Easter 2009

April 20th, 2009

 

Easter was a wonderful, fun and uplifting day! I am grateful for My Savor, My Brother, My Friend for the knowledge that because of Jesus Atonement my sins can be forgiven and that I may have Eternal LIFE!

More pictures from Easter to come later…. they are from Gary and Linda Services Home. We LOVE being a part of this family. Linda always involves our children in her Easter celebration. A basket, toys, a serous game of BINGO and 2 yards FULL of Easter egg FUN! Funny I think our 6 kids equals the same amount that Linda and Gary have as GRANDKIDS!

So a word to John and Alison Service… We LOVE Easter with your parents… SO don’t get any Ideas!! JK

Thanks to ALL of the Utah Services for loving us and supporting our extra large family! We really do love you guys sooo much!

Cathching Up…

April 20th, 2009

 Ya!! Grandma and Grandpa came to visit Frazer!!! The kids had so much fun playing with them! Frazer still asks… “Grandma and Grandpa GO?”

The following weekend Vicki and her crew came to play… NO PICTUERS :(  This was a huge sacrifice for Vicki… she is the owner of a UPS store in Apache Junction, AZ ! We love it when they come to play. :)

The next few week were like a twilight zone CRAZY…

Frazer has 3 new WHITE teeth. Some sweet silver fillings and … ah… well $1500.00 dollars in dental work. She is so much happier now!! The anesthesiologist was really concerned about the size of Frazer’s tonsils. He recommended we have them removed ASAP. One week later she had them removed!

Next was Fazer’s big day… she had a Tonsillectomy. One week ago last Friday…

 

She is doing GREAT! She has a whole new voice… sweet little voice!

Frazer’s First Snow!!! She hated the snow “gear” and slowly shed her “skin”!

Grandma Service made the cool pink hat!

I believe now I’m in April and all caught up!

Frezer and Maya’s favorite “film”

March 27th, 2009

For about a week now Frezer has asks to watch Tadem like 10 times a day! She no kidding asks every time “Ian coming?” Frezer and Maya are sitting on my lap while I type this laughing historical!

Their second favorite is the Grape juice face. I have to say that Tatem is really FUNNY!

Wonderful world of Frezer

March 23rd, 2009

So no deep thought yet but I do have some updates…

Frezer With Toby

Frezer With Toby

Yes that is Frezer petting Toby. Look at she happy face… I am sooo proud of this little girl. Fear of Woshas(dog’s) no more!

As for Steve’s CAT… I’m afraid of her so I think it will still be a while for Frezer!

So We have decided this month that Frezer will be FREZER… I was afraid that the other kids at school might tease her and that the Teachers might call her FREEZER SERVICE! I have been called Page all my life… and my name doesn’t even stat with a P?? We are still on the look out for a cool middle name so if any of you are inspired please let us know.

Updates… Tomorrow Frezer will have IV sedation to have $1500 worth of dental work done. Please pray for all of us, she can’t eat anything after midnight and her appointment is at 11:00 am.  Goodgreef… this is the same kid who wants to EAT all day long!

Frezer is talking a lot more in English… when she wants to know what an object is she says “Mom what is her name” it took me a few times to catch on.

We went through the car wash the other day… she did really well. She did say like 100 times “car shower NO”

She hates cheese, chicken nuggets and really sweet things. She loves “pasta” “rice” and coca.. aka “soda”.

She is still sleepingthrough the night no problems and is such a sweet little helper. She even takes care of the boys. Some of them like it (OWEN) some not so much (Avery). Ethan and Isaac are really helpful to her. I thank them for the many hours of “JUMMPING” they put in.

Frezer LOVES Maya and plays so well with her. I know God has blessed our family and I am grateful he has.

I only have one complaint… Girls are 100% different than boys. I hurt Frezer’s feeling at lest twice a day. What am I doing wrong?

Well that’s it for now…

Un-birthdays….

March 23rd, 2009

Happy very, very UnBirthday to US!!!

 
Maya at our very unbirthday

Maya at our very unbirthday

E, I , O and F before our very Unbirthday

E, I , O and F before our very Unbirthday

Thats our CREW

Thats our CREW

a REAL unbirthday cake

a REAL unbirthday cake

 

 

 "YOU CRAZY"

yUMMY CAKE

yUMMY CAKE

yUmMy CAKE!!

yUmMy CAKE!!

dO i HAVE SOMETHING ON MY FACE?

dO i HAVE SOMETHING ON MY FACE?

