Words.....

It has been amazing to our family how quickly Tia and Garrett have picked up English. To see this video from a year ago and to hear her speak now is amazing! Although they have come so far sometimes they still say the cutest things! Here are a few that have been shared at our house the past few weeks......

Garrett was in a little bit of trouble the other day and so I said, "Garrett, look at my eyes." He quickly responded, "Mom, I already know what your eyes look like and I haven't forgotten how they look. Why do I need to see them again?."

Yesterday in the car it was "Soaking Hot!" when we were leaving church.

Tia continues to get cutie and pretty mixed up and she says, "Cutie, cutie please" often prior to correcting herself.

While fixing her hair the other day Tia said, "Mom, my hair looks like pasta!" At first I didn't understand and then she said, "You know the kind that we put red sauce on." So I guess her hair looks like spaghetti to her.

On Saturday, I had the boys go out and pull a few weeds in the front yard. I was explaining to Garrett how to pull the weeds and he said, "Mom, this is kind of dumb. You know that God makes these things grow right back. We are outside mom and green stuff is suppose to grow so why would we pull it up?" I have to agree with him but we needed them pulled.

Tia let us know this week that when she grows up that she is going to be a "rock star" and when she is not being a "rock star" she will be a "professional dancer" or maybe just a "karate girl." She followed this up by singing....."Someday Tia's gonna be a famous rock star....." to the tune of Taylor Swifts song Mean at the top of her lungs.

Garrett stopped while putting ice in the glasses one night last week for dinner and said, "Dad, who keeps putting the ice in here?" After a year of never seeing us put ice in the ice maker he wondered who put it there.

It is always fun to watch them have new experiences and I love to see them discover their new world even one year later.

Our First Year Home

A year ago we were making our way home- Never in a million years could I have guessed what an amazing homecoming we would arrive home to. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of love at the airport and it was priceless to bring Tia and Garrett into our home for the first time. To see them explore every square inch of our home, open every cabinet and drawer, turn on every light, run water in each sink or tub, climb on their beds, looking at each toy, turning on and off the remote controlled ceiling fan, opening the pantry full of food, seeing the ovens in the wall, pouring water out of the fridge, and both grinning from ear to ear.
To think of all that they have experienced in one short year is mind blowing to me. To remember that a year ago they knew very little English when we arrived home amazes me as I hear them speak and read. To see them feel so comfortable in our home and with us is something that we prayed for and it is a joy to experience. Just yesterday Tia and one of her siblings were in a little disagreement and David said to me, "This is what we wanted for Tia and Garrett to act like siblings with Megan, Kaylee, Jacob and Lindsay!" I smiled as I agreed and praised God again for a year that has exceeded all of my dreams and expectations.

Empty......

These containers that hold grain in Werke's hut apparently have been empty for a while. Many of you have contacted me over the past few days wanting an update on her medical condition yet every time I sit down to write an update I am not sure that I can even type with the tears that flow down my face. So here it goes......

Werke traveled to Addis late last week and had an MRI, ultrasound and blood work. On Friday Nicco took her to get the results of the testing and although her condition is better than we first thought, it is heart breaking to me. The doctor came in and explained that her medical issues are all due to malnutrition. As the doctor was talking and asking her questions she broke down and cried as she explained to the physician that she goes four or five days at a time without food in order to feed her children. Due to the fact that Werke has not been eating she has damaged several of her organs. Several of her organs are enlarged and not working properly now simply because she has been starving. The doctor gave her two units of blood and some medication in hopes to help her liver function.

I have known for over a year that Tia and Garrett were placed into an orphanage because of the poverty that Werke faced. This is more of a reality to me now more than ever. The sad part to me is that Nicco has money provided by us to care for Werke's basic needs yet she was embarrassed to let him know of her needs. At first I was upset that Werke had not been honest when Nicco would ask if she had needs yet when I started to think about myself in her position I am sure that I would have done the same. She explained to Nicco that she wanted to be able to care for her family and I am sure if I were her I would have been embarrassed to have needed help. I hope that she now realizes that we will take care of her needs and that she never has to be embarrassed with us or with Nicco.

