't really understand it at the time, but I had found my vocation. Lots of people have careers that they find unbelievably rich and fulfilling and also manage to be wonderful parents. That was never me. Once they put Kenneth in my arms, nothing ever drew me in the way mothering did. I gladly left my industrial engineering job behind and became a stay at home mom while my husband entered graduate school. I had passing thoughts of entering this field or that when my children were in school, but Tom's very busy career and other circumstances came up, and the thoughts stayed passing. <br />
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Lots of times, it was hard. I was alone a lot during some of the years... hats off to you single parents. That's tough. It was hard when my kids were babies. It was hard when they were school age. Boy, was it hard when they were teenagers.<br />
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But I am grateful for every second. Every second. When my baby entered high school, I knew I wasn't ready for the upcoming empty nest. God nudged me. I nudged my husband...well, God helped. We ended up adopting three more beautiful kids before Anna graduated from high school and just added a fourth. Seven children! My cup is full to the brim.<br />
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So I am now a mother of seven. Tom and I would have laughed if you would have told us that would happen when we got married in 1986. Our children run in age from nearly twenty-six to six years old. Full-grown adults down to a kindergartner. Guess what? It's still hard. I am a fretful person, prone to worry about things I can do nothing about. It's something I need to work on with God. Now my worries run the gamut from job prospects and study abroad trips and mortgages for the eldest children, and will they all end up with happy marriages; to making it to baseball and soccer and pioneer day to please can my child learn to use silverware appropriately before he goes to first grade.<br />
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I was thinking today that I have bitten off more than I can chew. I am nearly 52 years old. I am bone tired pretty much every day. Wondering how my own mother managed to raise five kids and be so cheerful and serene all the time. <br />
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Then I realized that when I unloaded my troubles on my mom today, she was probably feeling the same things I feel. I wish I could fix it for you, daughter. I wish I could hug you, smooth your hair and tell you it would be fine and then it would be.<br />
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Because she's a mom. It's her vocation, too. I always tell people that we have a lot of pets and children because I have a strong need to nurture small things. It's true. And I know exactly where it came from. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. I'm very like my dad in most ways, but I'm so proud and happy to have this from my mother.<br />
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Right now, I have three young adults negotiating the wide world away from the security of our home. I have four energetic elementary school kids crowding every day with activity. I have joy.<br />
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Joy that is the same...whether it came from a doctor's hearty congratulations in the delivery room after a long labor, or a judge's quiet words in a courtroom in a far away country. "You are a mother"...again and again and again and again and again.<br />
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I am a mom.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqXFlU2iR0U/VVAN1UsUwZI/AAAAAAAAtfU/4D-d8h09hLo/s1600/Easter%2Bkids%2B2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZqXFlU2iR0U/VVAN1UsUwZI/AAAAAAAAtfU/4D-d8h09hLo/s640/Easter%2Bkids%2B2015.jpg" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>My mom and my kids at Easter.</i></div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-76413670784596825592015-02-06T05:00:00.000-06:002015-02-06T05:00:05.424-06:00Three months in a family<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Today marks three months home for our sweet Lisle! I will admit, when we first brought him home, I was nervous...he lagged significantly in social skills, language, and maturity. He has come so far! He is speaking English in two and three word sentences, and understands much more. He can write with a pencil, he can color, he can identify letters, and he can count to twenty. He goes to bed and sleeps like a rock. He eats well whatever we put in front of him. He is happy, he is joyful. He sings, he plays games, he is even wrestling with our local wrestling club. He started kindergarten! He behaves in a much more age appropriate fashion when he is upset.<br />
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I have never seen a child more ready to be in a family. Lisle loves all of us so much.<br />
