tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80796298580342187892024-02-19T02:21:31.315-05:00The Mountain ViewOur family journey along the rocks towards the mountain view of Ethiopia.
"You have to walk the rocks to see the mountain view." Caedmon's CallKimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-21282792978758811892011-12-25T22:34:00.002-05:002011-12-25T22:56:16.901-05:00Christmas in EthiopiaToday was Christmas and we spent it first by going to worship at the International Evangelical Church in Addis. We sat in on a French service where the singing was absolutely amazing. Though we couldn't understand the words, we were able to sing several praise songs because we knew the melody. <div><br /></div><div>I was taken over by the uninhibited love and adoration that Africans exhibit when they worship. Their love for God was palpable and their thankfulness for Jesus was intoxicating. I could have stayed with them and sang all day!</div><div><br /></div><div>We then went to the Christmas service and worshiped with people from around the world. We heard at least 5 languages being spoken in the church, which as so awesome! We were both emotional when singing "Emmanuel" thinking of the perfect child who came to earth to bear the sins of the world. It is fitting that we are here, celebrating Emmanuel while at the same time bringing a new life into our family, a life that would be lost without the mercy and grace of Jesus. Such a heart-opening experience!</div><div><br /></div><div>We then went to lunch at Metro Pizza, which we have eaten at before and the pizza is just as good! We met up with a few families who returned from Harra*, the region that Haddy is from in Northern Ethiopia. They had been to her orphanage and had asked the staff for photos of Haddy Cake. They were told that Haddy was too small and sick and they didn't want to take photos of her. This answers a lot for us regarding her health before coming into the care of our agency. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Our hearts break thinking of the hunger and struggle she must have experienced, yet we are amazed at her fighting spirit! A premie baby, undernourished, underdeveloped, abandoned-- yet she remains strong and a total delight to all who meet her. She, like our Devon and Micah, is a living miracle and testimony of God's grace and redemption on earth.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>We then went to be with our girl at the Transitional Home. She was a bit distant at first, unresponsive, which made us very worried for her. Then, we took the hat off that we had brought for her and she perked right up. <b>Mommy was sad about the hat, but at least she doesn't mind bows!</b> </div><div><br /></div><div>We were able to hook her up to our monitoring equipment (Chad is THE man and was able to procure some equipment from work) and watch her vital signs. Her heart rate was very fast at first, which made us very uneasy. Then, after she was fed, her heart rate normalized. Her pulse ox. was at 100%, which is absolute perfection! She cried a bit, which made us all melt as she has the sweetest little pouty cry we've ever heard. We weighed her and found that she has gained 1 pound in 2 weeks! We are hopeful that she will continue to gain weight in their care.</div><div><br /></div><div>We are so thankful for the nursing staff at the TH. They dearly love her and have kept very good documentation on her life and health with them. They work so hard to care for the babies as best they can while providing love and support. We are forever grateful.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today we go to court to give our consent to bring Haddy into our family. I would be lying if I said I wasn't on the verge of tears at all times. I've been up since 4:30 am praying and worrying (which defeats the praying, I know) over this day. Passing today would give us the BEST scenario to get her home within a few weeks. We are still unsure of when I (Kim) will be coming home. This is starting to take its tole on me, as is the jet lag. Please pray for a favorable court date and sound sleep for Kim!</div><div><br /></div><div>We will keep you updated with the court results as soon as we have them! For now, enjoy a few photos from our journey. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-3955603637737263072011-12-24T08:44:00.003-05:002011-12-24T09:21:37.199-05:00We Made It--- Haddy Cake Metcha DayHi Everyone,<div><br /></div><div>So, we're reopening the blog because we are currently in Ethiopia for our court date for Haddy Cake Kulp! </div><div><br /></div><div>Our trip to court has been a crazy fast ride! We found out last Monday (5 days ago) that there was a strong possibility that our court date would be moved up given Haddy's medical status. At that time she was still in the hospital and without a diagnosis (we still don't have a diagnosis, btw, and won't until we get her home). On Tuesday we were told to spend a ridiculous amount of money on tickets because we would be leaving in 3 days! What a whirlwind. I feel like I was just sitting in my room with my friend Kate packing, but that was 5 days ago.</div><div><br /></div><div>Our trip to Ethiopia was horrendously long, but uneventful (if you don't count Chad's birthday literally only lasting 16 hours because of the time change!). Ethiopian airlines is wonderful and their new planes are top notch. We have no complaints, save the lack of toilet paper 8 hours into a 13 hour flight (but Super Kim always carries TP ;0)</div><div><br /></div><div>We arrived at our guest house via an amazing AWAA transport in the form of Yonas and David (amazing friends already). As we drove, memories of our last trip smacked us in the face in the form of beautiful landscape and people (as well as stifling pollution, inhaler, check). We had forgotten so much. This land is breathtaking in its beauty yet crippled in its poverty. Somehow distance had made my heart forget this strange and unbearable truth.</div><div><br /></div><div>We had 5 minutes (ok, it was 30 but it felt like 5) to get ready to go meet Haddy. Our nerves took over and so I naturally started to pick at Chad and he immediately had to use the bathroom. ;0)</div><div><br /></div><div>We drove a familiar route to the Transitional Home (run by our agency where little bows is) and found ourselves in no time at the silver gates.</div><div><br /></div><div>Oh. My. Friends. She is a delightful, adorable, teensy-weensy bundle of JOY! She giggles and smiles so often that we found ourselves literally in puddles of love on the dirt floor. We can tell that she is a total LIFE GIVER as every. single. person. is madly in love with our Haddy Cake. They even had the massive pink bow I sent on her! (But, her hair was a hot-fro-mess which this mama will correct in no time, don't you worry little Cake.)