We are back!!! I know I made a New Year's Resolution to be better at this, but now settled in our new bigger house with high speed capabilities I may just get this done. My kids literally have grown overnight, especially by looking at my last post to current post. Zada now 28 months old, yes the terrible two's, is talking maniac. She is a busy little girl and is so much happier now that she can communicate with all of us. Melt downs are further apart, but she still likes things her way. Luca is still our mad scientist. He just got his progress report and was very excited to count all the S+ marks his teacher made. I hope it stays that way. With the holidays fast approaching we are excited to have our families over to entertain in our new home. We finally have the room!! So, if anyone still checks out this blog of ours we are glad to be back!!

2008 and All is Well

I know many people have given up hope that I will ever update this blog, but I am going to try and be better. Zada had a rough first Christmas. She was very over whelmed with all the people, presents and commotion. She was also dealing with fighting off pneumonia, double ear infection and yes cutting her first teeth. But, now all are fairly healthy and big plans ahead. We have decided to try sell our house and buy something bigger with more running room for our kids and the extras we love to share time with. We will just have to hang in there to see what happens. I am posting some new pictures and share with you my growing flowers!!

Jenny

The Lost Has Been Found

Sorry for the loss in time with the Engen Family. We have been so busy adjusting and growing and trying to once again regain control of our schedule.

Luca is in school and loving every minute of it. Zada is growing and changing day by day and is ready to walk. We are so ready for her to walk because she will be much happier to try and keep up. Work is work for mom and dad!!

We are hopefully going to be able to do a charity drive in the next month to help aid people in Ethiopia. It's seems like a lifetime ago that we were there, but yet my feelings of a loss are everyday that I look back at our pictures. My social worker explained that someday Zada may have what is called survivors guilt, and it was at that very moment that my feelings were put into words. I am so thankful to have this amazing little girl in our lives, but I still feel the heavy heart that I first experienced during our van ride back to the airport as we were leaving Addis. Why were we chosen to have this miracle and why were we chosen to be the ones to be able to leave and live what we consider as a better life. I don't want to have a pitty feeling for African people because they are a wonderful people and are very proud of what they have and who they are, but I just wish I could erase the bad as far as poverty and disease and let them all have the opportunities that we are given in life. Part of me doesn't want to return to that scene for many years and a part of me wants to go back tomorrow. Either way this amazing little girl is ours forever and we are so thankful that we were chosen to be hers. If you would like to contribute in any way to our donation drive please do not hesitate to let me know. We will get the info out as soon as we are finalized on our plan and dates. Blessings to yours from ours!!