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He is such a joy, and we are thankful for him everyday.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MNE0FRXnhOU/VNQ2iAQlXuI/AAAAAAAAtag/eBW77CBMjUw/s1600/Lisle%2Bbirthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MNE0FRXnhOU/VNQ2iAQlXuI/AAAAAAAAtag/eBW77CBMjUw/s1600/Lisle%2Bbirthday.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Lisle celebrated his sixth birthday on December 27!</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vexpDutlqMw/VNQ2jAwPpSI/AAAAAAAAtaA/wJSzoltTg88/s1600/Lisle%2Bdogs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vexpDutlqMw/VNQ2jAwPpSI/AAAAAAAAtaA/wJSzoltTg88/s1600/Lisle%2Bdogs.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Lisle loves our dogs.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ieutYtI0mE/VNQ2irtUrMI/AAAAAAAAtZ8/RXW8guHkKFU/s1600/Lisle%2Bhandsome%2Bdude.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5ieutYtI0mE/VNQ2irtUrMI/AAAAAAAAtZ8/RXW8guHkKFU/s1600/Lisle%2Bhandsome%2Bdude.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>He is pretty much the cutest six year old around.</i></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfsVvphTWG4/VNQ2jgxtjqI/AAAAAAAAtaM/Xs-wFsoI5Zg/s1600/Lisle%2Bschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jfsVvphTWG4/VNQ2jgxtjqI/AAAAAAAAtaM/Xs-wFsoI5Zg/s1600/Lisle%2Bschool.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<i>Lisle is a kindergartner!</i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OpowdUOhiXc/VNQ2kRgZjtI/AAAAAAAAtaU/hE72e475_Hg/s1600/Lisle%2Bsnow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OpowdUOhiXc/VNQ2kRgZjtI/AAAAAAAAtaU/hE72e475_Hg/s1600/Lisle%2Bsnow.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Fun in the snow.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NrMrPtJEWho/VNQ2lWy6v-I/AAAAAAAAtac/fzwmsiyJCDw/s1600/Lisle%2Bwrestle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NrMrPtJEWho/VNQ2lWy6v-I/AAAAAAAAtac/fzwmsiyJCDw/s1600/Lisle%2Bwrestle.jpg" height="640" width="478" /></a></div>
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<i>Lisle is eagerly anticipating his first wrestling tournament!</i></div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-60353077242944835902014-12-25T21:47:00.001-06:002014-12-25T21:47:57.288-06:00Joy to the world<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcxwSgH85_o/VJzZ_2MWYXI/AAAAAAAAtXo/tC463oBwA7E/s1600/Scan0001%2B(2)-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QcxwSgH85_o/VJzZ_2MWYXI/AAAAAAAAtXo/tC463oBwA7E/s1600/Scan0001%2B(2)-001.jpg" height="458" width="640" /></a></div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-11319093367248586412014-12-01T17:08:00.000-06:002014-12-01T17:22:35.979-06:00Thankful<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I didn't take a lot of pictures on Thanksgiving, because I was too busy enjoying my family. We had all seven children, a grand-dog and a grand-kitty join us at home for a lovely day together. The feast was delicious, if I do say so myself, and the company was even better. My heart was so full as we sat around the dining room table, eating with the good china and just enjoying each other. I never expected when we began the adoption process for Lisle that he would actually be here for the holidays. God generously blessed us this year.<br />
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I will share a cute picture of the littles taken the weekend before Thanksgiving and an outtake of the Christmas card family photo. Enjoy the season, everyone!<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AgLz1EDsGaU/VHz0JcuHGUI/AAAAAAAAtS8/BfC5gh5x900/s1600/PB220105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AgLz1EDsGaU/VHz0JcuHGUI/AAAAAAAAtS8/BfC5gh5x900/s1600/PB220105.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Thomas, Candace, Lisle and Sarah</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-91bANYl4cvM/VHzzChNn7kI/AAAAAAAAtSs/U8EotD6XpDg/s1600/crazy%2Bfamily.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-91bANYl4cvM/VHzzChNn7kI/AAAAAAAAtSs/U8EotD6XpDg/s1600/crazy%2Bfamily.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>The whole crazy gang. And Harry cat.</i></div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-82161078318927436592014-11-13T21:19:00.001-06:002014-12-01T16:42:54.228-06:00One week home<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">So far, things are going grandly! Lisle Fitsum was a trouper during our long hours of travel. He has adjusted to the dogs, who originally terrified him. He enjoys his siblings, especially Thomas whom he adores. I had dental surgery today, so this is short, but I just wanted to post so my friends who aren't on Facebook would know that all I well. Better than well...sometimes my heart just overflows when I'm holding my little son close. God is good.</span></div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-3202051915083994722014-10-23T21:44:00.003-05:002014-10-23T21:44:20.990-05:00Ready, set...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="http://www.tickerfactory.com/"></a><br />