I simply can't imagine..........she has been going to bed every night hungry. Not hungry like we think of hungry because we missed one meal or our bedtime snack but a hungry that we will never know. I can't imagine being at a place of almost starving to death yet Werke has found herself there. I can't imagine being a mom who is alone on a small remote island with literally no food.

Werke stayed in the city with Nicco this weekend and he was helping reintroduce her to eating. Apparently when you haven't had much food for a while your body rejects it when you begin to consume again. If she was able to eat properly by today (Monday) then he was taking her to purchase four types of grain, spices and anything else that he felt that she and the kids would need for the next six months. He will then return her to the island and make sure that she has more than enough food to care for her family until David's visit in a few months.

Please join me in praying for Werke. Pray that she will know that she is loved and that her basic needs will be provided for. Pray that she will feel God's love by His provision for her and her family. Pray for her heart to be open to receive the love, joy, peace and comfort that only He can give.

Thanks for praying..........

Thanks for praying.........
Werke was willing to travel with Nicco today to Addis to get the medical care that she needs. Here is a photo of her and Allo (a sibling of Tia and Garrett and you can read more about her from my blog on Aug 31, 2010 labeled Need.....) as they took the long 2 hour boat ride to the mainland this afternoon. They then traveled by car for 3 hours and so I am sure that they are tired and scared.
Werke will see a doctor tomorrow morning and so please pray that the doctor will quickly be able to know the extent of what her health situation is.
Thanks for thinking of our family- many of you have contacted us on how to help and for this we are so thankful!

Thoughts.......

I had more time today to think than I do on a usual day. David and I had to take a quick road trip and so we had several hours in the car both yesterday and today to talk, reflect and enjoy time together. Yesterday was full of talking about us and today we had a few things to talk about that we wish we didn't have to even think about.
We received word today that Tia and Garrett's birth mom is very ill. We were told early last week that she had typhoid but after being medically evaluated something more is going on.

I spoke to Nicco on the phone today and after having an ultrasound (not as modern as our ultrasounds) Werke has a large growth or tumor near one of her ovaries. This will need to be surgically removed in order for her to regain her health. She will need to leave from the island and travel to Addis to get the medical help that is needed. As Nicco was sharing me the information that he had gathered my heart was breaking for this lady that I have come to love- Here are a few of my thoughts:

Who will care for her?
Who will care for her six kids while she is away from the island having surgery?
How can she have surgery in a place where medical care is so poor?(a broken arm was unbelievably scary when it came to health care)
How will she ever be able to heal in an environment where she is expected to do so much to care for the basic needs of her family?
How long has she been so very ill without the opportunity to seek health care?
How scared must she be to know that they only hope to get better is surgery yet she has no money to get the help she needs?

My thoughts then went beyond Werke's health:

How does she live every day and night in her hut which is in the photo above? This photo is from last week and as you can see it is in need of much repair. When we visited her last summer we purchased an orange tarp to cover the roof until a new roof could be constructed. Obviously this has yet to happen and so her home is open to all of the outside elements. Below you can see where she and the kids sleep. Notice the water marks on the wall and the ground where the roof is not providing protection for them.

What does it feel like to be so ill and yet lay on the ground to rest and sleep? As I saw the photo last week of her sitting on her "bed" I was reminded yet again of the contrast between her life and mine. Each night as I crawl into my nice, fluffy, king size bed I forget that so many in our world are sleeping on the hard ground. To think of her in pain trying to get comfortable on the wet dirt floor of her hut makes my heart break.

