Our time is up in Amsterdam

Our time is up in Amsterdam, we are ready to leave everything it has to offer behind! We leave first thing in the morning for ET (we are 9 hours ahead of you). Troy has enjoyed sampling dutch food and beer....I on the other hand, stick to toasted cheese sandwiches and water (they always ask flat or bubbly?). We did as the Amsterdamians (I made up this word) do today....rode bikes all day. It was lots of fun! I can't believe we didn't get maimed by a moped, car or another bike. We learned there are 600,000 bikes in Amsterdam. We went to the Van Gogh museum yesterday. Here is a little tid bit....Van Gogh committed suicide when he was 37 years old. I myself was wondering if anyone had ever committed suicide from being in a museum too long (Troy did not appreciate that thought). Cracked myself up though. We also went to the Anne Frank museum today...that was quite interesting.

Here is a new photo from the Orphanage

Grandma Sandee say's I look like an orphan from the movie "Annie". Cameron captioned this: "whistle while you work."

We have made it.... half way!

We have made it half-way to Ethiopia....Amsterdam (Hamsterdam as Bryce calls it). We will spend 3 days in this historic (and quite interesting) Dutch city....it is NOT reminding us of Lynden!!! On Saturday, we will fly to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. There are bikes EVERYWHERE in Amsterdam! I saw the BEST red and white polka dotted bike with a basket of flowers on the front...so cute! We are going on a bike tour tomorrow. I thought the shopping would be better here. We are visiting some museums and doing a canal ride today. We slept for 14 hours yesterday.....

Off to Ehiopia!

The Kids are excited!

We asked each of the kids what they were most excited about bringing Luke home. Here are their answers:

Cameron (12) - "I am most exciting about everything and to see him in person."

Chloe (10) - "I am excited to play with play him because he is a baby. I want to hold him, if he's not too wiggly."

Marissa (8) - "I am excited to play with him and to give him a hug."

Bryce (5) - "I am most excited to see Luke and share my bunk bed."

Ethiopia Bound!

Luke Uriah Mamush Muljat

We have chosen Luke as our new son's name because he will bring light to our family and our community. Uriah is the name given to him by the missionary who found him in Sodo, Ethiopia. Mamush is his Ethiopian name given to him by his birth parents.


Luke 15:31 "My son, the father said, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours."