That Silly Jingle...

We woke up this morning to find poor Jingle stuck in a box of cereal. He said he just wanted some breakfast but couldn't quite figure out how to get the cereal out of the box. I bet he thinks twice before doing that again! :)

Today, Jingle wanted us to decorate our house. He said it just doesn't feel like home to him without Christmas decorations everywhere. So, we got down the boxes (about 12 or so) of decorations, turned up the music and had ourselves a house decorating party! It isn't completely finished, but it looks oh so much better! Thank you Jingle for getting us going!

Jingle the Elf...

We had a visitor last night. His name is Jingle the Elf. He was hiding in our house. Apparently Santa thought we might need a little elf making sure we really should be on the nice list. He left us a letter to read this morning telling us he's got some fun stuff planned for our family until Christmas, when he has to go back with Santa to the North Pole. When the kids woke up this morning they found him on the rocking horse. He said as soon as he found out Santa was sending him to Texas he knew he would have to ride in on a horse. I haven't figured out his personality yet, but I think he might be a little mischievous. I can tell he has a good heart though! In his letter he told us our first activity is for each Koceich kid to make a paper chain with 22 links to count down the days until Christmas. So, we are on it!! Sooo excited to have Jingle here! We'll be sure to let you know what he's up to!

Thanksgiving Memories...

Wow...Thanksgiving came and went like a flash! I think I am so consumed with work as it is nearing the end of my busy season (I'm almost there!!) that life speeds by from October-December! I did slow down for a couple days to enjoy time with family! Wednesday we had my dad's famous lasagna (oh so good) and Thursday back to Dad's for a big traditional Thanksgiving turkey meal. This year the Thurmans and Vincents (James' family) were there which meant lots of cousins time. Friday night was my turn. We hosted about 20 people for a delicious ham dinner. Everyone brought a dish and I added some Ethiopian tibs(kind of like a beef fajita dish) with a little too much Berbere(an Ethiopian spice we brought back) and injera (an Ethiopian flat bread), mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing and two caramel apple pies. I love cooking for everyone for Thanksgiving. We have oh so many blessing to be thankful for!! Our evening ended with some awesome Uncle Joey time! He's the best uncle ever!!

** I wish I had taken more people pictures but I went into hostess mode as soon as everyone showed up and forgot to snap pictures!

Referralversary....

One year ago today, I was sitting at my computer editing pictures and the phone rang. I almost didn't answer it because it was a long distance number I didn't recognize. We had received our "on deck" email just 2 1/2 weeks before and were expecting to wait 1-3 months before receiving a referral so I was trying to stay busy and not be too anxious every time the phone ring. I don't know what made me answer the phone because I really wasn't thinking it would be the referral, but I did and sweet Terra's voice (our agency representative) was on the other end. As soon as she told me who it was I knew and I was one crazy emotional lady. After a brief panic about what to do since Matt and the kids were all at school I asked Terra if I could gather them all and call her back. We had talked about all being there to see his face for the first time but hadn't actually made a plan.
After getting off the phone I jumped in the car to start gathering kids. I called Matt and told him to find a way to come home and to pick up Abby on his way. I wonder if I was even coherent when I picked up Max and Madison? I don't think my heart stopped pounding for the hour or two between Terra's phone call and the time I would actually see my son's face for the first time.
We got home and set up the video camera so we could video our reactions to seeing him for the first time. We wanted to show him some day just how much we longed for him and how overjoyed we were knowing that the little boy we were seeing for the first time would be ours...a gift from God.
We were all situated and we called Terra back and it went to her voicemail...ahhhh.
So we left a message and waiting maybe 30 minutes or so. She called back with all the details she knew about our precious boy. He was four months old at the time. The rest of the story is his to tell.
During the phone call Terra sent the email with his picture. I am so grateful that I video taped it. I was so emotional seeing his face for the first time I wasn't even aware of the rest of the family. Going back and seeing the video later was so emotional. Especially sweet Abby was overjoyed and overcome with emotion. I must figure out how to post it...check back!

