Six Months Today

Today marks six months since Jerome and Ruth came to be part of our family. I can't believe it has been that long! It really doesn't seem that long to me. So much has changed in Jerome and Ruth since they have come. Tonight we are going to celebrate with a German chocolate cake. Jerome really likes coconut. Last week, I made a coconut cream pie. I thought I would try a different recipe tonight that includes coconut. This particular cake includes nuts and coconut in the frosting. I LOVE German chocolate. When I was pregnant with Haven I added walnuts and coconut to my chocolate ice cream on a routine basis! Cameron thought I was strange, but it's really good! (I also had to have parmesan cheese on popcorn, but I digress . . . )

Last night, we went to evening service at church and listened to a singing group, called Majesty, perform. One of the young ladies shared her testimony and imagine our shock when she said that she was born in Liberia. She asked if anyone had heard of Liberia and we nearly fell out of our seats! We just had to go and meet her after the concert. When we introduced Jerome and Ruth, she said that when we walked in (we were a tad late and entered from the front of the santuary so you couldn't miss us with 7 kids) she wondered if our children were from Liberia. She said that she has met so many families across the country during their tour that had adopted from Liberia. That is so cool!

Jerome has been amazing lately. I don't know if his little misbehavior last week was him testing us to see if we will still enforce the rules or what, but since then, he has been such a helper, obedient, kind, and loving. Yesterday, we were at a graduation party for a good friend of ours and Anna sat in Jerome's seat because Elyse took hers, because Ruth took hers, because . . . you get the idea. When Jerome returned to the table (4 person kiddie table) and saw Anna in his seat, I thought he would protest. I geared myself up to negotiate with my 2 oldest. Jerome walked up and as I started to explain, he calmly said "Anna, you can have my seat," and then he knelt on the ground next to the table and ate his food. I reached out for him to give him a hug and I felt myself getting choked up (and I am really not a crier--even through all that we have been through with his behavior I have only cried once). He could tell how much this meant to me and he started to get choked up, too. What a sweet moment.

This morning, he disobeyed Cameron and I--nothing major, but something that had to be addressed. After the incident passed, he sat quietly on the couch. Cameron called him over and asked if he was alright and he said "I feel so guilty." WHAT?! First of all, he named an emotion!! This is a huge breakthrough! Secondly, he showed remorse for his actions instead of anger at us for correcting him. God is truly truly at work in this little boy's heart. I feel my heart connecting with his at times like this. What an answer to prayer!

On a different note . . .

Today at lunch, the children were talking about who their best friends were, and were naming each other and some children from church. Jonas named his list of friends and then added "God is my TROPHY friend." Trophy friend? I asked him. He said that means He's the "BEST!".

May God be the TROPHY friend of each of us today, too!

In Christ, Laura