Silas' Para

I have been blessed with wonderful teachers for all three of my sons this year, but I feel especially blessed with Silas' para. She is just simply the best! She emails me pictures of him at school almost weekly. It just brightens my day to get an email from her with a sweet picture of my boy. These are a few of the ones I got today...


They are having a Thanksgiving Feast in his room today and it's his first time eating turkey (except lunch meat). Bless her heart, she wanted to make sure I didn't miss out on the experience, so she sent me these pictures, and then emailed me this:

"Turkey is great mommy!!!! He says!!! When we went around the table and said what we were thankful for, Silas said 'my daddy, he plays with me and I love that!' So sweet!"

My response:

"Thank you T, you may never know just how precious you've been to us this year. I'm going to clean the bathroom with tears running down my face now...lol."

She wrote back:

"Welllll Let me tell you.........my life is blessed by having Silas in it. I love him. He always smiles and is so happy to be here!! (except when things don't go his way) LOL :0))))))) If I hadn't had the opportunity to meet him and be with him everyday it would be me who is missing out!! So its my pleasure and I will continue to keep you close with your boy as much as I can!!!! "

Does it get any better than that?! I don't think so.

Silas - you are loved. You are precious in His sight and so many others around you. You are going to be a world changer son, I just know it!

Weekend Wanderings: Aladdin

This weekend I took my four kids, plus Ally to Leach Theater! How fun was it to take five kids (ages 6 and under) to see Aladdin in theater?! I'm being totally serious here...I had just as much fun as they did!

They have this awesome deal where you pay 3.00 per person and you get to see the movie and have lunch afterward with all kinds of fun activities! We made ourselves a little picnic in the corner and chowed some pizza and cookies!

We all choose one activity to do after lunch, everyone chose face painting except Ally who choose the balloon animal station. And yes, I allow my kids to wear holiday socks all year round...and apparently high water pants out in public, I don't know...

Silas: Batman
Hunter: A horse
Blake: A tiger
Graysen: A pink princess

It was an awesome mid morning Saturday activity!
We will definitely plan on attending them each month!

6 Months Together

Half of a year.
At times, it feels like forever since we were in Ethiopia meeting our new sons for the first time.
At other times the boys will ask what a simple word means
and I am reminded they are still so new to our family, to our country, to our culture.

To celebrate our six months together we had family pictures made.
They are so beautiful, and I am filled with such mixed emotions as I look at them.
It's visual proof of what our family has come through together.

I am glad that this milestone hits right before Thanksgiving.
It's been a wonderful time of year to reflect on what we've been given.
The things that we take for granted every day, things like running water,
electricity 24 hours a day, a doctor available at all times,
and each other.

I am reminded, through the loss that we have experienced losing a child,
and the loss that my newest sons have endured,
that we are not guaranteed tomorrow with each other...

We are learning patience, (it takes a lot with these four!)
and gratitude.
We are learning to appreciate each other every. single. day.

We continue to work through challenges,
but I am filled with peace,
knowing that Lincoln and I will always work through them...
together.

I am reminded that
"From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded;
and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."
Luke 12:48

We have been given so much.

And we can't wait to give so much back...

6 Month Post Placement Report

As you may remember, we are required to send the Ethiopian Government a report on the kids at 3 mo., 6 mo., and yearly until the boys are 18 years old. You can read our 3 month report here. Although I can't believe six months has passed since coming home, the calendar says it has, so here is our six month report!

6 Month Post Placement Report

11/22/2010

Redburn Family

Placement Date: 5/22/2010

Bizayehu Lincoln Redburn (Blake Bizayehu Gabriel Redburn)

Sintayehu Lincoln Redburn (Silas Sintayehu Gabriel Redburn)

Date of Birth: 2/23/04

					Bizayehu’s current height is 48.5 inches and he weighs 53.8 pounds. Bizayehu has not been seen by his doctor since his three month report was written. He has been, and is currently healthy and doing very well.
Sintayehu’s current height is 49 inches and he weighs 55.0 pounds. Sintayehu has not been seen by his doctor since his three month report was written. He has been, and is currently healthy and doing very well. Sintayehu has lost 3 teeth since being in America, and the ones that he lost while still in Ethiopia have grown in very nicely.

