ethiopian roots run deep.

it's late Thursday night + I'm having one of my "in the mood" late photo editing nights.
thinking about the day.
seriously, adoption has changed our whole life.
it has expanded our world view ten fold.
people that we might never have had the opportunity to know, we now consider family.

I mean, when did we ever go over to our "ethiopian parents" house for coffee ceremonies?
or go to gotcha day parties + celebrate orphans no more being in their forever families?

it's insane.
and I love every minute.


we want our kids to KNOW all about their culture.
so we love when getanah & wosene speak to them in amharic + even oromo (their tribal language)
we love it when we participate in one of the greatest traditions of their home culture - the coffee ceremony.

we love it when they have friends who come from the same places as they do.

tonight, as our sweet friend Lana's daughter Eva Rose met Camp + Asher for the first time, Lana told her simply that they come from the same place that she does.

Eva just studied Asher and said in her 3 year old voice, "mommy she has hair just like me & Lomi do".  Yes, Eva she sure does.  and her skin is the same as yours.
Eva strokes her skin and says an enthusiastic, "yeah!"
"and her eyes are black too"

simple conversation but it still stole my heart.

I love that that four little girls who once lived as orphans in Ethiopia, can now call each other friends in Midland Texas.  they can relate to each other.  even at a young age.  

I'm so thankful for the adoptive families that we are blessed to call friends!

and those of you who are adopting & don't know ANYONE who's adopting in your area... rest assured, we didn't either when we started this thing.  the bond of adoption runs thick.  you will meet "your people"!  pray for an adoption boom in your city! 

Emme, it was an honor to celebrate your gotcha day tonight.  I can't believe it's been 1 year since you've been home.  I still remember so well sitting in YOUR room with YOU IN IT just in awe.  after months of no Emme in that room, that day you spun me around in your chair it all became real.
you are a beautiful joyful  and have the best-laugh-ever + I'm blessed to know you! (jennas blog here!)

camp + asher, may you never lose your Ethiopian roots.  

happy friday yall! 

 in case you missed it this week:

I guest posted over on my girl Tara's blog here. 

talking about my No. 41 bag! 

What our January looks like

I was really really excited when Cass asked me to be a part of this little blog circle.  to document our lives with pictures.  every month of the year.  can't wait to look back & see each month what that month looked like.  As you will soon see, I am not afraid to photograph my kids when my house is a mess.  and I have horrible natural light.  or when my kids are unbathed.  when their hair is a mess + they are still in their pjs.  yep.  because that is real life.  and that's what this is all about.  real life.  some of these pictures you've already seen (sorry about that) but some are images I took today.  this is good - this is going to make me bust out my "real camera" aka my DSLR and capture the memories and moments that happen in our house day after day.  We will be making a complete blog circle, so when you're done here, be sure to check out Cass and make your way through the circle until you find your place back here.  That way, you'll know you've made your way through the circle.

last night as I was rocking Asher at midnight, I thought "this is real life".  this is a picture I probably won't ever have, but it's etched in my memory.  those late night rocks as I hold her close and pray over her.  sometimes (like tonight) I wanted to cry as she is being a little stubborn and does not want to sleep, but nevertheless it's a moment and a memory I don't ever want to forget.

January has been cold.  like it snowed.  so we've been spending lots of time inside.  and I absolutely dream of the day it's warm & we can be outside all the time.  but I don't want to fall into the category that "once it's summer" I'll be happy.  I want to be happy and content in the here & now.  even when it's cold & we spend the majority of our days inside in our pjs (yes, even me).  

it snowed the first week of January.

it was such a magical time & was so glad daddy was home to enjoy it with us! 

camp + asher love it when we read.  and our nighttime routine is one of my favorite parts of the day.  although we don't always read them a book, I love it because Stephen is home and we do it together.  we feed em (and usually jam out while we eat), get em all clean & lotioned and in their jammies.  then when we do bottles .  then most every night, not every we sit in their room together and each feed one and we pray.  you see, I am for some reason always an awkward prayer just w/ stephen and so now that the kids are home it's so much easier.  it's the perfect time and we know every night when we are in there together we pray.  it's become one of my most favorite parts of the day.  

eating is always fun.  messy.  and asher started eating cheerios so you know they are all over the floor.  ever since camp got his tubes in his ears he's been such a better eater!  they sit in these chairs facing each other and if I'm feeding em alone I sit in the middle & take turns giving bites.  

we spend a good amount of time in my studio.  it's where I used to meet with photography clients (and maybe one day will again) and have all my noonday samples in there - but now it's just my space for computer time & a little play area for the kids.  I love this picture even though it's poor light b/c this is so asher.  on. the. move. 

this is maybe mean, but it's so funny that camp always wants to play with ashers girly toys.  i'm chalking it up to africa.  there is no gender preference with clothes or toys when they are babies. 

and lastly, reading.  this pic is of Camp + my mentor, Becca.  the one who's katie's mom?  she's like my midland mom.  comes over just right when I need her.  like tonight when Stephen was gone on business and I wanted to pull my hair out.  

anyway, camp is a book man.  seriously, if he's crying - read him a book.  if the book is over - and he cries - get him another book.  this boy is a scholar. i'm just saying. 

finally.  I think this will be a great place for me to put my weekly pics of the kids. 

it was one of our family goals for 2013.  take a picture of them every week to track their progress.  

