THE STUTZMAN FAMILY~EIGHT BY GRACE

THIS TIME LAST YEAR.......

2011-12-16T12:10:00.000-08:00

CRYING MY EYES OUT THE FIRST NIGHT AT THE HOTEL-SO SAD!

SHE MUST HAVE CRIED FOR HOURS-THREW UP THREE TIMES, SHE WAS TERRIFIED OF US-
IT WAS HEARTBREAKING-BUT OH WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR HAS MADE!

LOVE THESE WOMEN!

SARA - NEXT TO ADAM- WAS SEBLE'S SPECIAL MOTHER-LOVED HER!

As we enjoy the crisp fall air here in Oregon, I can't help but be brought back to thinking of this time last year. Things I see, memories I have all seem to transport me to a year ago. We were about ready to bring our baby girl home and although we missed her terribly, we also were busy getting ready to return to Ethiopia and for once and for all, bring her home.
She was in an orphanage and we were here and as the Christmas season was in full swing, there was a piece of my heart that was clear around the world who was waiting for her forever family to come and get her. Don't get me wrong, the care she received in Hannah's Hope was phenomenal- next to none in Ethiopia. We couldn't have asked for better women to be caring for our daughter who was thousands of miles away from us-they were top notch! They loved her to pieces, and bonded with her so much, which was blatantly obvious the first few days we had her as we helplessly watched her mourn not having them around, and the change in her life that was happening without her consent. But she was without her family and we were without her and if I close my eyes, I can remember the anticipation, the longing to get her to us.
As I think back to last year, I can't help but feel the emotions all again. I can't help it, but a part of me is sad....sad that we can't go back there again this year to her wonderful country with the kind and lovely people. Sad that we can't hug those special mothers again, see Wass the driver and our hired driver Solomon and his family. Taste the food, smell the smells, I miss it all.
I often wonder does her little mind remember-does she mourn for any of it-the language that we don't speak, the tastes, the food.....she is a baby, but how long do babies actually remember-we will never know. All we can do is remember the past and go forward -go forward to the life that God has planned and watch as we see what those plans hold as our lives unfold.

GOT THESE PAJAMAS FOR HER BEFORE WE LEFT TO BRING HER HOME-
FIGURED SHE WOULD GROW INTO THEM AND SURE ENOUGH...SHE HAS!

I LOVE MY BIG BROTHER!

WE BOUGHT THESE PAJAMAS BEFORE WE EVEN HAD OUR REFERRAL-
BUT WHAT A PERFECT PAIR FOR HER!!

So as we look to this season, I am excited for her first Christmas home-I am so glad that she is part of our family, so glad that she changed our lives and turned them upside down for the better. The things that go through my head nearly every single day are both miraculous and amazing when I think of all the lessons and all the miracles that this little girl has brought into our lives.....What would we be if we didn't have her, if we didn't listen to the call to adopt? How would our lives be different-I can't even imagine! What lessons and experiences would we have missed out on-OH SO many! I think of the people that we wouldn't have met, the friends that we wouldn't have made-so sad to think of all we would have missed out on. As I think of these things-I am washed over in what can only be described as grace-God's grace. I thank him daily for the gifts that can't be bought or wrapped, the ones that are in my heart and mind and the ones that I see each and every day as I look over the children he has blessed us with.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS-

First visit with Santa and 1st Trip to get a Christmas Tree!

2011-11-30T07:30:00.000-08:00

SANTA'S LIL HELPER!

WAS NOT A FAN OF SANTA!!!! :-)

WE WENT TO SANTIAM CANYON CHRISTMAS TREE FARM IN STAYTON OREGON. IT WAS BEAUTIFUL AND HAD LOTS OF FREE GOODIES FOR THE KIDS PLUS SANTA WAS THERE. WE GOT A BEAUTIFUL TREE TOO. WHAT WAS REALLY NEAT THOUGH, WAS THAT THE OWNERS ADOPTED A BABY GIRL FROM ETHIOPIA -USING THE SAME AGENCY WE DID A FEW YEARS AGO. IT WAS GREAT TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT ADOPTION. LOVE MEETING OTHER ADOPTIVE FAMILIES! HERE IS THERE LINK: http://santiamcanyonchristmastrees.com/?page_id=2

SEBLE'S FIRST CANDY CANE!

LOVED THE APPLE CIDER! LOL

HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM SEBLE! GOBBLE GOBBLE!

2011-11-29T19:27:00.000-08:00

SEBLE LOVED HER TURKEY LEG!

THE CUTEST TURKEY EVER!

Last Homestudy Post Visit is DONE!

2011-11-20T14:53:00.000-08:00

Hooray-our last post homestudy visit is done!!....It is bittersweet as we loved our homestudy social worker-Jodi-we will miss ya! But are so thankful that we got to have you as part of Seble's adoption journey!

