Each month, we're allowed to send five questions to our children in Ethiopia. We receive the answers on the last day of the month via email. Updated photos are attached, quickly printed off, and stared at until the next month's photos arrive. We're not permitted to share any information, including photos and names, on social media. I know this sounds strict, but it's one of the reasons we chose AWAA to begin with. They have high standards, never having any allegations of poor conduct or child trafficking. Friends, we want you to know that each of us always has an updated photo in his/her pocket. The kids would especially LOVE to share updates about their Ethiopian brother and sister.

For our adopting friends, here's the list of questions we have asked:
December
1. What is the schedule of I and I’s typical day?
2. What are their personalities like?
3. What is his/her favorite color?
4. Do the children practice faith or religion?
5. Do they have nicknames?

January
1. How do the children interact with each other?
2. What are their interests?
3. How do the children compare to their peers in the classroom setting?
4. What do you consider to be each child’s strength and weakness?
5. Do they talk about anyone? Relatives? Friends?

My sister, Kate, and her family joined us to ring in 2014. It was a fun-filled week spent hanging out and enjoying each other's company. We miss all the time we had once taken for granted when we lived closer.  
I was in heaven all week.  I enjoyed the time in the kitchen preparing two to three meals for ten people each day, taking spontaneous trips to the park, singing along with the constant piano, ukulele, and guitar, seeing our table full of board games, dodging Nerf bullets buzzing by, cramming into the living room for game nights, and hearing the giggles and voices late into the night. We had a full house, for sure. It was a mess with dirty dishes, piles of laundry, and sticky floors, but there were happy people everywhere. It was the best visit ever and left us with full hearts.