He Ain't In There

Today - this happened...


And then this happened...


And oh man... so sorry Clay Bear - but THIS happened too!

These were all great and fun and chocolatey - but most importantly...


a couple thousand years ago - THIS HAPPENED.

In the face of Roman guards, gigantic tomb stones and... oh yeah - DEATH! - in the face of all this our savior rose - that tomb's empty people. He ain't in there!

This is the day it ALL hinges on... I was moved close to tears several times today by the simple reminder through visuals and songs of what HE did for us.

Thank you God - for caring for us immensely more than I can imagine caring for anything. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Spidey's Her Buddy

This is one of Meron's very best buddies. I love these two together...

Does whatever a spider can...

Winner Weather

Today's weather finally switched from Winter to Winner - and the girls got to do what might be one of their favorite things on the planet - pedal around the neighborhood on their bikes!


Even after a minor wipe-out by Meron that led to a discussion about the layers of skin on our hands - they were back up and at it with no fears.

Keep rolling girls... keep rolling!

Cutest Do Ever

Meron had swimming lessons the other day and afterwards she went and took a shower (yes - went and took a shower - TOO GROWN UP!) and then came down to my office to show me her hair...

Rocking the cutest hair-do ever Meron!

Gangster

I LOVE how gangster Meron gets when she poses sometimes... but better yet - check out Mebbie's "background gangster." The girl simply cannot keep it serious!

Love these two together!

Bedtime Buddies!

Cheesing for the camera at bedtime - we had to smiley out Zechariah and his pics on Meron's door...

Can't wait to see him sandwiched in between these two!

Lonely Camera

Man - she definitely takes after her mommy...


Leave a camera lying around unattended...


And this is what you're bound to find!

Keep smiling Meron!

Meron's Message To Zech - Part I

The girls have decided to start recording some messages to their brother before he gets home - so he can look back and see just how much we were praying him home and so that he is all ready and up to speed on things around here... I love it.

We want ya home Zechariah!

MegaBus Hoffman

Meet the newest member of Camp Hoffman - that's MegaBus Hoffman up there who just joined the family yesterday after I rode the bus up to Nashville and drove it back down to Atlanta.

Let me rewind a second and tell ya 'bout this massive blessing we just received. About 9 months ago some friends in Nashville came to us and said

"Hey - we want to help you guys buy a car!"

Uh... wait, what?

Yep - we had heard correctly. See - we have some super friends with some GIGANTIC hearts and they knew we were bringing home another little Hoffman and they also knew we were rolling in a 1996 200sx and a 2001 Xterra and neither could really hold another car seat. And this is what people who are so giving and generous do - they help people!

We were humbled and floored. And these guys weren't just talking the talk. Over the next several months our friends at Providence Auto Group scoured the southeast looking for the best ride for our little camp. And then they found it. A 2010 Honda Odyssey.. and these guys even scooped a "Touring Edition" so this thing is like a mack daddy of vans. it's way more car than we have ever had (remember - I said 1996 200sx!).


Here's two of the many friends who made this thing happen. So incredibly blessed to know them all...


Meron has been SUPER excited about this van. She has been very worried about where we were going to put Zechariah when he got home. She SOOOO wanted to ride the bus to Nashville with me to get it.

I got home to ATL after midnight and the whole fam was asleep. I woke up to Meron at my bedside talking about:

"Can I go see the van? Puh-lease daddy can I go see the van?!"

She sat in it in the garage for about 30 minutes. She is in love...

We cruised around in it today and everybody was floored at how much room we have.


These two were extra pumped up!

And don't worry - I didn't trade in my ManCard for a VanCard. I'll probably be rolling in the Xterra now. But i'll tell ya what - there's a huge sense of relief to know the most important things in the world to you are rolling around in some reliable transportation now.

All you crazy, big-hearted loving, caring friends who made this happen - THANK YOU for blessing us in ways we couldn't have imagined!

Egg Eyes

Our friend Heather always has the girls over to do something fun with them around the holidays... and she didn't disappoint this easter! I was outta town today but got this great pic sent to my phone...

Thanks Heather for always loving on our girls like you do!

Her Heart

I love this girl's heart. i mean - I just adore it... (self portrait by the way)...

I can't even remember what she did - but the other day Meron got in a little trouble for something. Nothing major - my guess it was whining or not listening or something. It didn't register as huge to me. I think it did to her though. A little later she came to me with an envelope and said:

"Here daddy - this is for you..."

And she handed it to me. This is what was in it...


