We decided to go to a different church yesterday. It was a church we had been wanting to go to for many years because we know the Reverend and admire him personally and professionally. He used to work at the Y before he became a Reverend so he’s been a family friend of my husband’s family for a looong time.

Anyway, the church we went to is a Baptist church, with about 99 percent of the members being African American. We promised each other that we’d surround Tariku with as many people as possible that look like him so he wouldn’t feel alone or weird for looking different than we were. Plus, we knew it was just as important for us to feel what Tariku feels most days.

I’m going to tell you, the church was amazing. I’ve NEVER been met with such open arms at a new church. When we walked in it was hugs, handshakes and high fives everywhere. “How are you doing”s and “God Bless you”s also in abundance.

And my Baptist brothers and sisters can WORSHIP! The 2 hour service (a tinch longer than the ones we’re used too. :)) was very powerful for us, and I found myself choked up a time or two. Just powerful.

Because, as Reverend Parker said, “We’re not in a museum, we’re not in a library, we’ll worship God and we’ll call out to him because we need him and he needs to hear us say it!”

It reminded me a lot of our time in Ethiopia. A little different in that I could understand what they were saying yesterday, but the heart and soul behind the praising and the worship was the same. It was between them and God, and it didn’t matter who was a witness.

Beautiful thing.

And Tariku? He did his infamous Ethiopian stare. It was pretty obvious he was comfortable in his seat. It was pretty obvious, when he stood to clap or yelled out, “Thank you, Jesus” that he knew what he was doing. It was pretty obvious that that boy is a child of God and knows it.

We know it too, my God yes we do.

Tonight I got to talk to Cindy of this blog. It’s always a little surreal talking to people who I feel like I know because I’ve followed their blog for over 2 years. I’ve even “talked” to Cindy on Facebook a time or two. Through email when they went to Ethiopia before we did and I told her to try to look in on Tariku. She was one of the families who, after receiving their call to travel to Ethiopia, asked if we were in their travel group. Told their social worker that we should be in their travel group and that we deserved it. In short, it was families like these that were my saving grace in those darkest of times waiting to get sweet Tariku.

And I got to talk to her today, which exceeded expectations. In hindsight I probably should’ve waited a few minutes before calling as I had literally just rolled out of bed from a nap and still had “morning voice” (at 5pm, so sue me). My “morning voice” just so happens to sound more like Zach than myself so I’m hoping I didn’t scare her off.

A month ago our old adoption agency shut down their online forum where adoptive parents met to support and encourage one another. This part of the forum I credit for the many invaluable relationships I’ve grown to love, rely on and trust in. It also, more importantly on this leg of the adoption journey, was a great place for APs to go to discuss adoption issues, child rearing and various other topics. It was, in all honesty, one of the reasons we chose CHSFS. But they shut it down.

And today, after getting the chance to talk to Cindy who I would’ve never “met” had it not been that forum, I’m mourning the loss for the APs coming behind us. But am so, so thankful for bringing some amazing women and men into my heart.

Totally realize I missed a day yesterday but…it was just too perfect a night to leave the family and blog so you’ll have to forgive me.

I love nights like last night. Where there wasn’t exactly a moment of “amazing” but rather the calm that comes with just being a family of 5 who lives on 260 acres pretty much by ourselves. 70 degree weather in November. I’m not lying when I say I imagine heaven will be pretty close to last night.

It was just one of those nights where I went to bed praising God for a life of abundant blessings.

My one and only. Listen to his genius. He took 11 hammocks and made a hammock village in camp. I can say with all honesty, it doesn’t get much better than that.

So rare I get a great picture of his authentic smile these days (usually just a “cheese”).

Tried to get Trysten to do some glamourshots but he wasn’t having any of it.

Even the sunset agreed the night deserved the very best.

Their own little mini village.

On the bridge.

I just thought she looked like a little baby in a papoose with a beautiful sunset in the back.

Lovin’ it.

to be excited about the November 21st event…

The three of us. Gonna be there. 3 of the 4 Klipsch sisters (the 4th will be there but she was not in St. Louis yet when this picture was taken). I’m not sure if you picked this up yet or not but we’re kind of awesome.

So come see us.

(On a side note: this posting every day thing is kind of tough! Especially when Parks and Rec is on).

Forgot…you hadn’t seen our Halloween pictures yet. Here you go, friends. Won’t happen again. And what is this? Day 4 of will-post-every-day-in-November.

Zach loves experimenting with the camera. I like this experiment.

Could you get lost in those eyes too? Tonight he told me his favorite part of the day was when we got to snuggle. Mine too, buddy.

My nephew, Oliver. I LOVE this boy. LOVE him.

MMMMMM scrumptious.

No idea whose car that is. Couldn’t be ours, we keep ours pristine.

My good friend, Lynn, putting on light up bracelets for the kids. Great treat!

Had to stop by my sister’s pharmacy for trick-or-treating.

How much do you love my other nephew, Elihu, right now? I love this picture because this is how he looks at me. He looks at me like he loves me so much but doesn’t want me to know. Like we have a little secret. Like I’m his favorite aunt ever (that’s just a guess).

She was so very excited about free candy.

When we stopped by the pharmacy Dailah had to get her reading time in.

The bats.

Small resemblance perhaps.

The annual cousin photo.

Baby Cates LOVES Tariku and clearly the feelings are mutual.

This picture CRACKS me up. More Zach playing with the camera. This time he told the boys to jump around with their Lynn bracelets. Tariku couldn’t resist a little cheese.

To Jody’s blog. Jody left today for Liberia. She’ll be updating her blog to show you the faces. The faces of the people who get to taste clean water for the very first time.

My prayers tonight will be for safe travels for my friend and also that you are changed by the things you’ll see in the next few days.

To be gloriously ruined. That’s my prayer tonight for me, and for you.

The two youngest had dress up at preschool and the Y. Tariku was SOOOO excited about his preschool Halloween party that I’m pretty sure he hardly slept. Dailah was thrilled to be trick-or-treating around the Y so long as she got to go by her Grandpa’s office. Thankfully, both parties did not disappoint and they both came back with some major loot. Oh, and major cute. (Get it? I know, not funny but I kind of had to didn’t I?)

Tariku and his teacher. She commented the other day, “Tariku is always smiling isn’t he? He walks in the door smiling!” I had to tell her that he actually, in fact, wakes up smiling and that’s not at all an exaggeration.

Outside preschool.

Outside the Y, little windy.

Dailah and her best friend, Hannah, at the Y.

Dailah and her favorite “teacher” who also claims Dailah as her favorite “student”, Miss Alex.

I know there are a lot of bloggers doing the one post a day for the month of November deal but I just can’t commit to that. The best I can give is an “I’ll try” seeings Zach sometimes forgets to bring the computer home to me.

So here it is, the first post of November. I’m like Rebekah,thinking the others who have already wasted their trick-or-treating are silly. So I’ll go way back to last Wednesday.

My eldest brother (in-law) had his birthday party. Great food. Great company. Great celebrations, etc. Great pics with a new camera.

The birthday boy, Frank, and his niece. Yup, they’re definitely related.

Frank and his beautiful wife, Emily.

Emily and my beautiful boy, Tariku.

Dailah sharing her doctor kit with Eli, who decided he wanted to be a doctor for Halloween.

I know. Sweeter than all the Halloween candy I consumed today