Both boys have wonderful appetites and are adjusted to American food. Bizayehu’s favorite American foods are french fries, baked beans, and chicken. Sintayehu’s favorite American foods are strawberries, ice cream, and spaghetti. Ethiopian food is still their ultimate favorite and they would choose that over anything else. They are both very active boys, who love to run, jump on the trampoline, play on the playground at school, and go to basketball practice with their dad. Their English vocabulary is excellent and they are working hard on sentence structure.

		Bizayehu and Sintayehu live with their dad and mom as well as a brother (age 6 yrs), and a sister (age 3 yrs). Both boys are building an attachment to both of us, and their siblings. They are openly affectionate and enjoy spending time with all of us. They are comfortable with the many extended family members who live nearby. They are very social. They are smart and happy.
	Sintayehu and Bizayehu are currently enrolled at the local elementary school and are attending Kindergarten five days a week. At recent parent / teacher conferences both of their teachers spoke very highly of the boys, both in areas of academics and social skills. They were only slightly behind academically on their report cards! They have taken several field trips with their classes including a trip to the local fire station, the pumpkin patch and the local theater.

We attend a Christian Church weekly and the boys are both active in Sunday School. We also have a weekly Bible Study group and the boys have become good friends with the other children in that group. I believe they are growing an understanding of Jesus Christ and the Salvation He offers us.

We are looking forward to the upcoming holiday season, with Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the boys first birthday in America in February! As a family, we are naming things that we are thankful for every day, and both of the boys have said they were thankful for Ethiopia, and their Ethiopian family, as well as America and their American family.

We are very thankful to the Ethiopian Government for allowing us to adopt our sons. We believe the Ethiopian Government is making a good plan for children by allowing them to be adopted abroad. We have found a small community of local Ethiopian people and other Ethiopian adopted children to surround Bizayehu and Sintayehu with and intend to help our sons maintain pride in Ethiopia, in hope that someday, in some way, they might be able to give back to their birth country.

Sincerely,

Lincoln and Ashley Redburn

Reading a book to Blake sounds like this:

Story in "s
Blake is italicized
I am normal type...
See if you can follow this!

"Then what happened, Grandfather? Just as I was born...tell me that part." Is that a baby? Yes. Is it a boy or girl? A boy. Is that his mom? No, it's his Grandma. Is that his mom? Yes. Is she dead? No. Why are her eyes closed? Because she's tired, having a baby is hard work. "It was strange...strange." What is strange? Weird, odd, it means something isn't right. What wasn't right? I don't know son. "Just as you came forth and made yoru first cry, the wind stopped howling..." What is howling? Like this...wooooooo. The wind can't talk. I know, but it can make sounds. I've never heard it make a sound. Well, it does. Your trickin' me. "...and the storm was over..." What kind of storm? I don't know, maybe just a wind storm. No rain, or snow or loud booms? That's called thunder. What's it called? Thunder. Hmm. "...and the night became as quiet as soft falling snow..." Snow doesn't make noise either Mom. I know honey. "...the grandmother took you up in her arms, and said, He will walk in beauty...to the east...to the west...to the north, to the south, he will walk in beauty...forever." Is that his Dad? Yes. Why is he there? Because a lot of times Dad's are there when the baby is born. Why? Because they love the baby and Mom. "And I was born strong, wasn't I, Grandfather? No, you were not strong. You were sick and frail. We thought you would die." Did he die? No, or there wouldn't be this story. Is that the Grandfather? Yes. Why is he reaching for the baby? Maybe because he wants to hold him. Why? I don't know son. What did he say to the baby? I don't know, I wasn't there. "But I didn't die, did I? Tell me about that, Grandfather." Are you sure the mom isn't dead? Yes, I'm sure. Did she just have the baby? Yes. Did it come out here? (pointing to the bottom of the bed) Yes. Okay, Mom, next page please.

oh yes...that was just one page...