ORPHAN SUNDAY IS TODAY-

2011-11-06T21:10:00.000-08:00

On this Orphan Sunday:
“Not every Christian or every Christian family is called to adopt or foster children. Every Christian IS called to care for widows and orphans in their distress (James 1:27). I think the first step for every Christian is simply to pray and ask for the wisdom to know how (not if!) you are called to care for widows and orphans, and then ask God for the opportunities to do so. You’ll be surprised how quickly he’ll answer this request, often in ways you don’t expect or even know yet that you’d want." Dr. Russell Moore

Please consider how your life could change the life of another! YOU are here to make a difference! Our family has forever been changed and we thank God each day because of this!

Come To The Rescue - Love Peter Eide and his heart for orphans!

2011-11-06T20:20:00.000-08:00

HALLOWEEN 2011

2011-11-01T12:38:00.000-07:00

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!! WE GOT ENOUGH CANDY TO OPEN A CANDY STORE :-)

The sweetest little Hershey Kiss around!

Zachary made 19 shots IN A ROW!!! The High Schoolers were impressed LOL

Aunt Kelly the Ladybug with Seble and Daddy

My sister and mom

Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-31T15:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend was our family trip to the pumpkin patch. We went up to the Roloff Family Farms in Hillsboro, OR. We had a good time. Before we went there, we stopped by Burgerville in West Linn for their 50th Birthday Celebration. They had prices that were reflective of 50 years ago. They also had people there airbrush face painting. The kids LOVED it! Check it out:

Check out these great vinyl wall images that my sister is selling to support their adoption!!!

2011-10-25T10:28:00.000-07:00

My sister Kelly Lute is selling these beautiful pictures that she is making with Uppercase Living decals. This is an ALL vinyl image about 8x10" with frame in vinyl image too. This way, you can move it around in your house if you want-it clings to wall. They are $10 plus $2 shipping. They are going to be used to support their adoption-so if anyone is interested-here is her email kellyllute@yahoo.com

Here is the video of the news story Fox 12 did on Adam and the little boy Kaden-

2011-09-13T07:30:00.001-07:00

ADAM RECEIVED THE "LIFE SAVING AWARD" & "CITIZEN LIFESAVING AWARD"

2011-09-12T22:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight was a good night surrounded by family and friends as we celebrated a hero-my husband Adam and little Kaden the boy that he saved a few weeks ago in front of our house. Kaden who is 7, was riding his bike down a steep hill right outside our house when he lost control, fell and somehow lodged the break handle into his groin, nicking his femoral artery and tearing several veins in a 6 in gouge. He was loosing blood very quickly as he tried to walk down our hill. My kids saw him and went and got Adam and Adam put direct pressure on it, administered first aid, called 911, screamed for help from people at the park, and waited 20 minutes until the ambulance arrived-which at that point Kaden was starting to loose consciousness and had lost a lot of blood.
Kaden was taken up to Silverton Hospital where the Life Flight helicopter was waiting and flown to Doernbecher's in Portland where he underwent a little over 3 hours of surgery, stayed in ICU for a few days, got a blood transfusion and was then released home. He is currently missing the first month of school, but will head back at the end of September after he is off blood thinners. He is up and running now! Praise God for having Adam there at the right time and that Kaden is healing great!! So proud of my husband! What an adventure! Here is the news article that ran in the paper a week or so ago- http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2011108310377

Tonight Adam received the "Citizens Lifesaving Award" from the Silverton Fire Department and then later in the evening, also received the "Lifesaving Award" from the City of Silverton Police Department. What a night! We had a great time visiting with our family and friends as well as Kaden's family and their friends. It was really a special night!

Tonight, Adam was also interviewed by Fox 12 News and the story will show tonight on the 10 o'clock news! Awesome! Also, here is the news story that ran on the news tonight: http://www.kptv.com/story/15446645/silverton-man-honored-for-saving-7-year-old-boys-life

Fire Chief, Bill Miles, giving Adam the "Citizen Lifesaving Award" on behalf of
the Silverton Fire Depart.

Fox 12 News Crew who did Adam's Story for Fox 12 News

Kaden looking on as Adam gets the award

Adam and Kaden's parents, Sarah & Ron, discuss what happened on that night

Princess Seblina joined in the festivities!

The Parvin Family with us

Adam, Kaden (Tater) and his dad Ron

Friends Kristin & Matt

Officer Hein & Officer Barnett

The Mayor and City Counselors applaud as Adam walks up for his
"Lifesaving Award" from City of Silverton Police Department.

After the award, Adam got a standing ovation!

Adam Visiting with the Firemen from that night

Adam & Kaden

SEBLE'S ONE YEAR PICTURES

2011-09-01T22:24:00.000-07:00

THANK YOU SO MUCH TO REBECCA RODRIGUEZ WHO TOOK THESE PICTURES OF SEBLE FOR HER ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY-I LOVE THEM! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HER TAKING SOME FOR YOU IN THE OREGON AREA-LET ME KNOW-I WILL GET YOU HER CONTACT INFO.....