It was a card she had made me while in her room... this was the front...


And this was the back.

I absolutely love that on her own accord (after seeking some spelling assistance) she went and did this.

God knows she has been on the receiving end of my heartfelt apologies after I have messed up (often). It makes my heart just swell thinking she is getting this. It's a huge lesson for a 5 year old kid who pretty much thinks that the sun rotates in orbit around her head.

Without analyzing it to death - lets just say it made this dad super proud of one little girl.

Keep it up Meron! You'll never go wrong with a heart that is willing to apologize!

Trail Talk

I had the privilege of pushing my running partner for 6 miles on some hilly trails today. i ALWAYS love when she wants to come with me. For one thing - she roots me on saying:

"You can do this daddy!"

as I struggle to push the combined 80 pounds up some hills. Or one of my favorites from today - as i kicked it up a notch I heard:

"Uh oh! Somebody's earning a sticker!"

Seriously... does it get any better? Running with Meron is a joy.

And on top of all of that - we have some of THE BEST conversations ever out there. About God. About Africa. Adoption. About her soon to be brother. Her school. her mommy. Literally - she talks the entire time. I love it.


She was a trooper too. it was one of those days that appears all nice and sunny but was actually pretty chilly. Check out her little red nose!


She even jumped out and put in a good quarter mile of HARD sprinting!

She keeps me motivated. Thanks for the company Meron!

The Right Family

One things for sure... these crazy runners are in the right family!


They love to run...


and run...


and run...


and run...


and run...


and run...


and run some more.


Never stop running girls!

Back In The Water

Swimming lessons kicked back in today. The girls did INCREDIBLE last year but we don't have a neighborhood pool or easy access to one so they didn't get as much practice as we wish they would have. But it's a life skill they gotta have (and they love it anyways!) - so they are taking a little refresher course this spring...

And how did I know they spent some time swimming today? Well - Laura sent me cool pics from the pool - but even without that... check this out:


This was Meron about 3.5 seconds after her turn to pray tonight. LOVE IT!

Swimming lessons make bedtime EASY - maybe we should do these year round?

Puppy Love

Or maybe I should call it geriatric doggy love... whatever ya call it - these girls LOVE their dog!


Especially Meron - Clay bear is her homeboy - she loves him so much!


There's something super cool about watching kids fall in love with dogs. Maybe because as dog lovers ourselves - we get it... whatever it is - i love it. Don't lose it girls - dogs will teach ya a lot in your life!

Gratitude

What's that Mebbie is holding and cheesing about? That's one of the thank you cards her and Meron are working on...

Usually I can't even say the word "Gratitude" without thinking about the Beastie Boys - but right now - we are kinda swimming in it... gratitude that is.

See - this referral for our man Zechariah came a LOT faster than we thought it might - I mean like WAY FASTER. And we actually tossed the words "fund raisers" around which gives both Laura and I hives - we HATE the idea of asking people for money (for us I mean - for hungry, less fortunate folks across the globe? We'll ask all day!!)...

And I think we are gonna be just fine cuz we truly believe that God funds what He favors - but this past week we got TWO totally unsolicited and VERY GENEROUS checks in the mail towards our adoption. We were both floored.

You guys know who you are out there - and I know you and your humility - you're probably cringing at this post that doesn't even name ya... but please... know this: we are grateful beyond measure for your generous donation, your kind hearts and your encouraging actions. THANK YOU FOR BEING THE CHURCH!!

Protect Ya Neck!

You should see this girl flip around doing cartwheels and jumps and attempting to flip onto her bean bags... it's NUTTY!

And it scares me to death... I think I say "Protect your neck!" 100 times a day. But truthfully - she has gotten GOOD at it!

Class starts back up Monday - can't wait to see what she conquers this time around!

Mentally Drained

Meron had her Kindergarten evaluation today... it was a meeting with her potential teacher without any of us in there with her. The teacher asked her some interview questions and tested her aptitude on a few things.

She wasn't even nervous - rather she told us she was "excited about it!"

Today also happened to be one of those days where I was outta the house well before she was awake and I didn't get home til about 9:30 pm. Meron was waiting for me on the couch - she climbed up in my lap, told me all about her test and how awesome it was - and about how excited she was about kindergarten...

And then she promptly passed out HARD on my chest.

She was pooped. Mentally drained. And me? Well - I couldn't be any more proud of this little girl.

Way to rock it Meron!

Sibling Love

This right here just makes me smile all over.

I love the way they love...

Dance Party

NEVER stop dancing girls...