No, I DIDN'T DROP OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH

I have been wanting to sit down and post our latest update for days now. However, if I'm feeling really ambitious and ready to do it, I have a 2 year old who is in great need of something and it doesn't include computer time! Other times I've just been too tired with catching up on every other area of life and the last thing I want to do is sit at the computer. But NOT TONIGHT! Ellie is staying over at a friends house, Ben is playing with Dad & I'm stealing a few precious moments to update our blog.

We've been home for a week and a half and things are going amazing! I could not have written a better transition if I wanted to! Ben continues to grow, bond, play, laugh, smile the most beautiful smiles, talk, run, jump, swim.... the list goes on. He is adjusting fabulously and we are enjoying every minute of it! There are moments when I can see the change in Ellie. She told her cousins last week that we were only "borrowing" him for awhile. She then proceeded to tell me that she's just not quite use to him yet. I told her that was OK and that things take time. Of course, the flip side of that is she was adamant about spending her Tooth Fairy money on a new ball for her brother & she couldn't wait to share him with her best friend. So, I'm convinced it's normal. If I would have had a biological child she'd be going through the same emotions as the family went through the change. All in all, we can see the Faithfulness of God as He has so perfectly expanded our family.

Speaking of Ellie & Tooth Fairy, it's just too funny of a story not to share. She had her 2 front teeth loose (very loose) long before we left for Africa. I kept telling her that "those teeth are not coming to Africa with us!" However, due to the fear of potential pain, my beautiful 1st born babied those teeth and they did go to Africa despite my wishes otherwise. And of course they began to turn different colors (black & red) and point in directions that I had no idea teeth could point! It wasn't until our plane left the great continent of Africa that in the middle of the flight Ellie went to the bathroom and came back laughing & crying. Apparently as she waited for the airplane bathroom she decided to work on her kick boxing moves and she proceeded to land an upper cut.... on her own chin! That's all it took for those God awful teeth to fall! I have never been so happy - She looks so cute without them. Therefore, the Tooth Fairy visited our home the 1st night back and due to the double extraction the TF saw fit to leave her $5.00 - SCORE!

Well, I wanted to touch base and post some more pics of our time in Africa. I hope everyone enjoys them. I have one more thing I want to say. As I watched my son walk around our home the 1st night back, I can honestly say that I cannot remember what the home felt like without him. It was as though Benjamin has always been here. I believe that he has, we just didn't know it until now. It's sooooo good to be complete and to be completely home!

Love you all!

Cherri

39 Hours 45 Minutes later...

On Saturday June 5th at approximately 9:30pm my eyes fell upon a most welcomed sight... My HOME! It was a grueling 40 hour trek to make it there but we did it, we are home safely and although I'm still operating on Africa time, we are so happy to be home. Thank you to all of you who have continually lifted us up in prayer through out this entire trip. God is Good all the time!

The kids did exceptionally well considering the physical task of coming home. However, I do not see a future in teaming with either of them for a spot on TV's Amazing Race. After Ellie's melt down in San Francisco and the fact that Ben can not handle a seat belt (Oh Joy with the 5 point harness car seat!) I'll reserve the dream of winning that race to be done with my sister-in-law Ruth. She doesn't stomp her feet and scream inconsolably when tired and as far as I know she'll buckle up!

When we got home my favorite neighbors (my sister and her family) along with my dear Aunt Kathryn were there as our welcoming committee. Having them there and seeing their joy in greeting their new family member reminds me of how this blessing of adoption is shared by all. It was a very proud moment for mama to share our son with them and I was so thankful that despite near exhaustion Ben eaked out a few smiles for the group! After they left and we got ready for bed I was able to just observe my children in their home. Ben walked around the bedroom and kept jumping on his sister destroying her neatly organized pile of stuffed animals as we prepped our bedroom for the family sleepover. He then laugh and giggled and wrestled Bill for the TV remote control. (What is it with men and their remote controls?!) It's as though Ben has always been here with us and again all I can say is God is Good.

I have had so much fun blogging that I intend on keeping it up. Especially over the course of the next few days so I can post more photos from our trip and keep everyone updated on our transistion. I want to say a very special Thank You to our Parents. Thank you Dad for supporting Mom in everyway so she could come and be a part of this experience! Thank you Mom for your special "Oma love". You did a great job of helping out while in Africa. And last but not least, Thank You Gramma Ginny for your sacrifice of time and the gift of your servant's heart! Your very presence was peace and we could not have done it without your support!