Another tear jerker adoption video-LOVE IT

2011-08-11T13:47:00.000-07:00

Summer time Fun

2011-08-01T09:54:00.000-07:00

HANGING OUT AT DETROIT-

HANGING OUT WITH SIS IN THE WATER

NOAH

LOGAN

ZACH

SEBLE'S FIRST SMORE! YUMMY

ADAM SHOWS OFF HIS PERFECT ROASTED MARSHMELLOW

JAKE CAMPED WITH UNCLE KELLY AND AUNT THERESA AT DETROIT-WE WENT UP TO VISIT THEM FOR THE EVENING....HE HAD SET UP THE ENTIRE CAMP FOR THEM AND THEY SAID HE WAS A HUGE HELP-WAY TO GO JAKE! LIKE FATHER....LIKE SON :-)

GRANDMA TAMI HAD HER BIRTHDAY THIS WEEK-WE HAD A BBQ AND CAKE THAT JACOB MADE-

HELPING GRANDMA BLOW OUT CANDLES (SPARKLERS)

SEBLE LOVES THE SWING BY OUR HOUSE-

THE WHOLE GANG-MINUS ADAM'S SISTER, ASHLI AND HER FAM.....

This is another good gotcha day video -this baby boy was at HH with Seble~

2011-07-31T20:55:00.000-07:00

Seble's Baby Dedication

2011-07-25T00:15:00.000-07:00

Today we had Seble's Baby Dedication at our church, Salem Evangelical. It went really well, although for a second before we walked up, she was getting a little tired of waiting and I was praying she didn't have a melt down. :-)
Pastor Randy Butler dedicated her for us. Here are some pictures for you guys-

One Year ago this week......

2011-07-24T23:57:00.000-07:00

One year ago this week, July 19th to be exact, we got the call of a lifetime, one which we had waited for a year and a half....
"....We have a baby girl we would like to talk to you about....."
There just are not words for that moment, but when I look back over our blog and see how faithful the Lord was and still is to us, I simply stand in awe.
All the fears and doubts over all those months of waiting...what will she be like, how old will she be, what is her story? Gone the minute we saw her face, just like that peace filled my heart. She was a beautiful newborn - "God is so good" was all that kept going through my head over and over. I couldn't believe it-I couldn't believe that that precious little baby girl on the screen that I couldn't take my eyes off of was OUR baby.
This was our first glimpse of our baby......

I am so thankful that we have you sweet Seble, I simply couldn't imagine life without you - you were made for us and our family and you are the perfect match- the perfect referral for us! Daddy and Mommy love you bunches!

Our Summer is moving along-----

2011-07-22T23:11:00.000-07:00

This summer has been busy and we have been doing many things-wanted to share a few. We are all doing good. Seble is doing great as are the other kids-and it has been nice to be getting back into a routine again......
We went to hear Sammy who is a man that grew up in the Korah dump speak-it was really good. He grew up in the dump and now works with PROJECT 61 to get children out of the dump and into school-it is an awesome organization-check it out here:
http://p61.org/
We got to catch up with lots of adoptive families -here Seble is reuniting with her buddy from Hannah's Hope-we traveled around the same time and it was great to see them again.

This is the "famous" :-) baby Judah who is here staying with the Cornish Family on a medical visa from Ethiopia-as he gets medical care and has life saving surgery over the past several months-it is an amazing story-check it out here:

http://babyjuddah.blogspot.com/

This is Sammy speaking-

Seble is showing off all her new teeth-they are coming in regularly!

Seble meets Aunt Ashli (Adam's sister) for the first time!

Cool Cat- :-)

We have a tradition with each of our nieces and nephews-when they get their drivers license on their 16th BD-we give them a choice of getting $100 then or waiting and getting $500 if they go a year without a ticket and find a car to buy-so far they have picked the latter. Adam, being a police reserve is REALLY big on safety and feels that this is a motivator for safe driving for at least a year to develop good driving habits in that year.....we save up the year before each of them has their BD and so far, it has lead to one Niece getting the $500 at the end of the year-here we are with her sister-Tessa letting her make the choice to try and be safe for a year-good luck girl-you CAN do it!! :-)

We used the groupon and for Jacob's 13th BD took the twins, Jacob and Noah to painball....it was really fun for them.

Here is the bruise-which they all had all over their bodies when they were done-OUCH!

Seble has a NEW trick-she now can take off her shirt-and likes to do it regularly! LOL-here is how we found her in her high chair this week :-)

And again on the floor later!!!

HAPPY BABY GIRL!! LOVIN HER!

Seble and her Ethiopian Baby doll

LOVE THAT SMILE-COULD EAT HER UP!!!!!

Jacob got to go and fly R/C planes with an R/C plane club here in Mt.Angel-he loved it and our neighbors gave us one, so he may start getting more involved in that in the future....here he is with a long time flyer who is giving him tips-he did good!

Cat Nap-have a great summer everyone!!!!!