<img border="0" src="http://tickers.TickerFactory.com/ezt/d/4;10764;405/st/20141102/e/we+leave+for+Ethiopia%21/dt/-1/k/13fa/event.png" /></div>
<br />
After finally getting the go ahead from the embassy, we leave Omaha on November 2 and on November 4, we will take our son away from the transition home to be loved in our family forever! We will board our return flight on the evening of November 5 and be back home on November 6. Yes, it's the quickest trip possible to Ethiopia. :)<br />
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We are beyond excited.<br />
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<br />
<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85734/paulaespears/a0d87392c62cc01f9be7a5920672db27.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px !important;" /></a>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-52382868453100799442014-10-16T14:51:00.001-05:002014-10-16T14:51:19.336-05:00Submitted!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
We received our PAIR approval last week, and today our paperwork was submitted to the United States Embassy in Addis, Ababa. Now, we wait for a visa interview appointment date...then bring our boy home! Very soon now. :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85734/paulaespears/a0d87392c62cc01f9be7a5920672db27.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px !important;" /></a></div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-59901238876930661822014-09-29T20:11:00.000-05:002014-09-29T20:11:27.147-05:00The unpleasant business of waiting<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-No4-Y_JVgxM/VCn-FaqwDUI/AAAAAAAAs1E/ETX5vFvNELc/s1600/Anxiety-words.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-No4-Y_JVgxM/VCn-FaqwDUI/AAAAAAAAs1E/ETX5vFvNELc/s1600/Anxiety-words.jpg" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
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I was really hoping that by now, I would know when our dear boy was coming home to us...but I don't. We recently found out some new information about his past that is very heartbreaking, and I have been tied up in knots ever since. Anxiety is my new constant companion. I am a fretful person by nature, but every possible thing that could be troublesome seems to be multiplied ten fold. When anxiety strikes, some people find solace in energetic activity of some type. Umm, not me. When I am feeling anxious or overwhelmed, I tend to go into a sort of hibernation mode, where even the most trivial of tasks seems insurmountable. Laundry, meals, cleaning...heck, even just leaving the house...a struggle.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wxh2-YSDdb4/VCn_GRWDGQI/AAAAAAAAs1M/Ustj5adXnI4/s1600/tired%2Blady.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wxh2-YSDdb4/VCn_GRWDGQI/AAAAAAAAs1M/Ustj5adXnI4/s1600/tired%2Blady.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>This is me, unable to stir up enough energy to fold a load of laundry.</i></div>
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I feel lethargic all day, wanting to do nothing but nap, read, and obsessively check my email. I still feel so exhausted each night...but then, this old friend pops in for a visit:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zNP4IHlgsN4/VCoBTu-GbZI/AAAAAAAAs1g/VOhkyl4YowI/s1600/insomnia-clip-art-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zNP4IHlgsN4/VCoBTu-GbZI/AAAAAAAAs1g/VOhkyl4YowI/s1600/insomnia-clip-art-3.jpg" height="385" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Insomnia</i></div>
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<i>...</i>and so, I'm not sleeping well. So then, I'm tired in the morning, which magnifies my feelings of anxiety, which makes me listless, so I nap, then I'm restless at night, which makes me tired...</div>
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Aargh. Please, oh please, United States Embassy/USCIS people. Approve my baby. I need some normal here.</div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-40032702107876334492014-08-28T14:11:00.000-05:002014-08-28T14:11:24.626-05:00Things are happening, but all I can do is wait<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wow, Labor Day is this weekend! Fall is right around the corner. These kids went back to school:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TU8pIkEkHBM/U_97a51XZiI/AAAAAAAAr2s/5G-7bAn7UJA/s1600/Back%2Bto%2Bschool%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TU8pIkEkHBM/U_97a51XZiI/AAAAAAAAr2s/5G-7bAn7UJA/s1600/Back%2Bto%2Bschool%2B2014.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Candace and Sarah, 4th grade and Thomas, 2nd grade.</i></div>
