Are these sisters not just the cutest thing(s) ever?! These are my daughters....on good days and bad! Did I say bad? Is it politically correct to admit that somedays they drive me insane? Ok, then, I won't say that....

But, I will say that we have all come a long way in 9 1/2 months!

It's been a while since I've blogged, mostly because I haven't been inspired to share anything. I'm not a writer and just won't do it unless I really feel led.

So, here I am! As I said, Faven and Diborah have been home for 9 1/2 months. I would like to share with you some things that deserve some applause.....

**Language! We survived for a while on limited Amharic on our part and no english on theirs. But, it has been amazing to watch them grow and learn and now know how to communicate fully in English with anyone they meet. I always say that it's because they get sooooo much practice!! (o:

**When the girls first came to our home, they were terribly unruly for many reasons I won't go into. Now, they are well-behaved (ok, as well-behaved as my other children!) and respond to discipline....100's of gray hairs later! Faven's reading tutor at school was listening to her read from her book. She shared with me this story about Faven...

"...on one of the pages the little boy says, "Stop, Mom." Faven read that, shook her head and said, 'Oh, we don't say that to Mom at our house. That would be not respect. My dad would not be happy.'" A-ha!! She gets it!!

**Bonding did not happen as quickly as I would have liked, but I am finally starting to feel a bond with Faven and Diborah and I can sense that they are also bonding with me. Yesterday, when Faven was playing house with Emma, she said, "I am going to go over here and sit by my real mom." She was talking about me, by the way. Wow, that sounded good!!!

**Both of the girls love school.

**Not as much fear. Faven can walk to and from school by herself. Diborah can climb on the playground equipment without fear of falling. They both sleep in their own beds! Hooray!

The work of the enemy is very powerful. He does not want to see good being done. After bringing my daughters home, I questioned whether or not I had done the right thing...for myself, the girls, and my family. I felt like my family was the poster child for why NOT to adopt because we were so stressed and struggled with behavior problems. My husband and I had worked very hard in our community to raise money for the orphanages in Ethiopia and had been very vocal in advocating for older child adoption. Then, just 4 months after bringing our daughters home, we separated. I had so many doubts and fears and struggled with my faith.

But, God is good, and He prevailed!! My marriage has been restored, my faith has been restored and we are all feeling like a family again!!

I am thankful for a Heavenly Father who did not give up on me and my family when I felt like giving up! I am also SO thankful for friends (some who I only know through blogging) who cared for me enough to keep in touch and check in on me occasionally! A friend who will listen, support and not judge is priceless!!!!