Remembering Ethiopia: The Weaver

Inspired by this post, I have been going back through some of our pictures from Ethiopia. The large majority of them are of beautiful faces from Layla House Transitional Home where our boys stayed and I am not allowed to share those with you. Some of them are other people's children now and they are theirs to share (yippy!), but mostly because some of them are still waiting, and that is illegal. Some, though, are of the land, the people, and the beauty that is Ethiopia.


There was one man in particular that amazed me. I was humbled by being around him. We took an afternoon trip to the Leprosy Colony in Addis (mentioned in this post). As you walked up to the "store" there were lots of people sitting around the building, some were hand dying fabrics, some were stitching beautiful designs into the fabrics, some were carving wood with little pocket knife type things, and some were weaving.


This man was crouched on the ground weaving this beautiful mat when we arrived. We stood and watched him in amazement for quite awhile. What you can't see in this picture is that he has no fingers. Yes, his body is extremely crippled, but God has given him a talent beyond what you can believe weaving these beautiful mats. After we went in the gift shop and bought one of his mats, I had to have a picture to remember the soul behind our new front door mat. As I asked him if I could take his picture he pulled up his stool and "posed" for me.


I hope he knows that I thought he was beautiful and perfect already. I hope he knows that God knows him by name, that He cares for him, and loves him unconditionally. Someday I hope I can shake this man's hand in Heaven, for his hands will be healed and perfect when I meet him again.

Celebrate, I've seen a miracle happen today!

Today is a great day.

Today a little boy has found a family.
A forever family.

I fell in love with this boy,
I have prayed for this boy,
I have stared into this boys eyes
for 6 months.

And now, a family has choosen him.
My silent prayers have been answered.

God is good,
God is faithful,
God is love.

When I first got the message from his new mom I got in the car.
This song came on.
and I think the chorus says it all for this situation:

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn’t ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I’ve seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That’s what faith can do





To his family
(you know who you are),
Thank you for being Jesus' arms to this precious boy.
Thank you for loving him,
for putting your hearts on the line,
for choosing to live simply so that he can simply live.
Thank you for obeying the call,
Always,
Ashley

I thought I had a few years.

I wrote this post a long time ago and decided not to publish it. I thought it was too personal. Too much of my son's life to share. But I can't count the number of times I've read another mom's post about her adoption struggles and I've just sat and cried. Tears of sadness, tears of sympathy, tears of relief...that we are not in this alone. I am not the only mother out there struggling to help their child deal with a loss so profound we can not wrap our brains around it. So...I will post this...and pray it helps someone else today.

Adoption is hard.

How many posts have I started with that line? It's true though!
It's worth it, it's amazing, it's a blessing, but it's hard.

Lately one of the boys has started telling me that he wants to go back to his "Mommy's house".
At first I responded with "we'll go home soon Babe".
But from the look on his face I realized...he doesn't mean me. Or my house.

He means his first Mom, the one who birthed him, loved him, and gave the ultimate sacrifice for him so that he could have a safer, healthier life.

He says it when he's mad at me, when I'm requiring him to do something he doesn't want to do.
Maybe he's trying to hurt me.
I don't know.

What I do know is that I can't take it personally.
It's not about me, and I know that.

It's about him.
About the heartache he's trying to work through.
About the loss he's had.

Is his life here in America better?
In some ways.
He eats every meal.
He no longer has parasites.
He has a cool house in the summer and warm one in the winter.

But he's lost a. lot.
His first family.
His food.
His music.
His smells.
His culture.
His language.

I knew there would come a day when we had to deal with anger for what has happened in his life. I could tell you from day 1 that he was going to be the one who struggled with it the most. I just thought I had a few years before it started.

Weekend Wanderings

Graysen and I spent Friday baking cupcakes!

50 cupcakes later, they looked like this...

MS&T had their last football game. A bittersweet day. We were thrilled to be there to cheer Chad on during his last college football game. We braved 45 degree weather, which is why there aren't any pictures us there, we were too bundled up and snuggled under blankets!




We are really proud of Chad, not only on the field, but even more off the field. He is a stand up man who has a huge heart. We love you, Chad.