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These girls moved to their own little house in Lincoln and the older one graduated with a master's degree and started a grown up teaching job. And she got my first grandpuppy.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kb7Z3EKXA-E/U_977MneLDI/AAAAAAAAr4Y/5fayz-eCzkw/s1600/moving%2Bout.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kb7Z3EKXA-E/U_977MneLDI/AAAAAAAAr4Y/5fayz-eCzkw/s1600/moving%2Bout.jpg" height="476" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Emily and Anna on moving day.</i></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8qsIr6gqwk/U_97yLjhF0I/AAAAAAAAr34/qBPdNVX8lj4/s1600/Emily's%2Bmasters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8qsIr6gqwk/U_97yLjhF0I/AAAAAAAAr34/qBPdNVX8lj4/s1600/Emily's%2Bmasters.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Tom and I with our master's graduate, newly employed daughter Emily.</i></div>
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<br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hOKeDhKRBKQ/U_98CeWD_OI/AAAAAAAAr4o/JBj9T48F60o/s1600/grandpuppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hOKeDhKRBKQ/U_98CeWD_OI/AAAAAAAAr4o/JBj9T48F60o/s1600/grandpuppy.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Emily and her baby Mia, who is huge.</i></div>
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Of course, oldest son is still living in Omaha, working and going to school. Tom is working on about fifty things at once, both at home and at the business.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bIZ28CO4l7Q/U_97sTskv5I/AAAAAAAAr3c/0dpw0_r9vdU/s1600/Kenneth%2Bbirthday%2B2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bIZ28CO4l7Q/U_97sTskv5I/AAAAAAAAr3c/0dpw0_r9vdU/s1600/Kenneth%2Bbirthday%2B2014.jpg" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>Kenneth is 25! How did that happen?</i></div>
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Me? I'm just...waiting. Waiting. Waiting. <br />
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For my little guy to come home. Yes, this seems to be the world's speediest international adoption, I know. We applied to adopt him in February and we have already passed court and likely the entire process will be over by October. But gosh, once you see that face and hold that little body in your arms and hear that sweet little voice call you "Mommy"...the waiting is painfully hard. Adding to my angst is the fact that our boy is the only child left in his transition home. It's just him and a nanny, all day and all night. How lonely he must be, and how scared! I am not exaggerating that not five minutes go by without me thinking about him. I nested like crazy before we headed off to court, and now I seem to have lost the will to perform productive actions of any kind. <br />
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Praying that the embassy and immigration people approve his case soon. My family needs a functional mom. :)<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85734/paulaespears/a0d87392c62cc01f9be7a5920672db27.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px !important;" /></a></div>
Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-60126601119334108812014-08-11T22:42:00.001-05:002014-08-11T22:42:40.021-05:00Adoption update...surprise!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I haven't written much about our latest adoption. There has been a lot to keep me occupied with my other six kids, and I have been in a blogging slump. And we weren't really expecting anything much to happen until late this fall at the earliest.<br />
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Until two weeks ago...when our agency asked if we could be ready to appear in court in Addis Ababa on August 5th.<br />
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We said "yes". Then scrambled like mad people to make it happen.<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x9GELfPbGik/U-mKjsPLfZI/AAAAAAAAFMw/xFtPOyVfs_8/s1600/Fitsum+serious.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x9GELfPbGik/U-mKjsPLfZI/AAAAAAAAFMw/xFtPOyVfs_8/s1600/Fitsum+serious.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>This is our son, Carlisle Fitsum Spears.</i></div>
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<br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SLABLBUaEVA/U-mK6Z3XpKI/AAAAAAAAFNA/d2bK217SCPE/s1600/Fitsum+beach+ball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SLABLBUaEVA/U-mK6Z3XpKI/AAAAAAAAFNA/d2bK217SCPE/s1600/Fitsum+beach+ball.jpg" height="478" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i>He is five and a half years old, and full of fun. </i></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rY7GDlzH2I4/U-mKrMsktxI/AAAAAAAAFM4/MJh9GDEYyWw/s1600/family+photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rY7GDlzH2I4/U-mKrMsktxI/AAAAAAAAFM4/MJh9GDEYyWw/s1600/family+photo.JPG" height="640" width="640" /></a></div>
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<i> On August 5, 2014 the judge said that he is ours.</i></div>
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His Ethiopian name means "perfect", and he is. We chose the name Carlisle to honor my dad, who passed away two and a half years ago. We plan to call him Lisle.<br />
