8

G.J. turned 8 today. When I look at him, I can't believe how old he is. Yet, at the same time, I really can't remember what life was like before he joined our family.

He is such a special kid. I feel so honored to be able to watch him grow into the man he will be. I have always felt God's presence in this kid, and the older he gets, the more excited I am to see what and who he will be.

It was really nice to be able to share the day with him. Last year I was in Ethiopia, and all I was able to manage was an email that he got when he woke up - it was the first contact I was able to have with home because of power rationing, and the internet being down. Then, this year there was a chance that Chris and G.J. would be able to get E. this week in Ethiopia. It would have been nice to know that she was on her way home, but I am glad that G.J. and I weren't separated for 2 years in a row on this special day - our day...

It is also so interesting to reflect back on April '01 and how incredibly Chris and I changed with the arrival of our little boy. Now, eight years later, we are preparing at the exact same time of year to add another little guy to our lives. It feels so long ago, and we feel so much older this time around. Yet it is still breathtaking to imagine another little boy joining us in the next couple of weeks...

I will never forget how excited G.J. was when we told him about this new baby. He loves little kids and is very good with them. He wanted the baby to be a sister, so now many months later, he is excited to have a new little brother AND a little sister. They couldn't be luckier to have G.J. for a big brother!

We had a fun night of pizza, presents, and ice cream. It is such fun to celebrate him since he has often taken to the sidelines in our busy, crazy family constellations. And now he is 8 !