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!