Nathanael's first days at home

It is Sunday night. We got back home late Wednesday night, so the family has been all together for about 4 days now. Here are some of the pictures we have taken in the last 4 days....

As soon as we got home Wednesday night, he had to check out the play room first. Yes, it is after midnight and he almost fell asleep on the drive home, but he is smiling.

Trynna just loves to take care of him. Stroke his hair, feed him, wash him and hug him.

Nathanael tries to climb on everything, as you can see.

We can already tell, Zethan will teach him lots of things.

Ok, now we are looking tired.

Nathanael slept all night in his bed in his room. Such a blessing to have a sound sleeper. Thursday morning big brother and big sister could not wait for him to get up!

Time for some breakfast

Trynna was all over feeding duties. She is a natural helper.

So sweet the way she opens her mouth when he does.

Yum! Yum! Nathanael is a great eater.

Kisses from big brother

Introducing Nathanael to Lucy our rabbit

Bath time

Brother helped wash his hair

and sister washed his back

Either he's really happy to be clean or he's laughing at his brother. Most likely the second one.

That's the end of Thursday. Nathanael slept 12 hours Thursday night.

Mommy gave him her phone, making sure it was turned off, because he loves to push buttons.

Friday, on the road to the Belle Aire homeschoolers Valentine's party.

Grandma helped us out so much after we got home by staying with us for Thursday and Friday.

Love between brothers cannot be broken

This boy knows his mommy.  (Lisa Moore, thanks for the picture!)

Saturday morning, Grandpa and Granny-Jeal (Troy's parents) came to visit.

Uncle Justin (Keyanna's brother) came to visit later for lunch. He brought enough food to feed 12 people. We were very hungry but we couldn't eat it all. Nathanael surprised me at how much he loves Uncle Justin.

Loading up to take Nathanael to his first Blue Raider basketball game.

Already a Blue Raider fan

He even lets Uncle Justin hold him on the first day! I'm not jealous, but what is up with that?? Ok, maybe I'm just a little jealous.

Best friends

Daddy's girl

Wherever Nathanael is, Zethan is not far away.

Amazed at how much these brothers already love each other

Oh, so THIS is why he loves Uncle J so much. He lets Nathanael beat him up.

No, don't worry. I was just fake punching.

Go Raiders Go!

Sweet girl

Yaaaay!! Blue Raiders won!

On Sunday, ready for his first day at church. He slept all night again in his bed with no problems other than waking up once and crying out for about 30 seconds. We are thrilled that he is sleeper like his Mommy. We debated for a few minutes on whether we were going to take him to church for just one hour or stay for both hours (preaching and small group study). We decided to just go and play it by ear. Zethan stayed in the 13-18 month class with him for the first hour while Keyanna and I went to preaching. After preaching we went to check on him and he was doing great. So we took Zethan out and to his class for the 2nd hour. Keyanna thought she was going to bring Nathanael to Grandma's class (0-6 month class) but the teachers in the 13-18 months class were saying just leave him in here. He is fine! So we did. We went to our small group bible study and it was wonderful to see friends again and be able to talk with them and study God's word together. Nathanael was fine the whole time. When we went to get him he was happy to see Keyanna. She picked him up, but a few seconds later he wanted down again to chase after some other kids. They said he never cried except when they changed his diaper. He cries when Mommy changes it too, we told them. We figure wherever there are toys and other children, Nathanael is going to be happy.

After church, eating lunch with his sister and cousins Gavyn and Grayson.

Hmmmm, this American southern cooking is pretty good.

Cousin Abby

She held him a lot. He loves her.

Papa (Keyanna's granddad) taught him 2 words in just a few minutes, duck and box.

Sweet hug

He must not have much experience with a swing. Besides in this one picture, he looked kind of scared in the swing.

Yes, he pooped in the potty tonight. Keyanna, the potty nazi, has already started taking care of business with potty training.

I will end this post by saying what was on our hearts this morning as we left church. We are overwhelmed with joy and gratitude by this miracle that God has done in adding Nathanael to our family. What a special and precious child he is! We are blessed to be God's "jars of clay" to hold this wonderful gift, this treasure that is a perfect display of God's love and the gospel of Christ.

For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Cor 4:6-7 (NIV)

Nathanael is truly the light of God's glory. His young life has already touched many, and we pray this story is only beginning to spur others on to serving our God in whatever way he calls. We want to make clear, in case we EVER respond to anyone in a way that does not appropriately give God all the credit and glory he deserves, that we are his unworthy servants. We have done what we were called to do, and only with the strength God provides. That's all. God is the only one worthy of praise and honor.

It is the same with you; when you have done all you have been told to do, say, "We are ordinary servants; we have only done our duty." Luke 17:10

If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:11 (NIV)

To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

Finally HOME!

After a Wednesday that lasted 38 hours (due to the 14 hour time change) we finally landed in Nashville. The airline crew would not let us off the plane until our carry-on luggage was brought out. (On these small aircraft with 2 seats on 1 side and only 1 seat on the other side, you have to check your carry-on as you are boarding.) Waiting seemed like FOREVER and I was starting to get claustrophobic on the tiny express jet airplane. Finally we got off the plane and Keyanna and I immediately started running through the airport like maniacs.

Not sure, but I think Keyanna might have pushed a few old ladies to the ground.

Here we come!!!

It has been a long 2 weeks away from Trynna and Zethan.

Missed you Daddy!

This was one of the greatest hugs ever. She squeezed me so tight and was not letting go.

Zethan and his Grandpa

Special thanks to all the family and friends who met us at the airport even though it was after 11 PM!!

Nathanael is so worn out from traveling and here are all these new people. We weren't sure how he would react to all the new faces, but he did great.