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He is ours and we are his. Family. We can't wait to bring him home to meet the rest of his forever family.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85734/paulaespears/a0d87392c62cc01f9be7a5920672db27.png" style="background: transparent; border: 0px !important;" /></a><br />
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-3708865168150615102014-06-10T10:13:00.001-05:002014-06-10T10:13:52.549-05:00Reuniting, part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">The second part of our trip to southern Ethiopia took us to the Hadiya zone and the tiny village of Sewore. This is where Feyissa Thomas was born and where he lived for the first four years of his life. It is the village where virtually all of his extended family still lives. Thomas began to get excited as we passed through the town of Bonosha and near to Sewore. Suddenly he sat up straight and said excitedly, "There it is...this is it!" </span></div><div><br></div><div>Indeed, it was. There was the cluster of simple picturesque huts that Thomas remembers as home and which we recognized from the video provided by our adoption agency. There was a crowd of people near the road, but Thomas had eyes only for one...his birth father.</div><div><br></div><div>The entire village was there to welcome home their boy. Not just his family...an entire village.</div><div><br></div><div>The pictures tell the rest of the story.</div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OIgYYSpHhqs/U5cgiB3ujpI/AAAAAAAAFIs/BONtkl1BtyE/s640/blogger-image--272727346.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OIgYYSpHhqs/U5cgiB3ujpI/AAAAAAAAFIs/BONtkl1BtyE/s640/blogger-image--272727346.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">We arrive.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#ff0000"><u><br></u></font><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OIgYYSpHhqs/U5cgiB3ujpI/AAAAAAAAFIs/BONtkl1BtyE/s640/blogger-image--272727346.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OIgYYSpHhqs/U5cgiB3ujpI/AAAAAAAAFIs/BONtkl1BtyE/s640/blogger-image--272727346.jpg" imageanchor="1"></a><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5r-MY8000mc/U5cgky7LH2I/AAAAAAAAFI8/H9N9A9uv32s/s640/blogger-image--1041353779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5r-MY8000mc/U5cgky7LH2I/AAAAAAAAFI8/H9N9A9uv32s/s640/blogger-image--1041353779.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;">Thomas and his birth father.</div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><font color="#ff0000" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5r-MY8000mc/U5cgky7LH2I/AAAAAAAAFI8/H9N9A9uv32s/s640/blogger-image--1041353779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br></a></font><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><span style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-5r-MY8000mc/U5cgky7LH2I/AAAAAAAAFI8/H9N9A9uv32s/s640/blogger-image--1041353779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-xL8402bBK_Y/U5cgqfnRpkI/AAAAAAAAFJk/ntHgFRiqemg/s640/blogger-image-1073348733.jpg"></a></span></div></div><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-OIgYYSpHhqs/U5cgiB3ujpI/AAAAAAAAFIs/BONtkl1BtyE/s640/blogger-image--272727346.jpg" imageanchor="1"><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; clear: both;"><br></div></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Soccer with his brothers and other village kids.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UIxRKi3Zd2s/U5cgpBYWpLI/AAAAAAAAFJc/G8z9cLPyCaQ/s640/blogger-image-1464821957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-UIxRKi3Zd2s/U5cgpBYWpLI/AAAAAAAAFJc/G8z9cLPyCaQ/s640/blogger-image-1464821957.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">A proud dad watches his son.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-USTdC3RTbgE/U5cgraq76gI/AAAAAAAAFJs/IA-FH-yUwWM/s640/blogger-image-469661425.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-USTdC3RTbgE/U5cgraq76gI/AAAAAAAAFJs/IA-FH-yUwWM/s640/blogger-image-469661425.jpg"></a></div></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Family</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#ff0000"><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--UyHgAV0-9g/U5cgl-bMupI/AAAAAAAAFJE/FapiLVUFcDw/s640/blogger-image--346998693.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--UyHgAV0-9g/U5cgl-bMupI/AAAAAAAAFJE/FapiLVUFcDw/s640/blogger-image--346998693.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Brothers</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GlOgAErEM3k/U5cgnPwRHfI/AAAAAAAAFJI/8KhAnHRrFyE/s640/blogger-image--1634374097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-GlOgAErEM3k/U5cgnPwRHfI/AAAAAAAAFJI/8KhAnHRrFyE/s640/blogger-image--1634374097.jpg"></a></div></div></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#ff0000"><u>Home</u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-whiCDpLhNwI/U5cgoLXUvYI/AAAAAAAAFJU/SxGWWuIzDTw/s640/blogger-image--1505584060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-whiCDpLhNwI/U5cgoLXUvYI/AAAAAAAAFJU/SxGWWuIzDTw/s640/blogger-image--1505584060.jpg"></a></div></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u>Neighbors</u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><font color="#0000ee"><u><br></u></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W0d7H74iK7I/U5cgj0NT_nI/AAAAAAAAFI0/4jrJAFQRkec/s640/blogger-image--1257497215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W0d7H74iK7I/U5cgj0NT_nI/AAAAAAAAFI0/4jrJAFQRkec/s640/blogger-image--1257497215.