After that referral day we would be assigned a court date for December 24th. We passed court on the first try (more about that day on the anniversary) and traveled to pick up our precious boy in February.

Here is the blog post Matt wrote on this day last year...

Sweet Sam,

I can't describe to you how much you have changed our lives for the better. You have brought us to a deeper level of understanding God's amazing love for us and the lengths He goes through to bring us home!! You have given us a perspective on the world and opened our eyes to realities that have been hard to see, but at the same time have given us a compassion for others and a purpose. You are so loved and adored and make us smile every day!

I love you so much. I get the giggles just watching you walk around and explore and study everything. I can already tell at this young age that you want to understand everything around you. You are a communicator and you love making everyone smile and laugh. I am grateful for you and so exciting to see what God's plans are for your life...I know they will be amazing!!

Love,
Mommy

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

...from the most adorable reggae musician, rock star, hippie and T-Bird you've ever seen!!! :)

The Blessings of a Broken Heart...

God is teaching me to be obedient when it doesn't make sense. I am a slow-learner and extremely task-oriented and logical so this doesn't compute easily with me, but He is persistent. I am in the middle of my busy season, and by busy I mean REALLY busy (which is a blessing by the way). So, I shrugged off God's tug to write this post, but he keeps tugging and I finally listened. I don't think this post is about me telling you something you should understand, know, do, think or feel. That's between you and God. It's about me recognizing and focusing on what He is saying to me.

Since we began the process of adoption from Ethiopia, God has been opening my eyes outside of my own little world. With the process came a network of friends who have a heart for orphans. Friends who have traveled to Ethiopia and have a global reality, who have seen face to face people who are starving or sick or who have no access to clean water. People who have nothing yet would give you their last bit of food to show you hospitality if they could. God had me read "The Whole in our Gospel" and "Radical", books that gave me eyes to see the world as God must see it. Many of his children living in excess, spoiled with their toys and mindlessly whining about their problems with no grasp that their fellow human beings and brothers and sisters in Christ are going days without food, water or suffering from preventable, curable and treatable illnesses with no hope because they don't have access to a doctor or medicine.

I am that spoiled, whining child. God has shown me so clearly how wrapped up in me I am. He has broken my heart over this and I am so grateful. My heart needed breaking. I want it to continue breaking. Because with a broken heart I must rely on Jesus.

He came into this broken world and through His death He brought healing. Because of Him one day I won't live in a broken place anymore. But, that's not the only reason He came. The gospel isn't just about Him saving me, it's about Him using my life to love and care for others. His plan isn't for sickness, starvation and hopelessness. His plan is for His people to be His hands and feet.

What exactly does that look like for me? I don't know but I pray that He continues to break my heart for the things that break his and that He teaches me to listen and be obedient even when it doesn't make sense.

The State Fair of Texas

Going to the State Fair of Texas has become a tradition! We are becoming pros at finagling our way through the crowds to hit our usual route. We did great this year except for missing the dog show. They closed the doors early because it was full! It was beautiful weather and a fun and delicious day!!

*** perfectionist photographer's disclaimer...these are not fully edited! :)

Sam's first State Fair...he wasn't so sure about all these people everywhere!

First stop...the giant indoor sandbox. Sam didn't like how the sand felt on his feet so he observed just outside the box.

Now that's some Texas Sized cotton candy!

Our favorite stop is the Little Farmers Farm. They get to pick fruit, plant seeds, milk a cow, ride a tractor out to the fields to feed the cattle and more. At the end they turn in eggs, milk, corn, wool and more to get paid for their labors and buy a treat at the store! Really a well run exhibit!!













onto the rides. They each got to pick one ride with our tickets and Nani took them on a ride with her. Max couldn't resist the first BIG CAR he came too!



and Abby, of course, made a fast friend on her airplane ride.

Madison picked the loud music ride. No idea what it is called, but boy was it loud!


Max needed a little carry/snuggle time with daddy by the end of the day!

That is one tired baby!

But, we still must go out with a bang. Funnle cake complete with powdered sugar and chocolate syrup! Can you say tummy ache???






A tuckered out kid is the best judge of what a fabulous day we had!!