tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25784372282182898132024-02-06T22:09:45.778-08:00Adoption Journey from Above"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.comBlogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-50265932266446844582010-05-19T20:56:00.001-07:002010-05-19T22:12:31.359-07:00It's been awhile.........and the thought of catching up this blog is extremely overwhelming to me.....I have so many stories I would love to share, but the time seems to escape without the opportunity to sit down and actually do it. I really don't know WHERE all the time goes.....life is fast! I'm trying to maximize it and ENJOY it!<br /><br />We are all doing well. My sweet hubby has been working hard and has spent many of the last weeks training in the field and on assignments away from home, so we are super happy to finally have him home! The kids and I took a ROAD TRIP to Colorado to spend some time with him since he had been away so much and then we went to visit our families for 2 weeks!! We are super thankful that our driving across the country was totally uneventful with no car problems or major issues....We logged 42 hours of quality family time in the car over the last 3 weeks! The time with our family was worth it all! :)<br /><br />The kids are doing well. We are working on our homeschool standardized testing this week and are planning to school through the summer this year. Joel and I read the book OUTLIERS recently and thought that the research presented in this book on year-round schooling was valid and really made sense. We're going to try it....but we are also moving to a new home in June and are hoping to go on a family vacation in July. Hmmmmmm. Don't know how this summer schooling will work exactly, but we're still going to give it a try! :) I'll keep you posted on our progress!<br /><br />Joshua Nahome had his very first American birthday celebration last week...... it was very fun to celebrate with our extended families and it was super sweet to see his amazing smile and then the tears that welled up in his eyes as we all gathered around him and sang Happy Birthday. It was a priceless moment and he is still talking about the party and wondering when is the next one! HAHA!! Yes, he is 100% fluent now and of course,now that he is speaking English very well, we can't figure out how to get him to stop talking sometimes! HAHA! He really is doing well and seems very happy and content. He is a blessing to our family and we are so proud of him! <br /><br />He does still ask lots of questions about Ethiopia and Tigist but he's never sad or crying or upset.....he's just curious and trying to sort things out in his mind. Usually, after I give him a straight answer he goes right back to whatever he was doing before. Here are two examples of his questions.....When we were getting ready for his birthday party, he came up to me and asked if Tigist could come to his party. <br />wow. <br /><br />That question broke my heart but I took him in my arms, gave him a big hug and said, "No Joshua- Tigist can't come but she loves you and I bet she is thinking of you today on your birthday." He smiled, climbed out of my arms and ran to play. At dinner tonight, out of the blue, he randomly said, "Where is Tigist sleeping tonight?" Hmmm....this one was hard to because I really don't know the absolute answer so I said, "I'm not sure but I hope she is sleeping at Ayeu's house (his Ethiopian grandmother). That was what he wanted to know and then he started talking about other things. I've made it my goal to OPENLY discuss Ethiopia, Tigist, the orphanage, what we know of his past, etc. so that he never comes to a place where he feels like he can't ask, or where he is surprised by some part of his history. I am thankful we know as much about him as we do and I'm blessed that we met his birthmother and can share her love for him, with him.<br /><br />On another note.....we're moving to a new home in the coming weeks. I'm super excited. Of course, I am dreading the pack up and the move itself, but I am really excited about moving into a really neat historic home on base. It will be a great place to live and will really "simplify" our lives some! So when you get an updated address card from us, don't be surprised... and if you want to come and pack some boxes or make a few truck-loads with us......I will gladly buy the PIZZA! :)<br /><br />Lastly, please pray for our sweet Madilyn as she prepares to go on her first medical mission trip in the next few weeks. She has an amazing heart for the Lord and is so excited to go serve the people of the Phillipines. Actually, I guess I should be asking for you to pray for ME in this situation.....I am really excited for her to go and experience the joy of serving others in love, but do know that I am also a little worried about sending my 12 yr old to another country without me next to her! She is going to be well supervised and loved on by her grandparents, but still.....I'm a little Nervous Nelly here. I know, I know, I know.....Matthew 6:25. 1 Peter 5:7. Psalm 33:21. Romans 8:39. Jeremiah 29:11. I'm clinging to His words and trying to overcome my flesh and fears by renewing my mind and spending extra time studying His word and praying! Thanks in advance for praying for me, and for Madi and her trip! <br /><br />GOD IS SO GOOD!<br /><br />Hoping you have been doing well over the last few weeks as well. Stay tuned for more updates, I promise-- I'm really going to TRY to do better!<br /><br />BTW- I'm going to update pictures soon--- my camera broke awhile back so I had to borrow one and now the photos are all on another camera, 836 miles away. Will you mail me the memory card MoM? :) <br /><br />Blessings and hugs,<br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-77718185340238008432010-04-06T21:38:00.000-07:002010-04-06T23:02:58.499-07:00Training up our child with transparency......So I've not posted in many days......It's been an emotionally exhausting few weeks for me as a mom...... but Praise the Lord, after much prayer, time, energy, and yes, even tears-- I can see positive progress happening in the life, heart, and discipline of Joshua Nahome! Many of my bloggy adoption friends have written or called to ask recently about the ways that we have chosen to d*scipline our older adopted child so I thought that maybe I should share a post about what I've learned so far about disciplining Joshua Nahome along this journey.....<br /><br />Initially, there was lots of LOVE, GRACE and MERCY given to this little one that was transitioning to a new home, a new family, a new language, a new culture, etc. all at once! We tried to be ever so patient, explaining, loving, modeling correct behaviors and activities. We gave him lots of learning time without placing high expectations. We sort of pretended in our minds that we were dealing with a one year old so we used very soft methods of re-directing! So there really wasn't lots of "d*scipline" for a long little while but after we were sure that we had established trust, understanding, language comprehension, and familiarity for Joshua Nahome to our family and our family rules..... I can honestly say that we have both successfully and unsuccessfully tried MANY different techniques to begin disciplining Joshua Nahome as OUR child!<br /><br />We had initially read so many adoption books that really scared us silly and most all of them said, in one way or another.... "DO NOT SPANK AN ADOPTED CHILD". I truly tried every "alternative" method possible, and honestly, most were ineffective. Let me share what the BIBLE says about parenting children.....Hebrews 12:5-8: "And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as children? It says, "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his child." Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate children at all."<br /><br />Proverbs 29:17 "Correct thy son and he shall give thee rest; yea, he shall give delight unto thy soul."<br /><br />Proverbs 13:24 "He that spares the rod, hates his son, but he that loves him is careful to discipline him."<br /><br />I began to recognize that Joshua Nahome's disobedience, rebellion and defiance began to grow and worsen in my (unsuccessful :0) attempt to train him using various culturally popular and lenient methods such as time outs, loss of privileges,etc. His disobedience was becoming very problematic, even dangerous! One day a few weeks ago, he climbed in my car while we were loading up to leave and he quickly jumped into the drivers seat and began to push and pull buttons and levers. He was told "No! GET OUT of that seat!" but he ignored the words, smiled and laughed and somehow put the car into neutral and the car rolled out of my driveway and into the middle of our street. Thank goodness no one was hurt....it could have been devastating. The moving car could have easily killed one of my other children or caused a car accident and killed him! I get chill bumps even thinking about what a close call it was!! I am so thankful for this situation though because it was in this moment that I realized that we were not going to follow the adoption book's advice about discipline any more.......it wasn't working and it was just plain dangerous to allow him to be disobedient all because he was adopted! Just like Proverbs says.....we love him too much to not discipline him! We have decided to show Joshua Nahome that we love him and accept him as our child by setting firm limits and using Biblical methods of consistent discipline for him when he chooses to disobey. Folks, IT IS WORKING-- his heart is already changing! I sp*nk him if he doesn't obey immediately, all the way, with a happy heart. This is exactly how I discipline and teach our other children, then I sit and hold him in my lap after I sp*nk and I love on him, explaining WHY he was disciplined and then we go over the correct response together. Before he gets out of my arms, he is always smiling and I can honestly say that he has been a more secure, more obedient and more pleasing child to be with this week! :) It has been a very hard and exhausting few weeks for me to focus on consistency in disciplining Joshua and ALL of our children, but I am so thankful for the blessings that come with having a peaceful home, obedient children and to enjoy the fruits of my labor every day as I spend time with my treasures!!<br /><br />OK....so here's my Disclaimer.....I am sure that many of you out there probably disagree with our parenting style. We do sp*nk our children and we are thankful we live in the state of Texas where sp*nkings are legal......We believe that God and His Word, The Bible, is the ultimate authority on love, discipline, and parenting EVERY child in our home (NOT the popular parenting/adoption books and magazines!). I understand that adopted children come from various, usually unstable and unhealthy family backgrounds and they may be emotionally fragile. We do NOT abuse our children and I am NOT advocating or recommending any type of child abuse or violence. We believe in deliberate, planned, un-emotional, CONSISTENT and loving discipline, even for the adopted child in our family! Praise the Lord.... I really have seen some amazing progress this week and Joshua Nahome is healthy, happy and doing great! God is good!<br /><br />I hope this helps clarify our position of disciplining an older adopted child with some transparency. I pray that my struggle to "figure it out" allows you to also see that while we are blessed by adding Joshua to our family, adoption is challenging but the rewards are absolutely, eternally amazing! :)<br /><br />Blessed,<br />AmyJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-46400186624921637252010-03-17T22:08:00.000-07:002010-03-17T23:49:12.973-07:00In a heartbeat.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3U5xsJSVpH4LCyKFfq3K3mMA-Knv8bYzoHDYsXp-aTz_ZOCWnePN8ROiPCW4uqtsjiLrce032fBzvJJ0RnQ1_HaEHWUuKjJ94oMzWFsQ45T8IgQjdPjElGK5CcO_HDVPbHy3B4FwdtY/s1600-h/February+2010+465.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp3U5xsJSVpH4LCyKFfq3K3mMA-Knv8bYzoHDYsXp-aTz_ZOCWnePN8ROiPCW4uqtsjiLrce032fBzvJJ0RnQ1_HaEHWUuKjJ94oMzWFsQ45T8IgQjdPjElGK5CcO_HDVPbHy3B4FwdtY/s400/February+2010+465.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5449858209291586626" /></a><br />UPdate time!! <br /><br />Team Newsom is here and accounted for! We've had a very recent "BUSY" spell and are thankful to let you all know that we are all surviving, thriving, alive and well!! God is good and I am amazed daily at His strength in my weakness, His power to overcome bad situations, His grace during our hard moments, His unconditional love, His mercy that is given freely to me every single day, and His many blessings that I really, really, really don't deserve!<br /><br />So here's a short version of the many things going on here for Team Newsom......<br /><br />We've been celebrating birthdays over the last few months and I promise that I will download all the pictures from my camera SOON and post some photos of my sweet TEAM but believe me, it's been lots of FUN! Joel, Jackson, Madilyn and I all have had big fun birthdays with more birthday celebrations for Joel, Joshua and Hannah to come in the next month or two! The kiddos are truly growing up before my eyes and I am trying to soak up every moment of it! Each of them are such TREASURES! <br /><br />News has finally gotten out that the Newsom Bed and Breakfast, El Paso is OPEN for business and we are all booked up for the month of March!! What an awesome month of company!! We hosted my sister, Amberly, my brother, DJ, my sweet sister-in-dating, Katy, and also the kiddos....Dawson, Crayton and Chloe this past weekend! We packed lots of really fun activities into a quick weekend and it was really INCREDIBLE! ;) <br /><br />Tomorrow, Joel's parents arrive and will be here with us for a few days. Yea!! Next weekend, my parents are coming! Woohoo!! Joel's cousin Dale was also planning a family trip out west but unfortunately, the timing didn't work out but we're hoping to re-schedule a visit with them! <br /><br />In the midst of all the company, Joel has been doing lots of Ar*y training and has been in and out of the field! He is really enjoying his job and I'm super proud of him. He works long hours but we have him coming home every night and we get lots of family time on the weekends so I'm NOT going to complain! I'm so very thankful he is not currently depl*yed! <br /><br />The kiddos are doing great with their school work this year, they are enjoying home school PE class at the YMCA twice a week and the oldest 3are also playing basketball. Yes, 3 practices and 3 games a week keeps the taxi light on my suburban blinking! :) They have also made some very special friends here and are really liking El Paso! <br /><br />I've stayed very busy homeschooling and loving on our sweet kiddos, teaching a Bible Study class on Wednesdays, loving on some new friends going through hard challenges, trying to exercise regularly, researching and looking at homes for sale here in El Paso (we're praying!), volunteering at the unit's family readiness group, working on Joshua's re-adoption paperwork, (BTW, you can PRAISE THE LORD with us in celebrating that Joshua Nahome Newsom is now legally Re-adopted in the state of Texas, as of last week! YEAYEAYEA!) I'm just running around like a chicken with my head cut off on most days but... I'm praising the Lord for every moment and every opportunity to serve Him and He has richly blessed me and given me great joy during this season of giving of my time and energy to MANY different callings. My cup truly overflows with joy and blessings. <br /><br />So I'm sure you would probably also like an UPdate on the adoption and Joshua Nahome's continued transition into life as a Newsom so I'll give you a little update today and hope to focus a little more later on specifics.....