Who is caring for the kids while she is not feeling well? David and I both noticed that Tia and Garrett's siblings didn't seem very happy in the photos taken last week. They were very happy and excited when we were there yet in the photos from last week they didn't seem very joyful. I am sure that they are each very scared. Welde (the oldest brother) and their older sisters remember when their father died and so I am sure that they are worried about their mom. Tia and Garrett often say that when people got sick on the island then people would be very afaid because when people would get sick they usually would die. This must be a very real thought for the six kids who are watching their mother progressively get more ill.

Here are a few thing that I know:

I would give up my bed, pack it up and overnight it to Werke if I could. I would sleep on the ground in her place right now if I could so that she could be comfortable in my bed while she is ill. How could I not?

I know that God wants to me to go and help care for Werke if/when she agrees to have surgery. A trip to Ethiopia may come very soon for me. This is overwhelming to me yet I know that today God clearly told me to go. How could I not?

Our family will find a way to provide for all of her medical expenses. I am not sure of how we will do this but how can we not?

I am going to be proactive the next few days finding the best care for Werke in Addis. If you happen to know of a great physician in Ethiopia please let me know. I do have a contact with a Hospice nurse in Addis and I hope to be able to contact her soon.


I know that these are all rambling thoughts and not very put together but this is where I find myself and my thoughts tonight. We are trying to protect Tia and Garrett from worrying about Werke and so each night we are praying for Werke to be healthy. We just ask that you join us in praying for her and not mention this to Tia and Garrett.

Pray specifically tonight that as we sleep that Werke would be willing to travel from the island with Nicco to get the treatment that she needs in Addis. I know that it will be scary for her and the unknown is great yet she needs to receive this medical care in order to regain her health. Praise God yet again that Nicco is willing to help us love on our extended family when we can't.

Below is a photo of Werke (sitting on her bed). I hope that God will remind you of your many blessings as you look at this photo and as you pray for her and her precious family.

A True Gift......

On Mother's day 2009, Megan gave me an amazing gift that I will never forget. She ordered a silver necklace that was the shape of Africa and on it was a tiny heart imprint over Ethiopia. She made it extra special by having Tizita and Geremew engraved on the back of the necklace for me. Megan knew how hard the wait had been on me while waiting to bring Tia and Garrett home and I know that she hoped that this gift would help me with the wait. I remember crying as I opened the necklace and when I put it on my neck I was determined to not take it off until our twins came home.

Fast forward to August of 2010. As we were climbing off of the boat and onto Zedachu island I started to think about the special gift that hung around my neck. I never in a million years wanted to hurt Megan's feelings but something deep inside me wanted the freedom to give this special gift to Werke (the twins birth mom) if I felt it appropriate while we were spending the day with her. After I climbed off of the boat I found Megan and started a conversation with her about the necklace that was so special to both of us. I wanted to know if she would be hurt if I felt led to leave it with Werke. Megan was excited about the idea of Werke sharing in this special gift.

We enjoyed our time on the island and as we were saying our goodbyes I quickly removed my necklace and gently placed it around Werke's neck. Tears were flowing down my face as I pointed out to her that Tizita and Geremew were engraved on the back. Nicco translated for me as I told her that this was a special gift that I wanted her to have. A gift to help her daily remember that Tizita and Geremew were being loved and cared for. I am so thankful that we had many friends all around taking photos and someone captured this special moment.

Fast forward again to last week. A family and friend from our church spent the day on the island in Ethiopia. Our friends were not expected on the island and when they arrived at Werke's hut they found her sleeping. She is ill with Typhoid that has been hard to treat from what I understand. (Please do not mention this to Tia and Garrett as we are protecting them from worry) She was able to get up and spend time enjoying photo book that we sent to her and enjoying the company of our friends. It was such a blessing to our family to know that our extended family there was feeling loved on and cared for one day last week.

