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!!

Some Good News

Well, we received some good news at the end of last week. The first court case (the one we do not go for) has been scheduled for October 21^st. We need prayers that, on this date, the people who need to be present for court make it there. Also, there is a letter that needs to be there. If both of those things happen, typically, families travel for their first trip about a month after. This means we could be going in November to meet our baby girl!

As we have experienced several times during this journey, slowdowns occur without warning. We need prayers that everything works out and that things move forward as quickly as possible for the remainder of this process.

In the meantime, it was both our Ethiopian girl’s birthday and my (Jennie’s) birthday on Saturday. This weekend, we had a little birthday celebration for baby girl. We prayed for her, sang for her, and froze some cupcakes for us to celebrate as a family when she gets home. We all are so excited for that day!!

Thank you for your continued support and your prayers.

The Thomas Family

August Update

                                   

Just writing to give you a quick update. It has been 100 days since we received our first glimpse (picture) of our little girl. It has been 51 days since being submitted to court. It is just 2 days until our little girl turns one. In the beginning, I was hoping we would make it to Ethiopia before rainy season court closures in August. Well, courts close today and we are not there.

As a matter of fact, our case has been at a stand-still for a few weeks and I’m not sure why. There are two court cases that need to take place. The first one, we do not attend. The second one occurs during our first trip. In our case, the first court hearing has not even been scheduled yet and won’t even be able to be scheduled until courts reopen after rainy season closures. The tentative reopen date is October 15^th (though we have learned that, when it comes to Ethiopia, tentative definitely means tentative – and quite subject to change). That means, we will more than likely not be traveling for our first trip (our court date and to meet our girl) until possibly December. Our second trip (when we get to bring our girl home) is estimated to take place 3-4 months after the first (approximately March or April).

We have spent the past few days settling in to this information. I must admit, it has not been easy. There have been lots of tearful moments around here. Being away from our little girl whom we already love so much and having no end date in sight is tough. We are doing our best to enjoy these last few weeks of summer with our two biological kids before fall/school begins.

I will tell you our little girl turns one on August 17^th. I am trying to figure out the best way to “celebrate” her birthday – and I have gotten her one (yep, just one) present so far. We receive updates on her from time to time and I cherish being able to hear how well she is doing, given her present situation.

I will continue to keep you all updated as we hear, but at this point, I’m guessing it will be quite a while.

The good news is – Jaden’s album is completed! He is having his CD Release Party on September 7^th at 7:30 p.m. at The Roots Café (124 Wisconsin Avenue, Oconomowoc). Cd’s will be for sale at the event – proceeds to benefit our adoption travel expenses. We are so excited for this and are hoping to see many of you there! It’s going to be a cd release party and adoption fundraiser, so a great event to come to if you are able!

Thank you for your support and your prayers.

The Thomas Family

6 weeks

Tomorrow marks six weeks since we were submitted to court. The typical time from being submitted to the first court date (not ours) is supposed to be between 3-6 weeks. From what I know, it's not even on the books yet. It's discouraging - but I have not given up praying for what many may consider the impossible - a date on or before August 16th.

Be There!!

SO excited for this event!!

My husband rocks!!!!