</div><div><br /></div><div>She is, by all accounts, a precious gift and we are so thankful for her. We can tell she is strong, alert, interactive, social, joyful, and just all around adorable.</div><div><br /></div><div>What she IS NOT is at a healthy weight. Our little peanut is so, so, so, small. nothing quite prepared me for how small she is. Right now, wherever you are, imagine a sack of flower in your arms. That is our Haddy Cake, under 10 pounds at 5 months old.</div><div><br /></div><div><b>A few things are clear to us, Haddy Alana is OURS. She is total joy, just like her namesake Alana, Chad's sister who is with Jesus. Alana was a life giver, a joy spreader, a sweet pixie of a girl who had her older brothers wrapped around her tiny elfin fingers. Haddy is and will be the same.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>We are also sure that this baby is, despite her disposition and strength, very underweight and having feeding issues. She is also still tachypnic, meaning her breathing is still too fast.</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div>We were notified today that our MOWCY* Letter (approving our family for her) has been written and sent to the court. We appear before the judge on Monday. It looks as though we will pass on that date and then, hopefully, be submitted to the Embassy on January 4th. We don't have an indication yet of how long her visa will take to process, which means we are not sure yet if Kim is staying or coming home on Friday Night.</div><div><br /></div><div>Please keep praying for Haddy's health to improve and for her to begin eating normally. She is so small, we really want to see her put on weight!</div><div><br /></div><div>We'll post pics as soon as we pass court. Love to you all!</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div> </div>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-77784590166369047632010-10-20T10:59:00.004-04:002010-10-20T11:15:34.260-04:00Naked for Christ--- It's Not About Me!<p>Lately I have come to realize just how selfish, self-absorbed, self-focused I am!<br /><br />Truth be told, I hate the second part of that title; I hate that truth! I want to make everything about me. My feelings, my needs, my dreams, my hopes, my prayers, my life... the list goes on and on. If I really am honest, I'm like my screaming 2 year old so much of the time. "MINE!!" "NO WAY!!" "GIVE ME!!"<br /><br />The crazy thing about my selfishness is that it has denied me great joy and blessing! There is not ONE blessing in my life that I willingly brought upon myself by being self-focused. All of my life's joys have come from the Lord and my willingness to follow His loving plan.<br /><br />Devon came to us after I kicked and screamed over not getting pregnant.<br /></p><p>Micah came to us after I kicked and screamed that he wasn't coming home soon enough.<br /></p><p>We got to see God's amazing right hand through Micah despite my screams of "it's not fair!!!" from the pit.<br /><br />God has blessed my selfishness in ways I don't deserve. <strong>He has loved me at my most wretched. And he is commanding me to "walk in love" as He did. He's asking me to give myself up as He did for me. </strong>It's shocking and painful to be so exposed to our selfishness and lay it at the feet of the one who became naked and broken for us.<br /><br />But, in this nakedness we find true love and blessing. There's nothing that stands in the way of my relationship with God, of my love for Him, and of my ability to serve Him on this earth than- ME!<br /><br />If we really want to confront our hearts and conform them to be like Christ, we must confront our selfishness. This is not easy, its down right miserable. When we do it, when we really hold the mirror up to our hearts we are left naked.<br /><br />Naked for Christ.<br /><br />We are naked right now. We are reevaluating our calling, examining our vision, and assessing our selfishness and turning our hearts back to the Lord and His amazing plan. <a href="http://preciousandpositive.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/its-not-about-you/">This blog post</a> made me ask myself "just what are you doing? Are your dreams God's dreams or your own version of MINE?"<br /><br />Read it and be prepared to get naked.</p>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-85855783568717020352010-10-08T08:38:00.002-04:002010-10-08T08:40:00.648-04:00Fall Festival Madness!Hi All! Most of you know via <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Facebook</span> or email that we are having a HUGE Fall Festival in 1 week to raise money for our adoption. The planning is in full crazy swing and we'll have a hay ride, pulled pork, face painting, live music, root beer keg, and so much more! We'll also be selling raffle tickets for awesome baskets that have been donated.<br /><br />Please consider joining us. The cost of the tickets is 15$ adults, 5$ for kiddos with a maximum of $40 per family.<br /><br />We hope to see you!Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-71633273566163008292010-09-14T23:28:00.004-04:002010-09-15T09:10:08.220-04:00<div align="center"><strong>MICAH- "Who is like our God?"</strong></div><br />Words cannot begin to express what we have seen and felt today. Our hearts are swimming in <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">sadness</span> mixed with mercy. <strong>We can no longer ignore the face of starvation. It is the face of our son.</strong> I'll tell the story because in the telling perhaps we will find peace and you will find HOPE.<br /><br />What we know about Micah's life before he came to our agency and to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Addis</span> isn't much. We know he was relinquished by a brave, amazing woman who wanted him to live. She gave hope to a hopeless child. She walked away from her own flesh so that he might have life. We knew he was sick; we knew he was little; we knew he was a miracle. But there is so much we don't know. The silence of what we don't know is deafening.<br /><br />This week, through my great friend Sherry and an amazing woman who gave her life for a year to our kiddos in Ethiopia, a bit of that silence has been filled. God's timing with this was so perfect. I had just written my previous blog post and my heart was filled with wonder at the amazing redemption of adoption and yet broken by the pain and reality of what abandonment is. We were weary of the fundraising, the questions, the unknowns.<br /><br />God BROKE THROUGH and gave us, yet again, an image of his amazing grace and love for the orphan. HE IS HOPE.