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-66333480674443949892014-05-30T01:28:00.001-05:002014-05-30T01:28:08.511-05:00Reuniting, part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div>We have embarked on a trip that has been over a year in planning...traveling to Ethiopia to visit the littles' birth families. Our first stop was Nazret, Ethiopia. We visited the twins' great aunt whom they lived with for most of their life in Ethiopia.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oRO1T3gSxCA/U4gkxbla0zI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/yqJ7JloV8Dc/s640/blogger-image--1348953903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-oRO1T3gSxCA/U4gkxbla0zI/AAAAAAAAFHQ/yqJ7JloV8Dc/s640/blogger-image--1348953903.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">The twins' birth mom surprised us with a special request: that we take the twins to visit their half brother. Although Tom and I knew of this boy's existence, it was our understanding that birth mom was not in contact with him at all and we never expected the twins to meet him. So...it was a little awkward telling the twins that they have a brother whom we were now going to visit. Fortunately, they took it all in stride. The family resemblance is striking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gry4pzuk53I/U4gkoaB5i7I/AAAAAAAAFHI/6WohdsYVDt0/s640/blogger-image-1666040165.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-Gry4pzuk53I/U4gkoaB5i7I/AAAAAAAAFHI/6WohdsYVDt0/s640/blogger-image-1666040165.jpg"></a></div><br></div>Following our morning in Nazret, we traveled to Ziway where the twins' mother lives. Many, many friends and relatives came to visit with the girls and enjoy an abundant and delicious meal. The girls also got to meet their maternal grandmother.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K8rAHYsMaKM/U4gk07X318I/AAAAAAAAFHY/_WUBaHQ8nOg/s640/blogger-image--1631732818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-K8rAHYsMaKM/U4gk07X318I/AAAAAAAAFHY/_WUBaHQ8nOg/s640/blogger-image--1631732818.jpg"></a></div><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">But the best part of the visit was seeing the girls reconnect with their first mom.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S7LyDIfpznU/U4gk8zo034I/AAAAAAAAFHo/asO1BNbAcio/s640/blogger-image--1559466366.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-S7LyDIfpznU/U4gk8zo034I/AAAAAAAAFHo/asO1BNbAcio/s640/blogger-image--1559466366.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JipT_urEm9Y/U4gk4DcDOPI/AAAAAAAAFHg/OANLAGREb5c/s640/blogger-image-439095487.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-JipT_urEm9Y/U4gk4DcDOPI/AAAAAAAAFHg/OANLAGREb5c/s640/blogger-image-439095487.jpg"></a></div><br></div><br></div><br></div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-13605880583306120292014-05-22T22:06:00.001-05:002014-05-22T22:06:41.765-05:00FledglingsTwo of my chicks are preparing to leave the nest. Emily and Anna are moving into a nice little rental house in Lincoln with two of their friends. Emily will be taking up residence this weekend. Anna is going with us on our trip to Ethiopia to visit the littles' birth families, so she doesn't officially fledge for a few more weeks. <div><br></div><div>Mother hen that I am, I feel quite anxious. It will feel strange to have all three bigs in my house only as visitors. It's the natural order and what we raise them up to do: be independent and make a way in the world.</div><div><br></div><div>It still makes me sad. Fly high, little chicks.</div><div><br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZXMXXT5YN6w/U367PjKWe_I/AAAAAAAAFG0/87yMzZay0Iw/s640/blogger-image--1431878993.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ZXMXXT5YN6w/U367PjKWe_I/AAAAAAAAFG0/87yMzZay0Iw/s640/blogger-image--1431878993.jpg"></a></div></div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-59616273734148163662014-05-02T12:13:00.001-05:002014-05-02T12:13:36.617-05:00Dessie, Ethiopia...Because Every Mother Matters<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kk7qlROonFE/U2PSPA06d2I/AAAAAAAAFGU/VlebQngdYYE/s640/blogger-image-550951348.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-kk7qlROonFE/U2PSPA06d2I/AAAAAAAAFGU/VlebQngdYYE/s640/blogger-image-550951348.jpg"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">Visiting one of my sponsored mamas, Worke, and her family. I am so happy to see them healthy, well-fed, and looking forward to a brighter future. Worke has accomplished so much, and has plans to do so much more. Gobez! (Good job!)</div>Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-26733399233842120132014-04-20T21:33:00.001-05:002014-04-20T21:39:56.403-05:00Melkam Fasika! Happy Easter!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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This Easter, we had colored eggs.<br />