<br /><br />After 8 months home, Joshua is really thriving. He is happy. He is sweet. He is healthy. He is loving and kind. He is fun. He is smart. He is 99% fluent in English (at a 4 year old level) after only 8 months in America! WOW! He does struggle occasionally with all of the trauma and loss in his life but he grieves appropriately and it is really much healthier for him to grieve now than to suppress those emotions so I am happy that he talks about his feelings and lets those tears flow! We talk openly of Tigist (his birthmother), about Ethiopia, his time in the orphanage, about his brown skin color and our white skin color, etc. We believe honest and open communication lines are best! He does show some insecurities in new and unfamiliar situations and we now know that he needs lots of reassurance and explanations before we do something new. He has a few attention seeking behaviors that he does when he is nervous but they aren't show- stoppers, just small little annoyances and the time out chair usually does the trick. He has bonded with us amazingly well, he is a great sleeper, he is helpful, and he has a generous spirit. He is a true blessing. <br /><br />I want to be transparent with you, though, and say that this adoption has NOT been all easy and every day is NOT always perfect......I truly don't want to sugar-coat the reality here..... Joshua Nahome is a sweet little boy and is perfect for our family but it has been a hard, but very rewarding, journey of obedience, stretching of ourselves, and it is a daily sacrifice of time, energy, love, money, and emotions. It has been hard but it has also been really, really good! I know some of you that occasionally read my blog are praying about adoption for your family and so, just in case you are wondering--here is the bottom line: if we could go back in time and start all over, WE WOULD STILL DO IT ALL OVER AGAIN. IN A HEARTBEAT!! It has been worth it all and God has grown us and taught us soooo much through the experience-- We are thankful that we took the leap of faith and stepped out of our comfortable little bubble in obedience to God's calling to adopt!<br /><br />Blessings to you and yours,<br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-55625456931886017032010-03-01T21:05:00.000-08:002010-03-01T22:28:24.934-08:00Memorial Box MondayIt's been several weeks since I shared a Memorial Box Monday story with you-- life has been very full for Team Newsom and wonderfully overflowing with blessings, friendships, work and play! <br /><br />If you are wondering WHAT a <a href="http://www.aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com">Memorial Box</a> is, feel free to visit Linny and learn more about it. I've been inspired by Linny's life testimony at A Place Called Simplicity. I believe it is important to REMEMBER and SHARE with our family about the AMAZING things God has done in our lives!<br /><br />So here's a Newsom Memorial Box Story that I want to share with you today......<br /><br />Several years ago, we were stationed at West Point, New York. It one of the most lovely places I have ever lived. Our home was amazing, Joel's job was wonderful, the family time was great, and our friendships there are treasured! We lived only 0.8 miles from Joel's office and the commute to work for Joel was sooooo easy. He could be at work in 4 minutes, come home to shower after PT and for lunch. The not-so-great thing about him driving the 0.8 miles to work was that the parking was NOT easy at his office! If he drove to work, he would usually end up parking nearly as far from his office as if he had just walked from our home. He started looking at bicycles as an alternative mode of transportation for him to get back and forth the 0.8 miles to work at this point. This happened to be a time when God had called our attention to our finances and and we had been really budgeting, trying to get out of debt, and working through The DAVE RAMSEY Financial Freedom program. (What a blessing his program was to us!) Anyway, Joel really wanted a nice mountain bike, but the price of those things, at that time, was way out of our budget! We were really committed to getting out of debt and living within a strict budget ( what is really stinkin' cool about this is that we didn't know that the money that we were able to save after we finally got out of debt would be the money God had for us to use to pay Joshua Nahome's Adoption Ransom! SO COOL!) <br /><br />ANYWAY~~ back to the story.... Joel had located a used, very nice mountain bike in our area that was still more expensive than we needed to spend but he loved it and he had been praying about it. The day he needed to decide whether or not to purchase the bike, he came home for lunch, went to check the mail, and found a letter from an old friend. Folks, you guessed it....... inside that letter was a check from our friend for the EXACT amount of the bike that Joel wanted to purchase!! No kidding!! The note attached to the check said that this old friend had owed a debt to Joel that he had forgotten to pay back and he had just remembered it and wanted to make it right after 9 years! WOW. <br /><br />Joel was amazed and blessed. We were both in awe that our God was so perfectly involved in the tiny details of our lives and finances that he would send a check for the exact amount of the bike, on the exact day Joel was planning to make a decision. Joel did buy the bike that day knowing that God's provision of the money was NO small coincidence, but a true gift and blessing from above! The bicycle was the right choice for his commute/parking issue during our time at West Point! <br /><br />Right now, that same bicycle proudly occupies a spot in our garage, (not in a memorial box!) but every time I see it, I am reminded of God's provisions for us during that time at West Point! That's what Memorial Box Monday is all about......remembering and sharing what God has done in our lives to encourage and remind us that GOD IS GOOD. He is always faithful. He is always loving. He is always with us. God is the provider for our every need!<br /><br />Deuteronomy 8:18-20 "And you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who gives you the power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God."<br /><br />Many Blessings to you on this Memorial Box Monday!<br />AmyJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-36377228823994508542010-02-17T22:08:00.000-08:002010-02-17T23:14:51.107-08:00Reassure. Build Trust. Show Love.!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4y8uEV1acP6SLuOWapsRkXjz5rGo2-AFPS5p2h0eU4RCQoV4Y8JgZlnxwtg9oO9xwJBxLIWlqL244qrgipDTThkMJSNA-UHgUfNMzERqOISJ1S07PudLjVgGpuH5Jb_fsrvHULRlw1A/s1600-h/February+2010+327.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4y8uEV1acP6SLuOWapsRkXjz5rGo2-AFPS5p2h0eU4RCQoV4Y8JgZlnxwtg9oO9xwJBxLIWlqL244qrgipDTThkMJSNA-UHgUfNMzERqOISJ1S07PudLjVgGpuH5Jb_fsrvHULRlw1A/s400/February+2010+327.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439476996144248674" /></a><br /><br />We have been planning a family trip to Ruidoso, NM for quite some time now and this past weekend was finally the weekend to sneak away as a family to a new place to explore, play, rest, and have some fun together. It was really a wonderful weekend. Such a nice, quaint place with tons to see and do. The mountains were beautiful and I am still amazed that it is only 2.5 hours from El Paso yet the scenery and land so very different! It was amazing! It was a refreshing break away from normal life, for most of us.........<br /><br />I wouldn't say that it was refreshing to Joshua. I think it was confusing and scary for him but in the end, we all came home together and together, we overcame another adoption fear and hopefully he gained a little bit more trust. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceIPHizWRHaiRIZWMD9Z6i6zKIdER2V_bkOnchhUUI2SxLfnUD8aBfPcEd87_DRjGQaaxf2D0eBaWHw6MuBaLnR-ykMvrlqw2B1g5ODo8-wwiYb28aTHyRdn83SJ9yTJoqmA_9wDdKFA/s1600-h/February+2010+248.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhceIPHizWRHaiRIZWMD9Z6i6zKIdER2V_bkOnchhUUI2SxLfnUD8aBfPcEd87_DRjGQaaxf2D0eBaWHw6MuBaLnR-ykMvrlqw2B1g5ODo8-wwiYb28aTHyRdn83SJ9yTJoqmA_9wDdKFA/s400/February+2010+248.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439476508839033762" /></a><br />He was really well behaved on the trip and he had lots of fun playing in the snow, but there were MANY MANY times that he asked lots of questions about our trip.... "Why are we at the mountains?" "How many days at the mountains?" "Is this a new house?" "Where are we going today?" Then on Saturday afternoon, he followed several of the above questions with the ONE QUESTION that let me know what he was REALLY concerned about........"In two days does Joshua go back to El Paso with Joel and Madilyn and Jackson and Hannah?" <br /><br />Hmmmmmm. <br /><br />It occurred to me that he must think that we were bringing him there to drop him off with some other family/home/orphanage. Remember our little trip to the doctor last week and the fear, insecurity and drama.....well, a trip to the doctor, followed shortly after by a "weekend getaway" and this little boy was feeling unsettled and he was a box of nerves! Poor little thing! It breaks my heart but also re-affirms my suspicions that he is still really trying to sort things out, trying to understand why he was taken from place to place in his past,and he's trying to figure out what will happen next from here. <br /><br />REASSURE. BUILD TRUST. SHOW LOVE. These are our goals for now with Joshua. We're going to just keep trying to reassure him that he is here forever and that we love him! He will ALWAYS have a forever home with Joel, Madilyn, Jackson and Hannah, Mommy and Daddy! <br /><br />The weekend away was really fun, but it was even more GREAT to bring Joshua back home to El Paso and say "WE ARE HOME!" I hate that our little trip grieved his spirit and caused him any anxiety but at the same time, I am also thankful for another opportunity for us to show him that as a member of Team Newsom, we will go places together and we will all come home TOGETHER! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbOQ_8ogj2aRmaPgVc5SIWgozJ8H30wmYjqQpg5Qp2ccH8hkjufppQtBK5iOS1iiAEAPbI5UmDLlPw1IlZ70xCb1eCmKJ86ddwwneYvJbChJshUfN10KaBogvaLMk372LQ94ESC02xtA/s1600-h/December+2009+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcbOQ_8ogj2aRmaPgVc5SIWgozJ8H30wmYjqQpg5Qp2ccH8hkjufppQtBK5iOS1iiAEAPbI5UmDLlPw1IlZ70xCb1eCmKJ86ddwwneYvJbChJshUfN10KaBogvaLMk372LQ94ESC02xtA/s400/December+2009+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5439477894265249298" /></a><br /><br />If anyone out there has any tips or ideas on creative ways to explain the concepts of forever, trust, and permanence to a sweet little 4 year old, please leave me a comment and share the wisdom!<br /><br />Many Blessings, <br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-49499070306726443142010-02-08T21:48:00.001-08:002010-02-08T22:59:47.234-08:00How many days is forever?It's been a few tough days for our little man Joshua. We spent about an hour at bedtime last night listening to him tell us stories of Ethiopia and Tigist and the orphanage, he asked lots of questions and we answered lots of questions. We spent lots of this time speaking TRUTH to him as his fantasies about Tigist and Ethiopia have become much more elaborate over time. There were also many "WHY" questions that we just can't answer. At one point last night, I was trying to explain to him that he was going to live with Mommy and Daddy in America and be in our family forever. I knew he didn't really understand when he asked, "How many days is forever?" <br /><br />Forever is a very hard concept to explain to a 4 year old child that has not had a life experience of stability and who is also just learning English! We finally said goodnight to him and really did feel like we had made some progress explaining things to him but we recognize that we still have a long way to go before he understands PERMANENCE. Today was even more evidence of that! <br /><br />Joshua had an appointment to see the doctor. Going to any type of health clinic is one thing that just sends him into anxiety mode. I'm really not sure why, but I believe that he must be scared that after he goes to the doctor, we are going to leave him. He cried and begged to not go. I spent lots of time loving on him and explaining that we were going to see the doctor, we were NOT going to get any shots, and then we were going to come right home! He was still terrified. He cried lots. This has happened almost every time I have taken him to a clinic. Of course, I tried to re-assure him that it was all going to be okay but he is just so scared! I feel so bad for him and my heart hurts knowing that he still isn't sure that he's really going to stay here. FOREVER. <br /><br />We made it home from the doctor after stopping for a little soda treat for both of us, and all was well.....for about an hour. Then there was a very small, very minor sibling issue over a toy that mushroomed into a full blown meltdown for Joshua. The meltdown was absolutely not about the toy. It was just too much emotional turmoil for him to handle without letting it all out! Did I say that it is super hard to see him hurt like that?!? I sat in the recliner with him for about an hour and a half, just exactly where we have sat through many meltdowns before, and I just held him tight as he cried and cried. After awhile I began to sing that little song to him from my all time favorite children's book....<br />I love you forever, <br />I like you for always, <br />as long as I'm living, <br />my baby you'll be.<br /><br />He's such a sweetheart and such a blessing. We made it through the rest of the afternoon without any more tears but we are both just exhausted! Thankfully, he fell asleep very early tonight and I'm on my way now!! <br /><br />Please pray for Joshua Nahome if you think of it. I am specifically praying that God will just just heal and replace all of his insecurities, pain, fear, and anxiety and fill his heart and mind with love and a peace that passes all understanding!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-90619259644381433782010-02-03T22:15:00.000-08:002010-02-03T23:36:38.857-08:00Driving from the back seat......Some might say that today was just another day in the Newsom house...... it was a day full of GREAT moments and also many NOT-so-great moments. I'm praising God that I'm FORGIVEN AND LOVED and that He extends GRACE to me when I don't deserve it, like today. Today really was pretty normal and honestly, I'll admit to you that all day I've felt weighted down with a heavy heart. I've been struggling with being overwhelmed with decisions, to-do lists, needs, chores, children, responsibilities, committments, etc. etc. The reason I share this with you is because tonight, during my quiet time with the Lord, my burden was lightened and I realized that my "NORMAL" overwhelmed feelings, were "NORMAL" because I have NOT been handing over the steering wheel completely to God. I keep reaching over to make sure that all things remain in control!! I'm a great back seat driver when I really need to just let the Lord take the wheel and I need to be a willing passenger--- not a back seat driver! :) <br /><br />The Lord has placed so many burdens on my heart recently......for people He has placed in my life here in El Paso, for orphans that have touched my heart, for family trials both near and far, for our military families that are REALLY struggling to keep it together while being apart,for my children as they grow up in this fallen world and struggle to sort it all out, for my neighbors that are sick, for the people of Haiti and really, all third world countries, for the upcoming medical mission to Ethiopia, Etc. Etc. Etc. The list goes on and on. <br /><br />MY list just keeps growing and all day my heart has just been hurting for all of these hurting people. I was so overwhelmed! I am so thankful that the Lord has REALLY opened my eyes, ears, and heart with compassion but, REALLY. Really, Lord?!? What can I possibly do? There is only one of me. There are 5 children in my home....I'm already so outnumbered! There are many friends that need time and a listening ear, but I only have 2 ears!! There are 147 million orphans out there.....but I am only one person. There are millions of earthquake victims....again, I am just one person. There are LOTS of hurting military families that have sacraficed so much......I have only me to offer. What can I do Lord? I am just me. I am not capable, or even able to handle all these things on my plate right now. <br /><br />I've been mulling over this overwhelming list of concerns on my heart all day long now and I've been praying about WHAT God would have me to do about all these needs, burdens, concerns, heartaches, hurts, pain that the people in my world and in my life are suffering through, the things that I never get done, etc. etc.......