One year ago today.... We stepped off the plane in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, stopped for some coffee and within 20 minutes of arriving in Africa we became a family of three when we met Malak Kidus Silvestri.Have I ever told you how we came up with his name?? I think it's high time.
Grab a cup of hot tea...it's story time...
Grab a cup of hot tea...it's story time...
Eric and I had been trying to get pregnant for about 2 years.... it was hard. It was gut wrenching. And it was draining me. We never really tried to firgure out why it wasn't happening, but once the Lord laid adoption on our hearts there was no turning back and we didn't really care if we could concieve anymore. I'm still amazed at how He took away that desire and replaced it with a deep longing for a child who may not have our genes but is more a part of me than anything I've ever known. He is my heart. He might not match our skin tone but he fits into our family perfectly and I wouldn't want our family to look any other way. He's the most amazing gift God could have ever given me.... I love him more than life.
Very soon after we decided to adopt I was spending some time in the Word, reading scripture. I was praying and talking to the Lord about our child, our unknown baby boy who was somewhere in Ethiopia waiting for us. (actually, he was still inside his mama's belly at this point) I feel like the Lord gave me this verse... Numbers 20:14, 16 "You know all the hardships we have been through...but when we cried out to the Lord, He heard our cries and sent us an angel.."
And so we looked up the word for "angel" in Amharic....It's Malak.
He is an angel.
He is a super hero.
He's a grump.
He's a goofball.
He's a peanut butter and jelly lover.
He da man.
He's a ball stealer.
He's all attitude.
He's a mama's boy.
HAPPY FAMILY DAY TO US!!!
33 comments:
I so vividly remember this day! I had been checking and checking and checking for your updates when you FINALLY got to go and get him. congrats!!!!!!!
very very sweet. . . i sent a friend of mine here (um, actually bethe gilbert's sister in law) a few weeks ago to read your homemade g-diaper posts and she was dying at how adorable malak is. . . what a sweet boy you've been blessed with!!! names are such a special part of our identity and how we identify with our children, what a beautiful way to choose your baby's name!! happy family day!
what a precious story!I feel like I was a part of your every hurdle and move through such a journey.I remember I watched that video like butt load of times and each time I watched it I cried(tears if happiness for you and Eric) because I was so fortunate to be on the other end of adoption being an adoptee and know how amazing it is to be placed into a family that God already had a plan for me before I was even born and I know that is how it was for Malak,you and Eric.I look forward to reading,hearing,and seeing many more Silvestri moments..love you 3, even from the 'couve!
Such a sweet name story, Tara. It really warmed my heart to read it. You have such a sweet family. Congrats on your 1st family anniversary.
And your video still makes me cry. So sweet.
Rachel (Hinds)
It is hard to believe it has been a whole year. Congratulations on your first year as a family...and heres to many many more!
Amy
Happy family day! He is certainly a gift from God and it's obvious how much he is loved by all.
Happy Family day to yall! Thank you so much for sharing Malak's story. And your pictures, as always, are just precious!
We will be celebrating our special day in a little over a month... two years...it just doesn't get any better than this, does it?!
Such a cute blog! I think watching your video made me more emotional now than it even did the first time I watched it! Happy Family day Mal!
Happy Family Day you extreme Cutie McCutersons!
Happy family day guys!! I loved watching that video again...it is crazy that it has been a year..it seems like yesterday that we were in Ethiopia kissing on him for you!! Hope you guys have a great day!!
What a sweet post. It's neat to see your love for him. Congratulations on your special day.
YAY!
Happy Family Day :).
We Albertsons love you all!
Congrats on your one year anniversary with Mal. Happy Family Day!! :)
Thanks for sharing the story behind his name...I have wondered before. The story made it that much better!! :) Mal is a blessed little boy, and y'all are so blessed to be his parents! What an amazing story to tell!
Oh sweet joy. It still brings tears to my eyes. He IS a perfect fit.
Happy Family Day! you guys are beauiful, He is soo adorable. Loved the video
julee
bride to Mike
mommy to many
including almost 10 from ET
waiting for Gezehegn age 3 at Wanna and Assefa age 10 mos at AHOPE
Fantastic tribute to your boy :) So cute.
i wish that you had a pic of him doing that leaning forward arms back growling thing that he does... aspiring olympic ski jumper :)
happy family day to you!! sorry we couldn't make it yesterday, eli was CRAZY tired and cranky. jenna was very disappointed. she told me earlier yesterday, "mom, i need my friends." i said something to the effect of oh really and she replied, "yyeeah, i need shiwoh and mawak."
Yay! Happy Family Day! I love your video - I loved it when I first saw it and I love it even more today.
Praise Jesus for your heart's desire!
Happy Family Day!!!
Such a great story! I can't believe it was a year ago already. :)
happy family day! tears! lots of tears! what a story of redemption and faithfulness... can't believe it's been a year.
I loved how you came up with his name! Awesome!
hi :) hope you don't mind me lurking around your blog, but i stumbled upon it somehow & i'm crying like a baby from that video! what an incredible gift from God! malak is too sweet for words! and those eyes?!?!! he's gonna be a lady killer for sure! thanks for sharing with us lurkers ;) ..may God continue to use your story again & again! xo.
Happy (really belated!) Family Day!
cried through the whole video...So sweet...thanks for sharing
Thats so cool I've always wondered how you came up with it. I love the name and now it is even cooler how you picked it! Happy family day!
I can't believe it has been a year already! I love the superman picture!
What a lovely post!
I don't know how I missed reading this post! Now I can't sleep and just read about Malak's name. Dustin has always said he loves Malak's name and of course we didn't know what it meant. I love it! And know I love it even more!
I'm bawling. I just love that sweet little peanut butter and jelly lover of yours. So sweet!
A late (OK Really late!) Happy Happy Family Day!! Love all the Malak pics - such a cutie!! It's just so amazing that a whole year has gone by!!!
So I watched this video again because I told a friend (Teague Meyer) about you cause they are adopting 2 little boys from Ethiopia.
Anyway, it's impossible to watch w/o crying. It's neat to see your love for him.
Not sure how I found your blog, but had to say that was one of the very sweetest posts I've read anywhere.
A late "happy family day!" to all of you! Thanks for sharing the beautiful photos - he is precious!
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