Today is an anniversary of sorts for Heidi and I. It was 1 year ago today, that by God's graciousness, Ezra Abera Greenup, was placed in our arms to love & care for as our son. As we look back over the course of this last year, we are humbled by how God has provided a huge measure of grace to our family. We love Ezra with all our heart and are so thankful he is in our family. It is hard to believe that it has only been 12 months since we were in Ethiopia picking him up.
Much has happened over the course of this last year, the biggest change being the arrival of his sister Olivia in March of this year. We don't know what the Lord has in store for us next, but we look forward to see how He will lead us.
Heidi and I looked through our pictures of our trip to Ethiopia as a reminder of that long week in Ethiopia a year ago, but in the end we are so humbled by God's goodness in our lives. We want to be faithful parents who live out the Gospel and point our children to the centrality of the Cross of Christ on a daily basis.
We also look back and have many thanks for so many people who prayed for us and financially helped us in this adoption process.
If any of you are considering adopting a child or children, we would wholeheartedly encourage you to take that step of faith and extend your life, family and home to one or more of the 143 million + orphans in the world. Adopting a child or children has many countless trials, but our Risen Savior provides the necessary faith and endurance to trust Him through it all.
A family picture
He hasn't worn that pink sleeper since he has been with us.
Learning to play and use his nuk
Ezra's first finger food meal
We stayed at John & Mary Righter's (Nana Greenup's sister & husband) on the way over and Ezra got to learn up close about horses.
The kids did exceptionally well in the car for the trip over to Montana and back. We didn't know what to expect, but our expectations of traveling were not that high to begin with. Overall, Ezra did way better than we could have hoped.
