Dear Iris,
 I held you for the first time.  It was one of the most precious moments of my entire life.  I have loved you since before you were born although I had never gotten to kiss your precious face or squeeze those chubby little legs.  It was a true gift from God.  I will never forget that moment.  I had just surprised your mom and dad by coming home from Tanzania.  Of course, things got pretty loud when your mommy and I finally saw each other for the first time in almost 1 year.  All of the sudden I heard a precious little cry coming from the back room (sorry about that).  "Iris", I said.  I wasn't sure if you would cry when they placed you in my arms and everything in me wanted to squeeze and hug and kiss all over you, but I didn't want to freak you out.  So, I calmed myself down and just waited to see what you would do.  The first thing I noticed as we looked each other over for the first time were your beautiful and curious eyes.  Even though you look just like your daddy, those eyes...those are your mothers eyes.  You didn't cry!  You were so happy and content, as if I wasn't even a stranger.  I also got to put right to work changing your diaper.  You were very bad!  I literally couldn't keep you still.  You chubby little body was rolling all over the place.  I loved it though.

The short 9 days that I got to spend with you were filled with wonderful memories, non-stop laugher, tearful goodbyes and many moments just stopping and staring at your sweet face and savoring every second.








Dear Caloway,

 My precious first nephew, you have officially become a BOY.  I loved getting to experience your playful and crazy ways.  I'm glad that you still know that aunt Stephy can beat you up!  Don't forget it either.  Even though I thoroughly enjoyed all of your excessive loudness, I treasured the moments where you would snuggle up to your aunt and tell me stories, share memories, talk about Kennedy, or ask me questions.  You are still that same sensitive and loving Caloway, that we are so proud of!  Your love and knowledge of birds cracks me up!  I'm so proud of you, Caloway.  I enjoyed every moment that we had together...especially sharing those bunk beds and our campout in the living room!



Norah-Bora,
 Oh how I had missed your precious hugs and that sweet little voice.  It was so precious that you couldn't believe it was me when I woke you up.  "But aunt Stephy is in Africa?"  haha, you were so confused!  I had a lot of fun the we stayed the night at mamaws together.  You still haven't lost your affection for snacks, which is a direct reflection upon the childhood of your mother.  Oh how she loved a good snack...especially anything involving cheese.  I loved hearing your beautiful songs that you would make up right on the spot.  I had missed your pretty voice!  I also loved getting to see all the interesting outfits that you would pick out for yourself every day!  You have such...unique style!  Thank you for all the wonderful hugs and kisses and how often your reminded me how much you love me.  I love you, too sweet Norah!


Winston
 Oh my word.  What can I even say about how much you have changed.  You are a bulldozer.  I can't believe that such a tough little guy can also be so sweet and loving and snuggly!  Also, those glasses make it absolutely impossible to get mad at you!  I loved wrestling with you and Caloway!  You are so strong that it kinda scares me...so much strength from such a tiny little body.  It was so cute how much you loved your Tanzanian soccer uniform.  You kept grunting and pretending to kick as hard as you could.  I loved it.  You do have quite the temper, which I thoroughly enjoyed watching your mother suffer through on several occasions.  You are also very funny, so I loved watching your mom trying to hold back laughter when you were in trouble.  I love you so much, my little Winston.  Thank you for all the hugs and kisses/licks. :)

proof of your deep love for me 

Leighton
  Oh, Leighton.  You and I had our moments! haha.  I tried everything I could do to get you to remember me when I first got back.  I so badly wanted you to like me that I may have overdone it a little.  I even told you that I would buy you a toy, in which you raised your little finger and replied "I buy me own toy."  haha!  You are hilarious just like your mom!  I know she is sweet now, but she was NOT at your age.  I loved how snippy you were to me at times because it was like a flashback to how mean your mommy was to me when she was little.  Despite your hilarious and mildly rude attitude at times, you were so much fun and so sweet to be around.  I loved to see how much you have learned and how much you love your family.  Thank you for giving me hugs and kisses and telling me that you love me.  I meant so much to me to hear those words.  When I left last year you were only saying a couple of words and now you can VERY clearly communicate your feelings and your desires.  I loved hearing all of the funny things that you would come up with to say!  You are loved by so many, Leighton and you give so much love back...just like your mommy!  I'm so proud of you.  You are also so incredibly beautiful so don't ever go down the hairstyle path of your mom...the Dorothy Hamill was meant for no child...ever.


I love you Caloway, Norah, Winston, Leighton and Iris!  Thank you for all the wonderful memories!

Dear Iris,
 I miss you.  It's hard to believe I can love a little one so much that I haven't even held yet.
I was feeling sorry for myself this week (again).  I really wanted to be home with you and Caloway, Norah, Winston, and Leighton.  I wanted to hug and kiss all over each of your faces.  I wanted to feel the comfort and security of home.

 Then I spent another afternoon at the orphanage.  28 little sets of pre-school hands pulling and fighting for attention.  28 sets of eyes longing for someone to love them.  As I picked up little Rachel, she held on so tight and as I sat down her little legs wrapped around mine so I couldn't put her down.  Each little one of these precious children have a story.  Suddenly my sob-story didn't seem so pitiful.  Then we went into the baby room.  Six precious, once abandoned, babies sat quietly in their cribs.  Not one cry.  Not one attempt to get out of their tiny cribs.  They were old enough to walk, but not one of them could even stand.  Holding those little ones made me miss you, but holding those little ones reminded me why we are here.

