August 2010~
Hello from sunny California! This is your friend, Terri Ruth Ben Ami, writing; hope this finds all of you well (or reasonably so)!
Tovah (my husband) and I have been busy working on our adoption. Yes, we already have four kids (five if you count Nashi, who continues to live on in our hearts), but God led us to add to the family. Therefore, we are adopting again. This time, we are adopting a little boy from Africa. His name is Jabari, and he is two years old, just a tiny little peanut of a thing. He is so cute! We have already fallen in love with him, and the question of the day is: "When will our brother be here?" (this asked from the kids).
As you can imagine, Hyman, Wallace, and Mordechai are excited at having a little brother (or at least the boys are). Alyssa, however, feels a little left out because she is the only girl. I tell her we love her just as much as we always have, and the arrival of a new brother from Africa isn't going to reduce that love. We are going to love her, foreever and ever.
In just a few weeks, the kids will be back in school. I am looking forward to it; maybe then, Tovah and myself can have some "together-time", with just the two of us. The kids will be out of our hair. LOL We can also continue our foundation that we started in Nashi's memory, for families of kids who have (or had) Canavan disease (or any other neurodegenerative disorders).
The weather here has been hot. Yes, even in California, it's been rather steamy. The kids have spent a lot of time swimming or running around; meanwhile, Tovah and I have to keep a close eye on them, to make sure they don't get sick from the heat, or too much in the way of sun. We've gone through more tubes of sunscreen or mosquito repellent ... *Sigh*
Of course, everyone in our neighborhood knows that we are "adding to the family". A few of them keep thinking I am pregnant; I tell them, nope. Adopting. That usually satisfies their curiosity, but I can tell that some of them are puzzled by our little mini United Nations of a family. LOL That's okay. As long as they don't make any rude comments or whatnot, then we're okay with that because we know that they accept us in the long run.
I am also busy with the temple, and being a member of the Jewish Women's League; every month we have meetings, and we get together for potluck suppers, game night, or just to talk. Believe me, when you get a bunch of women together, we have a regular gabfest! LOL We always have a great time!
The kids still go to their Hebrew classes every Saturday. Hyman and Alyssa have picked it up and speak it fluently. Poor Mordechai, with his repaired cleft palate, is left with speech problems, and so it is extremely hard for him to try to pronounce some of the Yiddish words, but he tries so hard! And Wallace, who came to us from China, isn't having much luck either. It's hard for him to speak English without adding Yiddish to the mix; he's rather speak his native Chinese! LOL I tell the boys to try their best; that's all they can do, and we'd still be proud of them, no matter what.
We should be hearing anytime from our adoption caseworker, on when little Jabari is due to arrive from Kenya. Hopefully it will be soon; we've been waiting now for five months now! (Jabari was born with one hand missing and a deformed leg; otherwise, he is in perfect health.) We cannot wait to hold our newest son in our arms and shower him with love, hugs, and kisses!
Well, I am going to go. Today we are taking the kids shopping for their school supplies and new uniforms, so I will write in here again soon. It is going to be a very long day. Until then, this is Terri Ben Ami saying so long; may Yeshua bless you abundantly!
~Love, your friend in California, Terri Ruth. :)
