You'll have the best teachers!

Dear Levi,

Tonight as we sat around in the living room, you came up again in our conversation. Your brother and sisters are so excited about you. They asked tonight when we'd get to see your picture. I told them only the Lord knew that timing, but that you were somewhere in Ethiopia I was sure. We're busily working on our paperwork and it is fun to imagine what it will be like the first time we see your picture and sweet face. Dakota said she imagines what you'll look like sometimes too. She said "he'll have curly hair". Canyon said he thought you'd have really short hair and big brown eyes. He said your skin was medium dark.

The conversation then turned to how scared you would be when you first came home. Daddy asked the kids if they'd be scared if someone they didn't know came and took them from the only place they knew, got on a big airplane for a long time and arrived in a whole new country - Africa. He explained, imagine when they got there, they'd look different than most everyone else ... their skin would be white while their new families was black. He told them that they'd speak a different language, play different games, eat different kinds of food, they would smell different, their city would look different and more. That hit home with your brother. He said he'd be really scared and he wanted to pray for you. He was sure at first you'd be quiet. Daddy said you would definitely probably be scared when you got home. He told them that while we were preparing our home and hearts for you, that you may be very unaware that someday you'd be in our home. Levi, my prayer is that while we are preparing here ... that the Lord is preparing you there. The Lord who created you knows just what day you'll be placed in our arms. I'm asking him even now to begin to prepare your little heart for that day!

Canyon said he wanted to teach you all about sports. He said he'd show you what a bat was, how to hit a baseball. Dakota said she would teach you how to speak english. Little Maliah piped in and said "Oh Mommy, you know Levi, I'm gonna teach him how to color. I'll show him on my page, and then I'll give him a crayon and say now it's your turn to try". She also said she'd teach you the letters and the sounds they make since now she has that mastered.

Levi, your going to have the best big brother and sisters. They can be a little crazy at times. As they were giggling away tonight and being so silly, I imagined what you might think when you first came home. I hope that you will jump in with them and be just as silly. Or, Levi, if you want, your Mommy would be happy to have you sit next to her on the couch, giggle while you watch them and just let me hold you while you "Get to know us".

Thinking of you tonight! In the middle of our family fun ... you were not far from our hearts!