What a party…. so sorry you had to miss it!!!

This very, very Unbirthday was completely Frezer’s idea. Silly girl has asked me every day for 3 weeks about BirF…day’s, Frezer’s Birf..day come? We wouldn’t be true Service’s if we didn’t take advantage of an opportunity to have a party  we called this one our ”family birF…DAY party”.  The night was complete with Cake, presents and singing of the Birthday song. Frezer lit up when we FINALY got to her name! With 8 people in a family that song can really take for-EVER to get to a little kid.

So is her name Frazer or Frezer?? You vote….

March 11th, 2009

 

This beautiful young woman was Frazer’s neighbor. She used to care for Frazer a lot when Frazer lived with her grandparents. She found us at the clinic one of the days we were in Addis. I also met her father during our trip to meet Frazer’s birth family! We are very blessed to know her and her family.

What an incredible blessing to have met and prayed with this man. He is Frazer’s biological Grandfather. His daughter is Frazer’s Biological Mother. This man hurt so very much over the decision to place Frazer in the care of the orphanage knowing that she would be adopted by a family and live her life very, very far away! He blessed Frazer that she might be an ambassador, receive an education, learn about Ethiopia, and some day go back to help her country !!!

Frazer’s Grandmother was quiet most of our visit but when it was time to go we embraced and I knew we could both love this little girl and each other. When we looked through pictures of Frazer’s birth mother her Grandmother would look on us with tears in her eyes. I am grateful forever to this woman!

This is my mom savoring the freshly roasted coffee beans. Frazer’s family prepared for us a Coffee ceremony Watch a Coffee Ceremony on YouTube Here.

This is an incredible experience… we all felt very honored to have shared in this tradition.

This is Selame, my new Friend. She cared for me/us when I thought I could go no further. You see, Frazer wasn’t at all excited about being my daughter. She would avoid me at all costs. She even started calling Selame her Mom and I was Selame. This woman is amazing… she is amazing in so many ways and I am grateful that the Lord has placed each of us in each others lives.

I LOVE this picture for so many reasons… I know my boys will kill me! The two boys are mine and came to Ethiopia a week later with my Mom. The two stunning young women are Liydiya and Meklit. They are Selame’s daughters. It’s crazy how much Liydiya is like Avery. Strong willed and super competitive. The girls kicked the boys butts in this killer game of throwing a small rubber ball at each other. Meklit is quieter and yet silly just like Ethan! O’ ya and the sour face is Frazer. She didn’t want to be in this picture… sorry kid!

Just look at that face….. I  had to show this “potty time”! They will line up all of the babies on pots… I LOVED it! I want to know how they do it.  I could write a book and make a killing. “Potty train your baby Ethiopian Style” millions I tell ya…. :)

I could really have stayed here doing this ALL day! Frazer had other plans and hugging kids or loving babies or hanging out with anyone who could speak English was NOT in HER plan… we really did have many wonderful moments I promise!

All I can say is I love this woman… wait am I really that tall and…. big? No more pictures next to anyone Ethiopian…. just kidding.

Bad picture sorry… that was a homemade cart that this kid is RIDING down this really small road. DOWN HILL while cars are driving and people are walking and donkeys are carrying HUGE loads of stuff!

This is the same day… Abebe ( the social worker), my hero and friend took Frazer and I “up the mountain” from Addis Ababa where there is some really amazingly old churches. I’m so sorry Abebe, but I think I know the story… but if I post it here… I better really KNOW the story!

That my dear friends is just a small portion of the STUFF that was collected for the orphanage. What a huge blessing to have had such overwhelming support. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO HELPED US COLLECT THESE DONATIONS!

Real Monkeys… real!!??

Did I say only Ethiopian women are small…. this is a look I am not proud of at all. My excuse is it was soooo HOT very HOT!

Like real… teeth… PEOPLE

They were hungry little buggers!

I think this one is so funny, just like one of the kids…. I was way too freaked out to try to touch one! Abebe took us to a hot springs where these little buggers are wild. Frezer was out of her mind afraid the whole time. Screaming and mummbling in Amharic.

Ethiopia was a wild ride and I enjoyed almost every moment. Someday when I have “extra” time I will write more about my experience. I know how much we all love pictures so I decided to start there!