Saturday night the kids had their weekly sleepover at Grammie and Papa's. When I came Sunday morning, here is what I found them doing.

Sunday afternoon was spent raking and burning leaves in our backyard! I remember burning leaves at our house here in Missouri and they are not really fond memories (of course for this bookworm who never wanted to go outside!), so I was dreading the afternoon. But...I was wrong! We had a lot of fun outside...all. afternoon. because the burning went on for 3.5 hours!

Chad came over and played a little backyard football. On his first official day off of football, bless his heart!

Blake loves to sing. He also loves to be loud. These two are great...in the backyard!

Mommy and Daddy got a date Saturday night (thanks Grandma), and came home with new winter coats...we sure could've used them Saturday afternoon!

Another great Fall weekend in the Redburn household! I hope the kids look back on these quiet weekends with fond memories. I know I will!

The Three Bears

I'm not exactly sure when this song became a part of our family, but I remember singing (and doing the hand clap) to it waaaaay back... Now I sing it daily to Graysen, and Hunter now has it memorized on his own. Without further ado, the words to "The Three Bears". (I considered videoing myself singing and just couldn't bring myself to do it. Maybe I'll get Hunter to do it sometime soon...)

Once upon a time
in a nursery rhyme,
There were three bears.
Three bears.
The Papa Bear, the Mama Bear, and the Baby Bear.

Once they went a walkin'
in the deep woods talkin'
and along came a girl
with long golden curly hair
and knocked upon the door.
No one was there.
She didn't care.
She walked right in and sat right down.

Home came those three bears.
Someone's been eating my porridge said the Papa Bear
Said the Papa Bear.
Someone's been eating my porridge said the Mama Bear
Said the Mama Bear.
Hey Mama Re-Bear said the little Wee Bear,
SOMEONE HAS BROKEN MY CHAIR!
Ahhhhh

Someone's been sleeping in my bed said the Papa Bear.
Said the Papa Bear.
Someone's been sleeping in my bed said the Mama Bear,
Said the Mama Bear.
Hey Mama Re-Bear said the little Wee Bear,
SOMEONE HAS BROKEN MY CHAIR!
Ahhhh

Goldie Locks woke up, broke up the party, and beat it out of there.
Beat it out of there.
Bye, bye, bye said the Papa Bear
Bye, bye, bye, bye, bye said the Mama Bear
Hey Mama Re-Bear said the little Wee Bear
SOMEONE HAS BROKEN MY CHAIR!

ahhhhhh.....

Thankful Tree: Week 2

As the days go by I am having to challenge the kids to "think outside the box" on things they are thankful for. Should be really interesting here in another week! Here are the things the kids are thankful for this week!

Hunter:
Our house
Daddy playing basketball with me
Horses
Soccer shoes and soccer balls
Mommy
Sissy
Grammie

Silas:
Slides
Daddy jumping on the trampoline with me
Clothes
That G.G. is in Heaven
Silly Papa Charlie
Daddy
Chad

Blake:
Trampoline
Special nights with Sissy and Chad
Riding Susan's horses
God and Jesus
Mommy
My brothers and sisters
Grammie

Graysen:
G.G.
Balls
The pretty weather
Songs
Heads
Cookies
My Birthday!


Aren't our trees looking pretty?!

Hunter's 6 year old pictures

I'm finally getting around to posting my two favorites of Hunter's 6 year old pictures! I was late getting them taken this year (about 1.5 months late!)...but we got them done, none the less.

Hunter,
This year you have grown in so many ways.
Your heart has grown two sizes, and so has your brain!

I'm so proud of the young man you're becoming.
You have a love for God, and a compassion for those around you.
I'm always impressed by your knowledge of all subjects, and your interest in learning.

My promise to you is to always be here,
to listen and to love.
Yours always,
Mom

These pictures were taken by Kelley at Life By Light.

"I'm a Princess"

Me: Graysen, PLEASE stop pulling on my arm while I'm trying to type!

Graysen: *crying* Mommy, Sissy always says I'm a Princess, and you don't yell at Princesses!!

oh boy...I'm in trouble.