A New Korah video-consider if these were your kids living in the dump-

2011-07-12T14:57:00.001-07:00

Seble's Story Book

2011-07-07T09:50:00.000-07:00

My sister Kelly, who is also adopted (from the US) made this wonderful book for Seble for her first birthday. It was the best gift ever and she put SO much work and detail into it-it is absolutely beautiful! It is taken from the wonderful story of Ruth & Naomi in the Bible and of REDEMPTION and ties it into adoption. My sister is actually going to be making these books and selling them on Etsy for adoptive families-she will change paper color based on adoptive child's nationality and customize the story as much as possible for each child's story. If you are interested, you can contact her at this email:

kellyllute@yahoo.com

Another gotcha day video-she was one of Seble's buddies at Hannah's Hope Orphanage

2011-07-03T17:46:00.000-07:00

A little Friend of Seble's has a great Gotcha Day video-they were at Hannah's Hope at same time-TOO CUTE

2011-06-30T10:11:00.000-07:00

Our Friends Gotcha Day video-another great one!

2011-06-28T09:05:00.000-07:00

Young Life - Washington Family Ranch - Summer Camp

2011-06-28T08:28:00.000-07:00

June 17 - 24, 2011

Within a half hour of arriving at the Ranch House, Zachary & Nathan had captured a Lizard

Isn't he cute!

Seble even thought it was interesting

"Hey! Bring him back here!"

We even found a tick

We tried to "corral" the kids but it didn't work too well

Camp Nurses
for Session 1, Camp 1
Amber & Sarah

Noah in the pool, ALL to himself!

The pool belonged to the Stutzmans & Hohenshelts....

Logan skips the diving board and heads straight to the high diving board

CANNON BALL!!!!!

Noah off the diving board

Cassidy ready to jump off the high board

Jacobs turn off the high board

Zachary's turn off the high board

Amber posing as the life guard

Logan's last jump in

The first of the 720 campers for the week arrive.
The campers exit their bus and head through the gauntlet of camper staff yelling and hollering.
Fun scene to watch as the staff get the campers all hyped up for the fun filled week!

Stutzman & Hohenshelt kids pose for a picture in an original
Oregon Trail wagon that had been refurbished.

Seble, Cassidy & Logan

Amber & Cassidy playing ping-pong before Amber had to leave to check in campers medications

Jacob getting ready to play pool

Amber, Sarah & Maree working hard at organizing all the campers medical forms

Logan at bat on the Wiffle Ball Field playing ball with a few of the early campers that arrived

Noah up to bat on the Wiffle Ball Field

Noah ended up hitting the wiffle ball out of the park. HOME RUN!!!!
(the guy on the other side of the fence is chasing down the ball)

Annual photo on the wagon in front of the Iron Kettle (Dining Hall)

Time for TEAM COMPETITION
Each group of campers had to come up with a team theme and get dressed for some competitive games.

Hawaiian Girls with Straw Hats

Hawaiian Grass Skirt Boys

Far back is the Purple Butterflies (all equipped with wings)

This was the Bride and Bridesmaid Team
All in Bridesmaid dresses and one in a Wedding dress!

The Smurfs
They painted their bodies blue

The Too-Too Group

The Black Garbage Bag Shirts (and some shorts)

The Ladybugs
(with antennas)

Pirate Head Bandannas with matching Red Shirts

Team Lime shirts

Painters Group
All wearing clear plastic painter coveralls

Grass Skirt / Multi-colored shirt Team

Wonder Women Team
Picture doesn't show it but each girl had
a set of golden wings cut out on their chest
Just like Wonder Women - Pretty good outfits

This Team Won!!!!
The Intel Blue Man Group

Competitive game of Dodge-Ball

Here the team would have one driver in one of the Ridge Runners.
He would drive while the rest of the team would push the runner around the orange cones and back to the starting line. Once they got back, the driver would jump out, another driver from another team jump in and the new team start pushing. This was a combined team competition.

It was getting warm. It was time to get back into the pool.
Dad & Seble enjoying the water

Seble floating solo

Seble clinging to the pool wall

Seble swimming with big brother Jacob

Noah & Zachary looking right into the sun, posing for a picture.
Today is Noah's 8th Birthday!!!!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY NOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cassidy & Logan

Bad pictures due to the shutter speed being SO slow.
Anyway, this is the Medical Team heading out to the air field.
The First LIFE FLIGHT of the week.

The white streak in the sky, upper left, is life flight coming into the camp.

Life Flight above the Ranch House as they circled the camp trying to figure out where they were suppose to land.

The middle white light is the Life Flight Helicopter. The other light is a cars lights on bright as the air strip lights were not working correctly. Only three lights came on which made it difficult for the pilots to know where they were suppose to land.

Amber at the Med-ex Trailer (Medical Express Trailer) getting ready to hand out medications to the campers that needed their medication.

Famous Ridge Runners -
Not sure what they plan on doing with them as they have been replaced with the new go-cart circuit.

Noah

Zachary

with Seble in a distant third

Logan

Logan and his imagination of steering a horse drawn covered wagon

Noah

Noah applying the break with Zachary & Logan as passengers

Ended up finding a baby bird on the side of the Sports Center.
Must have fallen out of its nest. Hope the poor guy makes it!