Last night I was able to see a few photos that our friend took while on the island. As we looked at each photo I was amazed at the growth of each of Tia and Garrett's siblings and it was fun to see Werke enjoying the photo book that we made for her. As I continued to view the photos I got to one that literally took my breath away. It was a close up photo of the precious gift that my daughter had given me as it hung around Werke's neck last week. As I saw the engraved letters of my precious children's names I started to cry. The very gift that had brought me joy and comfort for months is now doing the very same thing to a special mom half way around the world.

Please join us in praying for Werke's health. We will continue to check in with her and send updates when we hear about her condition. It is my understanding that she was going to travel off of the island to seek medical help in the coming days.

Safe.........

A year ago yesterday was one of the most amazing days of my life. A day where God answered what seemed like millions of prayers and blessed our family with two new Henderson's. I literally cry when I think about the emotions of that day.

We woke up early (actually I barely slept at all the night before) and the six of us got ready and headed down for breakfast in the dining room of the guest home. We were all fairly quiet and I think that all six of us had the same nervous feelings. We knew that in a few short hours Tia and Garrett would either be a part of our family or God would have more mountains to move to help get them into our family.

After breakfast we all grabbed our bottles of water and waited for Heiskel our van driver to arrive. We all piled in the van and made sure that Heiskel knew where we needed to be. He assured us that he had spoken with Nicco and he knew where we were going. I don't remember much about the drive other than feeling very nervous and praying the entire way. We really didn't know what to expect in the court room because we were the very first family under the new law which required adoptive parents to attend court.

We arrived at the court building to be told we were at the wrong place. David and I stood with all four kids in an unknown place, unable to speak the language but we understood that the armed guard was telling us that we were at the wrong place. I remember a tear starting to run down my face as we stood not knowing what to do. David quickly called Nicco and he explained that we indeed were at the right place and that he and Werke would be there in less than five minutes. Sure enough we were at the correct place and once the guard spoke with Nicco he understood why we were there.

I will never forget the brief conversation that took place outside the building. One that still makes my heart ache yet I was so thankful to be a part of. Werke was sitting in the front passenger seat of Nicco's car with the door open and Nicco and I were standing on the street right beside her. Nicco was explaining to her what he expected court to be like and of course I didn't understand a word that he was saying as he spoke to her. I then inquired on what he was saying and he ask her one other question. He was making sure that she understood that Tia and Garrett would not be returning to her but would be with us forever. Overwhelmed by emotion I turned as Werke got out of the car and we all proceeded into the courthouse.

We climbed several sets of very old stairs and finally reached the room where we were to wait for court. We were some of the very first people there. The room had dirty cream colored walls and about forty chairs lined the perimeter of the room. It looked nothing like what I had envisioned yet I really wasn't sure what to expect. It was a very cold atmosphere and this didn't help my nervousness.

We waited for what seemed to be hours for our agency and paperwork to arrive. David almost got us into trouble by making photos and thankfully Nicco was there to stop us from getting kicked out of the court house. Finally our name was called. David, myself, our biological kids, Werke, Nicoo and two people from our agency entered into the judges office. We all sat down and I remember us all being very crowded. We were in a very long skinny office where we all ten were on one side of the room and the judge and her office staff were on the other.

The judge started off by asking questions to Werke. Questions I am sure that had to be heart breaking to her but again I couldn't understand the language. Werke answered the questions and then it was our turn. She spoke to us in English and had and several questions for David, myself and even Megan. I realized as David was answering a question that I was more nervous than I had ever been in my life- So much so that I had broken out in hives. After the questioning she looked over all of our paperwork and said, "Tizita and Geremew are now yours!" Tears started to flow and David grabbed my hand. We stood to walk out of the judges office and I felt as if a weight had been lifted from me. They were finally ours!

As we climbed back down the stairs with tears flowing down my face I praised God that He hadn't allowed us to give up. On those days that we were told that they would never be adoptable, when their birth family couldn't be located, when Werke went missing, when paperwork couldn't be collected, when lower courts were closed, when mountain after mountain was ahead of us God was asking us to trust Him and I am so thankful that we did. Those days full of tears, nights with very little sleep, days where David and I disagreed on what to do, those nights at bedtime where our kids would ask why, and every prayer that was prayed had been worth it. They were now Henderson's and nothing could change that.

