Our little "Belongers"....

Sweet Sisters in a loving moment!!!
Since we are in birthday mode in our house (5 birthdays in 32 days!!), the kids are all talking about what they would like for their birthday meals. Mercy has been pondering this( she has plenty of time to decide since her bday is in November!!) and has requested jollof rice, an African dish, for her special meal. Imagine our surprise when last week at Homeschooler's Day Out, the cooking class prepared jollof rice...and the cooking teacher Mrs. V graciously shared the yummy dish with a delighted Mercy!!!
Hard to believe that C has just turned 10!! Yep we're in the double digits...he is such a great big brother to L and Odesco and as I type this, he is 'shooting hoops' in front of the house with Odesco...they have been at it for quite a while. He really has such a tender heart for his little brothers :) (We're working on the same for his sisters :)!!
Just look at these cool dudes! These 2 make quite a pair!! Odesco complained the other nite' at bedtime because of the 'sleeping noises'(snoring!) L makes ...they are slowly becoming little buddies~

Every Sunday at church it is quite amusing to watch our 2 little Liberians as they 'work the crowd'... they have found their little niche and it definately seems that they feel like they belong now! It amazes me to step back and consider how far they have come and it causes me to give praise to the One who is in the business of changing hearts and lives~ Just 5 months ago, these 2 were frightened and insecure as we came to church...they avoided eye contact at all cost and certainly did not reuturn greetings in a gracious manner. Yesterday, as I was chatting with a friend before church, I glanced over to see Mercy and Odesco approaching one of our elderly church members and engaging in lively conversation with her for quite a few minutes. It was precious to watch....then of course there are the weekly running hug/jumps into the arms of our beloved babysitters, the warm hellos to many of Mommy and Daddy's special friends and the special comraderie between these 2 and Jenkins and Felicia. In Sunday school too, Odesco especially is showing his silly side, engaging in conversation, and even answering questions related to the teaching of the day. He has come quite a long way from the days of just tolerating class and basically living in his own little world for those 60 minutes. It is easy to feel loved and welcomed in the midst of our wonderfully supportive church and families...I am reminded again of the verse which declares that God sets the lonely in families...truly, He has done that and my heart is touched once again by His faithfulness. It is a miracle to consider how the Lord worked out all the timing and details as He sovereignly chose these 2 from across the globe, to be added to our family~and conversely, He chose us to be Mercy and Odesco's family. During our challenging moments ( and there still are many :), this bedrock truth of His sovereignty literally carries me. He makes no mistakes....the issues being exposed are no surprise to our Maker and the Creator of all things...this is for the good of all of us and ultimately I trust that God's glory will shine through in the midst of our imperfect family.
Thanks for checking in :)
So grateful that he has brought these "Little Belongers" into our home!!
MamaB