A rich heritage...

Pop Pop B enjoying a moment with his 2 newest grandchildren~
Our Liberian Princess wearing her new tiara set-a gift received at polyanna :)

Mercy enjoying some special time with Uncle Bill~(I think he is enjoying himself, too!!)
Our littlest man who has yet to see a flake of snow is ready to "hit the slopes"!
The girlies with their homespun baby carrying "lapas"
Our 2 little men...asleep (and quiet!) at last on their shared bottom bunk~
GO EAGLES!!!( B4 really is not shorter than Odesco...he's just not standing up straight for the photo shoot!)


New hairdo with 'paco yocos'-(beads!) ...she's loving the 'clicky -clicking'!!
A view from the back! Not bad B2 -especially for a first attempt :)

Yesterday after church, we headed over to M's sister's home for the B's polyanna. This was the first time that his side of the family has met our newest blessings. How sweet it was to watch as Mercy ran straight up the walkway into Grandmom B's waiting arms...we have been looking at Grandmom and Pop Pop's picture on the fridge for weeks so Mercy was really anticipating this meeting :)! Odesco, not surprisingly took a little while to warm up but soon found his way into Pop Pop, Grandmom and Uncle Bill's laps . All the kids enjoyed playing in the well equipped toyroom with their many cousins. Our visit there was such a blessing and had me thinking about the wonderful heritage we are privileged to raise all of our children in. Two sets of godly grandparents, loads of cousins, aunts and uncles...I have told Mercy so many times how many people were praying for her and Odesco all these months of waiting. She likes to ask after meeting new folks,"They were praying for me?".... Not only are we rich within the context of our families but we have also been so blessed by the church family we are a part of. God has been good indeed ...these children have been welcomed into such a nurturing , supportive environment beyond the walls of our home and then add to that our wonderful neighbors and extended friends-what rich soil to be planted in! Thank you to all who have made such an effort to warmly receive our newest blessings..of course, they don't yet realize how important this is and they have no concept of gratitude regarding this but I believe one day, they will be grateful for all of you ! For now, I will be their mouthpiece !!!
Today, I received in the mail my order from "Snapaholics"(snapaholics.com for all the adoptive moms out there reading this). In the bulging envelope were a wide array of hair beads and snaps to aid me in my endeavor to 'do' Mercy's hair. You should have seen her dancing around when her eyes fell upon this bright assortment of 'paco yocos' (her word for hair beads!) As I type, the kids are watching a Liberty Kids dvd and B2 (yes, our son!) is beading her hair...on his own, he figured out how to use the little beader thingie and came up with his own pattern and idea of how to do it! Mercy is already loving the clicking sound she can make by shaking her head-too funny. Of course, we couldn't do this without the expert style created by Hope on Saturday ...Felicia and her mom joined us too for a little crash course in how to care for ethnic hair! What a gift Hope is to us clueless adoptive moms-not only are we grateful for her expertise and nimble fingers but also the gift of her friendship!!
Okay...now for some happenings in the B household.
* Mercy and Odesco told us that in the evenings at AOH they would listen to music and would "shake their bodies for Jesus!"...so, the other day when we had the African children's choir music on, this is what they were doing. Later Mercy imitated the dances some of their friends would do..she is quite the actress and comedian. Now, she just informed me her head will click when she "shakes her body for Jesus!"
*I have discovered that taking all 6 food shopping for a big shopping trip will significantly decrease my food bill. I misplaced my list and a few of my coupons and my goal changed from crossing items off to getting out of the store as quickly as possible with everyone and the store displays intact!!
*M and I actually got out on a date nite' on Friday evening for a few hours thanks to our very eager and brave babysitter. None of the children were asleep when we arrived home but to me it was a success...everyone was alive and well :) It was a functional date...errands and such but we did stop at the end for a shared dessert, conversation,(read: finished sentences, complete thoughts) and iced tea to make it officially a date :)!
*Today, after B4 and Odesco brought down their toy swords and axes, B4 asked the question," Mom, do squirrels and rabbits have meat on them?"...."ummm yes, son, why are you asking?"
"Mom, mom, me and Odesco want to go out and kill some squirrels and rabbits so we can eat 'em"....huh? where in the world did that come from?? After I convinced him that he really would not want to eat these critters, he said, "oh-ok...we'll just fight instead!"Phew, I feel better!
*Mercy no longer slings her babydoll on her hip but has introduced the African lapa to the B family...now she and B3 are ruined for anything else and are daily asking me to tie their baby dolls in their'lapas'. They use pajama bottoms and shirts as they stretch well and are easy to tie around their waists! Mimi and I tried to find a pattern to make one but haven't been successful yet. Anyone out there know where I can find one?
*The other day I served tacos on soft tortilla bread for the first time. Both Odesco and Mercy were excited by this "Jesu bread"and Mercy explained (when she saw I wasn't getting it) that this was the bread that Jesus fed to his disciples!! So for a day or so before the package was devoured, Odesco requested,"Je-duh bread' with all his meals!
*Odesco has discovered some interesting and entertaining uses for his big tummy...he decided today that closing the dresser drawer using his gut is much more efficient than using his hands, he can belly bump B4 quite effectively from behind, and his tummy makes a very convenient drum! Oh, and he and B2 are perfecting the fine art of 'body slamming'...Odesco uses his big tummy and B2 uses his thighs since he is so much taller than his little brother~Odesco makes sure he is airborne for the full effect... it is rather comical to watch!

Every day is an adventure around here...we are attempting to get on a schedule but no day seems to be the same yet. Mercy completed her 1st workbook last week and began a math book today....slowly we are all settling in. Each day has it's intense moments but I've grown to expect them ...When I am weak, He is strong!!!
Thanks for checking in :)
Mama B.