We are blessed!

Bill, Cherri, Ellie & Ben

WE'RE HEADED HOME!

Hi Everyone!

So, the last couple of days have been full and not much time to sit and rest but as of today we are done with governmental agencies, medical exams and every other adoption related appointment we have been doing. Yesterday we were at the US Embassy until the evening but we got our travel visa for Ben and now we are enjoying our last 48 hours in Nairobi. This morning we visted the orphaned elephants and it was very cool! Probably my favorite animals. However, Tuesday we went on our safari and it was AMAZING! Monkeys, baboons, thousands of flamingos, giraffes, zebras, hyenas, rhinos and drum roll please.... LIONS! Ok, well, only one lion and it was a she BUT it was awesome and not common for the cat to come out. Needless to say we were all so happy! I would have put Tuesday as my favorite day but something so sweet happened yesterday at the embassy. As we were waiting for our paperwork I started talking with a gentleman seated across from me. Turns out he is Rwandan and working on a green card to further his studies in the USA. As we were talking I glanced down and noticed his written name. He shared the same last name as my son - Bizimana. As I showed him this common fact he asked me if I knew what it meant. I said no but I love the meanings of names. He preceeded to explain to me that it is translated into "God knows my Destiny". The tears could not be held in. A beautiful God moment that only He could ordain. A moment of confirmation again - We did not choose Him, He chose us! My son is and has always been a Kroner. He was hand picked, choosen and saved for us to go and bring him home. And that is exactly what we will be doing tomorrow night. Please keep us in your prayers as we head home tomorrow. Thanks and we love you!

The Kroner's

Things are going well...

We made it through another day of waiting and that brings us one more day closer to bringing our son home. Ben had his medical exam today and besides a few minor issues, Ben is doing great! We'll follow up with a visit to our Doctor when we get home but in the meantime he is eating, laughing, playing, running, bonding and everything else we have been praying for. Tomorrow we are off to a safari, Wednesday the Embassy and hopefully Thursday we'll have our much needed traveling visa for Ben.

Oma (my mom) has been sick the last 2 days so please pray for her speedy recovery. The local Doctor made a "house call" for her and gave her some much needed meds to get her back on her feet. However, now Gramma (Bill's mom) is starting with the same symptoms. Please keep both of them in your prayers as we come to an end of this trip.

Well, it's bedtime now and I've got 2 little heads that need some sleep! We'll keep you posted on the rest of our happenings as we go along!

Love to you all!

Cherri

Finally Some Photos!!!

A Constant Run...

Good morning! It's Thursday morning 7 am and again I only have one quick minute to write. Yesterday went very well. Two more hours of waiting at our Embassy but we got the paperwork done and everything went very well. As we were leaving to go and enjoy the country side of Rwanda I received a very wonderful gift. My son gave me the BIGGEST SMILE I have ever seen! Another break through!

I'd love to write more and tell everything but in 2 minutes we're loading the bus to head to the airport. In Kenya this weekend the pace should slow down considerably and hopefully I'll get some photos posted.

Love to you all!

Cherri

TWO VERY LONG DAYS

Hi! I wanted so badly to write yesterday but by the time we got back to the hotel all of us were completely wiped out! Yesterday morning (Monday) we went straight to the orphanage to pick up our children. Benjamin recongized us and was fine being with us and leaving with us again. He is cautious in his eyes and body language but he is allowing us to hold him, comfort him, feed him & just be with him. After we pick him up we then spent some time at the hotel than followed with a traditional African lunch and then off to the Ministry to pick up a very important travel paper that was suppose to be complete. It is too long of a story to explain in detail right now but the paper was not done and we had until 5pm to get it our else I would have had to return Benjamin back to the nuns. It was something that my heart did not want to do. We literally went on a paper chase through Kigali only to return to the Ministry by 4:40 pm. I immediately texted my sister & best friend to start praying because it was not looking promising. Again, this is a long intertwined story but the bottom line is this... it took until 7:10pm and a face to face meeting with the Director of Ministry but we got our letter! Benjamin was by all legal rights ours and he slept in my arms as we drove back to the hotel. It was the most peaceful moment of what had been an extremely nerve racking day. Today was a bit easier but a lot of sitting around and waiting only to be told that we have to come back tomorrow. This, by the way, was at our own Embassy here in Kigali! Whatta ya gonna do?!? Play the game, do what they say, and bring your baby home.