<br /><br />This week the silence of the unknown <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">has</span> been filled with screaming and has been replaced with an ache in my heart and stomach so real I can barely breathe. The screaming is of both horror and hope. It's unreal.<br /><br />The brave, loving, amazing Rachel, who spent so much of her time caring for our kids in Ethiopia, sent us photos of Micah when he first arrived in her care. I have no words to express how these photos have broken my heart, shocked me into facing the reality of STARVATION and the hopelessness that has blanketed so much of Africa.<br /><br />We knew he was sick. We knew he was small. We knew he was a miracle. <strong>We didn't know he was dying. DYING. STARVING TO DEATH.<br /></strong><br />We've all seen the pictures and felt sadness for a child a million miles away who has nothing to eat. What if it were your child? Have you actually ever asked yourself that question? IT WAS MY CHILD. <strong>The emaciated, sunken face; the protruding, distended belly; the skin that hangs off like an elephants; and the bones, the bones...<br /></strong><br />I've been trying to get the courage to show you the real pictures, <strong>to show you the face of starvation, the face of death apart from our Savior. </strong>I can't, I WON'T, do it. This is Micah's story and I will let him tell you one day. When he can look into his own sunken eyes and accept his distended belly, his hanging skin, his skeleton-like body, I will know he is ready.<br /><br /><div align="center">I will tell you that there is NOTHING that prepared my heart for those photos.<br /><br />I will show you the photos of my 3 month old baby 2 weeks after he came into the care of our amazing, mama-bear, fight to the death for every baby agency-family in Ethiopia.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Here's our little Moo. 3 months old.</strong><br /><br /></div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8iDatOXw2X6HBhLd07jsCVnIYLveV7vCGVXCS2R-1pMjQQOzD1fwC1aClHiwtdgba0Jn5sEosFpHVxzaX5UdOJq-c2A-RYtUy6r7NHRqLvYOUtsvX8j5oULtjPWu9ywseCgfQn2l2nCj/s1600/Little+Micah.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5516977661706042338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil8iDatOXw2X6HBhLd07jsCVnIYLveV7vCGVXCS2R-1pMjQQOzD1fwC1aClHiwtdgba0Jn5sEosFpHVxzaX5UdOJq-c2A-RYtUy6r7NHRqLvYOUtsvX8j5oULtjPWu9ywseCgfQn2l2nCj/s320/Little+Micah.jpg" /></a> </p><p>This photo shows a MIRACULOUS change in our son. Given proper nutrition, care, and LOVE, he was transformed. God's grace reigned supreme in the life of our Micah. God's grace reigns supreme in my life and I am struck dumb by his mercy.</p><p align="center"><strong>Micah is simply an earthly, physical glimpse of how our Savior saves us all from the starvation of our souls.</strong> </p><p align="center"><em><strong>Thank you, Father, for saving my son.</strong></em></p><div align="left"></div>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-40235900827821741472010-09-06T11:33:00.005-04:002010-09-06T12:01:05.789-04:00Brokenness and TruthI've been wanting to write this post for over a year and haven't summoned the courage. This isn't easy to write and most likely won't be easy to read. I am sure there will be many who agree, many who disagree, and many who don't want to admit the truth about adoption. I'm writing this for myself, for catharsis, to "speak the truth in love..." and about love.<br /><br />When I think about adoption I wish the only images that came to my mind were rainbows, smiles, and kisses. But this just isn't the truth. There are so many painful images that come to my mind, that are forever imprinted on my heart. To only tell the kisses would be lying to myself and to the world about what adoption is and what it is not.<br /><br />Adoption is God's design. He authored it and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">obviously</span> champions it as He had his only son come into the world as an adopted child. Adoption is wonderful and we are big fans.<br /><br />But adoption exists because of pain, brokenness, despair, horror, and sadness. Adoption exists because of starvation, death, disease, abuse, rape, and other unspeakable horrors. Adoption is amazing and beautiful and love. But adoption is also misery, pain, hardship, torture, loss, and so much more.<br /><br />This weekend we spent time with our great friends. They recently brought their child home from China and she is an amazing joy! BUT, there is struggle. There is pain. There is hardship. A gorgeous child who has seen so much hardship already and yet has finally come to a safe loving place. This is an amazing picture of redemption! But before redemption comes unspeakable pain.<br /><br />The truth about adoption is that in order for it to exist one family must rip themselves from their child and give them up. A mother turns her head as nurses carry her baby away. A policeman holds a child as his mother walks away forever. A child is left on the side of a road while the mother secretly waits in hiding for someone to carry him away. A child watches his mother die and then is taken from all he knows to a home that is not his home.<br /><br />However it happens it is painful, it is torture, it is life at its most brokenness.<br /><br />It's easy to talk about how wonderful the child's life is now, how amazing it is to bring them into our home, how blessed they now are in their new life. BUT, that's not the only truth. The pain of their separation from their first family is true, it is real, and it is important to acknowledge. Jesus wept at the loss of Lazarus. He felt the truth, the pain, the ache of death as a human.<br /><br />As adoptive parents we either acknowledge this reality or we don't. In order for us to have our child, to experience the joy and the love someone had to go through horror beyond understanding. This is the truth.<br /><br />Lately we have been wondering where and how our little girl is. Has she been born? Is she healthy? Where is she now? This third time around I truly want to experience adoption for ALL that it is, not what I want it to be or what I think it should be. So, this time around I am allowing myself to wonder, ponder, cry over, and consider the whole truth of my child's life.<br /><br />Right now she could be lying on the side of the road, screaming, waiting for someone to find her. She could be in the arms of a policeman watching her mother walk away. She could be in the arms of a nurse, her mother turning her head as she is carried away to a nursery. I just don't know. Does she miss her mother? And how will God minister to the hearts of those aching for my daughter well beyond my own aching?<br /><br />I know that a family is in pain somewhere knowing that they will not see the smiles, get the kisses, rock, hold, sing, LOVE on my daughter though their love for her is just as strong. I love this family. I hate the brokenness that will eventually bring my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">daughter</span> to me. So much of my heart wishes it didn't have to be.