Happy New Year & Off to Colorado

I vaguely remember myself saying as we got off of our last flight from picking up Hadi..."I'm not going anywhere for a LONG time." Well, it seems we just couldn't go much longer without feeling the mountain air and seeing the beautiful peaks of Colorado. We are leaving tomorrow to fly home and introduce Hadi to our family there. Should be a wonderful time with family and friends! We are especially excited to meet Kelel & Seniet and reunite all the kids.

Hadi continues to be such a great little girl. Her brothers love her so much and are attentive to her every need. They've shown me they can respond quickly when I ask them to get something for her or get her out of her crib. Wish I could figure out how to make willingly help with everything else around the house!! Here are a few pics from Christmas.

So sweet...

Hadi is a smart one...she high-tailed it out of there when the wrestling began!

Welcome Kelel and Seniet!

Just to update you...our cousin and family are home safe and sound. This is a picture of their precious family. Please continue to keep them in your prayers as the transition is very challenging coming home. Welcome home Nilsen family!

Our crazy life...

I wanted to upload a few pics of before and after we left for Africa...give you a taste of our crazy life. It is definitely full!

Fall Fun

Jacksonville Jaguars Game

Jon's 5th Birthday - Jil-leia, Chewy & ScObi Wan Kenobi came too!

Fighting Darth Vader

Big 5 Year Old

AFTER AFRICA - (OBVIOUSLY) - My first go at Pig tails

Happy Girl after bath

This is what the counter looks like at after finding out we had giardia!

Merry Christmas World!!

Home 2 weeks

We wanted to check in with everyone and update you on week 2 of being together as a family of six. To be honest, the first week was hard...really hard. Many times I just felt stuck and overwhelmed. Although, just as the sun comes up every morning, God's mercies on us (and my sanity) were renewed. It was a mixture of so many parts making our transition lighter with each day. We reflected on this during our small group this past weekend. Can we do life without community? The more I think about it and the more I live it, I say NO!

From family taking care of our kids to the many meals provided by friends and the prayers of our faithful family in Christ to the texts, emails and phone calls of support....WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED. God created the Body with many parts. Pride would infect us if we were allowed to do it on our own. We are mean't to do life together. Thank you for fulfilling one of Christ's greatest commands of loving your neighbor. We only hope we can do the same when it comes to your story.

1 Corinthians 12:27

"Now you are the Body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it."

This is a picture of our family and friends who came to the airport to see Hadi finally coming home. I can't help but think how lonely this picture would look if it was only me, Scott and Hadi. Look at the smiles, the tears, the cheers and the families huddled to together...we are stronger, more powerful and honestly, way more fun when we do life side by side, crying and rejoicing with each other. Thank you for this reminder...we will cherish it forever (and thank you Jonathan for capturing it).

Hadi's Welcoming Committee (AKA - The Body)

Photograph by Jonathan Gibson

www.gibsonimaging.net