<br /><br />Then HE gently reminded me in my quiet time, that HE IS GOD.... and I am just me. HE IS IN CHARGE; I am just a servant. HE WILL PROVIDE; I just ask. HE WON'T GIVE ME A LOAD BIGGER THAN I CAN BEAR; I just need to be a willing vessel. HE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH; and I only need just enough every day. HE WILL DRIVE THE CAR; I'm just a passenger. GOD is GOD.<br /><br />Acts 17:25 "Human hands can't serve His needs, for He has no neeeds. He himself gives life and breath to everything, and He satisfies every need there is."<br /><br />Galations 6:9 "Don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."<br /><br />Matthew 11:28-29 "Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle and you will find rest for your souls."<br /><br />My heart was so refreshed after I read these scriptures and poured my heart out to God. I am so thankful that He reminded me that I don't have to do it all myself, in my own strength. I don't have to do it, I only have to give God ALL of these issues that burden my heart.......I can give them all to my loving, gracious and kind GOD and HE WILL MAKE MY BURDEN LIGHT! HE WILL DO THE DRIVING!! The King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the Alpha and Omega, the PROVIDER, HEALER, and MAKER OF ALL THINGS......God is sovereign!!! NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!! He will take care of it all and He drives really well without any help from me in the back seat!!! <br /><br />I pray that your yoke is not heavy today and thay you can unload all your burdens today and REST your soul! It feels really good to REST in the Lord and He is a much better driver than I am, anyway! <br /><br />Many Blessings for you and yours,<br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-211322013792666842010-01-25T20:53:00.000-08:002010-01-25T23:15:18.261-08:00My first attempt at a Memorial Box MondayI have a sweet bloggy friend named Linny that I keep up with(I would say that I stalk her blog, but her post today was about a real life stalker so I won't say that I stalk her blog- but, um.... I do check up on her frequently :) ) Anyway, Anyway- I really do admire Linny's passion for serving the Lord, lovin' on her BIG family, and keeping life in perspective! So in Linny's blog (you can check out her blog at www.APLACECALLEDSIMPLICITY.blogspot.com), she and her family celebrate what she calls Memorial Box Mondays. I've read her Monday posts for a long time and have LOVED the idea of a Memorial Box, but I honestly just haven't figured out how to do this type of thing in my life. I think I've even shared this with a few of my close friends.....I want to do this in our family......but I have so many questions......How big would my "box" need to be? Where exactly do you get a "memorial box"? How do you find the appropriate little trinkets to signify the GREAT BIG things God has done in your life? etc. etc. etc. <br /><br />So-- I still don't have all the answers to my Memorial Box Monday questions but I've been praying about this, have been inspired by Linny to try it, and I am going to attempt today to START a little "Memorial Box Monday" posting of my own and hopefully by next week, I'll have found a memorial box and will use this creative idea to help our family have tangible ways to remember the goodness of the Lord in our lives.<br /><br />I'm going to start with an Ethiopia story because I never really shared with you about the many BIG God things that happened while we were there. I just never could sort through my emotions enough to capture the whole week in a blog post or even in 20 blog posts! It was just so BIG for me! But-- maybe if I focus on just a small part.......maybe I can do this and share our testimony of the Lord's goodness with you while we were in Ethiopia!<br /><br />Here's the story of our first two hours in Ethiopia........<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLHlypBMB9rcLUD_vVbpaFK4S_g4xKEPgWfnNbA94WhSmf4ssb1PMtpqHyLO85V9FSXxCWLe62DOi7FFIaULcG-RgEH7NH7wMJ0ys59I8ROBMZfBq2Wi1MgS-woZfucZL01ny5AtrqHE/s1600-h/Ethiopia+July+2009+187.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvLHlypBMB9rcLUD_vVbpaFK4S_g4xKEPgWfnNbA94WhSmf4ssb1PMtpqHyLO85V9FSXxCWLe62DOi7FFIaULcG-RgEH7NH7wMJ0ys59I8ROBMZfBq2Wi1MgS-woZfucZL01ny5AtrqHE/s400/Ethiopia+July+2009+187.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430932360586478578" /></a><br /><br /><br />There we were, finally in Ethiopia- all 5 of us. We had gone through customs and we were greeted at the airport terminal by an older gentlemen, an employee of our agency at that time, that we'll call Dr. A. When we met Dr. A, I immediately sensed that this gentleman did not have a genuine heart and I still don't know if he is a born again Christian. I sensed that this man was self-seeking. I had a moment of panic and sheer FEAR erupt inside of me when Dr. A abruptly and matter-of-factly told us that Madilyn and Robbie would be riding in the "taxi" with the luggage and that Joel, Jackson, and I would ride in his personal car to the guesthouse. Our arrival was at 10pm so it was not only dark, but this was also a foreign country for us, we didn't speak the language and I did not feel comfortable with this car arrangement. After a few minutes of loading all of the luggage (we had tons of donations!!) I finally gathered up enough courage to tell Dr. A that we appreciated his willingness to transport us to the guesthouse but that Joel and Jackson would go with the taxi and Robbie, Madilyn and I would ride with him. I knew he was a BFAS employee and that he would get us where we needed to go, but I was not so sure about sending my mother in law and daughter in a taxi with an unknown driver, in the dark, in an unknown city. I could tell that he was frustrated that I was questioning his decision and he mumbled some things in Amharic as we loaded up (my way) and headed for the guesthouse. This was the beginning of our trip, the first hour in country and it was an adventure! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfqp_EH6EiuCW-q-v35MBUHvhtQUJfytNFddOzN1xuezdvdykcvlYCrgMRCSC_Qm-m4Y13zPRl-uhl3s_29HGaj7izCauBYhkLHJejmilwetRZ9z0640OiYZejHWiFjIpZzuUSl4-VVI/s1600-h/young+children+tending+their+animals.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivfqp_EH6EiuCW-q-v35MBUHvhtQUJfytNFddOzN1xuezdvdykcvlYCrgMRCSC_Qm-m4Y13zPRl-uhl3s_29HGaj7izCauBYhkLHJejmilwetRZ9z0640OiYZejHWiFjIpZzuUSl4-VVI/s400/young+children+tending+their+animals.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430933607874039618" /></a><br /><br />There are not many "PAVED" streets in Addis Ababa, and no street signs or house numbers. The main highways and some streets are paved, but when you are driving in the neighborhoods- you are mostly on dirt roads with no navigational clues. We also travelled during the "rainy season" to Ethiopia- so the roads were very muddy. It was DARK. It became very evident that Dr. A was lost. The taxi stopped way behind us and the driver started walking up and down the mud roads yelling at the gate guards in Amharic asking for directions to our guest house. No electricity. No street lamps, or signs. The streets were just dark black and FEAR started to creep up into my soul, again. I was really scared now. There were 3 or 4 house guards that came out of their courtyards, into the muddy street, walking around our car and loudly discussing the route we should have taken in Amharic (at least that is what I think they were talking about!) I didn't understand why we were stopped in the middle of the muddy road and I really couldn't understand what they were saying! Robbie had a doubtful and concerned look on her face also and Madilyn began to cry. Then it happened, I felt a surge of relief as the Lord gave me FREEDOM from that fear of being lost on a dark muddy road in a foreign land! I remembered that I had brought a flashlight or TWO in my carry on bag and they were right under my feet in the front pocket! Thank you Lord! As soon as we turned on those flashlights and the darkness was changed to LIGHT, there was calm and safety in that car and in our hearts. We might have gotten to our destination even if I had not remembered that I had the flashlights in my bag, but the LIGHT did calm our fear and comfort our hearts!<br /> <br />God's word says it so clearly.......Psalms 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." and John 8:12 "Jesus once again addressed them: "I am the world's Light. No one who follows me stumbles around in the darkness. I provide plenty of light to live in." <br /><br />We made it to the guesthouse safely (the taxi did also!) and we were served an amazing dinner of lasagna, bread, and fruit by our sweet new friends and agency employees, Beti and Italgu. We only had electricity 3 of the 10 nights we were in Ethiopia but we used those flashlights every single night that we were there at some point or another and they did light our paths and help us to not stumble around in the darkness! We were very thankful for those small flashlights and lamps that we had brought with us! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i5oLruSkS16wd3SE6C7xpOyrvdCEQ2VDTqpzrhqd-QTBIids2iUq3-cisdBTy-_2rZ9gn5A4Sd7S2DZS4xk8x2O25ki-IzCcz5xIi_h42zr_rs_QWbzaAFDdAo28V1GCLCBxc46LF7Y/s1600-h/27_led_flashlight.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 360px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8i5oLruSkS16wd3SE6C7xpOyrvdCEQ2VDTqpzrhqd-QTBIids2iUq3-cisdBTy-_2rZ9gn5A4Sd7S2DZS4xk8x2O25ki-IzCcz5xIi_h42zr_rs_QWbzaAFDdAo28V1GCLCBxc46LF7Y/s400/27_led_flashlight.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5430936023525698802" /></a><br /><br />When I find the perfect Memorial Box.....I am going to put a little flashlight in it to remind me that God did light our path that first night in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and during our whole trip there. I also want to remember that as Christians, our ultimate goal is this.....<br /><br />2 Corinthians 4:5 "Remember, our Message is not about ourselves; we're proclaiming Jesus Christ, the Master. All we are is messengers, errand runners from Jesus for you. It started when God said, "Light up the darkness!" and our lives filled up with light as we saw and understood God in the face of Christ, all bright and beautiful."<br /><br />Many blessings to you, <br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-78059348204928365792010-01-20T23:26:00.000-08:002010-01-21T00:27:14.050-08:00A Bloggy Apology and Prayer Request......So I've been pretty distant here in BloggyLand and I want to apologize to you, my sweet Bloggy friends.......but, I also want to ask for some prayers!<br /><br />I've been pretty silent here, mainly because I've been overwhelmed. Not overwhelmed in a bad way---but instead, overwhelmed in a GOOD way. I honestly don't know where to start to catch you up on the crazy life of Team Newsom. God has been opening some amazing doors. He has been teaching me many Truths' over the last few weeks and He has answered many prayers. God has also given me some unbelievable opportunities to share our adoption testimony with new friends, and He is coordinating a medical mission trip to Ethiopia for this fall!! Wow!......and that's only a tiny bit of information that is swirling around in my head! God is really at work here and I know it but I haven't really known WHAT TO DO NEXT. So, I've been really quiet around here. I've been praying lots and I've been waiting for God's wisdom and guidance. Will you pray with me for wisdom and guidance as we strive to seek HIS will for our lives??<br /><br />I do want to quickly share with you just a few of the unbelievable opportunities God has given me over the last few weeks-- I have been ASKED to visit/share our adoption testimony with 6 different ladies at 6 different times over the last 2 weeks. Isn't that too cool??? God loves the poor and the afflicted. He LOVES the orphan. His word tells us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. I am just amazed that He has planted so many seeds in the hearts of people I've recently met and I want to be obedient, even in this......so, YES- I WILL SPEAK UP FOR THE ORPHANS GOD LOVES!! <br /><br />God has also given us an opportunity to serve Him in helping to coordinate and plan an upcoming Medical Mission Trip to Ethiopia in October 2010. Agitu, BFAS Staff, Fruitful Harvest Ministries, and many BFAS families are coming together to minister and show Christ's Love to the people of Ethiopia!! WOW! This is getting so much bigger that I ever dreamed or imagined and somehow--- God has placed me in this network of Christian servants as a coordinator of people and resources. I am so humbled and again, even though I feel UN-worthy and very UN-equipped; I am choosing to be obedient and I know that in my own strength I have absolutely nothing to offer, but then again.....there is that TRUTH in God's Word: "WITH CHRIST, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!"<br /><br />Please pray that Joel and I will have direction, wisdom and guidance from the Lord over these opportunities to serve Him and also in those other areas of our lives that I haven't shared here with you because of the time constraint! I am really going to try to break out of my overwhelmed state of silence and be more faithful in sharing my thoughts, prayer requests and testimonies of God's goodness with you here in BloggyLand on a more regular basis. More than anything, I recognize the need for your support and especially your prayers, as we travel along this amazing journey! <br /><br />Blessings abound,<br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-11417104733336963722010-01-05T21:55:00.000-08:002010-01-05T23:03:24.256-08:00This is YOUR house.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1ZByPbN3ZZ7yHwwylNK5SVAXOwRunZAXW5plyvMcOvz7efzlInikvU6u_ybSkyW-Y4pwLTum32C4Q3LmnWWIoLHoIkVEFnHFG9lNnuE_Q5bQlwJFq0Vgqgfz2Vlcxf7pw3u9FaLcIVI/s1600-h/IMG_0020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk1ZByPbN3ZZ7yHwwylNK5SVAXOwRunZAXW5plyvMcOvz7efzlInikvU6u_ybSkyW-Y4pwLTum32C4Q3LmnWWIoLHoIkVEFnHFG9lNnuE_Q5bQlwJFq0Vgqgfz2Vlcxf7pw3u9FaLcIVI/s400/IMG_0020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423518164369006674" /></a><br />I'm speechless, exhausted, and overwhelmed but I'm also very joyful, so content, and super happy. Most of the books I read pre-adoption were right on with issues involved in adopting older children but I think I was really in denial at that point, that "WE" might face some of those issues. :) Most of them also didn't even talk about the the sheer joy that comes from GIVING an orphan a home, even through all those "adoption issues!" I have been so humbled by this journey and am still learning so much! Every day brings something new with Joshua Nahome. He is doing really well! Singing, dancing, clapping, jumping, smiling, laughing--- these actions fill his days with us. But then there are those....."MOMENTS" that aren't as easy to handle, like today......