Hard to believe it was only a week ago that we packed our bags, grabbed the hands of two little African children and headed home to Sacramento. In many ways, it seems like decades ago. Each day has been so packed with activity and emotion, trying to guide Godebo and Bereket -- and ourselves -- into some sort of new routine that sort of fits with the rest of the family. As our adoption agency representatives told me this week, "It's not 'back to normal;' It's a whole new definition of normal." That's really true and I'm (Esther) trying to rest in those words as I struggle to fit all the pieces together.

The children are doing wonderfully well. Bereket and Godebo are quickly revealing new parts of their personalities as they become comfortable with us and acclimated to our home. Bereket continues to be strong willed and opinionated, but she is also a charmer and easy to laugh. We have figured out how to deal with her pouts over food she doesn't like, toys she has to share and other such 4-year-old traumas. Godebo is packing away his angel wings to become more of a teaser with his sister, sometimes figuring out inventive ways to trick her out of the toy she wants. Imagine that, they are just like other brothers and sisters!

My parents left yesterday, so we are adjusting to two fewer pairs of hands. We now fit tightly but comfortably around our kitchen table -- a nice picture of what our "new normal" will be.