Today is Ezekiel's 8th birthday.

And 5 days from now is his 2 year anniversary of coming to America.

{the 1st photo we ever saw of Ezekiel}

It's amazing to me how God can fit someone so perfectly into a family when they didn't come into it at birth.

I'm in no way saying it's been easy the entire time, we've all grown as we've struggled together. But I will say that...

Ezekiel was made for our family. Or maybe we were made for him.

. . . . . . .

{{ Just warning you...there are a lot of photos in this post! }}

. . . . . . .

{click here for his story}

{5 minutes after meeting him!}

{when he found out Ben & I were his parents}

{the dining room at the orphanage}

{ezekiel's bedroom}

{our Christmas card & Announcement that Ezekiel was joining our family}

{Ben had the extreme honor of meeting his mom and younger brother}

{can you believe this is about 5 weeks after we had bought him these brand new shoes? Just a tad bit active!}

{4 months after meeting Ezekiel...he got to come home!}

Can you believe how little he looks?! He grown so much in only 2 years!!

{about a million times more nervous on this day than our wedding day!}

{our 1st family picture together}

{day 2 of being in America we went for a walk to show him the neighborhood. Already bonding with his brothers}

{jumped into the deep end...we didn't realize he didn't know how to swim, oops.}

{he's got a really special relationship with Christ. You should hear his prayers}

{april, 2011 - 1st easter with us...and NO english}

{summer, 2011 - the day Temesgen named himself & became Ezekiel}

{he had some health issues needed a few surgeries  - did it all with a smile}

{I absolutely love his relationship with Anton & Laith}

{I'm not sure they really remember life without him}

{august, 2012 - the day we moved from San Antonio to Denver}

{september, 2012 - 1st day of school - 1st grade}

{fall, 2012 - in Breckenridge}

{ summer, 2011 - soccer is his passion and already has more medals than we know what to do with}

{summer, 2012}

{4th of July, 2012}

{summer, 2012 - 1st time camping & fishing}

{summer, 2012 - 1st time to see the ocean}

{march, 2012 - voted by his peers to be the Most Caring - surprised with the award in an all school assembly}

{march, 2013 - 2nd year in a row for his peers to vote him the most Caring. An award well deserved!}

{easter 2013 - healthy, happy, and an amazing kid}

 

 Happy Birthday, my sweet love. You have given us all so much joy.

Daddy & I are so proud of you.