Ruth Visits Washington DC

Because we had no idea how well the kids would travel, we really wanted our friend Ruth to come home with us. Selfishly, I knew that I was really going to struggle with leaving Kenya, and as Ruth has become my best friend, it was also appealing to at least not have that good-bye to deal with as well. However, we were so tight financially from Jeromy's months without pay, that there was no way we could do it. Ruth is a missionary..so that goes without further explanation. So, much like God does, he touched a heart and that heart reached out to people she didn't even know. Ruth's ticket was paid for by a bunch of anonymous givers. Just yesterday, I was cleaning Jeromy's office (no small task), and I came across an envelope. Apparently, someone had taken a photo of every check and dollar donation that came in. I was in tears and the love flowed over my heart. I guess that sounds silly, but when you are a mother, you lose touch with people so fast. It was nice to remember how loved we are.
The transition home was filled with so many conflicting emotions. We were so glad to be on US soil, yet somewhere in the past year, we had planted some deep roots in Kenya. It was like we were leaving home for a very long time...
Here are the pics from Ruth's first visit to Washington DC.

The other day, I sat back for a rare moment to reflect on the past year. My how time has flown and how our children have grown and changed. It almost hurt to realize how quickly they are growing up. Now that we are in the states, we have busied ourselves to thoroughly, that I have not even taken the time to journal. It occurred to me that the kids will have all of these previous entries to read about their story in Kenya, but once in the states, they will have little to go by.
So, forgive me, but I am going to back log. It is my determination to start back when we first got back from Kenya and fill in the blanks for my children. Life is short. I have seen a lot of unexpected death in the past few months, and I am rather heart sore. If I do not live to tell my children what great kids they are, how much I enjoy my time with them, if time does not allow me the pleasure of sharing our memories, I want them to know that every night when the house falls silent, I reflect for a moment on how precious are the gifts that fill this house with noise, dirt, and love and I am compelled, for just a moment, to wake them all back up and pull them close and hold on like it is our last moment.
So, here goes...

I am having a terrible time with our internet here and am not going to be able to maintain both blogs. So, check out the blog on www.wearekenya.org to see what is going on with the Smith's in Kenya!
ps Lindy et al do you want to get together?

Pictures

Mama Sundi is having some trouble with her internet connection, but we have another excellent alternative. Check out some fun pics of our kids with another Kenyan adoptive family that we have really bonded with throughout our experiences.

http://www.rubinbabies.blogspot.com

Here!

Well, we made it! Actually, the trip was tiring, but rather uneventful…as much as can be with three kids! Matt was a wonderful pack-mule, and the kids were troopers. I think they actually enjoyed themselves. Jasiri was pretty sick when we left, but about half-way through the journey his fever broke and he slept like a champ!
Tomorrow we go out to see the kids! Lots of pictures to come!
K

Heading to Kenya!

Check back in a few days, and we will be blogging from half-way around the world!!

Pics as Demanded!

My sister gave Damon a tie. This was the first time he wore it. He thought he was THE MAN! He walked into church with his chest all puffed out and kept rubbing his tie!

Sundi turned SIX on February 19th!
She loved her "butter-flower" cake. Her speech therapist keeps trying to teach her how to say butterfly, but I kind of like "butter-flower!"

My sister also gave her a pedicure for her birthday.

Reading with Uncle Phil

Beating on Uncle Sean

chilaxing!

Dude loves wearing Daddy's shoes.

even if they are not a matched pair!

My little old man..

My precious old men...

Thinking..

I am considering whether or not to close our blog. I am not sure anyone checks it anymore as we are so random with our updates. Any thoughts|?

These days....

Sometimes at the end of a busy day, I sit back and think about how fast life moves. Of course, the beginning thoughts are on how fast we move, but lately, it has really been bugging me that life moves so fast. The other day it hit me that my babies won't always be babies. While I plan to celebrate every milestone with my children... be right there to cheer them on as they navigate through life, I can't help but grab these days and cling to them with all of my being. There are times when the incessant cry of "mommy...mommy...mommy" can drive me to tears, but as each day passes...as pant legs grow shorter and shoes are packed away "for the next kid," I am increasingly aware of how much I am going to miss those, "Mommy, I want to hold you please" that come at the busiest times of the day... or that "I need help, please," that seems to be every other phrase... How I will miss the "I love you's" and "I need mommy" and "come on, let's play" or the "Read a me please....read again..." Yeah, these are the days... busy sure, but oh how I treasure each moment. they don't come without their sacrifices...I am aging fast without the needed sleep...clothes are a little tight...who has time to exercise... and my hair??? well, let's say we just take pictures of the kids these days! But in the end, who cares? It's that my children grow up to be balanced, confident young adults who know they are loved, know where to run when they need to run for dear life, and know the gift they have brought to our hearts just by being them. Man, these are the days.

The kids

The complete Smith family...at least for now!
Our friends from Kenya visits us. She is 14 and scored only nine points lower than the top kid on her high school entrance exam in Kenya.

Damon's first play in the snow!

Sundi had a blast making her first "snow man." Really it was a snow heap, but she loved "him" just the same!

Mommy and Sundi making chipati, daddy's favorite Kenyan treat!

"Driving" with Daddy.

Big Sister, Sundi.

Becca gave Sundi a ballerina set for Christmas...added to some things from a friend, she has had a blast being a little dancer.

"Happy Birthday to Jesus!"

Damon really celebrates CAKE!

This was Tom, Aidan, Daddy and Jasiri Christmas morning.

lala-"sleeping