<br /><br />But I love the REDEMPTION that is adoption. I look forward to the redemption, to the kisses, to the small hand that will fit perfectly in mine. I look forward to sharing her story and my heart with her.<br /><br />Right now I am allowing the truth and brokenness of adoption to seep into my heart. I don't want to miss this part. I don't want to be too afraid to acknowledge this dark, sad side of adoption.<br /><br />The light of redemption will be so much brighter after walking in this darkness,.Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-69284393509032945212010-08-20T08:48:00.002-04:002010-08-20T09:04:09.246-04:00Knit Together<div align="center"><strong>Our God is an amazing visionary.</strong> </div><br />Whenever I think of visionaries, I imagine the scene in Apollo 13 where the men who are trying to fix the shuttle are in a conference room discussing the problems. A man walks in carrying a box of random stuff. He says to the group " We have to make this (holds up the necessary part) out of this (holds up the box of random stuff)." That's vision.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Our God is an amazing visionary.</strong></div><br />When we first brought Micah home our home was nothing short of a war zone. There are no words to describe how desperate, how disappointed, how dazed we felt at the REALITY of adoption. It was so hard. SO. HARD.<br /><br />I remember telling my great friend Sherry "I feel like this adoption has ruined our life." Yeah. It was that bad. Micah never slept and cried for his nanny all night long. Devon revolted against the crazy life change of having a new brother. He reverted back to diapers and bit, hit, and screamed his way through each day.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>If I had only known.</strong> </div><br />Yesterday we were at an indoor <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">playland</span> and the boys were playing together. I watched as Devon stayed with his much smaller 2 year old brother and played with him, protecting him from other kids who would bump or touch him. I was amazed. Then I heard Devon say to Micah "Micah, I love you. You're the best brother." I burst into tears.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Our God is an amazing visionary.</strong> </div><br />He created us each as individuals, so different with so many different needs and abilities. Yet, he knew how we would fit together. He knew what we each needed and chose us specifically for one another. It's amazing to me how well suited my sons are for one another. Where one is weak, the other is strong. Yet they have the same joyful, playful, strong, loving spirit.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>Our God is an amazing visionary.</strong> </div><div align="center"> </div>He chose a baby born in an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">underprivileged</span> community in Trenton for a young, inexperienced couple and redeemed an entire family. He chose a starving baby in Ethiopia for that same baby boy to help him grow, to give him a best friend, to change him in ways he didn't want to change and to help him be a more whole individual. And He did it all for us despite our lack of vision and faith.<br /><br />And right now He is choosing another child to fit into this puzzle of family He has made in us. This child will be exactly what we need and so much more than we can imagine.<br /><br /><div align="center"><strong>That's love, my friends. Visionary love.</strong></div>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-4278346107179814382010-08-15T20:42:00.004-04:002010-08-15T20:49:17.024-04:00Hurry Up and Wait<span style="font-family:georgia;">Happy DTE (dossier to Ethiopa) for the Kulp Clan!!<br /><br />What does all this mean? Our dossier has been logged in and is headed to Ethiopia (insert sigh of relief). I can't tell you exactly where we are in line but we believe we are in the 20ish spot in line. There are many families ahead of us but some of them are requesting either girl or boy and sibling groups. That being said, this is an unofficial list and doesn't really mean much given the unpredictable elements that pop up in adoption.<br /><br />January...February...March...Hurry up and wait.<br /><br />Is it time to buy hair bows yet?<br /></span>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-4043290668638091692010-08-03T15:56:00.001-04:002010-08-03T16:02:33.051-04:00We Have Lift Off!!!Hello Friends!<br /><br />I am staring at a completed dossier sitting on my counter. Truth be told, I have been staring at it for 2 months. But, today is different. Today is the LAST DAY I will stare at this pile of paperwork that was painstakingly gathered and has touched many, many hands. Today is the LAST day I will wonder when we will be ready, when we will be certain, when we will be mailing the silly pile.<br /><br />Because TODAY we were awarded a $3,000 matching grant from Lifesong for Orphans. This means a potential $6,000 towards our adoption, the money we will need to accept our baby gir's referral when it comes.<br /><br />Our God is so awesome. When we started waiting for this money I was so frustrated. The "whens" turned into "whys" and "hows" and then "how could you's!"<br /><br />But God is bigger than my ranting, kinder than our imaginings, and more faithful than our expectations. As if we hadn't received enough grace and blessing through our first two adoptions, our BIG God chose to show us his grace in the one area we struggled to surrender: our finances.<br /><br />He owns all of the cattle on a thousand hills. He has blessed the work of our hands and has given us abundance.<br /><br />We ask that you would pray with us that the $3,000 would indeed come in to make this grant complete.<br /><br />Praise Him from whom all blessings (and GRANTS!) flow!Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-56566865480495654562010-07-19T16:50:00.000-04:002010-07-19T16:57:44.158-04:00Blogging is a luxury I don't have...and picturesSo, I have no time to blog lately. Sorry! We are doing well, same-old-same-old really. The boys are growing and as crasher-basher-dasher as ever. They are a perfect fit. Adoption is redemption, my friends, redemption on earth!<br /><br />I've taken on a job solely to raise money for the baby-girl project and God has truly blessed us thus far! We had an awesome first garage sale where we raised 1300$ and are looking forward to having a second sometime in August/September when our schedule allows.<br /><br />Right now we are waiting to send our dossier for a few more weeks but we reserve the right to change our minds at any time. This is a luxury we deserve!