I'd love to plan one.

But I'm concerned our summer "vacation" could end up looking a lot like our spring "break." Ba-dum-bum. Ha. Oh dear. How is Flint? Um, yes. Flint. It seems I may have neglected to mention the boy as often as I should. Here he is. See? Right under the table. That's where we like to keep him. Look at how happy he is there! He affectionately calls it "home," in Amharic of course.

So, yeah. Kidding! JUST kidding. Do NOT tell our social services worker lady. (She doesn't need to know.)

He's good, good, good. Fine and dandy. Seriously - that child is a happy one. *He just lives under the table that way without a single complaint* I said it before and it holds true. - he still goes with the flow, joyfully. Sure, there are plenty of sibling disputes. (((((Plenty))))) Did I say plenty? Because there are. Plenty. Oh how there are plenty. Whew. Plenty. He is just as likely to be involved as anyone else in the house. But all in all he is such a delight. He's a winner. And a keeper. I love to kiss his full soft cheeks and give him big bear hugs because I've never had a child that plushy before. Our cute little linebacker. That's my boy. Flinty.

I think about all those months praying for Tamene.....wondering if he would be ours. Asking God for His will to be done in this child's life. Not knowing. Hoping for an answer, week after week. Looking at his precious picture. Longing for this boy. Now, he is. Here. Among us. Living life as a Deutsch. Calling me mama. Holding my hand on the couch as we watch American Idol. Flashing that priceless grin. It's surreal to see his smiling face right here, every day, playing with cars and eating oatmeal and mimicking everything I say (even when I'm angry and speaking sternly to one of the children) looking up at me with those eyes. Those eyes. Breathtaking. It is so very sweet. I'm certain I don't deserve reward like this. But I'm glad, grateful he's right here, next to me now as I type, swaying back and forth to David Crowder playing on the computer, whispering something I can barely hear to himself over and over again. Flint. ♥Flint♥ An ever present reminder of God's glorious goodness to one flawed woman's heart.