Some prayer requests for tomorrow would be that the final paperwork with the US Embassy would be completed quickly because Wednesday is going to be the day we get to tour the orphanage, talk with the nuns and see the district that they found Benjamin abandoned in. I want to have enough time doing this but we absolutely have to finish the work with the Embassy. Also, that Benjamin would sleep well. He woke up in the middle of the night very frightened as you could image. He did settle down quite quickly but please continue to cover him in prayer. Also just that patience and understanding will be upon everyone in our group. It's tough but this is also an amazing group of families that are together.

One last thing before I go tuck my children in for the night. I've been trying to get Benjamin to smile and even though he's still got his poker face on, I do want to share one thing. Yesterday while we were on our wild goose chase for info he started singing to himself. Although I couln't understand a word he was saying, it was the most beautiful song I've ever heard! He's an amazing little man!

Love to everyone!

Cherri

PS- I'm having troubles posting pictures. It has to do with the slower internet not being able to load them. I'm still going to try one more thing so hopefully you will be able to see what I'm seeing! Cross your fingers xxxx!

Well... He's Definitely A Kroner!

It can only be a God ordained plan coming into fruition when a person you've never met, held, fed, smelled, dressed, bathed, kissed and every other thing that a mommy does for their child but you love them wholly the minute you see them. Not to mention some very alarming Kroner similarities... he eats like his dad and farts like his mom!

Seriously, the moments we had with Benjamin today were perfect! We drove to the orphange and waited about 10 minutes in the courtyard. Then the nuns started to bring out the children to us one by one. Benjamin was the 3rd to arrive and he was walking holding a nuns hand with his right and a bright yellow rosary in his left. They handed him over to us right away and I scooped him up in my arms. I was fully prepared for tears & fright but the Spirit of Peace was upon the moment. As we surrounded him with our arms he just looked and studied our faces and voices. Never cried. He was content in my arms and Bill's as well. We spent a good hour in the courtyard taking pictures and eventually sharing our child with the other families as they did the same. All of these children are beyond amazing! We then went to a local restaurant for Benjamin's birthday party. We ate lunch, had cake and all the children loved the balloons! (So much that he still has yet to see all that we brought for him.) We were there about 2 hours and then we had to return the children to the orphanage. It was ok because they were very tired and needed their naps. However, returning him to the gentle arms of the nun was not easy at all! It was at this time that Benjamin surprised me again. He squeezed me tight, began to cry and he wouldn't let go! How can I explain my emotions? How can I? All in all, I know it was for the best and my little man would settled right down. I also have great hope for tomorrow when I return. Perhaps he'll surprise me a 3rd time... perhaps I will see a smile.

Tonight I will not sleep well. Tomorrow my family is complete.

I love you Benjamin!

Moma

We survived and we have arrived!

Well, I wasn't kidding when I said the trip would be like the end of a pregnancy. I couldn't get comfortable, very little sleep and 8 hours into the flight I unfortunately became aware of my cankles! ARG! We did survive and we are now safely in Kigali. Bad news, we were delayed leaving DC. Good news, we still made our connection in Addis Ababa. Bad news, we arrived too late to meet Benjamin today. Good news, we all had a much needed shower! :) REALLY GOOD NEWS, we go to the orphanage early tomorrow and we get to take Benjamin on a birthday outing all day! He will have to spend the night back at the orphanage but by Monday he'll be with his forever family - FOREVER!

The weather was awesome when we landed. We're all settled in and going to enjoy a nice evening getting to know the other families.

I'll post more tomorrow - Cherri Joy

THE LABOR PAINS BEGIN!