<br /><br />And now, what you really want to see, the dynamic "dopted" duo!<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVrSFF4I6GFY56-W8sT9QutVyzd8puY-z2_0XUIhz5nF1dwtLc3gVOc2MZKDdvrCp02KKzIm6BE_55kUG7fb0IhGiL0jTW7o7Uq-omBzoZFgzR4PqdYzmKjaBA-ek9m_ni-nt5r3NAFYv/s1600/IMG_4175.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495723997881974258" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVrSFF4I6GFY56-W8sT9QutVyzd8puY-z2_0XUIhz5nF1dwtLc3gVOc2MZKDdvrCp02KKzIm6BE_55kUG7fb0IhGiL0jTW7o7Uq-omBzoZFgzR4PqdYzmKjaBA-ek9m_ni-nt5r3NAFYv/s320/IMG_4175.JPG" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjct22lExQ6-aRs5QxhmncmoqzwKqOdQa9uuWuGLAVTu7lG_K5xL3ncSNQti7JpaXeY2WnmZ1m9Th-A_se0NyrRuG_T4Jmw20MqbYigtFKw31nS7eT10-kg3UUAn8Gdab8I7T8J8vhsNYV/s1600/IMG_4132.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495723989443008578" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjct22lExQ6-aRs5QxhmncmoqzwKqOdQa9uuWuGLAVTu7lG_K5xL3ncSNQti7JpaXeY2WnmZ1m9Th-A_se0NyrRuG_T4Jmw20MqbYigtFKw31nS7eT10-kg3UUAn8Gdab8I7T8J8vhsNYV/s320/IMG_4132.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_17_2W28QiILH4hVb2h5ebmwLdB8tY3m-lCKWO2GEOGFn1kYhv2pXF-MFCgEt1WuS8MI4ADGpEVoZFPIxLGhcLFmPPiJeFVXfwWXEkm08B2jnXW6uO35whuwyWEgYC-infSfbECQG58R/s1600/IMG_4065.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495723981565413202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit_17_2W28QiILH4hVb2h5ebmwLdB8tY3m-lCKWO2GEOGFn1kYhv2pXF-MFCgEt1WuS8MI4ADGpEVoZFPIxLGhcLFmPPiJeFVXfwWXEkm08B2jnXW6uO35whuwyWEgYC-infSfbECQG58R/s320/IMG_4065.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aU1MN0EumiNb1PL62lhQbrOunvXd8ez0WSQPO0aVdfBZfG-5KLPOJeYjFwNihofa5YMOL3am_ygKzfqWWMuNyYUfxKk0pSRpSPW8fPii2Q48Y4PVsmWf0cN_qzjNAc3elh_WvIxT6hN-/s1600/IMG_4047.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495723972812487202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aU1MN0EumiNb1PL62lhQbrOunvXd8ez0WSQPO0aVdfBZfG-5KLPOJeYjFwNihofa5YMOL3am_ygKzfqWWMuNyYUfxKk0pSRpSPW8fPii2Q48Y4PVsmWf0cN_qzjNAc3elh_WvIxT6hN-/s320/IMG_4047.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnpEJqw_XUgb3xwvepZoGa-ZXCnJNQWd61iJpywa_COmcCP3shT_Bwj7rF5_ku5McnZWcr2dedy51-kxy-YEdsQE5mSuM1fhAf0Bv0pVlt64btjSGYUM-9GLV2Ghx7lzoH11fXCc4l-hP/s1600/IMG_3929.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495723959947675714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwnpEJqw_XUgb3xwvepZoGa-ZXCnJNQWd61iJpywa_COmcCP3shT_Bwj7rF5_ku5McnZWcr2dedy51-kxy-YEdsQE5mSuM1fhAf0Bv0pVlt64btjSGYUM-9GLV2Ghx7lzoH11fXCc4l-hP/s320/IMG_3929.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div>tKimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-80634201062962827362010-05-07T15:29:00.000-04:002010-05-07T15:40:12.112-04:00Where We Are<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenrJ-WmoNyttnPXzVUnbJy2uuKhnP163Wh5cUUbCpLUrNY-OvJzwJBCw4U3_xNylUgdJTPU4U5BnLe1DSbIHOtkfJwycjlhtG05B_0GT0UWB8DuVBDuWSOlhhsAautZ1vU2CH7cY_ny-e/s1600/IMG_0252.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468614669927886226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphenrJ-WmoNyttnPXzVUnbJy2uuKhnP163Wh5cUUbCpLUrNY-OvJzwJBCw4U3_xNylUgdJTPU4U5BnLe1DSbIHOtkfJwycjlhtG05B_0GT0UWB8DuVBDuWSOlhhsAautZ1vU2CH7cY_ny-e/s320/IMG_0252.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhkEYNQhXqUD6Zd1TsGAcdq_HA1uVPjxTqOfPZCZMs6AxVptR0KXNzf5vPbzYZPM3UZVppmj1aihCtQzskZZliV2stks51uVyrYzWl2AG_nDyVn76bQRNqj43KT3ZTkcOkHxzjGqUVHL3/s1600/IMG_1577.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468614659519009314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYhkEYNQhXqUD6Zd1TsGAcdq_HA1uVPjxTqOfPZCZMs6AxVptR0KXNzf5vPbzYZPM3UZVppmj1aihCtQzskZZliV2stks51uVyrYzWl2AG_nDyVn76bQRNqj43KT3ZTkcOkHxzjGqUVHL3/s320/IMG_1577.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div>While I'd love to bring you a meaningful, heartfelt post about how much we are longing for our daughter and what God is doing in our lives (and we are, and He is doing much), I am just too busy running around with these critters. And I mean RUNNING! Micah David is super fast and almost 2. I can barely keep up at this point. It's a crazy life that I LOVE living.<br /><br /></div><div>This journey will certainly be a LONG one for our family. So was the last. In light of that, I thought I would give everyone an idea of where we are in the process. </div><br /><br /><div>We are almost done with our paperwork and have submitted for our I-171H document from immigration. There's a long formal name for this but basically its the piece of paper stating "Y<em>es, you can bring a child you barely know into a country she doesn't know and raise her. Have FUN!"</em></div><br /><br /><div>Once we have this document, we'll be able to complete our dossier and send it to Ethiopia.</div><br /><br /><div>THEN, the fun of FUNdraising begins. We have grants we are applying for, a garage sale on the calendar, and a huge bash planned. </div><br /><br /><div></div><div>Stay Tuned!</div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-15413658662290104022010-04-20T14:16:00.000-04:002010-04-20T14:38:47.118-04:00Our New Journey-- There and Back Again<span style="font-family:georgia;">It's been a nice, welcomed, needed break from <em>living our life in public, </em>I mean blogging.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">But now we're back. Literally. We are back to it, back at it, back IN it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">We were there. We saw. And we cannot forget. The faces are forever seared in our minds, branded on our hearts. It's not a calling any longer. It's obedience.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">This life of ours, our missionary hearts, are bound to obey. This is our walk in obedience and our love song to a God who walked the infinately hard, miserable, chaos for us. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">So we are going back. This time for a different kind of magic, our daughter.</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>Amari Alana Kulp</strong></span> (story to follow)</span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;">So there. </span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-37464640435264561612009-09-25T14:31:00.000-04:002009-09-25T14:35:51.028-04:00REFERRALVERSARY!!!<div align="center"><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"><strong>Happy 1 Year Referralversary!!!</strong></span></div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">It's been 1 year since we saw our Micah David for the first time. I can't believe how time has flown! So much of this year was spent waiting, praying, dreaming, crying for our baby. Now we are so blessed to be chasing after him and trying to keep that precious smile on his face!!!