I thought about you, Iris.  Most likely with more than 28 hands of loved ones fighting to hold you and then I think about the 28 little hands fighting for just one person to hold them.  I remember why I am here.

  I'm thankful that God has blessed you with so much love and that you will grow up knowing and experiencing the love of Christ in your life.  Don't ever take that gift for granted.  God has blessed our family with more love than most people experience in a life-time.  I'm thankful that our family gets to join hands together in sharing that love here in Africa.  One day we will get to be in heaven together with our African brothers and sisters because God allowed us to come and God allowed you to send.
I love you Caloway, Norah, Winston, Leighton, and Iris.
Aunt Stephie
  

Dear Iris (and Caloway, Norah, Winston, and Leighton),

  How are you guys?  Oh how aunt Stephie misses you and your mommies!  Things have been pretty busy around here, but you are always on my mind. 

Iris- I miss feeling your crazy little kicks.  You are a funny little thing already…how can that be?  I loved seeing you on the computer screen during your ultra-sound.  You were beautiful and had your daddy’s mouth.

Caloway- How is the loose front tooth?  Are you ever going to just get the job done already?  Make sure you let me know and make mommy send me pictures right away!  I miss your awesome laugh and your precious hugs.  I miss punching and wrestling with my little dude!

Norah- You and Claire-bear always have “tough-girl club”. The following is to be spoken in robot voice…”Hello, to my niece and my young apprentice.  Keep practicing your best robot moves…I will be checking them when I see you next.  Good day." end robot voice.  I love your hugs and your precious words telling me how much you love me.  I miss your songs that you make up.  Will you Skype me some songs here soon?

Winston- Oh, Winston…our tough little guy.  I say it all the time…you bulldoze your way through life.  You crack me up!  Sometimes you act just like your mommy and then other times you are sweet.  Haha.  I love you and your tight hugs and kisses, which are actually just licks!

Leighton-I’m sad every morning that I wake up and don’t hear your bossy little voice.  I miss making 2 of every baby meal and even miss your metal-smelling diapers…haha, okay, I don’t miss those!  You always make me laugh and I love seeing you on skype.  Have you been sneaking out of your room?  I worry about you…your such a climber (like your mommy) and so adventurous. Be careful!

Well, this wasn’t meant to be sad....so, on to something else.

Here are some things that your cousins have been up to…

They put princess stickers on their wall today

We were at a restaurant and met a lady who spoke English, she said…"your baby is so cute, but very naughty"

The restaurant had a playground and a little trampoline…built into the ground!

Elliot colored on Claire’s sheets…TWICE!  She got in trouble

The girls have a lizard in their room.  We call it their pet and it keeps bugs away.

We live on a mountain and uncle Aaron wants to climb it.  Maybe one day Caloway and Winston can come climb it too!

It’s very hot here, and Elliot put her finger in a fan today

The girls brush their teeth with water bottles b/c the water isn’t clean here.  They don’t mind J

We miss you all and LOVE YOU so much.

 Aunt Steph

Dear Iris,
 Last night we had a big family dinner.  Mamaw made her famous Swiss Steak (one of my favorites) and your mom made her famous cheddar biscuits.  We had a lot of laughs, as usual!  Your dad brought a video player so we could watch old home videos.  It was so much fun.  Your mommy was SO cute and very chubby!  We watched the video of her coming home from the hospital when she was first born.  I still remember that day. We were so excited for our beautiful new baby sister.  We even had a few fights over who got to hold her.  Mostly because Aunt BB was a very selfish two year old who didn't want to share "her baby".  Those were fun videos to watch, but it made me sad to think that I will miss out on your little homecoming.  I can't wait to see what you will look like, the sound of your little voice, your little personality.  You have a very anxious family awaiting your arrival...your family in Africa included!  Love you!

Dear Iris,
This blog is my gift to you. It's my commitment to you, Caloway, Norah, Winston, and Leighton. It's a commitment that, although we will be continents apart, you will know your Aunt Stephie, Uncle Aaron, Kennedy, Claire and Elliot. It's a commitment to continue to share life together...the blessings and trials, times of excitement and times of fear, when we see God's grace and when we need to be reminded of His grace. Most of all my desire is that one day you will look back on these shared moments in view of all that God has done and is continuing to do in your little life. My greatest desire and prayer is that what Christ did for you on the cross would resignate so deep in your heart that radical obedience to, reliance on, and love for OUR LORD is what will mark the days of your life.

So, Iris...you don't know this yet, but God has richly blessed you with the family you will enter into in just a few months. You and I share a very special gift, one that should be treasured. I treasure our family more than almost anything on this earth. This is why, you need to know that NOTHING apart from the privilege and High calling to share the gospel would keep me apart from this family. Yes...the family God has given us is the best!! I pray that one day you understand the blessings we have of giving our best to God.
So...Iris, Caloway, Norah, Winston, Leighton, let the adventures begin!