Christmas Traditions

I love family traditions that bound together generations and this time of year traditions are everywhere: the food we eat, the songs we sing, and the parties we attend. I loved Christmas as a child, and now as a parent of young children I love seeing the magic of the holiday through their eyes. I am so happy Adolf is here to enjoy the holidays with us and share in a few of our family traditions. 

Four years ago I was talking on the phone to my dear friend Shelly and she was telling me about all the wonderful things she had planned with her extended family for the holidays. We had a discussion about the importance of family and how I wish I lived closer to my extended family so I could make holiday memories with them. She said, “Ash, you are family to me and let’s plan a time to decorate cookies.” It meant a lot to me that she took time out of her busy schedule to plan a day to bake and decorate cookies. Thus began a family tradition for us. Now, four years later there are lots more kids participating in the cookie decorating. This year, was extra special as I was able to share this tradition with Adolf and Eva. 

The kids had so much fun squirting frosting all over the cookies and sometimes directly into their mouth. The sprinkles ended up all over the table, floor, clothes, and anything else in the vicinity. Hunter (my six year old) even managed to get frosting in his hair. There were six little cookie decorators in all, four of them under the age of five. They ate way too much sugar and overall I think Operation Cookie Decorate was a success.

Shelly and Adolf Decorating Cookies

A Masterpiece

Baby Hayden preferred to just eat the cookies

Even Eva decorated a cookie!

One of Adolf's cookies

Such a happy guy!

Shelly with the babies

Lots of sugary goodness!

After the cookie decorating the children ran off some of the extra sugar energy by playing in Shelly’s gorgeous backyard. Hunter and Adolf played with a soccer ball and I was so impressed, that even with the limited mobility in his legs, he was able to participate in the game with a smile on his face. His smile and joyful disposition are something that continues to amaze me and others that meet him. Despite, his horrific history he is able to experience joy the way God intended. It is truly something to be admired in this young child. 

Playing soccer together

This is tackle soccer

After a lovely pizza dinner, we headed home as we had about an hour drive ahead of us. I was certain the kids would fall asleep and I could enjoy listening to some Christmas carols while driving along the beautiful California coastline. I was wrong. About fifteen minutes into the drive, the baby, Hayden, started crying. We pulled over and I searched the car and all of our bags for her bottle, only to realize we left it at Shelly’s house. I thought of looking for a grocery store to buy an emergency bottle and milk, but decided against it and continued on our way praying she would fall asleep, but her screaming only increased and caused the rest of the children to remain awake and start whining. Adolf was the only one not crying or fussing at the situation. Fortunately, the 101 Freeway was clear and I was in the fast lane whizzing along at a decent pace. Then baby has stopped crying. I breathed a sigh of relief. Ahhhh….

Suddenly, from the back of the car came my son Hunter’s voice, “MOM! He has Hayden! He is holding Hayden! She is unbuckled! Stop! He is going to kill her!” Here is where I PANIC! Please God do not let me crash at this moment! I frantically searched for an exit and I said in as calm of voice as possible, “Adolf, put the baby back in her seat. She needs to stay strapped when the car is moving. Put the baby back.” In the meantime I prayed, “Dear God, please let him understand my words at this moment. Please keep us safe.” Fortunately, Adolf understood and strapped her back into her seat. Of course, she begins crying again, but this time I seem to not be so affected by it. At least she is in her car seat! Eventually she falls asleep, even without her bottle and everyone else in the car soon does the same (expect me). Although, Adolf broke a cardinal rule of safety in America, I was very impressed with this mature 11 year old wanting and needing to comfort the crying baby. I cannot imagine many children in America would put their own exhaustion and needs aside to comfort a small baby. 

Many people have told me what a blessing we are to Adolf, however; I feel the opposite is true. He is a blessing to us. He has taught us, that no matter the circumstance of your life, joy is found within, to thank God for everything, and to think of others before yourself. He is truly a very special soul, and God has an amazing plan for this child and I am thankful to play a small part in this plan.

Thanksgiving

Today, for the first time I had the privilege of feeling what that First Thanksgiving may have been like as we shared our table with Adolf and Eva (Adolf’s traveling chaperone and interpreter), whose home is twelve time zones away. Four hundred years ago in Plymouth, Massachusetts and today at my dining table two very different cultures came together for fellowship and celebration.

I started out the day, as a typical day in my house with four, and now five, children: laundry and chores. As Eva will be staying with us for a while, I thought I would teach her about some of our modern appliances. She LOVED the washing machine and could not believe it was so easy. In her village, she uses a washboard and bucket and must scrub all the clothes. She showed me scars on her arms from washing. She loved to sit and watch the clothes spin around and around. I also taught her about our vacuum cleaner. She wanted to vacuum the whole house as she was having so much fun with it. (I love her already!) Sharing in her amazement with our modern comforts made me give thanks to God for my washing machine and vacuum, a first for me. (Who is ever thankful for things that we normally associate with work?)

NBC News came out today as well for a follow-up segment on Adolf. When they arrived they said, “Act natural. Just continue to do what you would naturally do.” I am thinking, well, I would probably be folding laundry in my pajamas with my hair in a ponytail and no make-up, but I am not going to let any news agency film me folding my underwear in that state, and it is certainly NOT natural for a camera and news reporter to be following us around. So I pretended to put my pre-cooked turkey in the oven and peel some potatoes in my clothes that didn’t have any kid stains (at least I think they didn’t). They stayed for a few hours, and was relieved when the decided they had enough of us and left. The media stories are not something I was expecting, but it helps the Children’s Burn Foundation, who is financing Adolf’s surgeries raise awareness and money for other children in need, so I put on my happy face and play along.

