One Year Home

It is really hard to believe that we are celebrating 1 year home with Hannah.  In many ways it seems like she has always been with us, but still it seems like just yesterday that we were picking her up from Jane's House, flying half way across the world to meet her brothers/sisters.  

What a year it has been. Filled with so much joy and laughter as we watched her grow from the scared 7 month old to the confident 19 month old she is today. Her smile will light up a room, she is cute and naughty all at the same time.  Her siblings adore her and think its pretty cool because she knows their names. They laugh at her when she says her new favorite word..."NO" (I don't think its very funny).  She does not miss a beat and has to be where the action is.  Her vocabulary is growing, mommy, daddy, Bible, God, more, please, thank you just to name a few.  Her cuteness helps at 4:00am when she wakes up screaming and you go to pick her up and she falls right back to sleep, I guess she misses me.

We have learned to be a family of 7.  Sometimes as I look at our family picture on the wall I can't believe God has entrusted me with 5 of his precious children.  Some days I am weary, so many needs, so many difficulties, some one is always crying or needing something, BUT that too is a part of life and if I have learned one thing this year is that God always meets you right where you are. He wants you in those struggles so you are completely dependent on Him.  I can not be rely on my own strength.  He fills me up on the bad days and gives me the strength to go on and find real JOY in the middle of the yucky stuff.

As I look over this year I see God's faithfulness in the good, the bad, and the ugly.  His hand is over all and in all.  Do you see it in your life?

Some little person turned 1!!

Today was the day!!!! Hannah's 1st Birthday.  I really can't believe that my little girl is 1 already. I thought  a lot about what her birth-day was like. What time of day was she born, what she looked like as a newborn, was she calm, did she cry a lot, what her first few weeks were like.  Braden even asked us what time of the day she was born..we don't know and he didn't understand why we didn't know. 

I have never been one that has big parties for the kids.  My family came over on Sunday and she had cake and opened presents.  Braden had a baseball game tonight so we treated her to ice cream and in a few weeks we will celebrate with Kevin's family.

But I did buy a cute little dress for the occasion (another thing I don't do but found it at a garage sale).  She looked adorable and we were already to go to Bible study this morning.  I was gathering up a few last things and came to the door to load them up in the car.  Keagan and Addison were waiting but where was Hannah?  Well, she was in the bathroom and someone forgot to flush the toilet and what was in the toilet you might ask...poop!!!!!!!!!!!  All over her hands, her cute little dress, me, the floor, and in her mouth.  GROSS!!!!!!!!  I really didn't know what to do, so I cried/laughed and changed her and left.  That's my life friends, you never know whats going to happen. 

Today we celebrate you sweet Hannah Grace.  We love you so much and thank God each day for you.  Our lives would not be the same with out you!!!

 

Happy Mother's Day

After my last post I said that I was done blogging for awhile, but I had to come back.  There are two very important dates one of which being Mother's Day and the other is Hannah's 1st Birthday in just a few short days.  For her I needed to come back.

Today we celebrated Mom's.  I am blessed with two wonderful moms in my life.  My mom and my mother-in-law.  They are beautiful, wonderful, loving women and bless me and the rest of my family so much. 

I have been thinking a lot over the last few days of Hannah's birth mom.  We had the amazing privilege of meeting her on our first trip to Ethiopia.  It was  very difficult for us and her but it is a gift that we will be able to share with Hannah when she is older.  Today I honor her, her unconditional love for Hannah.  The courage and strength she had to give her daughter a chance at life.  We get to watch her grow, I get to hear her call me "mama", we get to love her, celebrate her 1st birthday with her, hear her giggle and see her beautiful smile.  Adoption is beautiful and wonderful but it is also sad and hard.  Thank you dear Feluku for entrusting us with precious Hannah. We love you!

Life.............

I am not a blogger as you can tell.  It is time to close this blog for awhile but before I do I wanted to give a quick overview on life at the Mokma's and how Hannah is doing.

Hannah has been home for almost 4 months. It is hard to believe, in some ways it seems like forever.  She is doing so well.  She is crawling all over the place, putting EVERYTHING in her mouth, pulling herself to standing, soon enough she will be chasing the rest of the kids.  Sleep is a bit of a issue but we are making progress.  She is full of smiles and giggles and her eyes will charm all who meet her.  I feel she is confident that I am mom and Kevin is dad. She goes to others but is some what guarded and wants to be sure that I am close by.  The older kids love her, now that the weather is a little nicer they take her outside and push her in the stroller, Megan is my helper, Braden is the protector, and Keagan and Addison just like to be silly with her.

