185 Days

It's been 185 days that we've been staring at a picture of our little girl that we have yet to meet. We've been ready to go and meet her for quite a while. Please join us in praying that we get the call and head out next week. The wait is getting harder by the hour.

Waiting STINKS!

So, another family working with our agency (that got their referral a month after us, but that's a whole nother story) got their call today at 1:00 p.m. They have a court date that they have to be in Ethiopia on Thursday for a Friday court date. That means they had to fly out at 7:00 p.m. tonight. Yep, they got SIX HOURS notice. As excited as I am to meet our girl - 6 hours notice might throw me over the edge!! Yikes!!

I am ready for our call. Please join us in praying that it will come THIS WEEK. We are ready.

First Court Date: Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the first court date in our adoption case (the one we don't go to Ethiopia for). Please join us in praying that all goes well so that we can head out and meet our girl SOON! We don't anticipate hearing how things went for a few weeks, but are hopeful that the next news we DO hear will be good news!

Care Center Donations

Some of you have been asking about donations for the Care Center that our little girl is at. They rely greatly on donations, and while there is no designated amount of donations we must bring, we are able to bring two pieces of luggage each. We do have one bag packed for some friends of ours that are missionaries in Ethiopia (we will take donations to bring to their family as well), but we have about 3/4 of a suitcase designated to donations for the Care Center. Here are some items on their wishlist. If you decide to donate, please get the items to Jaden or myself. We can bring donations both trips and I'm still anticipating our first trip happening some time in November (no clue of the date yet).

Care Center Wish List
- digital camera
- children's clothes and shoes (nb-18years)
- thermometer
- otoscope
- stethoscope
- disposable gloves
- gauze
- vitamins
- antipain meds
- antifungal cream
- antifungal shampoo
- lice killer shampoo
- diapers (all sizes)
- adult diapers
- diaper rash ointment

My Beauty

Finished getting "the girls" room ready today and learned my first two Amharic (Ethiopian) words: my beauty. Stay tuned for photos of the bedroom! And can't wait to show you pictures of my beauty!!

Tomorrow Night - Jaden Thomas CD Release Party and Adoption Fundraiser!

Tomorrow night - September 7th, 2013. CD Release Party and Adoption Fundraiser. 7:30p.m. The Roots Cafe: 124 E Wisconsin Avenue, Oconomowoc, WI 53066. 
CDs will be available for purchase at the free event, so bring cash or a check. Donations to help with travel expenses will also be accepted.

Hope to see many of you there!!

Do-Over!

Oh how I love my children.  My boy is very special to me - not that he is any more or less special to me than my girls (yep, I consider our little girl in Ethiopia mine already) - but he is my boy - my first child - and he is super awesome.  My little man is getting a do-over. Last year, he/we had a very rough go at kindergarten.  It was just all around a not-good fit for us.  Our whole little family struggled through the school year, but about half way through, I realized he deserved a second chance at it.  He is now 6 years old and is in - what we refer to around here as Sr. Kdg.  He is getting a do-over.  As I worked on academics with my smarty-pants over summer, I have to admit, I second guessed our decision to have him repeat kdg.  He is now just a bit above (academically) probably every kid in his class this year.  But lately, I've been rereading "Bringing Up Boys" by James Dobson.  I keep thinking about how kids (and adults) can be really mean sometimes.  He is going to get picked on - we all do.  By having him be one of the oldest (and thus probably also biggest) boys in his class, we are giving him that extra year to get there.  We are giving him that extra year to figure out more of life - what is important, what is not.  How to handle different situations - being picked on, forgiveness, peer pressure, etc.).  We are putting him at an advantage, probably for now and definitely for the future.

My little man is getting a do-over.  It makes me think of some things I'd love a do-over on!!!  It makes me wonder if Ryan Braun would like a few do-overs?  Perhaps we ALL would love multiple do-overs?!  It also makes me thankful that God's grace and mercy and forgiveness grant us all do-overs.  Each day is a new day in His eyes and I am so, so thankful for that.  Each day we have a little advantage and a little opportunity to once again grow closer to Him and not take for granted His do-overs that He so freely gives to us each day.

Here is my little man on his first day of Sr. Kdg.  I gotta tell you - he is certainly the most handsome little boy in class!!