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">He's gone through so much since our first meeting. He can walk, talk, laugh, sing, dance, run after his brother, hit, laugh at himself in the mirror, play peek-a-boo and duck duck goose, and make ANYONE who meets him fall madly in love.</span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">He's our JOY!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:lucida grande;font-size:130%;">Enjoy the video!!!</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.onetruemedia.com/shared?p=9960bfed34060467ffda56&skin_id=601&utm_source=otm&utm_medium=image" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.onetruemedia.com/cover_thumbnail?p=9960bfed34060467ffda56&view=2" border="0" alt="View this montage created at One True Media" title="View this montage created at One True Media" /><br/>Happy Referralversary!!!</a>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-18841508458194569022009-09-14T12:56:00.000-04:002009-09-14T13:02:54.049-04:00Manic Monday Picture<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2I0RbqH_4uw081JYdNnYnCsQN_A6kkgOnHRU3xAT_SOlYrSdcjT7CBglAj4jjRZjC5wqZfrex1upoKde18bDkSqFrW4jyqrOMF9zM6jFDt4lt_tqS2jcjh1E6QEv5lYftP_orTcKBoNR/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAzMDIuanBn%3F=-774050"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW2I0RbqH_4uw081JYdNnYnCsQN_A6kkgOnHRU3xAT_SOlYrSdcjT7CBglAj4jjRZjC5wqZfrex1upoKde18bDkSqFrW4jyqrOMF9zM6jFDt4lt_tqS2jcjh1E6QEv5lYftP_orTcKBoNR/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAzMDIuanBn%3F=-774050" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381369715784114962" /></a></p>There's nothing like a box to make hours of fun!<p><br>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryKimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-52286376074407151792009-09-12T12:33:00.000-04:002009-09-12T12:35:28.528-04:00Sweet baby ray<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOe-STtoGm3pluTRK0b2DuzW11QcpcIEDtSiukjgv2W0GjWdX7wAUD4DHfRgiyTp1-zfTIWAAB_ZxhBL5co5hEF-Tp2CrgycBr-WYJrJQR0l-_TfpgCdzBe-z3NzEOJfXtnWdzEttVxgV/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyOTMuanBn%3F=-728529"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaOe-STtoGm3pluTRK0b2DuzW11QcpcIEDtSiukjgv2W0GjWdX7wAUD4DHfRgiyTp1-zfTIWAAB_ZxhBL5co5hEF-Tp2CrgycBr-WYJrJQR0l-_TfpgCdzBe-z3NzEOJfXtnWdzEttVxgV/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyOTMuanBn%3F=-728529" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380620474058557298" /></a></p>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryKimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-71817695820478199642009-09-12T11:21:00.000-04:002009-09-12T11:26:01.143-04:00Chad aint nothin but a hole digger<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWzXvQI525KPSzLQl3nNBYEmxkukiAssrEP3ERJcLWGw8c8RYWdkPCR-ej7Dc_7ta32FmRjcUUuQfR3wVAMg1MWx0My-JPj9wK9fWAf-NXbTPyEHCB-gNmde6DoaKLHPB18t_P2w_AxYg/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FL01lZGlhIENhcmQvQmxhY2tCZXJyeS9waWN0dXJlcy9JTUcwMDI5Mi5qcGc=%3F=-761144"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkWzXvQI525KPSzLQl3nNBYEmxkukiAssrEP3ERJcLWGw8c8RYWdkPCR-ej7Dc_7ta32FmRjcUUuQfR3wVAMg1MWx0My-JPj9wK9fWAf-NXbTPyEHCB-gNmde6DoaKLHPB18t_P2w_AxYg/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FL01lZGlhIENhcmQvQmxhY2tCZXJyeS9waWN0dXJlcy9JTUcwMDI5Mi5qcGc=%3F=-761144" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380602580109178690" /></a></p>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryKimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-35177720958165630132009-09-12T11:19:00.000-04:002009-09-12T11:28:14.746-04:00More beach fun<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigifdpGgM4UD7T3t-FGSHJIs7bdHPnOM6ZnCtUFxkjzdGtH7MHSX3jVue3FyqL_r9FUr_6H6CQiKsFBGxiuSOZlwGuHI70rELYh5VWlpxL-B97e3NNRUrD6hcTpGEoUzJjeLbx_4zWxpLq/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyODYuanBn%3F=-794752"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigifdpGgM4UD7T3t-FGSHJIs7bdHPnOM6ZnCtUFxkjzdGtH7MHSX3jVue3FyqL_r9FUr_6H6CQiKsFBGxiuSOZlwGuHI70rELYh5VWlpxL-B97e3NNRUrD6hcTpGEoUzJjeLbx_4zWxpLq/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyODYuanBn%3F=-794752" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380603147557230722" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDDOSegg50KTYiMbHjEIIPZPthlKlU6vtiqYn6-rus3Kkq3E0HAIrHs_9ufAaItsdv3uunPYOpJ9TgK8jogzVe0_K_wDFnLSF60waCG3A4yEsHCWSIZX3lq4VIGuPJu0qKPQZdjvQ-MIY/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyOTAuanBn%3F=-796298"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDDOSegg50KTYiMbHjEIIPZPthlKlU6vtiqYn6-rus3Kkq3E0HAIrHs_9ufAaItsdv3uunPYOpJ9TgK8jogzVe0_K_wDFnLSF60waCG3A4yEsHCWSIZX3lq4VIGuPJu0qKPQZdjvQ-MIY/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyOTAuanBn%3F=-796298" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380603159776578818" /></a></p>Yes, friends, they are playing together. Gone are the days of 'Mommy, get Micah now!!!' Enter the days of the brothers as God intended. <br>What joy!<p>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryKimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-47512560305828329332009-09-12T11:02:00.000-04:002009-09-12T11:09:14.401-04:00Cheesecake at the beach!<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXnhKuzDqXff9gimt_MG7S72ADofZu4QM_Mc3prwe-V0TtB9ktLtL7af8vDfdpEEty4u7Wvh-C0dDNUsgLzxLuONkbC5iEGQuBg4VcAD8QKoJgOXHJTBLEgZkVVBi7rWTwNOCCL1k_4CI/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyODIuanBn%3F=-754402"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLXnhKuzDqXff9gimt_MG7S72ADofZu4QM_Mc3prwe-V0TtB9ktLtL7af8vDfdpEEty4u7Wvh-C0dDNUsgLzxLuONkbC5iEGQuBg4VcAD8QKoJgOXHJTBLEgZkVVBi7rWTwNOCCL1k_4CI/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyODIuanBn%3F=-754402" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380598252487627042" /></a></p>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryKimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-4927063011511542182009-09-12T11:01:00.000-04:002009-09-12T11:05:17.028-04:00Beach fun<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqNw0U0aaJdeZiWkKh0552wjQk7bBiKYm14-At1jVxLY0KHeImwA37qphbUHpE0VApa_913vRChLyjdtabTY4U8EXOvIYrUrMr6uJ8VLJaSwh6AhuQNJWGvkkFPrrSdpIX6R-JY-8xBlw/s1600-h/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyODEuanBn%3F=-717029"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFqNw0U0aaJdeZiWkKh0552wjQk7bBiKYm14-At1jVxLY0KHeImwA37qphbUHpE0VApa_913vRChLyjdtabTY4U8EXOvIYrUrMr6uJ8VLJaSwh6AhuQNJWGvkkFPrrSdpIX6R-JY-8xBlw/s320/=%3Futf-8%3FB%3FSU1HMDAyODEuanBn%3F=-717029" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5380597236196691586" /></a></p>Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerryKimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-20623198814692151642009-08-04T14:43:00.001-04:002009-08-04T14:47:52.541-04:00Meet Desi Low!!!!