The Washington Family Ranch sign just outside the Sports Center

Other side of the sign - Washington Family Sports Center with the Sports Center in the background.

MESSY GAMES

The last game of the messy games they brought out the flour, shaving cream or whipping cream and water. Some got pretty messy!
Here Noah is in the middle wearing a blue shirt.

Zachary in green & Nathan in red, chasing the girl in blue that we met and nailed her with a hand full of shaving cream on her neck. She got revenge with the boys though.

Zachary & Noah taking a break on the fence during the Messy Games

Pedestrians, WATCH-OUT!!!!!
Noah & Amber

The new Go-Cart circuit they just finished. They were getting ready to pour the concrete the week we left the end of March. They then built the whole garage section in that time too. They completed A LOT of work in time for the first week of summer camp. Nicely Done!

Mom, Seble & Zachary waiting on the Medical Golf Cart while waiting to drive the go-carts

This night, the kids found a bull frog in the front yard of the Ranch House. Nice find!

Kermit, is that you?

This particular night was the Carnival. They had it all set-up and turned out the lights as they distracted the campers with someone on the zip line at night. After he landed in the water, they flipped the carnival lights on and ALL the campers came running into the carnival. It was SO fun. It actually felt so much like a carnival with all the people, the music blaring loud, games, snow cones, popcorn, cotton candy. It was a BLAST!

Skeet Ball

Crazy Driver

Chicken Chucker

Bozo Toss

Barrel Race

Noah & Nathan competing in the barrel race

Even had the traditional Sledge Hammer Swing to hit the bell at the top

Barn Yard Launch

Water Balloon Throw
After winning tickets at other games, once you get so many tickets, you get to pick someone to sit behind the screen and you get to throw water balloons at them.

Can you guess who was the lucky one to sit behind the screen?

Even though it was 10:30 at night and the water balloons were cold, it was fun to get involved.

This was Cassidy & Zachary's Sunday School Teacher a few years back from Salem Evangelical Church. She was a Young Life Leader and just happened to have her group at this weeks session.

Bottle Toss

Jacob & Connor trying to ring a bottle

Logan tossing a ring.
This particular picture, that yellow ring was the one that actually made it on a bottle.

Noah's turn

Cowboy Wrestling

This looked like so much fun. Never seen it done before but so simple. All campers had fun on this one. They even had a guy in his electric cart go. It was Great!

Nathan & Noah's attempt at "Cowboy Wrestling"

Ball Bingo

Cowpie Fly
Pretty funny - they have Frisbee's in the shape of a cowpie. Had to toss them into a wooden barrel. Amber & Zachary did pretty good!

Pie Eating Contest

Horseshoes

Traditional Sack Race

The famous DUNK TANK
Campers collected tickets and got to dunk their leader

Jeramy Williams - Keizer Young Life Leader getting into the Dunk Tank

Jeramy going down

Jeramy after being dunked with his students laughing. What a sport!

They even had the center stage with music playing

Cotton Candy anyone?

Was that good, even at such a late hour :-)

Logan enjoying a bag of popcorn

Cassidy & Mom in line for a Snow Cone

Logan attempting the BarnYard Launch to get more tickets

Now Zachary's turn

Jacob launching a cow

Cassidy with a great shot

Noah aiming up his Dalmatian pup

High flying pup

The actors got everyone to sit down and on the count of three, showed them a magic trick.
As everyone counted to three, the lights went out and we got to watch a Firework show!

Amber and Seble wiped out

Pool Party

A large SPLASH party

Another competition between teams - this was a treasure hunt.
Many things were in the pool - they had to jump in and collect all they could.

While watching the pool party, people started to look behind us. We turned to see these clouds.
This picture DOES NOT show justice as I was told because of the lens filter I had on my camera, it took away the colors. The large white cloud above Logan's head, top of the mountain, was complete multi colors. It was just like the Northern Lights in Alaska. It was AMAZING. Still not sure what caused it.

This particular picture shows a bit more color but still DOES NOT show justice as to how COOL it really was.

Picnic lunch outside today. Medical Team got to get our food from the kitchen. Awesome Kitchen!

Zachary coming down the Zip Line

Zachary just touching down on the water

Nice landing Zach

Seble in her Bikini.

Playing on the Beach

Logan on the trampoline in the lake

Cassidy attempting the log roll

Zachary jumping onto the Blob (Burrito)
You crawl to the end and the next person that jumps on ends up launching you into the lake

Zachary ends up catching another bull frog near the Blob

Mom & Seble in the pool

Western Night

Hannah getting Amber's hair ready

The "Western" Stutzmans

Noah & Nathan

Noah & Nathan act out a fighting scene in front of all the campers

Posing in front of the trailer fold-out of the western town scene.