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We had fancy clothes for morning Mass.<br />
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We had marshmallow Peeps and chocolate bunnies.</div>
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We had homemade noodles for dinner. Noodles say "holiday" at our house.</div>
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But this is what makes this particular Sunday Easter...thankful today and everyday for Jesus.</div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-86765221262423500932014-03-31T22:23:00.002-05:002014-03-31T22:23:10.987-05:00Paper chase<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Here is the first update on our latest adoption: we are making progress in finishing up our paperwork. All of the documents for our home study have been completed. As soon as the home study is finished, we can apply for immigration approval. When we get immigration approval (I-171H), we can get all of the dossier documents notarized and state certified. After that, federal certification and off to Ethiopia.<br />
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Yeah, it sounds like a lot...but we've gotten a lot done! Here is the photographic evidence of our first completed documents, our Indiana birth certificates and marriage license.<br />
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<a href="http://www.mylivesignature.com/" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://signatures.mylivesignature.com/85734/paulaespears/a0d87392c62cc01f9be7a5920672db27.png" style="background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 0px !important;" /></a></div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5602622530885523884.post-29634205061813786852014-02-26T12:38:00.000-06:002014-02-27T07:42:37.444-06:00We have room<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Who are we to dispute Mother Teresa? </div>
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With happiness and some degree of trepidation, I am making the announcement that we have signed on the dotted line to adopt again. We are welcoming into our family another son, a five year old boy from Ethiopia who has lost both of his parents and is in need of the love of a family. Our family... whose members are anxious to love him back.</div>
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I expect I might lose some friends over this announcement. I know many think you can't have an ethical international adoption these days, to which I respectfully disagree. As parents who have been around the block a couple of times in the Ethiopian adoption neighborhood, we are aware of the pitfalls and know to proceed with caution. After thoughtful consideration, we believe this is right for this child. That is all that will be said on this topic.</div>
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Some friends will kindly point out our ages. Yep, we're old. I'm the oldest mom hanging out at the elementary school. I'll be an even older mom hanging out at the high school in a few years. But hey, did you know <a href="http://www.essence.com/2014/02/12/photo-fab-look-halle-berrys-adorable-baby-boy-maceo/" target="_blank">Halle Berry</a> just had a baby? She's 47, which means when her child is five, she'll be 52... two years <i>older </i>than I am now. What does she have that I don't have? (Besides fabulous beauty, obviously.) I'm going to be old regardless, so I might as well be old and happy with what I'm doing. I might as well get even older without having to say "I wish I would have," or "I wonder what it would have been like?". </div>
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I know some friends think that anything over two is an excessive amount of children in a household. Well, see the graphic above. We couldn't disagree more. Yes, we now have a lot of children, soon to be even more. Yes. It's a LOT. We also have the financial resources to care for them through the college years, so I'm not sure why anyone should care. And we have lots of some other things too... Love. Laughter. Compassion. Hope. Faith. </div>
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And lets not forget pets. We have lots of pets. :)</div>
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Those things are worth a lot. Probably more than the parent-funded college education and the awesome vacations. </div>
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We have been richly blessed. We have room for one more.</div>
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Paulahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540561659147248278noreply@blogger.com11