Friendship and love know no boundaries.

After NBC left, my lovely neighbors, who have two boys of their own, invited Adolf and my six year old son, Hunter over to play. What a wonderful Thanksgiving treat in so many ways. It was incredible watching these children play together. They were laughing, smiling, fighting, wrestling, and playing like any other child. It did not matter to any of them that one was an orphan, doesn’t speak English, cannot walk or stand, and is from a race and culture vastly different than the others. They were children and they wanted to be children. Social boundaries were nonexistent between these children and it was truly one of the most beautiful moments I have ever experienced as a human. What perfectly pure little hearts. I only wish the adults of the human race could act more like these little children.

Enjoying the traditional Thanksgiving feast.

Later in the day, my brother-in-law, Laine, and my husband’s Auntie came to enjoy our traditional Thanksgiving feast. Adolf loved the turkey and the homemade bread by Auntie; however on his first bite, he used his knife to stab the food and bring it to his mouth. We had to teach him not to put the knife in his mouth because it was sharp, and use a fork instead. My four year old, Kelly, thought it was hilarious. “Mommy, why is he eating with his knife?” After dinner, poor Adolf fell asleep on the couch before we even got to dessert. He had a busy few days.

Adolf had a big day and fell asleep before dessert!

My husband is now out with Eva showing him the crazy people waiting in line for the Black Friday sales. I wonder what she will think of Americans who spend all night outside, push, shove, and otherwise try to be the first to get a new TV, iPad, or other hot item. I have never been a fan of Black Friday sales, and maybe someday someone will explain to me the importance of it. Until then, I will send prayers and love to my little Adolf and all of his orphan brothers and sisters in Uganda.  

Adolf's arrival at LAX. I love how attentive my Hunter is to him the whole time.

Fox11 put me to work holding the microphone. The camera guy handed it to me and I really didn't have a chance to say no.

LOVE this picture of my two boys meeting each other. I couldn't be prouder.

PS I am also posting some more pictures of Adolf’s arrival at LAX. Thanks to my Auntie Ann for the photography work. And a BIG thanks to my friend Karen for setting up this Blog and helping me manage it. I really don’t know what I am doing, so if you have any suggestions please leave them in the comment section!

Arrival at LAX

When I was pregnant with my first child, experienced moms and other well-wishes used to say, “Your life will never be the same again,” and “Be prepared for everything to change!” As any parent can testify, these people were correct and life changed in ways I never could have anticipated. Now, four children later, my life has changed many times over, and three days ago I had another life-changing moment as my newest love enter my life, not swaddled in a pink or blue blanket with a squished up face, but as an eleven year old boy being pushed in a wheelchair through the airport.

It was my six year old son, Hunter, who was able to push through the various news crews and get to him first. His first words to the young boy were, “You have a mommy now! And a daddy! You have a whole family.” It was only later in the car ride home from the airport when my husband turned on news radio that we heard Hunter speak these words to his new brother. We both immediately started crying. It was a very proud moment for us and any misgivings we may have had about this adventure, melted away. We knew this was the right choice. Helping others is always the right choice and only good can come of it.

A little bit of a backstory…

Laine walking with orphan children to school. Adolf is the child crawling.

Adolf outside his orphanage in Uganda.

What is this adventure and how did it start? My wonderful brother-in-law, Laine has a servant heart and for the ten years that I have known him, he has always been involved in helping underprivileged children in various ways. A few years ago, he started mission trips to an orphanage in Uganda, Bringing Hope to the Family. He was so inspired by the little children and adults who dedicate their lives to these children he came home and raised money for many improvements to the orphanage, including a school, bunk house and well. (I am sure there are others and he will correct me if he ever gets a chance to read this blog.) On his most recent visit, about seven months ago, a new child, Adolf, was at the orphanage. Adolf was about ten years old (there are no actual records of his birth, so his age will always be estimated) and had suffered such severe burn injuries to his legs that he was no longer able to walk or stand upright. Adolf suffered the injuries when his aunt, his caretaker after the death of his parents, put flaming banana leaves on his legs. He was about six years old. After that time, he left his aunt’s home and wondered the village scavenging for food. The director of the orphanage found him very malnourished and brought him to the orphanage. He had been living on the streets on his own for four years. When Laine returned from Uganda, he was put into contact with the Children’s Burn Foundation. They generously agreed to provide the financial support for Adolf to travel to the United States and receive proper care for his burns by the world-renown burn surgeon, Dr. Grossman. The last step, and sometimes most difficult, was to find a host family to take care of Adolf during his stay. Laine approached me about it and I said YES without even asking my husband, children, or any questions. I knew this was something I would be willing and able to do. Fortunately, my husband also has a Christian heart and agreed to foster Adolf and a chaperone from his orphanage for the duration of their stay.

This blog is about love, compassion, generosity, and myriad of people that have come together to help others. I already feel like I could write a novel about the three days that have passed since his arrival; however, for today I will leave you with one last thought. At the airport, a news reporter asked Adolf (though an interpreter) “What is the first thing you would like to do when you can walk again?”

Adolf responded “Give thanks to God.” What would you have said?