All though for the most part life is good and full of joy, the reality of bringing another person into the home is not always roses.  All the kids have struggled in some way along the way and Kevin and I have been stretched very thin as we balance daily life and be the parents God desires us to be.  You press on day by day with our eyes "looking Up" God is our strength, our calm, our patience, our rest. We are reminded of His faithfulness everyday, even on the hard days.

A week ago I was struggling, winter was getting to me, the kids NEEDED to get outside and I was in one of "those" moods.  We had been getting things ready for taxes and going through all our adoption paperwork.  I was reminded again our great our God is.  We had added up the cost and I stood completly amazed at God's provision.  He did this, He brought Hannah into our family, He provided  for our family, He provides daily.  I needed to be reminded of that to help me get back to where God wants me to be, I am nothing and He is everything.  I can do nothing in my own strength. I need to surrender! 

Thank you for following our journey.  This is not the end, God is not finished with our family but my 5 precious kiddos and one amazing husband is my priority. 

Blessings,
Sarah

 

Hannah's Adoption Video

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Gotcha Day!

Yesterday was the day we have been waiting for.  Hannah Grace Mokma was welcomed into our arms. It was a great day filled with much anticipation. She was very hesitate when the nannies handed her over to us.  She is at the age where stranger anxiety starts. She fussed and cried but after a little bit she calmed down.  We spent about an hour at Jane's House and then said our "goodbye's" to the nannies. They love those children like their own so it is very hard to say goodbye.  I am so thankful she was loved and cared for so much.  She did Ok in the car, she was wide eyed as she looked all around.  Arriving at Sadula Lodge was went everything went down hill. We got out of the car and the tears came.  She cried all the way up to our room and a good hour after that. It wasn't until I got the blanket we had brought her on our first trip did she calm down and eventually fell asleep in my arms.
I am so thankful for all of you that are praying for us. It is only by those prayers that we had such a  good day today.  She is smiling all the time, talking, laughing and responding to her name Hannah. She has been such a happy content baby. As I type, she is in her crib sleeping. Tonight we pray for restful sleep. She seems to be afraid at night so we pray for peace.

I can not wait to be home with the WHOLE BIG family, so she can meet her sisters, brothers, and extended family and friends. We fly home Thursday evening, so one more full day and then we get to leave with our beautiful little girl.

I just have to say "Thank You" for all of you who came to the Pancake Breakfast. Also to our family that organized it. We are humbled by your generosity.  Words do no express our gratitude for the love, encouragement, prayers, and financial support that was given on our behalf. We serve a great big God that does great big things. Because of you we were able to cover the travel expenses of this trip and a little extra. I don't say much about fiances but I will say this, if God has laid adoption on your heart, PLEASE don't let the money scare you away. It is only by God's provision and His faithfulness that this happened. He is Good!

I give Glory to God for the great things he has done, please ask me some time I would love to share my heart and the story God has written.

Goodnight from Ethiopia!
Sarah

 

Whom Shall I Fear

Many of you may know that I can be somewhat of an anxious person, especially when I have to leave or do something out of my comfort zone.  Going to Ethiopia and leaving my home and 4 children was WAY out of my comfort zone.  In the weeks leading up to our trip I prayed a lot and many people prayed for me that I would have peace and find JOY in what and where we were going.  God heard those prayers and my anxiety was replaced with joy and peace. I LOVED my time in Ethiopia and it was only by God's work that I can say that.

One song that was my theme song in that time and still one of my favorites is "Whom Shall I Fear" by Chris Tomlin. Let me share the words:

You hear when I call

You are my morning song

Though darkness fills the night

It cannot hide the light

Whom shall I fear

You crush the enemy

Underneath my feet

You are my Sword and Shield

Though trouble lingers still

Whom shall I fear

I know Who goes before me

I know Who stands behind

The God of angel armies

Is always by my side

The One who reigns forever

The God of angel armies

I always by my side

 

My strength is in Your name

For you alone can save

You will deliver me

Yours is the victory

 

Whom shall I fear

 

And nothing formed against me shall stand

You hold the whole world in your hands

I'm holding onto your promises

You are faithful

You are faithful

You are faithful

 

The God of angel armies is always by my side