<br /><br />Joshua and I were in the kitchen and I was sweeping the floor, he was helping by holding the dustpan for me. He said, "Mommy your house is clean, so nice." I said, "Thank you for helping me sweep Joshua. Yes, our house is very clean now." <br /><br />He then said, "This is your house. My house is with Tigist."<br /><br />I stopped sweeping and prayed a quick prayer for wisdom here at this "MOMENT".......<br /><br />I got down on my knees and the Lord gave me the words, "Joshua Nahome, this is YOUR house, too. You do NOT have a house with Tigist. Tigist loves you but Tigist does NOT have food and Tigist does NOT have a house for you. Tigist wants you to live in America with Mommy and Daddy in YOUR house here. This is YOUR house. Tigist does NOT have a house for you. This is your house. Okay? Do you understand?"<br /><br />Joshua Nahome looks into my eyes and says, "Yes, Ma'am. This is my house. Can I have some cake?"<br /><br />Then it was back to life as normal and cake was served! WOW. Talk about some pressure for me!!! Whew! The "moments" just come and then just as quickly, they are gone. There is no major emotional breakdown, no tears, no crying, no screaming--- Joshua will just make these random statements that open an opportunity for me to SPEAK TRUTH into his heart and mind so that he understands and doesn't fantasize. I pray that he does come to understand the WHY without needless heartache and pain but just by openness about his past and Tigist. My hope is that one day he'll be able to say....."My birthmother was destitute and could not feed me, I lived in an orphanage for many many months until GOD gave me a forever family to love and grow up in." <br /><br />I am also praying that the Lord helps us to grow our love deeper and have more compassion for Joshua, but also be able to see the need and ability to speak TRUTH, in love, to this sweet little boy in spite of the painful circumstances of his life as an orphan. These are hard conversations to have without having some reaction time-- I have to pray hard and think fast! God has provided each and every time I've been faced with these moments that I'm not mentally prepared to handle and he's given me grace, humility, and has helped me to speak TRUTH even when it is hard. <br /><br />Ephesians 4:11-16 It was He who gave gifts to people; He appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers.12 He did this to prepare all God's people for the work of Christian service, in order to build up the body of Christ.13 And so we shall all come together to that oneness in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God; we shall become mature people, reaching to the very height of Christ's full stature.14 Then we shall no longer be children, carried by the waves and blown about by every shifting wind of the teaching of deceitful people, who lead others into error by the tricks they invent.15 Instead, <em>by speaking the truth in a spirit of love</em>, we must grow up in every way to Christ, who is the head.16 (C)Under his control all the different parts of the body fit together, and the whole body is held together by every joint with which it is provided. So when each separate part works as it should, the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.<br /><br />Proverbs 24:3 "Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; By knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.<br /><br />Blessings to you and yours,<br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-88199298047447640212009-12-25T19:54:00.000-08:002009-12-25T21:17:07.045-08:00Merry Christmas!I've been meaning to sit down and blog..... but of course,that hasn't happened in a long time and I now know that those were really very high expectations on myself during the holidays! We started December in El Paso with tons of scheduled events, Army functions, Army fundraisers, a great Christmas play for the kiddos and Joel at our church, some personal support efforts to the missionaries and children in orphanages in Juarez, some dinner parties with new arriving co-workers for Joel, a few Army Christmas parties, and then just throw in the normal stuff like schooling, being an available mommy, cooking, cleaning, errands and shopping and wow--- the time has just FLOWN! The calendar was full and that was just the first half of the month!! HAHA! We drove 12 hours "home" for the Christmas holidays on December 15 and have been nearly as busy here as we were in El Paso!! Agitu, our agency director travelled to visit us again on December 16-18 and met with Fruitful Harvest Ministries to coordinate the medical mission trip that God is orchestrating for October of 2010. Amazing! We are praying BIG for Ethiopia and God is at work! It's been so humbling to watch the Lord use our act of obedience to adopt one child and stand back to see Him work out the details to really impact MANY Ethiopian children through this upcoming medical mission trip!! I am AMAZED at the power of Christ, at the big and small details that He has worked out- and I can honestly say that I so excited to celebrate HIS birth every Christmas because He is so alive and real in our lives!! I love Christmas and I love my Savior and I love what He is doing in our lives!! <br /><br />Joel and I also celebrated 13 wonderful years of marriage on December 21! We were able to sneak away for an overnight date in downtown Ft. Worth at the new Omni hotel! (Thanks for helping with the kiddos everyone!:) Wow! It was a beautiful hotel and we had a really fun time with our special friends, Joel and Dawn Coleman!! Now, I'm sure the hotel receptionist probably secretly laughed at my husband when he told her it was our anniversary and then in the same breath asked, "What channel is the Cowboy game going to be on tonight?" HAHA!! She did send us a complementary bottle of champagne to our room (maybe she felt sorry for me!!! HAHA!!)and then personally called to let us know that the Dallas Cowboys would be showing on channel 12 in our room!! HAHA! Most of you will think we are crazy but we really did plan it that way! :) It wasn't the most "romantic" anniversary evenings we've ever had but we really did have a GREAT time being together and that whole hotel receptionist scenario did make our date night very funny! Our time together was wonderful and I am super thankful for my sweet husband and best friend!) I love you Joel and I also love watching football with you! ;) Happy Anniversary!<br /><br />Christmas has been super fun this year with all the kiddos and especially since it was Joshua Nahome's FIRST Christmas with us! He has been super excited! He initially had lots of questions but has really enjoyed all of the "birthday parties for Jesus" that we've been to so far!! :) His favorite gift this morning was the package of gum and the rocket balloons in his stocking. He was excited about all the gifts but after he opened them, he promptly packed them back up and wanted to put them away so they didn't get lost or somebody else didn't take them. I think this tendency is probably a post-orphanage -- or-- a post-living-in-a-third-world-country issue but nonetheless, we worked through it and explained that he could keep the toys, play with them, and no one would take them from him. :) Sweet sweet boy. It has been a really neat time, to be able to say to Joshua--- "This is YOURS now. This wasn't how your life was before but now you live in a good, safe place and we love you and this is just a gift for YOU!" :) <br /><br />Isn't that just what God did for us? He gave us a new life, He gave us the gift of His son, Jesus, and this is the safest and best place I could be and he did it all just because He loves me! God is so good to just keep teaching me every single day of His love,His grace, His mercy, His patience, His plan for me through the adoption of Joshua. I'm super blessed and I hope that your Christmas has been wonderful also. <br /><br />(Robbie, I love what you shared with me about the power of Christ being BEYOND BEYOND what we can even imagine or think and today, I am convinced that I am.....<br /><br />Blessed BEYOND BEYOND-<br />Amy :)Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-73646933446502853072009-12-04T21:24:00.000-08:002009-12-04T22:38:36.836-08:00ICE BUBBLES in El Paso<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6na953XHqtpMOp48ccJTDQ_Yzq2vHplnPavU9jUNBt7KB4UVo4o51OBVNXkz7CB3IEoH0_aoVZRQkeS1gaMlqPP-XoK2zHFeS_nzTRd93k20U8RH-tcckBQmB6RAf29jW24AUiYA_GA8/s1600-h/November+2009+015.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6na953XHqtpMOp48ccJTDQ_Yzq2vHplnPavU9jUNBt7KB4UVo4o51OBVNXkz7CB3IEoH0_aoVZRQkeS1gaMlqPP-XoK2zHFeS_nzTRd93k20U8RH-tcckBQmB6RAf29jW24AUiYA_GA8/s400/November+2009+015.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411631122842648722" /></a><br />We've had snow TWICE this past week and yes, we do live in El Paso TX!! It's been a ton of fun for the kids and a really nice reason to "slow down" some over the past few days! Joshua Nahome had never seen snow before and he loved it! He called it "ICE BUBBLES" when he first saw it and only today has begun to call it "snow". I had lots of extra laundry to do after they played in the snow but watching them have so much fun was worth the extra loads!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMj-Ue8n5ftWp7HqGZOqvOjPL4XXMZHHHbtOPanfBF_DTH7sEcUDSVoQ0U0wQm3P1A5l1R6H7Zr0x4-HDWsTCHZb0zSczrZPPzezH2tAjxKlyNCrk_PfuqRUBSL9iSkZnUWae37KoKPo/s1600-h/November+2009+031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPMj-Ue8n5ftWp7HqGZOqvOjPL4XXMZHHHbtOPanfBF_DTH7sEcUDSVoQ0U0wQm3P1A5l1R6H7Zr0x4-HDWsTCHZb0zSczrZPPzezH2tAjxKlyNCrk_PfuqRUBSL9iSkZnUWae37KoKPo/s400/November+2009+031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411631517856878882" /></a><br /><br /><br />We are doing pretty well. Everyone is healthy and happy. Homeschooling is going well but I am really looking forward to the Christmas break soon (kids are too)! I can't believe it's already December!! The time has flown by!! I've had a few pretty rough "mommy days" over the past few weeks. Even though I LOVE my job and the eternal benefits are out-of-this-world; I don't ever "clock out" from my duties, I do get tired, cranky with the kiddos, and I need more breaks than I take for myself. This week I've praying for an extra measure of grace, love, mercy and patience! I really hate it when I become a fussy mommy!! My cup overflows right now with both blessings and many responsibilities! If you happen to think about me during your prayer time and your day, please pray for me!<br /><br />Nahome is doing well. His language acquisition has really amazed us. We think he understands about 99% of all that we say. He speaks about 85% of all that he wants to say correctly! He has started stuttering a little here and there over the last few weeks but we're going for an appointment to get a consult for speech therapy next week. I think he's thinking so fast that his mouth doesn't produce the right English words quickly enough to keep up with his brain yet!! :) It's not a bad speech problem but we want to make sure we help him as much as we can, early on. Emotionally, he is doing very well- he still has some hard moments but he handles them in a very healthy way (lots of tears and crying!) so I'm thankful that he's not bottling up those emotions! He and Joel Daniel still compete for toys, fuss over turns, and they always want the exact same things but in the same day they also play well together and they are best buddies! They will play at an activity for hours without having any issues at all. The fussy moments just come and go!! :) I am thankful for the good and bad! Joshua Nahome is really doing well, he is a blessing to our family, and we would do it all again! God has taught us so much and is teaching us more and more every day!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxYIwjYcl08hQjUzW4PFlaKHv9wFyglpG3_cj7WRI1qrpZGNYpMKgEW_cGCfKbPo9ZL5jF16WFf7G6-_St2Ipia-eRDRa9g4tfrBC9vkF1X3KrHCO96t-aYWn9mjifhmX20Qo7W5RRuQ/s1600-h/Joshua.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 250px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxYIwjYcl08hQjUzW4PFlaKHv9wFyglpG3_cj7WRI1qrpZGNYpMKgEW_cGCfKbPo9ZL5jF16WFf7G6-_St2Ipia-eRDRa9g4tfrBC9vkF1X3KrHCO96t-aYWn9mjifhmX20Qo7W5RRuQ/s400/Joshua.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411634010967907986" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />Here are a few photos of our kids playing in the ice bubbles...... Hope you enjoy!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUCa2pYzPc7glWvovxsrYN4SXRlkq8CHg9eNjVKgshG-8_3loEjkQeEFCd0ddot_YuD6pG1JTRSC456Yj3d_6-SKJPAJapUJtqlvmMJvDSXA6wcRxfd_bArFvjlwKDFxebpnnCDk6Djw/s1600-h/November+2009+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUCa2pYzPc7glWvovxsrYN4SXRlkq8CHg9eNjVKgshG-8_3loEjkQeEFCd0ddot_YuD6pG1JTRSC456Yj3d_6-SKJPAJapUJtqlvmMJvDSXA6wcRxfd_bArFvjlwKDFxebpnnCDk6Djw/s400/November+2009+009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411630801606569026" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrbOWlH4Zwgllgyy4YfjpCsFGLWidopVvrMTvlWuemBBd7wJJyw7iyOOuAl_OvKYtnGDhEwgH2qkHn5xrPLoJ_Kfq0-TWpcKjz6PDiiJ-3ZhjX1x1_O27hVZm2x3ZXrVxQiGQ2O1Y9xk/s1600-h/November+2009+038.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrbOWlH4Zwgllgyy4YfjpCsFGLWidopVvrMTvlWuemBBd7wJJyw7iyOOuAl_OvKYtnGDhEwgH2qkHn5xrPLoJ_Kfq0-TWpcKjz6PDiiJ-3ZhjX1x1_O27hVZm2x3ZXrVxQiGQ2O1Y9xk/s400/November+2009+038.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411631810085055954" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifStq51uo_R9sp6le2yBvmZR1RibmhH01snNVthhxAKaJlTeGF15p2Pmf0UDlYUrOLucMhKh8o_gzKmkRAgxUajT-JwkPB3D27_EsWM1LnpXyThJC8SezWPZHP1vvEstlifbTifEja46o/s1600-h/November+2009+030.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifStq51uo_R9sp6le2yBvmZR1RibmhH01snNVthhxAKaJlTeGF15p2Pmf0UDlYUrOLucMhKh8o_gzKmkRAgxUajT-JwkPB3D27_EsWM1LnpXyThJC8SezWPZHP1vvEstlifbTifEja46o/s400/November+2009+030.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411632573736877122" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIhlIMwYppHtBFqGTnXoe4t4_k8W3i6F6NdP8h1Lo9jBwtSlSi6Eg3ZjGB2has8aB4bfkAmL1ZUlM0UVqC4BxPP5b9A3lOQ5RSIbttNZWjIwW2nqT8zmyXQaUYhvp3uTOD_Xy3sM7Ano/s1600-h/November+2009+016.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqIhlIMwYppHtBFqGTnXoe4t4_k8W3i6F6NdP8h1Lo9jBwtSlSi6Eg3ZjGB2has8aB4bfkAmL1ZUlM0UVqC4BxPP5b9A3lOQ5RSIbttNZWjIwW2nqT8zmyXQaUYhvp3uTOD_Xy3sM7Ano/s400/November+2009+016.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411637354850474690" /></a><br /><br /><br />Blessings,<br />AMY <br /><br />Psalms 32:2 " You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall compass me about with songs of deliverance." <br /><br />Psalm 71:5 For You are my hope, O Lord God; you are my trust from my youth."Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-17462945730188656072009-11-29T19:25:00.000-08:002009-11-29T20:29:37.678-08:00Happy Belated ThanksgivingWe have so many things to be thankful for this season! It's been a nice long weekend and I'm thankful for the rest, the family time, and most of all- God's mercy and grace to us! <br /><br />Lots of good things have kept us busy lately.....we travelled to Lubbock to visit Joel's family last weekend and celebrated an early Thanksgiving together. It was a fun time and the kiddos played together amazingly well. Hannah was right, the drive WAS super easy and we had a really great time! Joshua Nahome is still asking if he can go back to Uncle Jon's house-- he fell in love with the riding tractor in their back yard and loved having the extra playmates in Lubbock!