Amber & Sarah

The Hohenshelt Family

Zachary and Miss Abra-Ca-Debra

Zachary and "Very Long Name Smith" but you can call him Mica

Kids enjoying the Western Dinner together at one table

Logan & Mom, Square Dancing through the ages that night

Top of Communication Hill looking at the new Junior High Camp, Creekside

Looking at the High School Camp, Canyon
(Notice the three small people near the tree on the trail below)

Same picture of Canyon but at the location of where those three people were at

Ranch House (white building)

View of the trail up the ridge of Communication Hill

Zachary going up on the swing

Down he goes

Spencer, Hannah & Sarah coming down on the swing

Amber, Logan & Adam

Even Logan got to go this time.

Going up

Coming down....Weeeeeeee

Hannah & Cassidy coming down the Zip Line

Touch down on the water

Another nice landing by both

Hannah & Cassidy ready for another ride on the Zip Line

Cassidy in front of Creeksides Rope Coarse
Very neat ropes coarse. It's all tracked in and you get to go up three stories.

The starting point of the ropes coarse. Start on the second floor of the cabin. Pretty neat set-up

Creekside Jr. High Camps Water slide

Muddy Station (dining hall)

Cassidy up on the Canyon's Rope Coarse

Adam with Noah transferring from one cable to the next

Adam & Noah on the "bridge" section

Cassidy crossing "the swaying log"

Zachary starting the ropes coarse

Amber starting the ropes coarse

Logan playing with one of the staffers on top of the ropes coarse

Staffer playing with Logan below.
Here she hauls up his noodle he tied to her rope.

Cassidy crossing the "net bridge"

Noah crossing the "net bridge"

Cassidy on the "tight wire"

Mom & Zachary crossing "the swaying log"

Hannah, Spencer & Nathan starting the ropes coarse

Zachary & Amber crossing the "net bridge"

Cassidy making the final cross to the last platform

Noah making his last crossing too. At this point, he started loosing it. It's pretty wobbly and he was done.

Zachary making it to the last platform

Mom making it to the last platform with Sarah in the background trying to cross the "tight wire"

Dress-up Dinner
This is suppose to be our dress up dinner. Due to running late on the Ropes Coarse, we were lucky enough to make it back to the Iron Kettle (dining hall) for dinner. O'well. Maybe next year it will be planned were we have more time to go back to change.

Dr. Liz was one of the Doctors there. She fell and badly sprained her thumb and scraped up her knee. She thought it may be broken. Jacob & Paramedic Larry drew this up where she fell along with a memorial of dying iris's. Glad Dr. Liz is okay!

LIFE FLIGHT #2
This time they sent an airplane Life Flight. It came flying straight over the Ranch House.
Pretty Cool

The Life Flight plane is taking off heading directly for us.
(had to video instead of taking a picture)

The Stutzman Family on the Ranch House steps

2011 Camp
Medical Team & Family

SEBLE TURNS ONE!

2011-06-26T22:18:00.000-07:00

This week was both a fun and bittersweet week as we celebrated Seble's First Birthday....we are SO blessed to have her in our family and we can't imagine not having her as part of our family-she was definitely made to be a Stutzman 110%! No doubt! She is SO like our kids were as babies-she has spunk and definitely tells us (often in not so nice terms) :-) what she wants or needs! She is a fighter and we figure that she would have to be having survived what she did to get to us!
The part that has been hard has been the thoughts that have come over and over in the past few weeks (more than usual) about Seble's birth mom. She has been on my heart very much and I continue to think of her and pray for her-that she knows Jesus and that she will have peace that her daughter is safe and ok. I can't imagine what she went through and the decision that she had to make to leave her baby girl on the road -hoping and praying that she would be found and given life.
I pray that IF her birth mom is still alive that she will feel a sense of true peace that only The Lord himself can give - that she will know deep in her heart that her baby girl is living, safe and happy. I wish with ALL that is in me that she will know that-that I could just show her for one minute her happy baby girl and let her know that YES, she made the right decision! YES, she is thriving, more than she could have probably ever guessed or hoped for and YES, she is loved beyond words!
I ask God daily-how we could have been so lucky to be picked to be her parents and we are so thankful that we were brought to her and her to us! Life wouldn't be the same and we wouldn't have grown as a family or in our faith if we hadn't have stepped out on this journey.
People have asked us what taking that first step toward adoption was like.....we can only say that it was scary, emotional and that we just had to totally step out in faith that it would all work out. God didn't fail us at any point and he ordained the entire process to bring us together as a family. We only pray and wish that others could take that step-there are millions just like Seble out there who just need a home and someone to love them-if you are on the fence-just jump! Will it be scary-YES, will you wonder if you are crazy-YES, but just look at her now-compared to when she was brought into our orphanage at 3 weeks weighing just over 4lbs, after almost dying at government orphanages-(which we got to go and see while there), and my heart broke as those little voices cried out to us with their hands outstretched to just be held-that's all they wanted! So, no, there is no doubt that it was the right decision! Seble is alive, has a family to call her own and she is thriving and happy-we are blessed!
Our kids have grown and it has brought us closer together as a family-they know now that there is more to life than their own wants, etc...they know her story and they see it in her and are reminded of it everyday-they truly love her and ask us to adopt again-they have completely fallen in love with her more than we would have EVER hoped for when we first talked to them about adopting a baby-they love her to pieces! There isn't any doubts now that it was the right step!
Here is Seble's first picture-3weeks old-just over 4lbs-septic and near death, wow what a difference a year will make with love and nurturing! No one would ever guess her start in life by looking at her now! Just pray and be open to what God has for you and your family-don't shut it out and think "impossible" cause it can happen!

