I am ENCOURAGED

You know, Daryn and I have so much appreciated every one's encouraging words, the meals people brought us, and the supportive emails, calls, and comments on our blog. It always amazes me how there's always SOMEONE who feels the need to discourage and be critical. Someone left me a rude comment on one of my previous blog entries that really got me aggrevated. For anyone who knows us, you know our hearts-our love for our kids, our family, and the Lord-and our genuine desire to make some some sort of positive impact on those around us-and to tell others of the need of AIDS orphans in Ethiopia. You know that we love Anteneh and have a deep desire to see him grow up as a member of our family-loved and cherished and encouraged-these last few weeks have been a challenge and I really am in awe that someone would chose to be discouraging to us by posting a rude comment for everyone to read. It has been deleted and I'd appreciate it if that person would kindly quit visiting this site if all they have to say to us is rude. His or her reprimands aren't welcome here-he obviously doesn't understand us.

Well, enough about that..
Today has been great so far! I took the kids to Chuck E Cheese to play with their friends Ainsley, Lundon, and Moses-they all had a blast-and we had a coupon-$5 for 90 minutes worth of tokens that cashed in for 3 worthless toys!-woohoo! Haha...our biggest thing now is teaching Anteneh to play w/out taking toys. He's learning pretty quickly, considering we've only been teaching him this for 2 weeks, he was an only child, and he was at an orphanage for months where he probably learned to grab toys when he wanted them. The biggest obstacle is still the English-so hard to explain to him what he can and can't do w/out words! BUT we got ahold of an Ethiopian student at University of Evansville named Tesfaye and we are going to get together with him soon! We are very excited about this b/c not only will it be great to meet him and get to know him, he can talk to Anteneh in Amharic! For the first time in 2 weeks someone will understand him! Haha! Anteneh will be excited. I think that it will also help to be able to communicate to him some of the things that we expect of him that right now he doesn't understand when we try to tell him.

Grace is excited b/c in 4 days she gets to go to Florida with my mom to visit my grandma-she is so excited and I really think that it will be fun for her-she now has 2 little brothers and could really use a break-haha! For me, I've been fantasizing about the spring and going camping as a family-we had so much fun last year doing it and Anteneh just seems to love it outside as much as Grace and Luke-I'm ready to get outside more-poor Anteneh came from 75 degree weather to a cold, wet Indiana February-ugh! We also have May to look forward to b/c we are doing a family vacation w/ Daryn's side of the family to Destin, FL...that should be fun...and the 11 hour road trip should be interesting:) Actually, Anteneh does VERY well in his carseat-which surprised us after wrestling him in the taxi to keep him from climbing out the window in Addis! Haha...

Well, gotta go work on dinner...