To end our world travels we decided to stay over in DC. Really, a great idea… to bad my Mom was at her “max” … love you mom! So, here is our little immigrant in front of the capital. Look closely she is really happy to be in “America” more on that another day! LOL

Home at last…. I missed my children so much. I missed my love Steve and his rock-like personality! I am really a blessed and grateful Mommy and Wife. I must also say that I am the most grateful daughter… MY MOM is wonderful and I miss her very much! THANKS MOM! SO What more is there to life?….

Thanks Aunt Nat for taking these pictures.

So far this mood hasn’t changed to much. I will admit shortly after these pictures…. when Nat went back to Idaho I had a reality moment. 6 kids, a dog, a mean cat and a husband. O’ ya and a household waiting for ME to make a nutritious and delicious meals… while washing clothes, mopping floors and tripping over a little 4 year old girl who hangs on to the corner of my shirt saying “MOM” 1000 X a day! I need a vacation…. Just kidding.

Someday I promise I will tell all the details that made this adoption what the Lord had in mind. Someday I will pour out in deep thought and tell about the emotional journey we have all gone down.

For now I LOVE Dora, and crackers… they make my day happy!

I’m out….

Recap of Febuary

March 9th, 2009

Aunt Nat and Tatum came to play with Isaac, Owen and Maya while Mommy went to Ethiopia! From the stories and now the proof they all had an excellent time!

THANK YOU NAT!!

WHAT THE!!!!????

They sure enjoyed their Aunt Nat!!!

The Eagles have landed…

February 25th, 2009

As of this morning, my family has arrived back in the good ol’ US of A! They are spending 2 days in DC before making the final leg of the trip on Friday night.

About the trip… All Sage said so far is that is was, “Completely Awful!” Duh. She did say Frezer did REALLY good compared to the “other” little girl who was on the same flight who screamed the whole time. Ouch. Sage also mentioned that Frezer is REALLY social… especially if your skin is dark like hers. Sage called her an “Amharic Mommy Shopper”. That’s okay… Maya is a mommy AND a daddy shopper. We’re used to that. :)

… I’ll keep you posted as I here more. Now that they are Stateside, I’m sure I’ll talk to Sage at least 10 times today. We’re already at 3 and counting. :)

- Steve

A trip to Frezer’s family

February 23rd, 2009

Now this is interesting… Sage, Avery and Ethan, and Grandma Jackie went to visit Frezer’s grandparents over the weekend… And that’s about all I can tell you because I haven’t been “filled in” yet.

However, somehow Sage was able to email 8 scanned photos of Frezer as a younger child… and some photos of (I think) Frezer’s birth mother. Looks like there is a few shots of her grandparents, and maybe even some aunts in there too. Since I really can’t tell you who all these people are, you’re just going to have to wait for Sage to get back and update her blog herself.

… On another note, they are leaving Ethiopia on TUESDAY (tomorrow)! They will land in DC and spend the rest of the week there. And then they will be hom at 7:59pm on Friday. I’m counting down the minutes.

Here’s the photos… wasn’t she a cute baby? :)

Frezers Family

Frezers Family

Cute baby!

Cute baby!

Frezers Family

Frezers Family

Not so happy

Not so happy

Frezers Family

Frezers Family

Not too happy

Not too happy

Frezers Family

Frezers Family

Younger Frezer

Younger Frezer

Frezers Family

Frezers Family

Frezers Family

Frezers Family

Cute hair!

Cute hair!

I was trolling the Yahoo Group…

February 20th, 2009

… Okay, so I can’t update my own (Steve) blog, but since my wife is in Ethiopia I figured I can at least update hers.

So I have Sage’s login information for her Yahoo Groups. Holy cow… I can’t even begin to describe the mob scene Yahoo Groups is… Not for the faint of heart (or men in general for that matter) but I decided to “troll” anyway.

I came accross a post from a lady who had met Frezer in October… and posted a bunch of pictures of her! And now I’m sharing her note to Sage (through the group) and the photos she took. But, only because I know all you stalkers are starved for something to look at regarding this whole adoption thing. :)

The note:

Hello,

My name is Vanessa and I am one of the flight attendant volunteers that make deliveries to Ahope. I meet Fraser last year and wanted to share some pictures with you. We taught her the Macaraina and I thought you emjoy to see the pics.
Thank You So very much for adopting Fraser. She is an AWESOME kid and she is always in our thoughts and prayers!
I can only send 3 at a time so there will be multiple messages with pics.
Enjoy the pics!

… and the pics.

Frezer - October 2008

Frezer - October 2008

Frezer - October 2008

Frezer - October 2008

Frezer - October 2008

Frezer - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008

Frezer and Nesa - October 2008