But you are pale and they are brown.

Standing in line at the water slide at our community pool a young boy around 6 or 7 looked at my daughter Katie and I and said, "Hey do you know these kids?"  He was looking at Israel and Dawit and I said yes I do.  They are my kids!!  He slowly looked me up and down and then looked the boys up and down and said, "but you are pale and they are brown." (I decided to look past the word pale since tanning is not possible for this fair skinned lady)   I told him that I had adopted them from Ethiopia and that they were my boys.  I so laughed at his next question.  "So did they just send them too you?"  I briefly told him that we went to Ethiopia twice to meet them and bring them home.  It was his turn to go up the steps and go down the slide and I never saw him again that afternoon, but the short interchange with this young boy will never leave me.  Why will it never leave me?  Because of the joy that came from telling him about our boys.

I know that when I am out and about people look at us and wonder.  They have questions, judgements, opinions, and some just smile and I know that there heart is in line with mine.  I mean really, it is kind of obvious.  They are black and I am white(not pale).  And since a minute does not go by without either one of them saying MOMMY, it is pretty clear that they are mine.

What to do with the looks?  Smile.  Not just a yep those are my boys smile but a smile of pride.  I am proud to be their mom.   I am proud that they came from Ethiopia and that their skin is the color of yummy chocolate and that their hair is the most amazing texture.  I am proud that they are learning english so quickly and that they know what an armadillo is and that they can pick out their name and can count to 20.  I am blessed to be their MOMMY, even though I could take hearing it a little less each day.  I also am super proud of my other kids who love them and care so much for them.  I love to watch them hold their brothers and watch others look and smile.  Yep those are my kids, all 6 of them.  Truly the best thing God has ever given me.(beside my amazing hubby)

We get asked all sorts of questions.  So here are a few,

So did you adopt them?  This is my all time favorite.  It takes all of me to not respond sarcastically.  So I just grin and say yes.

Are they twins?  Still grinning and say yes.

Can I touch their hair?  Only if I can touch yours!  They really don't like their hair being touched just like I don't want a stranger touching my hair.  That would just be weird. 

Who was born first?  We have no idea.  I wish we did.  Most likely they were delivered at home and there are no records. 

Did you get to meet their family?  We met their oldest brother.  Both their parents died of  Malaria.

Will you adopt again?  I think we are done but you never know the path God will lead you.

Do they speak english?  Yep, they say NO very well!!  They are sponges.  Today Dawit told Israel, "just a minute."  Cracks me up every time they say something that I have not heard them say before.

How are your other kids doing with this?  Wonderfully.  They are amazing with them.  They have been home 6 months now and I have to say that they are truly siblings because now their 3 year old brothers can be annoying!!  That's when you know the family is a cohesive unit....the ability to annoy your siblings.

Love to answer questions about adoption.  It truly is the most amazing, life changing journey I have ever been on!!!