1.5.13

asher said her first word this week, "baby"

camp started eating much better + getting in crawling position

1.13.13

this picture was right before we took em to church for the first time

alright!  that's all folks. 

stay tuned for what our february looks like

(which will include BIRTHDAYS!) 

for memories sake.

so by now yall have probably figured out that I have a really amazing real life BFF that also happens to be a adoptive momma + blogger! Jenna!  thats a pretty rare find in our neck of the woods and I'm so very grateful for her.  We compliment each other in many ways.  for example, she crafts and I take the pictures. hah.  but for real, you know when I told you about this book?  it's all about living a better story.  it's what Donald miller wrote this book about - what he learned in editing his life (for a movie).  basically that his life was boring.  it takes great INTENTION to live a good story.

sometimes you don't want to be creative, or go the extra mile or simply get out of your pjs (in this case, we didn't).  but I promise every time I've made the effort to make a memory - I've never regretted it.

that's how this super fun NYE party came about.  we wanted to do something really fun with our kids - something we wouldn't forget.  something we could do year after year.  and we did it!  and i'm so proud.  jenna is the crazy one who spent hours upon hours crafting, so you can check out here blog HERECOCOCOCOCOCO for all those details.  

**i'm all about keeping the memories alive with fun traditions and ideas for the kids, check out my board on Pinterest here.  

but I'll just show you our super fun night through pictures!  

Jenna had little brown paper bags with an activity for each hour.  this hour was "photoshoot".  she got fun masks and beads at the dollar store.  isn't her family hilarious?  

my hubs ;) 

as we were trying to wait out midnight....we played some games!

that was after of coarse a dance party, you tube watching, dinner, wine, coffee, decorating party  hats, photo shoots and did I mention eating? 

now THIS was the coolest thing.  don't ask me how her little brain comes up with these things but she wanted to have a "balloon drop"

so after we watched the ball drop in New York and toasted our bubbly (and sparkling for the kids) we woke up camp + asher and her kids pulled the string for the balloons to fall!

I always get a tad emotional on new years eve.  thinking back from the year + looking forward to the future! 

alright, it's about time (haha) that you head over to jennas blog (link here) for some inspiration on your 2013 NYE party! 

What are your favorite memory makers?

love this "story" community + keep it coming

pretty magical. 

the past few days the weather has been dreamy.
snowy, overcast, perfect coffee by the fire type weather.

after this pic was taken, my sweet Camp got tubes in his ears (thanks for the prayers - are we instagram firends yet...we should be...wynne4), my hubby got sick, and my sweet Asher girl too.  (oh, and Eli the dog - so fun waking up to about 9 piles of dog dodo in my studio)

so I've pretty much been homebound the past few days, and I have LOVED reading all of your STORIES on the comments from my "nice to meet you" post.  
I have literally gone through EVERY SINGLE comment (and they are still pouring in!), visited your blog, connected with you and been totally humbled and in awe that we get to walk this life together.

seriously!  yall have amazing stories + I'm so thankful for you sharing your hearts.
one thing I love is connecting people - so I am new to this "reply" comment thing on the post, but I tried it out & I love it.
So go back to the post, and join the conversation.
and look through others stories because I'm petty sure so many of you have so much in common.

I'd love for this space not to be just about ME telling MY story, but all of you telling yours.
so comment, reply to each others comments, let's be in community!
*I am a pinterest girl + I started a brand new board after being inspired by all of your stories called "stories"  and you can find it here.

I think it's so cool how God works.
Right before we found out we were cleared for embassy, my husband I went on a little road trip.
and we brainstormed.  and I talked about how much I love hearing and telling peoples stories.  and being challenged by people. and LIVING a better story.  

have yall read this book yet?
well, I'm re reading it because it's that good.
it's a book about living a better STORY!
*I also have a link for books that changed me here (at the bottom).

anyway!  we brainstormed this really amazing way to share our stories on this space.
and our little trip to Ethiopia + first few weeks home with the babes delayed that a bit, but I'm really excited to share it with you TOMORROW!