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwy7u4QLAAv4gZN86G9JnYI9bVXCMkzhRJOaYEzXDHjYKKwe1hacvlLTZqJZ9b8nfONXKNMhF5oGOKBixS7J7Tdj5Cen30jIYtc52XB7dUddrmY0QnoaDKojEKtjGNatJAn8NfGnsqRkU/s1600/October+2009+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwy7u4QLAAv4gZN86G9JnYI9bVXCMkzhRJOaYEzXDHjYKKwe1hacvlLTZqJZ9b8nfONXKNMhF5oGOKBixS7J7Tdj5Cen30jIYtc52XB7dUddrmY0QnoaDKojEKtjGNatJAn8NfGnsqRkU/s400/October+2009+053.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409744211365216034" /></a><br />We made lots of sweet memories and are so thankful that we only live 6 hours from Jon and Maci! :)Here are a few pictures from our visit..... These cool dudes had fun at the Tech VS OU game...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiJ2Njcp2UImx9ZWnqhowlobi2gkRn6fSmbeUeNvTg0UibYGkUJ840q2liuLmbdPTMNMesXlkgdf7gBO1Cm0hnvtPRmj_gbFkVo1BEyn2FOMj_-MMgUkH5Pr2M2j4U0rpAvhL8MzNC8E/s1600/October+2009+052.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihiJ2Njcp2UImx9ZWnqhowlobi2gkRn6fSmbeUeNvTg0UibYGkUJ840q2liuLmbdPTMNMesXlkgdf7gBO1Cm0hnvtPRmj_gbFkVo1BEyn2FOMj_-MMgUkH5Pr2M2j4U0rpAvhL8MzNC8E/s400/October+2009+052.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409743555848008258" /></a>Poppy and Mommommy really enjoyed being with all the grandkids at one time! Aren't they festive in the Tech Fan attire!! Very FUN!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofJcMZMfmmEESDbyvL69sJ-ttVT3NFY5VVgsatQQnReGMLI0BrjMy7HRRkX5k-Mp-1AFKAFOzd6q6OhBFVToWObTKR0EpdDOkfipcsz5qh6hpCMUv94mu5O7FqB10Q5P83CZWRE7vJxY/s1600/October+2009+051.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhofJcMZMfmmEESDbyvL69sJ-ttVT3NFY5VVgsatQQnReGMLI0BrjMy7HRRkX5k-Mp-1AFKAFOzd6q6OhBFVToWObTKR0EpdDOkfipcsz5qh6hpCMUv94mu5O7FqB10Q5P83CZWRE7vJxY/s400/October+2009+051.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409745038377941362" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />We returned home on Sunday night and started a very full, but thankfully, also a very short week! We missed being "home" with our extended families' over the holiday but we were so glad to be invited to spend the day with some very special families from our church. It was a really wonderful day. We had planned to eat lunch with them, visit and then come home by 3ish but we had such a great time that we didn't even get ready to leave for home until 7pm!! Time flies when you're having fun!! The food was just great also! We were blessed to be in the company of such wonderful people and enjoyed our time a lot! Thanks Lisa for hosting us all!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUI753r-XVVVjXsAQBtHpGf3qCwG0SZWHGJWa1GahKtmDNrM4Rs9OcC2y5aTBWCVMCb9PjcS0SUiowhgSJnRMPRT_66a2EI1p4XZBP00FNs-yv6wi94qJRev9AOgYa0sx2sZ2ze3QXbL4/s1600/Barnett+Thanksgiving+Day+Party.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUI753r-XVVVjXsAQBtHpGf3qCwG0SZWHGJWa1GahKtmDNrM4Rs9OcC2y5aTBWCVMCb9PjcS0SUiowhgSJnRMPRT_66a2EI1p4XZBP00FNs-yv6wi94qJRev9AOgYa0sx2sZ2ze3QXbL4/s400/Barnett+Thanksgiving+Day+Party.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409746589142070786" /></a><br />I shopped until I dropped on Black Friday! I actually broke some shopping records for myself and I am pretty excited! I got all of my Christmas shopping done on that one day! The crowds weren't too bad and I actually never had to wait in a line to check out! It was fun and I'm thankful that I got so much done!! Joel and I also went on a date on Friday night. It was heavenly! We went to eat Mexican food and then to see the new movie, The Blind Spot! I really can't say enough GREAT things about this movie! It was moving, inspiring, and tells a great story about caring for orphans and children that have no one in the world to love them! It was a thumbs up movie and I definitely highly recommend it! If you haven't seen it yet--do GO-- it's worth the watch!<br /><br />The details for the mission trip to Ethiopia are all miraculously working out. I continue to be amazed by God's work. Agitu, the director of our adoption agency, will return to our hometown on Dec 16 to meet with the directors of Fruitful Harvest, an international mission ministry from our home church to plan the trip to Ethiopia. The kiddos and I will be travelling back home for the meeting and we'll just stay there for the holidays....Joel will fly there when he gets his block leave time. We just LOVE those cheap Southwest one-way tickets! :)<br /><br />Well, I'm out of computer time......the little boys need to be loved on and want me to read a new book to them before they go to bed, so I will close for now. <br />I hope your Thanksgiving was filled with many memories and opportunities to share the GOOD things that God has done for you in your life. His mercy, grace, and love endures forever!! <br /><br />Praising God from Whom all blessings flow,<br />AMY<br /><br />Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself in the Lord; and He shall give you the desires of your heart."<br /><br />Isaiah 61:10 "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hat clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-87310914792361982072009-11-20T08:31:00.000-08:002009-11-20T08:55:34.859-08:00Hello friends.....Good Morning Bloggy Friends!! I hope you haven’t given up on me and decided that I must have totally abandoned this blog due to the recent inactivity! HAHA! It’s been crazy busy but more than anything- I’ve been so overwhelmed by all the lessons that God is teaching me that sitting down and sharing has seemed like an impossibly big task for my short times on the computer! There are so many things going on that Ill back-track a little and try to catch you up on the happenings of Team Newsom! <br /><br />I’ll start with Orphan Sunday on November 8……the kiddos and I made the 12 hour drive to East Texas again a few weeks ago to visit family. The Lord had lots more in mind for our time there and He worked out all the details so that Agitu, the director of Better Future Adoption Services was able to come visit our family and also speak to our church congregation about the orphan crisis in Ethiopia-- on Orphan Sunday! We were very blessed by her visit and look forward to watching God unite BFAS and Fruitful Harvest efforts to take a medical mission team to share the love of Christ to Ethiopia in the coming months!! AMAZING!!!<br /><br />Joel flew there for the special weekend and I was also able to share our adoption testimony at our church on Orphan Sunday! I was very nervous about speaking in front of a crowd, but the Lord was good to me and HE provided the words. My prayer was that our testimony planted a seed for just ONE family to sponsor, pray for, or adopt just ONE child in obedience to God’s calling for the body of Christ to care for orphans! If only ONE orphan would find another family to show some of Christ’s love to them--- it was worth it all! I was reminded by scripture in the days before Orphan Sunday that it is important for believers to SHARE what God has done for us with one another! God can use the smallest testimony for HIS GLORY and to fulfill His purposes! I'm thankful for God's grace..... <br /><br />While we were in East TX, we also attended a dinner with the folks who are working hard to raise support and awareness for orphans in our home community through a new adoption ministry called Compassion for the Fatherless…….check out their website at www.compassionforthefatherless.org . God is so good and is doing such good stuff here!! It was an amazing time of fellowship and time with truly inspiring and REAL people that have a passion to do God’s work for orphans!! We were so blessed that night! I was inspired to DO MORE. GIVE MORE. SHARE MORE. LOVE MORE.<br /><br />Our little Halleuleia Halloween Project was a huge success!! A big shout out to my kiddos, the Pearce kiddos, Aunt Vickie, and also KATY and ALL the 3rd graders at Como-Pickton Elementary School for an awesome collection of CANDY! Over 60 pounds of candy was collected in the days following Halloween and is now on its way to soldiers in rural Afghanistan to share with the children living in primitive villages on the borders of some very volatile countries. WOW!! What a SWEET joy it will be for our soldiers to GIVE this candy out! What a SWEET message to these children in Afghanistan to RECEIVE this candy!! Very cool!! Thanks guys for the sweet support to our soldiers!!<br /><br />More recently, we were blessed to meet and visit with a sweet missionary family here in El Paso! What a treasure they are to God’s kingdom! Team Newsom has teamed up with the VH Homeschool Ministry to help support this missionary family ( and 3 others!) that are here sharing the Gospel to orphans and poverty stricken families living in Juarez, Mexico. We’ll be collecting donations of blankets, clothing, shoes, food, and Christmas goodies for the needy children in Juarez in my garage!! Yes, IN MY GARAGE!! Then we’ll give it all to these missionaries so that they can SERVE MORE, DO MORE, SHARE MORE, LOVE MORE! <br /><br />Now, for those of you who know me well know that this donation collecting thing is a pretty big deal for me since I am such an OCD-kind-of-girl and being disorganized makes me crazy! Well folks, here is the good news-- God is not done working on me yet and and those 8 trash bags full of donations sitting in the middle of my now disheveled garage have actually made me CRAZY EXCITED to be helping orphans across the border! What a joy it is to GIVE!! God is good!!<br /><br />Please pray for us this weekend as we are travelling....we’re really excited about going to visit Joel’s family and spending some special time together in Lubbock, TX! It will be a treat for us all to have some quality time with everyone!! <br /><br />This trip and my sweet kiddos reminded me a few days ago that dealing with LIFE has so much to do with our perspective and a gratiful attitude!! This conversation made me laugh but also was a good reminder that I need to count EVERY blessing.....here's how it went: ”Mom, how long is the drive to Lubbock going to be?” I replied, ”It is a 6 hour drive.” Hannah then said, “Wow—this is going to be a great trip. That’s a really short drive.” HAHA!! I guess if you are used to doing long 12 hour drives and all the sudden, it’s only a 6 hour drive—that does seem like a SHORT trip and yes, Hannah is right---it will be a GREAT trip too! <br /><br />Super thankful for the small things today.<br /><br />Many Blessings to You and Yours,<br />AMY <br /><br />PS—Nahome is doing GREAT!!! What a blessing and a real sweetheart!! He is so fluent now that most people that meet us don’t even know or realize that English is his second language!! Wow!! AMAZING! <br /><br />Matthew 11:29 Jesus says, "Take my yolk upon you , and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart; and you shall find rest unto your souls."Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-4249974769125924132009-11-10T22:11:00.000-08:002009-11-10T23:02:33.907-08:00Hard Answers......There have been several times over the past few weeks that I've been driving down the road or working in the kitchen preparing dinner when all of the sudden, big tears well up in my eyes and I can only pray for God's grace in sharing love and giving hard answers to difficult questions. Today was another one of those days. <br /><br />Joshua Nahome is doing very well. His language skills are really amazing me and he is communicating well. He has been home nearly 4 months now. He is actually communicating so well now that he has many questions for me and he's caught me un-prepared to answer many of them, but somehow, thankfully, the Lord PROVIDES and out of my mouth comes words that have been kind and were able to soothe and love a confused little boy.<br /><br />Nahome asked me today, "Is Tigist coming?"<br /><br />What a hard moment for me to truthfully tell this little boy, "No, Tigist is not coming." I'm so thankful that I was also able to say... "Tigist is in Ethiopia and she loves you very much and wants you to be happy and live in America." Thank you Lord for giving me eyes to see and understand WHY you had us adopt Nahome while we were in Ethiopia. I did and could not understand before I saw it for myself, now I've seen and I know WHY and I also know Tigist LOVED Nahome very much.<br /><br />These were hard moments. I realize that it is normal for all adoptive children to dream of their birthparents coming for them, looking for them, searching for them.....but I didn't think it would happen this early. I thought those were teenage adoptive issues, not 4year old issues! I didn't realize that he has been waiting for her to come here. I had to tell him the truth because I don't want him to have false hopes or be more confused by vague answers so I felt that even though the truth hurts--- we have to tell him the truth about these questions.....Tigist is not coming. I wish she could, but she is not.<br /><br />The harder conversation for me was this one......<br /><br />Nahome then said, "No food Tigist have. Nahome hungry Tigist. No cereal, no pizza, no water, no candy. Nahome hungry Tigist Ethiopia. Nahome no hungry Mommy.<br />Why Tigist no food, no stores Ethiopia? Why Mommy food, store?"<br /><br />I really wish I could change those facts in his life. I'm so sad that they endured so much pain. I am so thankful that this little boy has enough to eat now in our home, but it burdens me that he and his birthmother were HUNGRY enough for this little boy to remember that and tell me.<br /><br />I'm really thankful that we adopted an older child. Questions like the ones above are difficult to answer without being moved to tears, but what a blessing it is to know the WHY behind his adoption and be able to share Tigist's love for him. It is very neat that he remembers and I am thankful. I also love to listen to him tell stories about his memories of Ethiopia! He tells very animated stories of wild dogs in Ethiopia, the cat that killed their only chicken, the stinky outdoor bathroom with bugs, his bed on the dirt ground, his food cooked with fire, his rest time at night, the foods he ate there. Last week, he even pulled an old blanket out of Mama Carr's closet and said that the blanket smelled like Tigist. I am thankful for these memories and I am praying that the Lord continues to give me love, grace, and mercy when Nahome asks me questions that are hard. I pray that I'll be able to tell him about the unconditional, sacrificial love that his sweet birthmother, Tigist, has for him and that he'll somehow, someday.... <br /><br />he will also understand.<br /><br />Thankful for the blessings and the hard questions and hard answers, too-<br />AMY<br /><br />Jeremiah 20:13 " Sing unto the Lord, praise the Lord: for He has delivered the soul of the poor from the hand of evildoers."<br /><br />Psalm 132:15 " I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread."<br /><br />Psalm 37:3-5 "Trust in the Lord, and do good; so that you should dwell in the land, and verily you shall be fed. Delight yourself in the Lord; and he shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your ways unto the Lord; trust in Him and He shall bring it to pass." <br /><br />Amos 5:4 "For this says the Lord to the house of Israel, Seek me, and you shall live."Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-30832353330078439802009-10-28T07:46:00.000-07:002009-10-28T08:14:21.588-07:00Too funny.....We've all been sick over the last few days and I thought I would share these pictures of my silly crew because every time they flash up on my screen saver, they make me smile and today, I need a smile!!!!! Hope you enjoy also!!