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvalgtmO2DAzO9oM9X5TamEWpxWmLsnA2iyIYY0YL3DgzrhubETAkDHUmvzSBCd46xM_BKEYKTrhlSnO1lHIZYIuILz1D_yWeI1AgG-nus-C_JJml8ZK07foupaHnF_KZEOSrD9bQ383KE/s1600-h/DSC02942.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366182003098563954" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvalgtmO2DAzO9oM9X5TamEWpxWmLsnA2iyIYY0YL3DgzrhubETAkDHUmvzSBCd46xM_BKEYKTrhlSnO1lHIZYIuILz1D_yWeI1AgG-nus-C_JJml8ZK07foupaHnF_KZEOSrD9bQ383KE/s320/DSC02942.JPG" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJehVDPMVsUBZVkudzHexyasQmTJikJrqhgsm3Yr8YwpgqgdPkI-2q9yfRCNfRFBsNHgFBHg-i3NiAVhh46sWjD2K2IqjPKeWGTPAko_8d6LvBdwGRopHJGAmSRMvUngRRpND5iLiasQA3/s1600-h/DSC02941.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366181999379535378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJehVDPMVsUBZVkudzHexyasQmTJikJrqhgsm3Yr8YwpgqgdPkI-2q9yfRCNfRFBsNHgFBHg-i3NiAVhh46sWjD2K2IqjPKeWGTPAko_8d6LvBdwGRopHJGAmSRMvUngRRpND5iLiasQA3/s320/DSC02941.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4bjher4JRFVtwD8-SJfR26L2fHktzD74r96mlKm828Nis8Wj9KVexypynhWaPezRXh-vyKicy2ntM0t4F4ImjmqrnNT-LxQ64_t_k-AUdajwRY7qQfWGjjGklQYIqKGFj3nBF5XGFRsb/s1600-h/DSC02946.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366181990139293842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP4bjher4JRFVtwD8-SJfR26L2fHktzD74r96mlKm828Nis8Wj9KVexypynhWaPezRXh-vyKicy2ntM0t4F4ImjmqrnNT-LxQ64_t_k-AUdajwRY7qQfWGjjGklQYIqKGFj3nBF5XGFRsb/s320/DSC02946.JPG" /></a> Jeremiah Desalegne Low<br /><br /><br /><div>This little guy STOLE our hearts while we were in Ethiopia. After a long wait, four failed court attempts, and lots of tears and prayers, this DELICIOUS sweety is finally coming home to his family. We couldn't be happier for the Lows!</div><div> </div></div></div>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-36906761348777533222009-08-02T21:36:00.000-04:002009-08-02T21:58:14.323-04:00Family, Finally<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWyP84V7v3OU73GMoP-3HqxoFN94Dy4AAudEt5d-MIFHuej4X9muBikAddQtU6xTu8wn5j2AcfRp-NR35rFHdA37JNpLJ_XdG2xaHdIwLS6TFJTujMhcL7b5Bl0LyKB9WwcMa2YBHuZUH/s1600-h/DSC04085.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365549808320758722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWyP84V7v3OU73GMoP-3HqxoFN94Dy4AAudEt5d-MIFHuej4X9muBikAddQtU6xTu8wn5j2AcfRp-NR35rFHdA37JNpLJ_XdG2xaHdIwLS6TFJTujMhcL7b5Bl0LyKB9WwcMa2YBHuZUH/s320/DSC04085.JPG" /></a></p><br /><br />I know what you're thinking. "You've been a family since you got home!" Well, yes and no. We were a family outwardly because we had all the ingredients. We lived in the same home, we ate together, worshiped together, belonged to each other. But there was an alien in our house, a really cute, loved, amazing alien, but an alien non the less.<br /><br />We knew he was ours but it took time to sink in, to feel whole, to feel natural. For Chad and I, the love was instant. We have adored Micah from day 1. For Devon, Micah was the competition who swooped in took all the attention and turned his world upside down. It's hard to be a family when one child does not love the other.<br /><br />It was rough. We didn't FEEL like a family. The adoption roller coaster didn't stop when we got home. We got off the "waiting, traveling" coaster and on to the "waiting to be "normal" coaster. This was unexpected and hard to take.<br /><br /><br /><br />But days went by and slowly but surely Devon began to love Micah, Micah began to attach to us, we began to feel a deep attachment for him, and the family began to emerge.<br /><br /><br /><br />But it's a different family.<br /><br /><br /><br />It doesn't look like it used to. I am not the Mom I was. There are fewer cookies, missed appointments, late payments, piles of dirty laundry that were not there before Micah. There are less <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">play-dates</span>, even less dinners out, and virtually NO date nights.<br /><br /><br />But this family has MORE. More love, more laughter, more joy, more fun. Two times the dirty faces, two times the smiles. Two times the screams, two times the laughter. Two times the laundry, two times the mud pies.<br /><br /><br /><div align="center">MORE JOY, MORE LOVE, MORE FAMILY. FINALLY.</div>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-42272932909125281482009-07-28T16:01:00.000-04:002009-07-28T16:37:13.760-04:00Baby Tossing (and other various videos from July)<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwEQ4Fqz4iyI6PsPTD2sImPLboYyJpZWxZ5BXb3mmodQrnSoDXWnbMbakm9lqXCqCqfSYVfERdKypm5G1qOgg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz_SUmvA4q72LqsoJkf_7-ayh4acaQwB23cQ0TdSnod2tYWqCCcSqKRoepdV3dJaJVVfObjXl6hAv1Ef45m6g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-54002673681017673972009-07-21T21:25:00.001-04:002009-07-21T21:39:00.555-04:00The Books I'm Reading (says MUCH about our life!!!)I don't have time to tell you all that's going on in our life, so I thought I would give you a list of what I am reading. This will tell you much more than I have energy to tell you!<br /><br /><ul><li><strong>The Psalms</strong>- This book has meant so much to me this year. I can't get enough of our Father's amazing poetry, so full of love, heartache, pain, hope, relief, comfort, and praise!</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><strong>"Why <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ADHD</span> Doesn't Mean Disaster</strong>"- SUCH A GREAT BOOK! This is requiring a paradigm shift in my thinking in such a great way. <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ADHD</span> does not have to be a disability, but rather a DIVIDEND. We are all made in God's image for His purposes. This book is going to help us figure out how to maximize the potential of our dashing, dreaming D.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><strong>"Parenting the Spirited Child"-</strong> Yeah, that should be self <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">explanatory</span>. ;0)</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><strong>"Toddler Adoption"-</strong> We thought we were bringing home an infant. God had other plans. I obviously have catching up to do.</li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><strong>"Good Night, Sleep Tight</strong>"- No, he's not sleeping through the night yet. ;-) A "how to get your kid to sleep without killing yourself" manual. So far it's working pretty well. </li></ul><p> </p><ul><li>"<strong>Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows</strong>"- because I re-read The Half-Blood Prince and couldn't get enough, again. </li></ul><p> </p><ul><li><strong>"A Wife After God's Own Heart"-</strong> This one I have read before. I needed a refresher. Somewhere between <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">poopy</span> diapers, <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Popsicle</span> kisses, and sleepless nights I forgot about my #1 man. What can I say, I'm working on it, hence the book.