I call it, the ANY BODY campaign.
and i can't wait to share it with you.

it's simply about this -
sharing stories, encouraging, challenging, connecting, telling the stories HE wrote for us. 

so keep sharing yours with us here.  we are all in this together.
and check back tomorrow for all the details of this amazing project God laid on my heart!!

2012 in review.

2012 has been quite the year.  

(our story via Fotolanthropy coming soon!)

from ringing in the new year in Rwanda to having our two sweet precious ethiopians home with us by christmas (and spending 2+ months living in the country that holds my heart) I'd say 2012 was a pretty darn good year. 

I've never done this before, but I wanted to go through and chose some of my favorite posts from 2012 (obviously I had a hard time narrowing them down).  I didn't realize how much it would ignite my soul.  reading through my fears and dreams from earlier this year & how God answered them and what He did.  as Jenna said, he's so good and faithful even when we are blind & can't see it.  He's been oh so faithful to me.  and this year was quite the journey - the glorious ending to a 2+ year adoption process and being called "mommy" for the first time. 

I can't wait to see what He has in store for 2013! and instead of telling you all my resolutions & goals now...I'll just try to live it + tell the story later.  

(I did these posts in the order they happend - and realized if you are new here, you'll pretty much know who I am and what I'm about after reading a few of these) 

I need Africa

picking up the pieces 

totally feel like that prayer was finally answered.  

affections are stirred

date with god

created for care

ready for camp (1st referral post!) 

when thank you isn't enough

the itch to go

power of relationships

when we visit orphans

dear camp

free to be me

doubling the love (the camp + asher announcement) 

camp + asher story

mommas

africa travel must have list (my go to!) 

restored (story behind my tat) 

be a catalyst

on my heart: africa

a shower for camp (baby shower pics!) 

good team (I love my hubby) 

its time, ethiopia bound!  (court date) 

the day I became a mom (probably my favorite post all year!) 

He has MORE! 

happy 30th stephen

passion for the lost

my missionary summer (living in addis abbaba, Ethiopia) 

changed me 

c+a update

the city

24/7 prayer

they are coming home!!!!

he sets the lonely in families

kissed by grace

perfect timing (if you read any of these posts...you should read this one!) 

I used to wonder

purchase with purpose (responsible/fair trade shopping ideas!) 

welcome home camp + asher

Welcome Home Camp + Asher

After a long 31 hour trip, we were so ready to be HOME!
In the adoption world, the "airport party" is something you DREAM about.
being welcomed home by your closest friends + family
everyone showing up with signs and balloons, smiling and crying and ready to meet your new babes.

and THIS party did not disappoint.

my mom & dad waiting upstairs

(we had our immediate family upstairs so they could be the FIRST to meet/see/welcome Camp + Asher)

here we come!

making sure they were real close!

MY FAVE!!!  such a moment to be celebrated!!!!

a highly anticipated moment for me (literally, a moment dreamed about for 2 years!)

all decked out in their shirts!

and with their signs! 

one of my best friends, Allison, has been through ALL the trying-to-start-a-family stuff with me.  

she went through the bad & the ugly so it was so fun to celebrate the GOOD!!

so special!  my other Alison!  so fun to see the joy on my friends faces! 

love this picture for so many reasons.  that's me & my mentor, Becca.  her daughter Katie was the one who "started it all" as we say.  such a special moment!  and LOVE that the kids were the first to run up!  thanks Dustin for this treasured image. 

Sommer recently told me this, "Thank you for the 20+!!! questions K has about your little ones. Thank you for answering so many yourself & for the invaluable lesson she is learning about the words #orphan #redemption and love that I could never teach her without YOUR story. Here is to the incredible gift of making me..us..the Bledsoe's...personally apart if your story! Gloriously ruined!!!"

Holly & I started this process at hte same time in 2010.  We went to the first adoption conference together - the one when God really spoke to Stephen.  SO fun to have our first picture of my Asher & her Moses (although you can't really see his face! ha) 

this hug.  I could cry just thinking about it.  Jenna is my adoption soul sister.  well she's my soul sister, adoption just brought us together.  and this moment.  well, it was long awaited for. 

my accountability.  my bible study girls.  my life long friends.  what started as a "no kids" thing has now become a "new kids" thing.  and I"m so very grateful to experience motherhood with you two.  

family!  stephen's side.

my fam. 

the WHOLE gang.

how humbling is it to have this many of your friends show up to welcome, support and love on your two newest little ones?!?!  

God is ABLE to do immeasurably more than ALL we can ask or imagine!
Ephesians 3:20

All photographs by Mallory Buck for Fotolanthropy.
so thankful & so excited that they came alongside of us and are helping us tell our story.
read more on fotolanthropy blog
and I'll let you know when our FILM is out!
** and read the story & see the images of the day we MET the kids via fotolanthropy**