<br /><br />Blessings,<br />AMY<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyRO8bZXjr-aIQLdyk-uRZanmkgsjSzeiyRPTBjpUphOe5jMo4Sru0rJvb8TY5DZRYHng5kf5aD_8yynf7TXyTibBLppN-J2vSQ55UGL-_Mb-avmqtJ90pwLarCwe6F6CJJJa05k1wG4/s1600-h/August+2009+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjyRO8bZXjr-aIQLdyk-uRZanmkgsjSzeiyRPTBjpUphOe5jMo4Sru0rJvb8TY5DZRYHng5kf5aD_8yynf7TXyTibBLppN-J2vSQ55UGL-_Mb-avmqtJ90pwLarCwe6F6CJJJa05k1wG4/s400/August+2009+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397663432490017778" /></a><br />I asked Jackson to help me grill some meat one evening and when I walked out to check on the progress with the protein-- I nearly fell over laughing at his very clever and hysterical way to handle the smoke! Love those swim googles for grilling Jackson! HAHA! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNU_1dSNAKJWV4AdUjy5fd8tZwqIDowta_UNtZhNCbw51KHLEZm6nA_Da6UpK8XCOes6oQTU1XoAdVNoHIlFZ-cVNLBAiEu5jHZ82ssJCLwJRO4B8cGC7LQd09feDhqqikjFPb6qeQOW8/s1600-h/August+2009+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNU_1dSNAKJWV4AdUjy5fd8tZwqIDowta_UNtZhNCbw51KHLEZm6nA_Da6UpK8XCOes6oQTU1XoAdVNoHIlFZ-cVNLBAiEu5jHZ82ssJCLwJRO4B8cGC7LQd09feDhqqikjFPb6qeQOW8/s400/August+2009+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397665154280745794" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3ZBgkSxKh9GxIbjMQKh3R_jBParBh2MVBgMPXy1B0HMobxBE8fgroJiYncmOhIWUa1uxvimSqW0zdfQccduDaxy0c56tOGdDQNFNHstduSFMHIP066YvboEhhHI_BPTLmZVDsXze-wg/s1600-h/June+2009+061.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN3ZBgkSxKh9GxIbjMQKh3R_jBParBh2MVBgMPXy1B0HMobxBE8fgroJiYncmOhIWUa1uxvimSqW0zdfQccduDaxy0c56tOGdDQNFNHstduSFMHIP066YvboEhhHI_BPTLmZVDsXze-wg/s400/June+2009+061.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397667951355123826" /></a><br />On our trip this summer to Colorado, Madilyn got a little silly and struck this pose right when I clicked the camera!! We laughed lots because she is such a leader in our family and after she did that one silly pose, well-- I got many very interesting poses from all the kiddos for the rest of the vacation!! :) Very fun!!<br /><br /><br /><br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFWxa8SmRpmAXIVK-joxn4QcN-NUB2Ci_7ya9_65atD0DxP8UIN0dxjlzZ91hhvmKTSn0Vn8ScUlFlrHtGOfYZ_mMv6W_B4GoJlFUTZDMoQNjIBHkc9-AMdzWrL5DFHM2w_uhyo3Uwto/s1600-h/Cowboys+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFWxa8SmRpmAXIVK-joxn4QcN-NUB2Ci_7ya9_65atD0DxP8UIN0dxjlzZ91hhvmKTSn0Vn8ScUlFlrHtGOfYZ_mMv6W_B4GoJlFUTZDMoQNjIBHkc9-AMdzWrL5DFHM2w_uhyo3Uwto/s400/Cowboys+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397664224894845794" /></a> The kiddos love playing horses and cowboys and on this particular day--- I caught Joshua wearing the cowboy dress-up clothes!! Too cute!! It is such a blessing to see them play together and have fun!!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f7Uh1rWNzGZynGBaXb0efRz64grf1hUbUNyzwKNmzyQwdRRek6r-Y6AZiwsj6Fy84wMYtqQjp1LXm3tX5K0Uzjj0_BrGgXxst4JgmWmgEBpOgqR0Rf7vpSq3reHmg2aGYLdU3djajdQ/s1600-h/Cowboys+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4f7Uh1rWNzGZynGBaXb0efRz64grf1hUbUNyzwKNmzyQwdRRek6r-Y6AZiwsj6Fy84wMYtqQjp1LXm3tX5K0Uzjj0_BrGgXxst4JgmWmgEBpOgqR0Rf7vpSq3reHmg2aGYLdU3djajdQ/s400/Cowboys+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5397666395377844930" /></a> Joel Daniel loves to clomp around the house wearing Daddy's boots......he doesn't realize what amazing,loving and big Daddy footprints he is blessed to follow!!Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-54481326765481834092009-10-22T13:08:00.001-07:002009-10-22T15:40:24.182-07:00Super blessed on this Thankful Thursday.....Life here for the Newsom TEAM is going well. We've had so many blessings and feel so unworthy, humbled and yes, very thankful. God has been so good to us. <br /><br />The TEAM is healthy-- thank you Lord!! Thankful that the kids are finally settling into a school routine that works for all of us!! All the kiddos are really enjoying their sports programs and it's been fun to cheer them on each week-- we are thankful!! We have all made some neat friends and we've already been blessed by the new people in our lives. Thank you Lord!! We do, of course,miss all our special friends and neighbors from past posts-- but they are close in heart and my joy overflows at the thought of having such neat friendships with people scattered all over the world!! We are thankful for the opportunity the Army has given us to truly make an impact and share Christ with so many people from ALL OVER the world!! I miss you all!<br />The Newsom Team is blessed beyond measure by your friendships and thankful for each and every one!<br /><br />We are also excited and thankful for the great things that God is doing in our lives. Team Newsom has several projects going.......the Lord has given us a passion to reach out and DO more, share more, serve more. It is in this place of service to others that we've found an unimaginable fountain of joy from the Lord so I'm going to share a few of the things that are happening around here......<br /><br />Our adoption of Nahome was an amazing way that the Lord has used us (and continues to use us) but this adoption has also opened many neat opportunities for us to share our testimony of faith and our relationship with Jesus with others. At Walmart, at the gym, at Joel's work, at restaurants-- we get asked questions about our adoption and we are thankful that we can share what the Lord has done for Nahome and our family. <br />The children and I will be travelling to visit our families at "home" next week and will be there for about 2 1/2 weeks. I'm going to be giving our adoption testimony at New Beginnings Church on November 1. On November 8, Orphan Sunday, our adoption agency director is going to travel to our hometown, spend the weekend with us (we are so blessed!) and she is also going to share her testimony with our church body as well. We have been praying over these opportunities to share what GOOD things the Lord has done in our lives and we're really excited about raising adoption awareness and helping find families for orphans! <br /><br />We're also praying for the start up of an adoption awareness ministry in our home church....check them out at www.compassionforthefatherless.org . We are excited to support and encourage this group of people with a heart for the 147 million orphans in the world. <br /><br />We're also still praying about the medical mission trip to Ethiopia that the Lord is putting together in the coming year...we will be sitting down in mid-December and making final plans but it is has been amazing to see His hand at work in all the details!! So that's several projects that are brewing in our hearts and minds.....<br /><br />Our next TEAM goal actually happens at Halloween! We're gonna be shouting Hallelujah this Halloween!! We're planning to use our TRICK OR TREATING to bless others! We're gonna Trick or Treat like crazy this year!! No, we're NOT going to EAT all of that candy but instead, we're planning to share the sweet gift of God's love thru candy with children in Afghanistan and Iraq! Earlier I mentioned our special friends all over the world, well, many of these great American heroes are serving our country right now in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our plan is write a little note to these folks to say, "We love you, we are thinking of you, and we appreciate that you are serving our country," then we're going to bag up as much Halloween Candy as possible and send it to these soldiers so they can in turn, share this excess candy with the children of Iraq and Afghanistan. When Joel was deployed, this was one of his favorite things to do- he loved to give toys, candy and clothing to the street children and children in orphanages there. This is a great way for our troops to show kindness and love to these people that really NEED the LOVE of Christ!!! If you would like to join in the Team Newsom effort.....THIS IS SOOOOOO EASY but can make an impact on our troops by giving them the joy of giving and it can impact the children by receiving a rare sweet treat from a US soldier! Just send me an email and I'll coordinate and give you the address of one of our personal friends serving oversees. It would be super sweet to also write a quick note to this soldier thanking him for his service, then just gather your candy up after Halloween, put it in gallon ziploc bags and go to the US Post Office and send it!!! Our kids are really EXCITED about this and I'm excited too-- who needs 5 pounds of candy sitting in their house after Halloween! NOT TEAM NEWSOM-- we're gonna share our sweets this year! <br /><br />Next TEAM goal......we've found several missionaries here in the El Paso area that serve in Juarez, Mexico. I have recently received emails from these missionaries that have requested clothing, shoes, toys, etc for the orphanages they are supporting/running in Juarez. So-- Team Newsom is now cleaning out closets, drawers, shoe shelves, and the over-abundance of winter coats, toys, and just "stuff". We're going to donate all of these things to the orphanages "next door" in Juarez. We're gonna send our things across the border to bless the orphans of Mexico. It's amazing that we live only 2 miles from the Mexican border and that just on the other side of that tall fence, there is such devastating violence, poverty, and many needy men, women and children living on the streets. My heart truly aches for these people and I'm excited about reaching across the fence in this very small way. We're praying for Juarez. <br /><br />Well, until next time I can sneak away and share......<br /><br />Many Blessings to you and yours, <br />Amy<br /><br />Proverbs 28:27 "He that gives to the poor shall not lack: but he that hides his eyes shall have many a curse."<br /><br />I Timothy 6:17-19 "Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy; <br />That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; <br />Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life."Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-35797327118110103982009-10-15T22:23:00.000-07:002009-10-15T22:42:52.384-07:00Update on IsraelJust wanted to post a quick update on Israel.......I received a text from him today. He still has not been able to take the language portion of the Army Linguist test but did successfully pass the physical and medical testing required. It seems that the Army is waiting to get all of his background checks back and since he is an orphan that travelled across half the world alone, without documentation, over an 11 year period of time,to finally reach his dream destination: the United States-- they are having a hard time "tracing" his background and history! Can you believe it? Wow. I am still amazed by his life story and am fervently praying on his behalf that he would be allowed to take the Language test and join the US Army as a linguist (he is brilliant and fluently speaks 8 languages!!)......He would be an amazing asset to the Army, he WANTS to serve this country, and he has so much God-given potential! Please pray that God provides for Israel. He's overcome so much in his life and really needs a blessing right now! Will you join me.....please pray for our Ethiopian friend and brother in Christ, Israel, today. <br /><br />Praying for Blessings on Israel,<br />AmyJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-90074075527111990402009-10-14T20:46:00.000-07:002009-10-14T22:17:46.913-07:00Newsom Bed and Breakfast<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3IhM0VF4alZJBCfR2oUeGB_GOsQwcCB3w43KQiV_qC3PoORzYr-a2wsVQuHKFhQVxstaYg0bOQ3i87QdcnD-VeK6NJJxD5pl384-fR7_GoBKPjs9gr3lBE0YHVNOWFFYeAejrLrOd9c/s1600-h/Pearce+visit+075.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3IhM0VF4alZJBCfR2oUeGB_GOsQwcCB3w43KQiV_qC3PoORzYr-a2wsVQuHKFhQVxstaYg0bOQ3i87QdcnD-VeK6NJJxD5pl384-fR7_GoBKPjs9gr3lBE0YHVNOWFFYeAejrLrOd9c/s400/Pearce+visit+075.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392672704789011826" /></a><br /><br />We've had a really fun few weeks...... Two and half weeks ago, Mommommy and Poppy came for a visit which was super fun and refreshing! This past weekend, Angie, Dixon and the boys also made the trip out to El Paso to meet Joshua Nahome and spend some time with us! It was super to just be together and it really made us miss all the great times we had with them while we were living up in New York....those really were 2 amazing years full of great weekends with the Pearce Crew! BTW- I'm "secretly" hoping that someday the Army will send us back there again. While it's not likely, a girl can dream, right? Here's a photo of my sister Angie and Dixon while they were here..... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9rimeW_ykQmCBhNoVo1tM9zyepE1wfyMC7pmL3IzBso9OYLNTcnNBiYqhXlpp29GhuzRSpTcI_eB_r0fR142gXvuS0bficHLrFY5MoKTOe0u8eDI_E7D35DdoV7nK9aWZu7qC9YmDw8/s1600-h/Pearce+visit+057.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP9rimeW_ykQmCBhNoVo1tM9zyepE1wfyMC7pmL3IzBso9OYLNTcnNBiYqhXlpp29GhuzRSpTcI_eB_r0fR142gXvuS0bficHLrFY5MoKTOe0u8eDI_E7D35DdoV7nK9aWZu7qC9YmDw8/s400/Pearce+visit+057.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392671980673795522" /></a><br /><br />While the Pearce Crew was here, we visited White Sands National Monument again--- although this time we went a little before sunset and it wasn't a blazing 101 degrees. It was actually in the lower 70's and got very chilly after sunset!! It was just BEAUTIFUL and a magnificent reminder that our GOD was and is an amazing creator and has made our world full of amazing phenomenons that ONLY GOD COULD CREATE!! <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9I2xXFFLfQgODs3BjXAtI5UJsXj7BwLi66863-MVLk5Fs-lfY_Tt7HARIbQoyQnsclYUzYkdnIMEacif_KnbcoqO1hKafgAf6ia8KsnuXMB9vLRL_6Sv8zsiL7-asV_pU9YG_eQcjq18/s1600-h/Pearce+visit+061.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9I2xXFFLfQgODs3BjXAtI5UJsXj7BwLi66863-MVLk5Fs-lfY_Tt7HARIbQoyQnsclYUzYkdnIMEacif_KnbcoqO1hKafgAf6ia8KsnuXMB9vLRL_6Sv8zsiL7-asV_pU9YG_eQcjq18/s400/Pearce+visit+061.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392675184993815426" /></a> <br /><br />We also went hiking up into the Franklin Mountains which was super fun. We didn't find Terry, our little Tarantula friend, again but we did get to see this little creature out in the wild.....(didn't God give this lizard some neat markings?) <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fGZUOmd_GsqU9wB3YtSp1Vz95KdRzn8H0GHoC9hAeFL2S5Z0Hvgka32scoA65jtBnAmK4zcF_9ikNNFR-wK7znJRGgLKVRV6Q1CzlvN24bRPyVadHrq3j162j_GqE2MYpa-PD2iU95k/s1600-h/Pearce+visit+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7fGZUOmd_GsqU9wB3YtSp1Vz95KdRzn8H0GHoC9hAeFL2S5Z0Hvgka32scoA65jtBnAmK4zcF_9ikNNFR-wK7znJRGgLKVRV6Q1CzlvN24bRPyVadHrq3j162j_GqE2MYpa-PD2iU95k/s400/Pearce+visit+053.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392671525220531586" /></a><br /><br />The kiddos absolutely LOVED having their cousins here and only wished they could have stayed longer!! It was so fun!! They enjoyed homeschooling together for Thursday and Friday and also got to spend lots of time building legos, playing soccer, jumping on the trampoline, playing games and just BEING together!! We're thankful they came!! These were some great hiking kids-- they hiked about 2.2 miles up to the Aztec Caves in record breaking time......<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUjXqYqlPSAtZYcTXH2aA8K15vM_6k3rg0Cty1oB-k7buDD6zzcxQ397rNlAlELRQGQnhGV7tlFWGW6V8frzGIa0Hvzq92AYAmLLDYmtrBrW-bkNsRCk58BQ7h3IDrh3bPcDkmIvErXg/s1600-h/Pearce+visit+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghUjXqYqlPSAtZYcTXH2aA8K15vM_6k3rg0Cty1oB-k7buDD6zzcxQ397rNlAlELRQGQnhGV7tlFWGW6V8frzGIa0Hvzq92AYAmLLDYmtrBrW-bkNsRCk58BQ7h3IDrh3bPcDkmIvErXg/s400/Pearce+visit+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392673704723341330" /></a><br /><br />Don't know if any of YOU are up for a visit, family and friends- but we REALLY LOVE opening our home up and spending time with the special people in our lives! THE INVITATION IS ALWAYS OPEN AT OUR HOUSE and we would love it if you would make some plans to come to our little oasis here in the desert! The Newsom Bed and Breakfast in now officially OPEN!! Please come!!