My children and my bride

We’ll never forget Tuesday, July 3rd, 2007. This was so much more than just our 3rd anniversary—it was the night I told Kim that we were approved by the Kenya government to come meet our kids and begin the adoption process. Keeping the secret for about 30 hours almost made me implode! I’ll never forgot the joy in her eyes as she discovered she was about to begin her dream of being a Mom!

We “got lost” walking in Washington DC…and happened to see the Kenyan embassy.

Kim asked if we could stop before we went to dinner, and I obliged....I knew she would fall for it! It was then that I shared the approval letter from the Children's Department of Kenya. She was elated. I think maybe more elated than the day we got married! Here's the spot where it happened. Naturally, we had to get a pic next to the shield....
And I was also dressed for the occasion, of course.

That was certainly a magical day. When we prayed outside the Embassy and committed our "to be" children to the Lord, we had no idea how wild the ride would be...and maybe that was a good thing! But we also weren't capable of fully knowing the joy that Sundi and Damon would bring to our lives in the next year. Fast forward one year, to today.

Subject: An open letter
To: My bride
CC: The world

Kim-- I do love you much more than I did four years ago, when we committed our lives to each other at Bel Air Nazarene Church. I am so glad that I waited until I was “older”, which allowed time to find a truly rare gem to bless my soul. And I’m so glad you weren’t scared away by my “this is what I’m going to do with the rest of my life” speech on our first real date!

In your life you have experienced many more “obstacles” than most people I know. (Even if you remove me from the equation!) But you have chosen never to be a victim, but rather to be “more than a conqueror” through the freedom that only God offers.

I have always been so proud of who you are. The way the children’s eyes light up as you teach them. The way parents’ eyes light up when you direct a school play that you wrote up yourself—starring their kids, of course! The way you offer friendship and encouragement to those who are hurting. The way you find ways to make the simplest, most monotonous activities fun. The way you re-organize things so effectively that I can’t find them….OK, so maybe I’m not exactly proud of that, but it’s still kind of endearing!

I love your smile, your laugh, your eyes, your brain, your compassion, your dedication, your idealism, and your fierce devotion to everything you hold sacred.

Please allow me to insert a few comments to go along with a cool scripture, Proverbs 31.

Verse 16:
A wife of noble character, who can find? (Me! Me! I did!)
She is worth far more than rubies (True dat!)
Her husband has full confidence in her, and lacks nothing of value (True. And I am filthy rich in all of the ways that truly count!)

Verses 28-31
Her children arise, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her. Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. (It’s not my job to keep a nobility score, and I know you’re not perfect. But man, you are truly, undeniably an incredible woman!)

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting (although I’m enjoying yours a lot!); But a woman who fears God is to be praised. (that would be you)
Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. (Thanks for never even considering giving up during the last year. Just having our family complete at last is an incredible reward. Although we don’t have a city gate, I can’t wait to welcome you guys home through the airplane gate!)

Happy anniversary! Ninakupenda kabisa!
Jeromy