SEBLE HAS HER 1ST BIRTHDAY PARTY........

Big Birthday Girl - Seble Alaine

Miss Birthday Girl

Cake Table

African shaped cookies made by Grandma Karen- yummy!

Seble and her siblings

She's clapping for herself :-)

Picking Flowers

Mommy and Seb

Friends Allie and Anthony

More Friends-Kristin & Matt

Friends - Jodi & Mailey

Friends Ben & Bonnie Hoerner

Friend Kris

Friend Kristy with Amber & Birthday Girl

Friend Mailey wants to share my new car!

Driving with talking on her cell phone-a TRUE Oregonian! :-)

Big brother Jacob is all ready with his helmet on-to ride my new car! :-)

Matt likes to play with my new doll :-)

Aunt Kelly made Seble this awesome book-I am gonna do a whole other post on it so everyone can see it soon-but it was awesome! She worked SO hard on it and we LOVE it!

My niece Norah made Seble a card- she drew a picture of Amber (high heels and big butt) on the front with our dog and Seble.....and YES, I always wear high heels that is why she drew it! LOL I love it and it was so sweet of her!

Aunt Kelly and Seble

Aunt Ashli and Seble

Aunt Rachael & Seble

My Africa cake made by mom & dad

Bring on the Cake!!!

Don't even think about touching MY cake! LOL

Add caption

anyone want a bite?

SO YUMMY!!

Seble's Great Grandparents - Bob & Grace Stutzman

Great Grandma - Mary Ellen Bigler with Seble

Grandma Karen with Seb

Grandma Ron & Grandma Tami Stutzman

Seble with big brother Jacob

Seble with her favorite sister - Cassidy

Big Brother Zach and Seblina

Big Brother Noah and Seble

Big Brother Logan with Seb

Girl cousins-Emma, Lucy, Seble and Cassidy

Cousins Lucy & Seble Having Fun

Cousins Logan & Will

Anthony & Matt finishing off the cake :-)

Big One year old! We love you "Seblina Konjo"!! -
What will this next year bring??

Logan Graduates from Kindergarten

2011-06-15T23:49:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe that our baby boy is now a big first grader. Logan is such a sweetheart and we are so blessed and thankful to have him in our family! He makes us laugh with the crazy things he says and he has such a loving and caring heart.

Mrs. Buckley-his great Kindergarten teacher!

My best friend Sarah and I pig out on brownies at the dessert table-he daughter graduated with Logan (see picture below).

Great-Grandparents-Grace&Bob Stutzman

Grandma Tami & Grandpa Ron with the 2 graduates-Logan & his cousin Will

Logan and his cousin will-both graduated-they love being in the same class!

Great friends with Logan first here is: Amelia-friends from birth and his future wife- :-)

(Sarah's daughter) and Jacob Thomas

One of the helpers-Mrs. Gasper painted each kid in "what they want to be when they grow up outfit"...they were amazing and turned out great-see below for more.

Logan wants to be a policeman wen he grows up.....

cute desserts!

More painted kids-they were so neat!

Noah's 8th BD and Baseball Tournament

2011-06-15T23:14:00.000-07:00

Noah had a great Birthday party last week as well as a baseball tournament-it was really fun and he is just loving baseball!

He was so excited to get a bad, batting gloves and a bat bag for gifts! His face was priceless!

This was SO funny-Noah's coach had moved him from third base out to left field-after he was moved, his teammates missed several plays and I could see he was just biting at the bit to have been able to play them-well, this runner, he was not going to let get away-he ran all the way from left field to almost 1st base to tag this runner that he knew needed to be out!!

Noah was so proud! Jacob even got one for helping out coaching this year-he loved doing it!

Couch-Ryan Doud-great guy!

Cassidy's Soccer Tournament

2011-06-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

Ethiopia - Trip Two - Final Post - The Family Reunion

2011-06-08T12:46:00.000-07:00

So this is it-the last post about our 2 trips to Ethiopia to bring Seble, our daughter home to her forever family. Wow what a journey it has been. Seble will be a year old next month and that is so hard to believe. She has went from a underweight 4-lb newborn near death, to a healthy, happy 20 pounder! Here are the pictures of us coming home to Portland Oregon Airport and all of our friends and family waiting for us and waiting to meet Seble. Thank you all SO much for all of your support through this past 2 years, your love, prayers, financial assistance, and time! We love you all- adoption is a true gift from God and Seble was meant to be our families gift-she is perfect for us! We are blessed beyond words.
Although we were tired after 24 hours of travel and 4 take-off's and landings, it was actually good flights-Seble did well, and after getting home to over 104 degree fever later that night with double ear infections -you would have never known it-she flew like an expert! She fussed a few times-but only to fall asleep. She was content for the most part and slept a lot. The flights went smoothly and we actually had a "famous" pilot on our last Ethiopian flight-he was the pilot that flew the Ethiopian airlines several years ago that crashed into the sea and most people on the flight survived! We didn't know it until after we got home and happened to see a video on it-we then went back and looked at his picture with Seble and sure enough it was him! :-) So we were in great hands!
One thing I will never forget about the trips to Ethiopia (and I'm not sure if this happens on all international flights since this was our first), but when we landed at our final destination (Addis and Dulles) everyone clapped and cheered on the flight. It was cool.