<br /><br />The scriptures I've been pondering today.....<br /><br />Hebrews 13:2 "Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." <br /><br />Isaiah 44:3 "For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon they seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring." <br /><br />Blessings,<br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-4530412702190497592009-10-05T22:19:00.000-07:002009-10-05T23:11:26.842-07:00He's been home 3 months now.....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEdvh-ws7NJZNTNy2tIEUOWiQcPH0Z8eUv3LvZKHOEBi8LgWO_RCv_gO0AUgRJ8Hy77BLq130aPko10v3rz0TXsawTWcUp6E_mjA8vHf3FHEELAuyatrEXy1lJbc6lwzUH4QtU9pGd7s/s1600-h/September+031.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixEdvh-ws7NJZNTNy2tIEUOWiQcPH0Z8eUv3LvZKHOEBi8LgWO_RCv_gO0AUgRJ8Hy77BLq130aPko10v3rz0TXsawTWcUp6E_mjA8vHf3FHEELAuyatrEXy1lJbc6lwzUH4QtU9pGd7s/s400/September+031.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389362834516237378" /></a><br /><br />I had some quiet time a few nights ago and sat on the couch while my dear hubby watched football and wrote out the nicest little blog update only to press "publish post" and I watched as the screen went blank and it disappeared into cyberland with no trace of it anywhere on my blog!!! Uggghhhh! Sorry folks!! It was already late and I was tired so I decided to try again the next day but I'm just now getting back!! I KNOW you understand.....life is busy! :)<br /><br />Last week Mommommy and Poppy came to visit us here in El Paso and we had a great time! It was a very fun visit for all of us and we're so glad they came. We went shopping, out to dinner, to the El Paso Zoo. It was really special but it just wasn't long enough!! We wish they could have been here longer but we'll take whatever we can get!!! Here's a picture of them with our 5 sweeties! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOVmPIoNcYDCSC_5dyXcyxmfLUANpxiroj3M_RG9ogCx-7d0_5Wn3n6OLKm9bvsDLP9GpnkTNSwuCC8ooqoa01AuoqdLXFctiwGXN-OI8D_taN2NIX3WF3AeFBIvpYec75hJ2jmF9itg/s1600-h/September+065.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHOVmPIoNcYDCSC_5dyXcyxmfLUANpxiroj3M_RG9ogCx-7d0_5Wn3n6OLKm9bvsDLP9GpnkTNSwuCC8ooqoa01AuoqdLXFctiwGXN-OI8D_taN2NIX3WF3AeFBIvpYec75hJ2jmF9itg/s400/September+065.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389363511430917954" /></a><br /><br /><br />Things are going well here in the at Casa Newsom. We are beginning to feel more comfortable here and have finally met some very sweet friends! PRAISE THE LORD!! The kids are playing sports at the YMCA and also attending a homeschool PE class there so we're having fun there several days/nights a week. We've been homeschooling for over a month now and that is going better now that we've worked out the kinks and made some needed changes!! Awana's has also been fun and all the kids are doing great but it's amazing to hear Joel and Joshua reciting their memorized scriptures in Cubbies!! Can you believe it?? Joel is only 3 and can say those verses but Joshua has only been home 12 weeks and he is already able to recite God's word!! I love it and it has brought me great joy to sit with them through cubbies for the past month!!<br /><br />Joshua Nahome is doing really well. He's super sweet and we're so thankful he's home with us! His English is just absolutely AMAZING and he's started telling me things about Ethiopia and Tigist, his birthmother, since he's able to communicate so much more! It's been super fascinating and I'm so thankful he's telling us little things about what he remembers so we can write it down for him! Very cool! He's eating American food really well now ( even dairy and protein) and has grown a lots in such a short time. I'll try to measure him again tomorrow so you can know the numbers. We're still working on learning his colors-- he still can't get RED and BLUE correct--- I am pretty sure that he IS colorblind because he is very smart and able to learn other concepts very easily but colors are hard for him! He loves playing with Joel Daniel and they are getting along better and better as time goes by, not fussing over toys as much- their favorite activity today was to build quilt tents in my living room and then play trains and cars inside--- they played in there for hours together today! YEA!! <br /><br />Normal life is nearly "NORMAL" again for our family as we've settled into some good routines, are back to homeschooling, and have adjusted to the family addition! When I think about our challenges throughout our adoption, the struggles since we've been home, and then of the blessings of the last 3 months home with this sweet little boy--- I'm so very thankful that we adopted Joshua Nahome. I would do it all over again, exactly the same. It's been hard but it's been worth it, every smile. We're so thankful that the Lord called us to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this child's life at this particular moment! What an amazing truth that we've learned--we were ALL orphans and our Father God adopted us all. <br /><br />Praise the Lord! We're not orphans anymore! Praise the Lord!!<br /><br />Have a great week full of BLESSINGS,<br />AMY<br /><br /><br />Galatians 4:1-7 <br />“Now I say that the heir, as long as he is a child, does not differ at all from a slave, though he is master of all, but is under guardians and stewards until the time appointed by the father. Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world. But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!" Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.”Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-90939283098503224352009-09-20T19:54:00.000-07:002009-09-20T20:44:05.440-07:00Israel<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSD_cH8YmIDPBHra4wZBmsccaCEJSFL4Hs5jf_ZmZPcy5WYkpp7lQ417k0W-jz3BWMLue0OX0gE2_6mqSe2gi5LCOWClmTP2h4Ca8hQGvLV2fFLyFxSe6uQJZ6ulMDc4jsWz3bCWDn-FY/s1600-h/September+023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSD_cH8YmIDPBHra4wZBmsccaCEJSFL4Hs5jf_ZmZPcy5WYkpp7lQ417k0W-jz3BWMLue0OX0gE2_6mqSe2gi5LCOWClmTP2h4Ca8hQGvLV2fFLyFxSe6uQJZ6ulMDc4jsWz3bCWDn-FY/s400/September+023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383760684679060706" /></a><br />Friday night was a treat for us!! Israel, Angie, and Gideon came over for dinner!! If you haven't read my past entries, Israel is our new Ethiopian friend that I met on the airplane when I came to house hunt in El Paso right before we traveled to Ethiopia to pick up Nahome! <br /><br />Well--- Friday night was an amazing and inspiring evening as they joined us for an Ethiopian FEAST! It was delicious and to eat Injera and spicy Berbere Chicken while listening to the AMAZING life story of this neat young man, well-- it was WONDERFUL! Joel and I were both captivated as he shared with us the story of his journey through life! Isreal became an Ethiopian orphan at the age of 9 and travelled for 11 years through many countries, scary situations, hunger pangs, near starvation, prison, child slavery, etc.etc. to finally reach the destination he had dreamed of since he lost his parents--- America. <br /><br />I personally think he should write a book about his life story as his experiences as an orphan could have such a positive impact on the American awareness of the orphan crisis in the world. I am convinced that 99% of Americans don't understand what it means to be an orphaned child-- either that, or they are in denial and don't want to think about it so they just pretend it doesn't exist. I am praying that God will open Israel's heart to sharing his story to increase awareness and help Americans understand that we can IMPACT the WORLD by loving orphans and doing just a little to meet the needs of these children! <br /><br />Our evening with this sweet man and his family was a blessing to us and we are hoping to be able to visit with them very often. We are also praying BIG for Israel over the next few days and want to ask you to pray for him also. He is in the process of joining the US Army to serve our nation as a linguist (he speaks 8 languages fluently and would be an amazing addition to our armed forces!) He takes his language tests on this Tuesday. Will you pray for Israel on Tuesday morning? He is very hopeful that if he does well on Tuesday, he will be able to serve the country that he now calls home. Please join us, Israel's Christian family, in praying for this grown up orphan as he seeks God's plan for his life!<br /><br />Blessings abound,<br />AMY<br /><br />John 14: 13-14 "And whatever you shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it." <br /><br />Psalm 145:18,19 "The Lord is near to all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth. He will fulfil the desires of those that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them."Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-16985976387364980782009-09-14T10:52:00.000-07:002009-09-14T12:09:53.827-07:00EXCITEDWe are Super Excited about the Lord's work for our family. We are praying BIG folks and God has shown us that HE is BIGGER than our wildest imaginations! His plans are more than we could ask or even imagine and we are blessed by being a part of such miracles and opportunities to serve HIM.<br /><br />We were CHANGED by our trip to Ethiopia. We fell in love with so many children and people hungry for love (and food!!) We've been praying about mission work in Ethiopia since then and God has started revealing and opening doors and windows for this opportunity to share the gospel, food, clothing, medicine and LOVE to the needy people in Ethiopia. God has connected HIS people, opened some of HIS doors and is truly at WORK coordinating this medical mission!!! We will begin fundraising for this medical mission soon--- we're just praying that the Lord will show us how to fundraise to make HIS will happen and ETERNALLY impact the people of Ethiopia-- we've never done this kind of thing before!! This is new territory for our family! Please pray for us as we strive to serve HIM and pray big for Ethiopia!<br /><br />On a side note-- Joshua Nahome is doing well. His English speaking skills are amazing me this week. He is making huge strides in speaking!! We have many good days and some tougher days but overall, WHAT A BLESSING to be his family. It's an unconditional love that I'm honored to give and also receive! He's a very sweet little boy with a super sweet smile!! See for yourself..... isn't this a sweet smile??? <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DMc6zt_BtxltWyd5MvkwtlxEAYecKaikRgPC3m8-Zx7342Fqb3WuFktvZwnLrJ7h5tTgoSa7Sht0939qTly86Dm5sjcOAjUJHroqI1syFNtShLH97QytAhEdOBIv91m4TfOCrpILeno/s1600-h/Aztec+Caves+Franklin+Mnts+024.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 339px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3DMc6zt_BtxltWyd5MvkwtlxEAYecKaikRgPC3m8-Zx7342Fqb3WuFktvZwnLrJ7h5tTgoSa7Sht0939qTly86Dm5sjcOAjUJHroqI1syFNtShLH97QytAhEdOBIv91m4TfOCrpILeno/s400/Aztec+Caves+Franklin+Mnts+024.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381399772687472354" /></a><br />So-- you ask-- what are the tough days like with Nahome?? Well--it's mainly normal kid challenges like fighting over toys, talking loudly over one another to get attention, playing too roughly, using poor eating manners,not sharing, walking in the kitchen a thousand times every day wanting snacks- (he eats tons and can not possibly be hungry immediately after a big meal--- I think it is a food issue to some degree---a fascination that here in America, food is AVAILABLE and his attempt at wanting to make sure that he has access to it!) We have equity issues, making sure that everyone gets their turn sitting in this seat or that seat, etc. etc., we have issues with interrupting and he has a hard time waiting for things! Most of the issues are not adoption issues at all-- but just normal sibling issues! The difference is that EVERYThiNG here is new to Nahome. He is just LEARNING how our family works and every challenge and issue is a learning time for him. I do get tired after a full day of meeting needs, teaching and playing referee but I would have it no other way and am very thankful for the opportunity to be the mother my 5th child! We are VERY BLESSED!<br /><br />So-- you ask-- what are the good days like for Nahome? Well-- they are full of laughter, smiles and the chatter of little voices talking to one another or themselves. They are moments snuggled on the couch together reading, lots of big hugs and kisses, the little twinkle in the eyes of a happy child. Watching him learn and interacting during a game. They are the fun moments of excitement over new experiences, new tastes, new sights, new smells, new fun, new food, new shoes, new pants. They are watching him watering the flowers and the excitement over feeding the fish. It is the fun of seeing him LOVE swimming and riding his bicycle. It's the amazement in his eyes when he first went to the zoo and the sheer delight in his eyes when he ate his first S'more!! It has been a blessing for us to see the joy in Nahome's eyes. Here's a picture of Nahome's very first camping trip-- he was eating his first marshmellow ever! (He loved it!!!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1H3vs3NDtWM-WaZj0eqX2xZ0Q6uJDBjtip9v3PZ3Jm9gXkusK0bzKYPWwz3aY9j_Bm3UN5-XeMWYxAlT60Yhh4klGvPyZbGl2erRTz1xhg92rmGy6yr_NAxoUIE5WJVcBb9lCIOvHju4/s1600-h/Albuquerque+101.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1H3vs3NDtWM-WaZj0eqX2xZ0Q6uJDBjtip9v3PZ3Jm9gXkusK0bzKYPWwz3aY9j_Bm3UN5-XeMWYxAlT60Yhh4klGvPyZbGl2erRTz1xhg92rmGy6yr_NAxoUIE5WJVcBb9lCIOvHju4/s400/Albuquerque+101.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381396430863825554" /></a><br /><br />The blessing and joy is in the realization that God is using us!! It is a true miracle that God would choose to use US, very broken and unworthy vessels, to make an ETERNAL impact on Nahome's life. Nahome was an orphan and NOW HE HAS A FAMILY. wow. We are God's provision and love to a once fatherless/orphaned child. What God has done in our family is just amazing and the reality of our new life together is that God has shown us the depth of HIS LOVE through Nahome.<br /><br />Truly blessed and thankful today-<br />AMY<br /><br />"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families." Pslam 68:5-6<br /><br />"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." James 1:27<br /><br />"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spriit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you." Matthew 28:18-20<br /><br />Please pray BIG for Ethiopia and for the upcoming medical mission trip to Nedjo! I'll keep you posted as things progress!! :)Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-20775031808201362522009-09-07T15:38:00.000-07:002009-09-07T17:02:06.764-07:00A Weekend of FUN!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0REdAo7PLkzKker4UDIR3pSVgGCkgulboAWuO5BNjCmztSBrA9qXmX8kKV-A6SAdcSA9azTDWiEhfXsfRqHYB-oWQr_HTVWiHG-W11k6CvAn5Zj6tkFAxnXEOQb07AM3aySOiYF_aPXk/s1600-h/Albuquerque+080.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0REdAo7PLkzKker4UDIR3pSVgGCkgulboAWuO5BNjCmztSBrA9qXmX8kKV-A6SAdcSA9azTDWiEhfXsfRqHYB-oWQr_HTVWiHG-W11k6CvAn5Zj6tkFAxnXEOQb07AM3aySOiYF_aPXk/s400/Albuquerque+080.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378878272850370866" /></a><br /><br />We had lots of fun this weekend. We drove 4 hours to Albuquerque and camped at a KOA campsite there for an inexpensive but special family outing! We went to the ZOO and also to an amazing AQUARIUM there and road a train between the two places!! The kids were in heaven and we had a great time! Here are some photos!