Where am I and who are you people?

Keyanna is so happy to have her 2 boys together at last!

Big brother brought balloons!

They look so different, but there is an immediate bond that just can't be explained. Brothers forever.

Now Mommy can finally hold Trynna.

Now the real Nathanael comes out. Outgoing and adventureous.

WOOHOO! It's a party!

Love between brothers is precious

Nathanael, meet Grandma

The Atwood men. We are going to have so much fun together.

It may be almost midnight on the longest day of our lives, but we are so happy and thankful for our family! We are blessed.

Peek-a-boo with brother. Zethan has been waiting for a really long time to do this. He's been talking about playing peek-a-boo with his brother for months. 

Zethan was not leaving his brother's side. It was just amazing.

Nathanael felt so comfortable with Zethan. God's love was on display.

 Known each other for barely 10 minutes and already brothers forever. Love like this is truly special. This kind of love is the Gospel. This kind of love can change the world. "We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:19

Longest day of our lives

Wednesday morning Keyanna gets up at 4 AM and I get up and 4:30. We are in high spirits thinking we are getting on a plane at 8 AM for Tokyo. We are checked-out of the hotel and got on the airport shuttle at 5:40. When we reached the Delta check-in counter and after the agent had the dreaded "talk with his superior," we find out disturbing news. They don't have seats for us. Apparently the flight is over-booked by 30 passengers, and since our reservation was only made the day before we get bumped first. They put us on stand-by and told us to come back at 7 AM. Of course we are way past ready to see Zethan and Trynna. We are missing home so badly that this setback tests our mettle...big time. We came back to Delta again and again trying to get on the flight, but God did not want us on that flight for some reason, maybe just so we would once again realize that He is God and He is in control. So we accepted the fact that there was no way we were getting on the Tokyo flight. Our initial disappointment was very heartbreaking. We both were expecting to get on that 8 AM flight more than we should have been, and thinking about the prospect of having to stay in Hong Kong another night away from our children at home who were waiting for us filled our hearts with grief. Not to mention, we had absolutely no clean clothes and our food for Nathanael would soon run out. While trying our best to get past the sadness and frustration and look forward, we had to wait ANOTHER 45 minutes for the United check-in to open at 8 AM. During this time I did a lot of praying. Father, you are in control. Your will be done. Finally the United check-in opened at 8:15 and God provided! New flights through San Franscisco and Washington/Dulles. We would be arriving in Nashville at 11 PM, but that was better than SITTING in Hong Kong across the largest ocean on Earth from our children. Our first flight would leave almost 4 hours later. And so began the longest day of our lives!

Hong Kong airport at 5:55 AM

Waiting with no control in this situation at all

We have our tickets and we are sitting at the gate. First flight is departing in about 3 hours from now.

I went to buy some sandwiches and when I returned Nathanael's short nap was already over.

There was an older man sitting behind us at the gate, and Nathanael took an immediate liking to him.

The same man actually ended up sitting right behind us on the plane as well, and he helped entertain Nathanael during our 11 hour flight to San Fran.

We pulled a balloon out of our suitcase to try to pass the time for him.

Everyone around us kept telling us how cute he was, and Nathanael just loves the attention (as long as Mommy is in sight and nobody tries to pick him up).

He let me hold him for a few minutes while Mommy was gone to the bathroom. He didn't know Keyanna had left, and in this picture he did not yet know she was back.

On the first flight to SF. Nathanael was a ball of energy.

Hard to keep this boy still for long

He was actually VERY good for first flight. He slept twice for 3 hours each time. So for about 6 hours of the flight he was asleep. Keyanna and I watched Secretariat on the movie screens, which was a pretty good movie when you are captive on an airplane. In between naps, Nathanael let me hold him while he and I ate cheerios.

Getting close. We start to see land!

Golden Gate Bridge. Hooray!

Finally back in America

Here we go. Nathanael is about to officially become a U.S. Citizen!

I snapped this picture and was quickly told, No pictures! I knew it, but couldn't help myself.

At the gate for our next flight now. Another 3.5 hour wait. I was excited to eat some American food so I left Keyanna and Nathanael at the play area to find some. I ate an entire 10 inch pizza with Italian sausage, onions, red and green bell peppers. It wasn't the best pizza, but that particular day it was SO good.

Nathanael found some new friends to play with at the Kids' Spot.

Sometimes he just entertained himself.

Starting to get bored and tired

Looking at the airplanes

Plane like the one we flew on over the ocean from Hong Kong. We sat in the 2nd row from the back, which was great because there were only 2 seats on the side instead of the normal 3. On the very last row directly behind us sat the man we met at the gate in Hong Kong. He lives in Chapel Hill, NC which is cool because I am a UNC college basketball fan. The Tar Heels were playing Boston College as we were waiting and boarding the plane in Hong Kong. I was checking the score, and the Chapel Hill man asked me about the game. The Tar Heels won easily, so that was one highlight of the long day.

One like we are about to board for Washington, D.C. This plane also only had 2 seats on the the each side with a few seats in the middle. So nobody for Nathanael to grab. Good!

By the time our next flight takes off, Keyanna and I are really feeling tired so we both take some tylenol PM and we get maybe 2.5 hours of very uncomfortable sleep on the 5 hour flight to DC. At this point we had both been awake for almost 27 hours. Nathanael was so much more fussy and tired by the end of the DC flight. For the Nashville flight, he was quickly falling apart. He was a mess. He was crying and Keyanna had to take him to the back of the plane where there were some empty seat around her. By the time we finally arrived in Nashville, it had been almost 34 hours since Keyanna or I had been in a bed and with only maybe 2.5 hours of light napping. But we were FINALLY HOME!!!!!!!!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!!