I'm standing in our DC hotel lobby hoping they'll have a small carton of chocolate milk for Ellie. (It will be her last "chocolate nummies" for quite some time)and I am realizing that in 3 hours my "labor" begins. Of course I'm referring to the 20+ hours of airports and planes. I'm left wondering if I can get an epidural started now??? Oh well, like the labor I endured with Ellie, every moment brought me closer to my baby, and for that I'll go through anything! I need to go and rally the troops so it will be short. Ginny arrived last night looking marvelous as always. Bill got his workout in while mom, Ellie & myself enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Cheesecake Factory. We have all gotten a good nights sleep and I think we are as ready as ever for this amazing journey that we are in. My friend Kristen gave me a great verse on Friday. She told me Eccl 7:8 "The end of the matter is better than the beginning..." WOW! The Word of God is always perfect and perfectly pertinent. By all means, this summarizes the journey of adoption. Well, I gotta run.... my son's waiting!

Love you all!

Cherri Joy

GRACE

My life has been covered in the goodness & restoration from my all sufficient savior, Christ Jesus! This grace, that is for everyone, will cover us as we go and bring our son home. This grace will bring goodness & restoration to Benjamin as he discovers his All Sufficient Savior. Thank you Jesus for amazing GRACE!

Here we come Benjamin, here we come!

YOU OPEN YOUR HAND

"The LORD upholds all who fall, and raises up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look expectantly to You, and You give them their food in due season. You open Your Hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing." Ps 145:14-16

This is the 2nd to last morning that I will have in my home before we leave. I have more packing, cleaning, and tiding up to do but I can't help but to just sit and think about these past 2 years. I remember praying in September 2008 when we decided to move forward with the Rwandan adoption "Lord, may our experience bring You glory. May my testimony give You praise." That was the beginning of a most memorable 1.5 years. It's been a time marked with hard work, frustration, hurts and many tears. Many tears. (All of this happened to fall upon our 7th year of marriage and so a quick side note to all of you young marrieds - Don't do the 7th! Skip it and go straight to the 8th!) There were many days when I cried to God to take us out of this adoption. I cry just admitting this. It's like when you're sick. Your fever helps to burn off the bad germs, but it still doesn't feel good. The vomit is eliminating what the body doesn't need, but there's nothing worse than sticking your head in a toilet. I guess what I'm trying to say (besides the fact that our marriage was in the toilet) sometimes what's best for you hurts at the moment but is necessary to get you to the point of health. In a lot of ways, our process to this point in our adoption has been that to us. It's been a burning off and an elimination of what wasn't needed. "The eyes of all look expectantly to You..." I had many days of just looking to God expectantly.

And here I am today, I'm reminded of how the LORD upheld us... and has continued to do so. How His timing is impeccable! The food, sustenance, life He gives is always in due season. I know that right now God has opened His Hand. The healing Hand of God is so very, very, GOOD! I'm so glad that not all of our prayers are answered. Because if I would have pulled out of this process because things weren't coming together how I wanted them to and when I wanted them to, then I would have missed out on the desire of my heart and God alone knows that I have always desired a baby boy from Africa. Long before I ever even married Bill. And now I'm days away from holding my son! What sweet satisfaction this journey has been!

"Lord, has our experience brought You Glory? Has my testimony brought You praise? Maybe not every moment, maybe not every day, but it's not over yet. As I learn to continually look upon You, seek You daily and trust in Your timing, I know that You will uphold me, You will raise me up and You will give me what I need, when I need it. You alone satisfy the desires of my heart! Thank you Jesus, I love you!"

No matter what your troubles are or where you are in life, HOLD FAST to Jesus! HOLD FAST my friends to the One who is worthy!

Because of Him,

Cherri Joy

Potluck & Prayer

Here's my shout out to a fantastic group of people! Some dear friends of ours put together a little dinner and a lot of good fellowship. A time when we could talk about our trip and then come together in prayer as we get ready to go and bring our son home. For Ellie the highlight of the evening was when her friend Devon found himself stuck in the trash can - of the girls bathroom no less! For me, just being with an amazing group of people that I can call my friends! For Bill... the food!!! :) Thank you again Kris & Megan for putting this together and for everyone who came. Benjamin is a blessed boy to have such a wonderful group of friends to come home to - WE LOVE YOU!!! Bill, Cherri, Ellie & Ben-jamin!

Ellie as we know her! ;)

Ok, I'm starting to figure out how to add photos but I'm still working on video. Here's the family at California Adventure in March 2010. I love this photo!

Test!!!

This is a test post. Hopefully it will work! I'm trying to use this for our up and coming trip to Africa so everyone will know how we're doing. However, this is our son who will be in our arms very soon! A week from today - I can hardly believe it! :)