<br /> <br />This guy was in deep thought the whole time we were there..... <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbprp1Uk-Ufpr6UqPUtZTvqFxIzVIpuOcFyCSlZoPdEHIAGvPli0Te7fucwlzdBhptw83DMZc6Gm59g1uAJRc10Y_1xfkH52uB5nOuW4vgY25l6cvtMhevgMNMBd587770bQouTeiuGo/s1600-h/Albuquerque+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirbprp1Uk-Ufpr6UqPUtZTvqFxIzVIpuOcFyCSlZoPdEHIAGvPli0Te7fucwlzdBhptw83DMZc6Gm59g1uAJRc10Y_1xfkH52uB5nOuW4vgY25l6cvtMhevgMNMBd587770bQouTeiuGo/s400/Albuquerque+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378859715323463282" /></a><br /><br />Joshua Nahome loved climbing all over this guy!<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRR38dNrmjANpvBGHnWyasyiFwKm5QICU4NKRznwC0wM03Mz_CohdiJBPeMYqeyzdcI4DhHK3iizE4q-1sU90tbmGQRgovBjIKSWSE9rUGUjBBDVNSb-F0wms6Im0Gucqsrx9tnCexA4/s1600-h/Albuquerque+012.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRR38dNrmjANpvBGHnWyasyiFwKm5QICU4NKRznwC0wM03Mz_CohdiJBPeMYqeyzdcI4DhHK3iizE4q-1sU90tbmGQRgovBjIKSWSE9rUGUjBBDVNSb-F0wms6Im0Gucqsrx9tnCexA4/s400/Albuquerque+012.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378860421455001490" /></a><br /><br />Jackson and Hannah loved the Rhinos.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDkaO9tbFx0s4oAc5ZYA41tG7_fHVclqzVcaQi_y_qyurJglaeYjX8413LNDS8qWG_lzBxkHTUCLaj3byxXvNsx1t6RR52_CJvcIoc3N72L6dw8J20-p4hMlqaujKI416z5QM44y8Ogs/s1600-h/Albuquerque+014.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihDkaO9tbFx0s4oAc5ZYA41tG7_fHVclqzVcaQi_y_qyurJglaeYjX8413LNDS8qWG_lzBxkHTUCLaj3byxXvNsx1t6RR52_CJvcIoc3N72L6dw8J20-p4hMlqaujKI416z5QM44y8Ogs/s400/Albuquerque+014.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378861115115577010" /></a><br /><br />Hannah feeding the giraffes!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyMNmaf558FKDx0KLp2tIMFRIhujjoj_Rz6GRXqCQft1xqBufBrJhfBVMOHKktMNwUx62tS_kkJF4d6HypgKIBTkYJRzkjz7T_NBVp3WUp6_plnP24LplmhEWMsDUfvNwLp8altDHUQM/s1600-h/Albuquerque+028.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYyMNmaf558FKDx0KLp2tIMFRIhujjoj_Rz6GRXqCQft1xqBufBrJhfBVMOHKktMNwUx62tS_kkJF4d6HypgKIBTkYJRzkjz7T_NBVp3WUp6_plnP24LplmhEWMsDUfvNwLp8altDHUQM/s400/Albuquerque+028.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378862344700034178" /></a><br /><br />The train ride was a hit with these two boys!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSmcbpgwj0qxGROrj3s0cJsDjtHQFu6gnSlfUcGl3oyZkB0kTKLfRhrL5KKr1nO7nBqKlifPXc5zHVph9ixRPXpJvWrHL6NK2wid_alkr6Pjptp_S7zqDs9qO6NNOv6zLcWTDqTzKRFw/s1600-h/Albuquerque+036.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNSmcbpgwj0qxGROrj3s0cJsDjtHQFu6gnSlfUcGl3oyZkB0kTKLfRhrL5KKr1nO7nBqKlifPXc5zHVph9ixRPXpJvWrHL6NK2wid_alkr6Pjptp_S7zqDs9qO6NNOv6zLcWTDqTzKRFw/s400/Albuquerque+036.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378864576891282370" /></a><br /><br />Joel Daniel was trying so hard to smile for this pic at the aquarium! HAHA!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1IcOdpnVAKsqfxl2ds-JgbypUiwLAhoryEeXc-C91ZHqUvOwFiDfx6fdfOw2RfHEUV7sOKLZpxmaEYPiLJcvsDiNkJW7ENYp1aRksyO8VWP6TpeSXBRvTpEUFGf8Wz_MG55HdFARxro/s1600-h/Albuquerque+051.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit1IcOdpnVAKsqfxl2ds-JgbypUiwLAhoryEeXc-C91ZHqUvOwFiDfx6fdfOw2RfHEUV7sOKLZpxmaEYPiLJcvsDiNkJW7ENYp1aRksyO8VWP6TpeSXBRvTpEUFGf8Wz_MG55HdFARxro/s400/Albuquerque+051.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378865007079937570" /></a><br /><br />Camel Rides for everyone!!!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwklj2-b7VRYO63PymyZnW80DTDtGhNtO5ytdJhYpYGzknhKvAYD_Y9sDUXeAALNb2vNpWowZJx4ipIVCkDJExnKvNAlSUlwm2Ywyz_oknUai5hUF2K0WW_x0PLD0PR523SZUbS7bX0c/s1600-h/Albuquerque+096.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinwklj2-b7VRYO63PymyZnW80DTDtGhNtO5ytdJhYpYGzknhKvAYD_Y9sDUXeAALNb2vNpWowZJx4ipIVCkDJExnKvNAlSUlwm2Ywyz_oknUai5hUF2K0WW_x0PLD0PR523SZUbS7bX0c/s400/Albuquerque+096.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378869974204338626" /></a><br /><br />This shark looks so fake to me--- but he was real!! The aquarium was amazing! <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yUSyOIsnfWC52pYrfHqvXFNxMNBv5vDfXAyn3L1lYqXLPw2UR_Vu9ms3oBIUbuSqhG-YHGkc3LoZ2rNlhXGoMLi9DJbIzRts6v1yYLW6cQo2ofV0RreUXmb0IkQ9qWSG__GN-dr5Ckg/s1600-h/Albuquerque+071.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yUSyOIsnfWC52pYrfHqvXFNxMNBv5vDfXAyn3L1lYqXLPw2UR_Vu9ms3oBIUbuSqhG-YHGkc3LoZ2rNlhXGoMLi9DJbIzRts6v1yYLW6cQo2ofV0RreUXmb0IkQ9qWSG__GN-dr5Ckg/s400/Albuquerque+071.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378876821640859458" /></a><br /><br />Madilyn and Jackson in the butterfly arbor.....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEby4MbnVLXLCWrSIfNNRNqpIBCTO6kNuyHgm3eDvey_4Doo1nGfFokxfRsXP1DiePJeWrwzZFYPKRsHPWdlpXgbvfSsZdSxMyHZAvmweZ2Ayc6KE0jgKCLYhPpHk5ZnZ2Gwq_DmNaC5k/s1600-h/Albuquerque+083.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEby4MbnVLXLCWrSIfNNRNqpIBCTO6kNuyHgm3eDvey_4Doo1nGfFokxfRsXP1DiePJeWrwzZFYPKRsHPWdlpXgbvfSsZdSxMyHZAvmweZ2Ayc6KE0jgKCLYhPpHk5ZnZ2Gwq_DmNaC5k/s400/Albuquerque+083.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378877496552806610" /></a><br /><br />Psalm 127:3-5 "As arrows are in the hands of a mighty man, so are the children of the youth. Happy is the man that has his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate."<br /><br />Psalm 107:41 "Yet he setteth the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock."<br /><br />Thankful for a full quiver and very <br />blessed with a healthy and happy flock today,<br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-59424764022094674212009-08-29T23:33:00.000-07:002009-08-29T21:59:30.487-07:00Cute little sayings by NahomeSo--- I'm sure one of your questions for me is this.....<br /><br />so really---how's the adoption going????<br /><br />WELL---- here goes-- I'll fill you in on the scoop around here concerning the adoption transition. <br /><br />Adoption is a new experience for us and it has been such a growing and learning time for all of us. We've adapted to life with 5 kiddos over the past 6 weeks--- it's really going well-- not much different than having 4 kiddos as far as my workload-(laundry, dishes, cooking) goes, it's just a little louder and outings are a little crazier than life with 4 kiddos was! Madilyn, Jackson, Hannah and Joel Daniel have been super sweet, loving, and accepting of our new addition and are adjusting well. No jealousy issues. No anger issues. They all have their "moments"-- but that happened pre-adoption, too-- so I don't think that it's really adoption-related issues but instead we just have normal "kids and siblings" kinds of issues! Joshua is also very loving towards everyone and really enjoys playing and learning from the other kiddos. They do fuss over toys quite often but again--I think that's pretty normal for all siblings! I really should wear a black and white striped shirt every day as I do tend to play the role of referee, quite often!! <br /><br />Joshua Nahome is overall physically and emotionally very healthy. He has attached emotionally to us (Thank You Lord!!) and also really became comfortable and very loving towards our extended families (which was super fun to see while we were visiting them again last week!!!) He did come home from Ethiopia with a stomach bug called Giardia and he has lovingly shared that little bug with the rest of us, but we're all going to be treated for that as of Monday! It hasn't been bad as we are not camping out in the bathroom at all-- our stomachs just feel "weird" and no one is really hungry!! This could be really great for me-- I would love to loose that 10 pounds that will never go away!! Maybe the Giardia Diet will do the trick!! HAHA!! Anyway--- back to Joshua Nahome's transition..... <br /><br />He gets super, super excited when I go to the grocery store and bring home his favorite things (like cereal and bananas)! It is really fun to bring home groceries because he goes crazy laughing, clapping and dancing around like it is Christmas morning!! It is hysterical and makes me realize how much we take for granted every single day. I just wonder how long his excitement over cereal and bananas and milk and yogurt will last..... Unfortunately, I'm afraid he'll be "Americanized" way too soon. <br /><br />He is learning English very quickly.....he understands TONS and is already speaking in 3 and 4 word sentences and is a little sponge for new words. He has numbers down pat to 20 and we're working on colors now. Learning colors has been hard for him.....maybe he's color-blind....I'm not sure. We'll keep working! He is very fascinated by all the different names for our foods, especially foods that are similar, for instance.... BREAD PRODUCTS..... he'll ask.... "this is injera? this is bread? this is bun? this is roll? this is tortilla? this is biscuit? this is pancake? this is cornbread? this is injera?" etc. etc. OR another example.... DRINK PRODUCTS...... he'll ask...."this is water? this is soda? this is juice? this is lemonade? this is milk? this is tea? this is coffee? this is Koolaid? this is water?" etc. etc. It is very interesting to watch him and listen to him as he learns. He is still so amazed at all the options available here in "MERICA", as he says it. <br /><br />He also says lots of funny things as he's learning English....... here are a few of the phrases that he says that I hope I don't forget because they are just adorable.....<br /><br />when Joshua Nahome says,<br /><br />"this is LUMMY." real translation--- this is yummy.<br />"Nahome is angry" real translation--- Nahome is hungry.<br />"Nahom es tummy growing" real translation-- Nahome's tummy is growling. (btw-his tummy can't possibly ever growl- he eats every 30 minutes or so!! hahaha!!)<br />"The End" real translation--- I am done going potty now.<br />"Joshua's tessarow." real translation--- Joshua's turn.<br />"Photos Tigist" real translation--- I want to look at my pictures of Tigist.<br />"I want chicken" real translation--- I want a granola bar. hmmm. -?-<br />"I want snackies" real translation--- I want a snack. <br />"Panties too beggus" real translation-- these pants are too big for me.<br />"Time for sleepies" real translation--- Time for sleep.<br />"Gimme beg hug" real translation--- I want a big hug!<br />"Comeon Mommy" real translation--- I want you to lay down with me mommy.<br />"Comeon Joel" real translation--- I want Joel to lay down with me too.<br /><br />and when he says, "I love you" --- the real translation is.... I love you.<br /><br />The biggest lesson I've learned through this adoption so far has been about the depth of God's unconditional LOVE for ME. Throughout scriptures we are all called heirs-- adopted sons and daughters of Christ but I've never really understood or "gotten" that meaning until now. Through this adoption, Joshua Nahome has done nothing to deserve my love, yet we love him. He has done nothing to earn my love, yet we love him. He tests me daily, yet we love him. We love him and want the best that life has to offer him.<br /><br />What God has shown me in a very real way over the last several months is this.......<br /><br />I DID NOTHING to DESERVE Christ's love for me, yet He loves me.<br />I DO NOTHING to EARN Christ's love for me, yet He loves me.<br />I SIN and test God daily and yet, He STILL loves me. <br />I know above all else, He loves me and wants His best for me. <br /><br />I am so unworthy of God's love but at the same time, He's shown me the Depths of his love more than ever before through the adoption of Nahome. I love my biological children in a special way as they came from my body .....I love my adopted child in a special way because God laid him on my heart. <br /><br />What a blessing to be the recipient of unconditional love! What a blessing it is to give unconditional love to our children. This has been such an amazing and humbling experience! We're growing in Him every day and are very thankful for Christ's unconditional love for every single one of us. <br /><br />Blessings today,<br />AMY <br /><br />Ephesians 2 :4-7 "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in sin-- for it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show us the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus."<br /><br />1 Corinthians 2:9 "But as it is written, Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him."Joel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2578437228218289813.post-37912303244619136642009-08-25T22:02:00.000-07:002009-08-25T23:55:10.894-07:00Catch Up<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVGVKx1JDdPM4MzEyWSrCVjLn1ox8Jxi1WV04RA7BZnujcBPHG5Am_izHJgybBm0C2t-NmA7gxysQq4llUAObiqs_YYbjXVYue4dCtPtwFcbIZoGphp4HVIS8srO6Ku1CQ2UXlMLWvvo/s1600-h/August+2009+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVGVKx1JDdPM4MzEyWSrCVjLn1ox8Jxi1WV04RA7BZnujcBPHG5Am_izHJgybBm0C2t-NmA7gxysQq4llUAObiqs_YYbjXVYue4dCtPtwFcbIZoGphp4HVIS8srO6Ku1CQ2UXlMLWvvo/s400/August+2009+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374161699753303122" /></a><br /><br />Hello!!! We've just been back home to El Paso a day or so and the unpacking, grocery shopping, laundry, yard work, etc. is finally under control so now I'm going to try to CATCH YOU UP on my blog!!! :)<br /><br />Last Monday, the kiddos and I made the 12 hour drive "home" to East Texas to visit our families. Yes, the solo drive with 5 kiddos in tow was hard but... it was worth it. It was a really nice treat to spend time with our families and I am pretty sure that it was very therapeutic for us all!! To be totally honest and transparent here, after the last 6 weeks of challenges and speed bumps there was lots of stress and unsettled turmoil in my heart and it was nice to escape away for a few days and re-focus. Joel worked very hard all week and then flew to meet us for the weekend and was able to make the drive back with me on Monday. I just love those cheap southwest one way tickets!!! :) I'm thankful for the time of rest and re-focus! It was good for all of us!!!<br /><br />The kiddos are doing really well. They loved their fun days on the farm with Mama and Papa Carr and also their individual "special-spend-the-nights" with Mommommy and Poppy! The big kids started their new year of homeschooling today with what I call "warm up days"......we're just doing a very light week worth of work to get back into a routine and work out our schedule for this year! They are definitely ready for the "new normal" to kick in around our house!! <br /><br />The hardest transition that I've been facing is actually our army move. It's been a tough time for me and the kiddos. The logistics of our move went well and we really love the city of El Paso....but we are just ready to plug in here and feel like we belong to a family of friends. Joel went to work right away and immediately became acquainted with his co-workers and "plugged in"--- but the kids and I have had a harder time meeting people here and honestly, it is just lonesome. We are homesick for the friendships that we had in Kansas and New York!! We miss you all so much!! :) We are still searching for a church family and I know we'll feel much better when we get "plugged in" to a family of believers also!!! I am VERY thankful that the kiddos fall activities and sports start here this next week as well as the Ft. Bliss Homeschool Group Co-op and PWOC Bible Study. Hopefully, the kids and I will be able to truly "plug in" over the next few weeks and finally meet some friends!! Please pray for us as we are in the middle of a city of 1 million people yet we feel so alone!<br /><br />I'm reminded of this scripture that I've clung to during previous Army moves that were hard on me emotionally and it's so comforting to know that I am not alone, that God is with me.....<br /><br />Genesis 28:15 "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."<br /><br />and here's one more that has lifted my spirits recently and renewed my hope in Christ...<br /><br />Romans 8:37-39 "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."<br /><br />Blessings,<br />AMYJoel and Amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13601039558208745509noreply@blogger.com1