</li></ul><p> </p><p> </p>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-69034224260165657672009-07-12T14:04:00.000-04:002009-07-12T15:59:02.378-04:00Holidays, Haircuts, and Happenings<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox5l2reIYcqKCOPCNj3VA-acgnC6OzpUMCPiYnzaJIqYJUb3uGH2fB1EfI2Ixm2rgYM1jS4md43FLxbOsgTfPqs_7oDR70r9ehJEUGYXmxKS5pMO0UHyyhlox6ZFHaxB2mKQoLDp8NnZp/s1600-h/DSC04204.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 302px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357664325924203746" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiox5l2reIYcqKCOPCNj3VA-acgnC6OzpUMCPiYnzaJIqYJUb3uGH2fB1EfI2Ixm2rgYM1jS4md43FLxbOsgTfPqs_7oDR70r9ehJEUGYXmxKS5pMO0UHyyhlox6ZFHaxB2mKQoLDp8NnZp/s320/DSC04204.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwzM4I2B2aQhq51cw5LgvqAmaRD1qdyTO6LAJzqgeIIMBnzGQC5JilE3Zokuu2d3xr7FZ0zgbc3MSr7vyfPC2Est26h08JM_vJTjuSwri9Xw4wsaG8kFggl8sKzW7lpRmBimLY3U4IfXU/s1600-h/DSC04164.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357664320972038722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwzM4I2B2aQhq51cw5LgvqAmaRD1qdyTO6LAJzqgeIIMBnzGQC5JilE3Zokuu2d3xr7FZ0zgbc3MSr7vyfPC2Est26h08JM_vJTjuSwri9Xw4wsaG8kFggl8sKzW7lpRmBimLY3U4IfXU/s320/DSC04164.JPG" /></a><br /><div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaIExw_s5KVJHoZZVEdiMkV3c6hw5AoG45PsvBCKeFvXLQGt2sZ_HDnHQ2dT4awtbJn1Pkc7WouvdlVWLwRj7wYJFWw8iNzL7dD095YrtF6p6i5sVar98nqnO9HUvpoGnaXHtZtNIgqT4/s1600-h/DSC04191.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357664308255967666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDaIExw_s5KVJHoZZVEdiMkV3c6hw5AoG45PsvBCKeFvXLQGt2sZ_HDnHQ2dT4awtbJn1Pkc7WouvdlVWLwRj7wYJFWw8iNzL7dD095YrtF6p6i5sVar98nqnO9HUvpoGnaXHtZtNIgqT4/s320/DSC04191.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVClPXPXRmDA1U-_IDpdaxXnU0PCJkMaWlZYYC0auCbkQAKRwUVYJHrCuE6BpdPxuTLIC84znnIC7AogssA3OeLjjd-N8abz-PRiIj-t1X0oDW-MZIcsalQ5Oprh6U3rKXZYaGwOhLEU2c/s1600-h/DSC04181.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357664306311031346" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVClPXPXRmDA1U-_IDpdaxXnU0PCJkMaWlZYYC0auCbkQAKRwUVYJHrCuE6BpdPxuTLIC84znnIC7AogssA3OeLjjd-N8abz-PRiIj-t1X0oDW-MZIcsalQ5Oprh6U3rKXZYaGwOhLEU2c/s320/DSC04181.JPG" /></a><br />Happy Birthday Mommy, spent at the lake and beach with two water babies, a hero hubby, and great MIL.<br /><div><br /><br /><br /><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEios3axgVXKIqpRu9Xb1KCuixmErPtpduqAcqnNfxrq9gkFfX_Gb11N5XK0GpXXZ8COPUPu6TiN3QSy8895JObFDcaDlLp33wS8ptAxucdCx6s6_5dwno5EuTnK00xo6Hyn9dn4b5iv6WPj/s1600-h/DSC04171.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357664294057845026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEios3axgVXKIqpRu9Xb1KCuixmErPtpduqAcqnNfxrq9gkFfX_Gb11N5XK0GpXXZ8COPUPu6TiN3QSy8895JObFDcaDlLp33wS8ptAxucdCx6s6_5dwno5EuTnK00xo6Hyn9dn4b5iv6WPj/s320/DSC04171.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28YG2rZvs2Q8MXE23l0RKPooE2l8YbKqJv-k4YSU1gKWsPnUtUtIYhbRJjCzlBcSe2V6FpI-AfeJS93_TVS20howy4bRBDOuYjbvJqekkiKIbVFU03YHSkS89lIGJ_lajf0k8zpocUkgs/s1600-h/DSC04155.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357638571042851922" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh28YG2rZvs2Q8MXE23l0RKPooE2l8YbKqJv-k4YSU1gKWsPnUtUtIYhbRJjCzlBcSe2V6FpI-AfeJS93_TVS20howy4bRBDOuYjbvJqekkiKIbVFU03YHSkS89lIGJ_lajf0k8zpocUkgs/s320/DSC04155.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Two of my favorite pictures of Micah and Mommy<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BWtrBeeM1M0LsIJ-axNovuPB1LC2XNruS3pkHGz6wc06u0zVa6NIXcWanEkt55Kv84YYStvFtT6GKqRE10T8xZS3M1FbpMVWZ_XuUttjIvH9tioKt1Y9GGAsOZ2_fsW1SpV6jOpMOUlZ/s1600-h/DSC04157.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357638564247325698" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_BWtrBeeM1M0LsIJ-axNovuPB1LC2XNruS3pkHGz6wc06u0zVa6NIXcWanEkt55Kv84YYStvFtT6GKqRE10T8xZS3M1FbpMVWZ_XuUttjIvH9tioKt1Y9GGAsOZ2_fsW1SpV6jOpMOUlZ/s320/DSC04157.JPG" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOruSy-cgAjkjHrbFUFBYHKX1rbRf3RuIU9ibV_vmxx8ZgCOFMteHAGhZW3JrwU7OJG_lqC24Qx2wPeWVucOW20Q8ybK-ECPnFK2etJ8M19rRj_N4agEHj_J0LGQFdWIdV6gv0ZQkFKpoy/s1600-h/DSC04147.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357638554184415682" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOruSy-cgAjkjHrbFUFBYHKX1rbRf3RuIU9ibV_vmxx8ZgCOFMteHAGhZW3JrwU7OJG_lqC24Qx2wPeWVucOW20Q8ybK-ECPnFK2etJ8M19rRj_N4agEHj_J0LGQFdWIdV6gv0ZQkFKpoy/s320/DSC04147.JPG" /></a><br />Gorgeous Night Sitting Along The Dam<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJifNuJdXw-mlYAGiS11XrwaYwzS6WHtZ9pE3Qz9ZzzrHi7Vvgf9mO9PbkFndcnMqczZB81Mx8M2_fI8c7i_duKS7odsvoA00Ji0MiI7fPU1D-NKE5PgPj_qemQ73xD1l8NZZjArSv20EB/s1600-h/DSC04084.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357638550159842978" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJifNuJdXw-mlYAGiS11XrwaYwzS6WHtZ9pE3Qz9ZzzrHi7Vvgf9mO9PbkFndcnMqczZB81Mx8M2_fI8c7i_duKS7odsvoA00Ji0MiI7fPU1D-NKE5PgPj_qemQ73xD1l8NZZjArSv20EB/s320/DSC04084.JPG" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ko85yAML4h_bNbcpU_EmKp5PSGmbdyKOuRc5IKe1gsAgKVM34RCoqLVlqszZGJOi5hYaPkdFplCdGyR0yWy9re_obG7PAL5zZY6Xa8vecCrzMVOrpHsQrvBscg2LqBemouHFvDkycamx/s1600-h/DSC04048.JPG"><img style="WIDTH: 240px; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5357638547224016498" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9ko85yAML4h_bNbcpU_EmKp5PSGmbdyKOuRc5IKe1gsAgKVM34RCoqLVlqszZGJOi5hYaPkdFplCdGyR0yWy9re_obG7PAL5zZY6Xa8vecCrzMVOrpHsQrvBscg2LqBemouHFvDkycamx/s320/DSC04048.JPG" /></a><br /><br />Silly Family, Fun Days<br /></div><div align="center"></div></div></div>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8079629858034218789.post-92097541285777618402009-07-10T21:14:00.000-04:002009-07-10T21:16:43.536-04:00The Unimaginable...Please PrayErica Reed is kind, sweet, encouraging, and has walked a difficult journey. Today, the worst news was given to her family. Their beautiful angel, Julianna, has gone to heaven. They were to travel in 2 weeks, they were to hold her in 2 weeks, they waited 2 years.<br /><br />The unimaginable.<br /><br />Please pray for the Reed family. They are strong and faithful but they are hurting. They need our prayers, our arms to hold them up as they release their sweet daughter to her home.<br /><br />Please pray.<br /><br /><a href="http://reedadoption.blogspot.com/2009/07/julianna-is-in-heaven.html">http://reedadoption.blogspot.com/2009/07/julianna-is-in-heaven.html</a>Kimberly Kulphttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13817983975212898897noreply@blogger.com1