Gotcha Day Festivities

One year ago today, we were flying;

we were praying and hoping and finishing our waiting;

we were loving with an other-worldy love,

and we were so glad to finally be together.

They were handsome and cuddly and skinny and trusting and hopeful

and not afraid,

and they were like the pieces that had been missing--the rest of the Oster clan.

For our first Adoption Day, we wanted to start the tradition of doing something memorable and fun as a family. So today we went to the Tennessee Valley Railroad Museum for the first time. 

It was really cool to get up close and personal with so many old trains.

The engine that pulled the train we got to ride was built in 1910! 

We took a 20 minute ride to another location of the museum, got out and then

got to see the engine turn around on a turntable! 

This part was the best! It was amazing to see something so huge being turned around like it was a toy train. And this turntable was designed with such perfect balance that, when it was built, it was turned by four men! Now a small engine turns the table.

After the Train Museum, we ate at Five Guys Burgers and Fries (appropriate, right?) and then had Frozen Yogurt at Top It Off. 

Boys' Baptism

Caleb and Amos were baptized on Sunday at Lookout Mountain Presbyterian Church.

Nate and I were married in this very spot. Naomi, Jacob, and Bethany were all baptized here as well.

Pastor Joe said, "Ok, we can just say the benediction and go home!" because being hugged by Amos was like a sermon and worship music all in one!

Amos Perseverance Simbwa Oster

Caleb Purpose Kimbugwe Oster

After the service we had a huge party to celebrate the boys, their baptism and their coming into our family.

We had at least 108 people at the house!

THANK YOU!!!

to everyone who came

to those who prayed us through this process

and continue to pray as we learn to parent five

to those who gave of their time, talents and money

so that we could be a family of seven.

We are forever thankful!

We are so very blessed.

(and a special thank you to Abby who took all these lovely pictures of our day!)

Uganda Memories

These pictures were sent from the current pastor of the church where Caleb and Amos's birth father preached before he passed away. I'm pretty sure that the lady with the baby in the pink dress in these first three pictures is their birth mother--holding Caleb's older birth sister and pregnant with Caleb.

When Caleb saw this picture, he said, "This will bite you!!" He is talking about the metal sheeting that forms the walls of his old church. I don't know whether that was a warning given that made a strong impression or if he learned that lesson the hard way, but it definitely stuck with him!

A really big adoption journey revelation from this week happened on a normal ride down the mountain to pick up Bethany from her tutorial. Naomi mentioned that a girl in her SS class had gotten her hair cut off in the back. This triggered a memory for Caleb. 

He blurted out, "When Patience [his older sister] was little, her hair grew out and Mommy cut it off. Daddy got mad and spanked her!"

I asked, "Was that a real spanking or a silly one?!"

"A silly one," he replied with a big grin. "And then Daddy picked up Ndagire [his younger sister]--she was a little baby--climbed a tree and left her there. Mommy got sad and climbed up to get her."

He was grinning and giggling and enjoying this memory.

We talked a little more about Mommy Mbabazi and Daddy Walagembe and then he started telling us stories about the huge robots that he made in Uganda who fought with another robot and then made a tree fall on his house. And then Mommy Mbabazi said, "Robot, please help me put my house back together. And the robot said, "Ok, I will." And all was well.

I love hearing his stories, real or otherwise, and seeing into his heart and mind just a little bit more clearly!

Bethel House Reunion

While Rashid, the director of Bethel House Orphanage, and his wife Joy were in town, all the kids adopted from there got together for some pizza and fun.

We Came Home

thank you, Grandma!!

wow! Saige! Yay!