HERE THE KIDS WERE WAITING FOR US WITH SIGNS THEY MADE

HERE WE COME!

SEBLE MEETS SIBLINGS FOR FIRST TIME

SEBLE MEETING GRANDMA TAMI

CASSIDY IS RUBBING SEBLE'S EAR

DO YOU REMEBER ME "SEBLEENIE"

GRANDMA TAMI TAKES A TURN

CASSIDY WAS SO EXCITED TO FINALLY HAVE A SISTER!

SISTERS FOREVER!

SEBLE MEETS ZACH

"I REMEMBER YOU"

GREAT-GRANDMA GRACE

GREAT-GRANDMA MARY ELLEN

MEETING GRANDPA RON

SEBLE PROBABLY FELT THE MOST COMFORTABLE WITH GREAT-AUNT DAWNA! LOL

AUNT KELLY IN LOVE

AUNT RACHAEL AND SEBLE

SARAH MEETS SEBLINA!

LOGAN ISN'T THE BABY ANY LONGER!

NOAH AND SEBLE

SHE LOVED GREAT-UNCLE DUANE'S BEARD!

WE ARE FINALLY TOGETHER AS A COMPLETE FAMILY!

MEETING UNCLE CASEY

COUSIN NORAH ISN'T TOO SURE

KRISTY NEWMAN - A GREAT FRIEND!

SPENCER HOHENSHELT HOLDING SEBLE

KRIS THOMAS -ANOTHER GREAT FRIEND

SELBE MEETING THE ELLIS FAMILY-AND THEIR DAUGHTER WHO'S ALSO FROM ETHIOPIA

CHARLENE ELLIS AND SEBLE

TOO MUCH EXCITEMENT FOR ONE DAY!

LEAVING BAGGAGE CLAIM WITHOUT OUR LUGGAGE-IT WAS PUT ON ANOTHER FLIGHT! WE WILL GET IT DELIVERED TO OUR HOUSE IN A COUPLE DAYS.

1ST CAR SEAT RIDE-AND IT ACTUALLY WENT GOOD!

COUSIN EMMA

IT'S A GIRL!
"ETHIOPIA DELIVERS"

"WELCOME HOME LITTLE ONE FROM ETHIOPIA"

Blessings by Laura Story-what a powerful song!!

2011-05-30T11:32:00.000-07:00

Watch her concert tonight free from K-love radio station-click here

The Stories behind the song:

The song:

We are very excited that SHOW HOPE put our story on their website~

2011-05-26T21:00:00.000-07:00

Click here to see the story!!

http://blog.showhope.org/2011/05/26/taking-one-step-at-a-time/

SILVERTON'S ANNUAL PET PARADE 2011

2011-05-21T20:32:00.000-07:00

CHICKEN SEBLE

SEBLE THE CHICKEN WITH LOGAN RACCOON

FARMER AFTER RACCOON WHOSE AFTER CHICKEN

FARMER TWINS

CHICK MAGNETS

HERE COME THE JUDGES

SEBLE WON FIRST PRIZE FOR KID'S COSTUME CATEGORY

BANNER HOLDERS CONNOR AND JACOB

BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER

CHICK MAGNETS NOAH AND JAKE-WON FIRST PRIZE FOR "FOUL" CATEGORY

THIS GUY WALKED THE WHOLE PARADE LIKE THIS-WOW HE IS CREATIVE!

FARMER ZACH KEEPING LOGAN RACCOON AWAY FROM HIS CHICKENS!

GETTING TIRED-IT IS HER NAP TIME!

GOING..................

GOING............................

GONE !!!!!!!!

THE CHICKEN DIDN'T MAKE IT TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD!

HEY, GIVE ME THAT!

"JUST A LITTLE SEBLE"

SHE LOVES TO DRINK FROM STRAWS!

GUESS SHE WANTED MORE! :-) THIS IS THE "SIN NATURE" COMING OUT! LOL

JUST A LITTLE TEXTING!

A TRUE WOMAN IN THE MAKING...HELLO, HELLO CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

SO HAPPY TO HAVE WON 1ST PRIZE AS A CHICKEN IN THE SILVERTON PET PARADE!

SEBLE'S FIRST SUCKER-WHICH SHE HAPPENED TO FIND AND TAKE OUT OF THE GARBAGE CAN WHILE SITTING IN HER HIGH CHAIR!

RAIN STORM-"SINGING IN THE RAIN!"