When we reached the van we invited Werke to go to the orphanage with us to pick up Garrett and Tia. We also invited her to join us for lunch and I am so very thankful that she said yes to both. Our drive to the orphanage seemed long because I couldn't wait to tell the twins that they were ours and that they were going to the guest house with us and would never be alone again. I prayed for Werke as we traveled there for her heart to be opened to Christ and His love for her even in this hard situation.

We pulled up and it was as if I heard God say, "Mendy, let her go first." I held our kids back and allowed Werke to walk in the gate of the orphanage first. Tia and Garrett both ran to her and hugged her and I leaned close to David and said, "I don't know if I can do this." I wasn't sure I could watch them interact yet something in me knew I needed to see their interaction. Again tears were flowing as she kissed them and spoke to them. I didn't understand her language yet I knew what she was saying. The scene was heartbreaking yet so very special at the same time.

As soon as they had a few minutes we walked closer for them to see us and they were told that we had passed court. Tia and Garret both we so excited and hugged each of us. They both could not wait to leave they started saying chow to everyone and they wanted to leave quickly. We gathered the blankets that we had brought to them in November off of their beds and I ask if they had anything else. The workers at the orphanage said no the clothing that they had on was all that they had. Again, overwhelmed with the realization that our kids had nothing yet now they had everything.

We all climbed in the van and Garrett found his place beside Jacob and Tia on my lap. Werke again was in the front and at this time she feel into the shadows. As Heiskel started to pull of in the van Tia screamed and started to cry. She had only traveled once in a car and she was scared to death. I was again reminded of how many new experiences would be ahead for us with both of them. Once we got her to calm down she was fine but that first ride in the van she squeezed my arms the entire way to lunch.

When we arrived at the restaurant we walked over to the table and I remembered that our kids had never sat at a table to eat. We helped them sit in their chairs and we scooted them up close to the table. We helped them unfold their napkins and they couldn't believe the silverware. They both ordered soda and that was another first for them. The giggled as they took their first fizzy sip and made funny faces as they drank. Garrett collected the bottle tops from the entire table and put them in his pocket. We had an amazing lunch and I am so thankful that they had David, myself. our kids, Nicco and Werke there with them for this very special lunch.

After lunch Nicco and Werke said goodbye very quickly and headed off. We then took Tia and Garrett to get their first ice cream cones. That was a sight as Garrett bit the bottom of his cone first and he wore ice cream on his shirt until we arrived at the guest house. Tia loved her chocolate ice cream and smiled from ear to ear as she ate it. We were together alone for the first time as our party of eight and I was simply amazed at God's goodness to us.

We arrived back at the guest house after our ice cream and it was shower time for Tia and Garrett. I will never forget Tia saying Thank you over and over as I gave her a warm shower. I was so thankful for Megan's help because there were time that I was crying so hard that I couldn't help Tia and Megan would take over. Tears of sheer joy as my daughter showered in warm water for the first time in her life. The same scene unfolded when David showered Garrett. A warm shower- something we never are thankful for yet it was bringing such joy to our kids.

The day continued with showing them their new cloths and shoes and Garrett unable to believe that he had more than one pair of shoes. He tried to give his other shoes to Jacob and Lindsay. We played games, colored, introduced them to electronic games, to a million pictures and simply enjoyed being together as a family. Memories that we will each cherish forever were made that day.

My favorite time was bedtime- I had longed to tuck them both in, read a Bible story and pray as I do with all of our kids. I had dreamed of this precious time and it was more amazing that I could have ever dreamed. To hug all six kids, give them all kisses, and tuck them in all in the same room was a miracle and I knew it! I shut the door to their room, rejoiced in the Lord, and slept better than I had in two long years knowing that they were safe.