Best Ever

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have the best wife ever! I work a crazy schedule, long hours, have a long drive, and yet she's always supportive of me. When I got home from work (and very tired), she showed me a collection of pictures of what our family (her and the pets) had done while I was away. After having a long drive, and a long day, it was just what I needed! It was a nice way to connect back with what had been going on, and I loved it. Anyway, little things like that are what makes life great! I hope others out there stop and take time out, regardless of how tired you are, or your work schedule and enjoy one of the "small things" in life. I know it's often hard for me, but as evidenced yesterday, it is well worth it!

Adoption!

Too cute! I saw this and though of my husband and I with our baby (to be)!

If you look closely it's two horses with a fawn! Whoever took this picture did a great job!

Scroll down for an explanation of the pictures!

Busy like a bee

I apologize b/c I haven't had time to catch up on all of the buzz on every ones blogs lately. It seems like we haven't had time to slow down. I just got a little time today and read some blogs. I found one blog that said "How do you spell relief?" -"W E E K E N D!" No joke, how about L O N G W E E K E N D. I have Monday off and am excited for a break! David unfortunately, has to work. He just had a few days off though so he had SOME time to relax in between doing errands ;).

The first picture is one of an Ethiopian donkey game I got. I think it could be easily made. It just has cardboard in the legs, stuffing, thread, a small piece of leather, and fabric. The thing you put the wood on is a button. And of course you need little pieces of wood. The game is a skill game where you try to get as many pieces of wood on the donkeys back without it falling off. It's pretty fun!

About a week ago we had my brother-in-laws graduation party. He graduated from optometry school! My parents were down for the graduation and I got to celebrate mothers day with my mom-which hasn't happened for 4 maybe 5 years. My grandpa also came down for the graduation and spent some time with us. It was a blast having him. I truly have been blessed with the worlds greatest grandparents. The pictures above are of my parents and David with my grandpa at my bro-in-laws graduation party!

We also found out last week that our 3rd grade nephew won first in an art contest for 3rd-5th graders. There were fifteen counties that entered and he won! We are so proud of him. He is a really great kid. When he gets famous we still have some of his art work that he sent us from when he was small of "good Jonah" and "bad Jonah". I am glad that he sent that to us. We put it on the fridge and laughed about every time we saw it, it was so cute! I haven't got to see his new art work yet, but it'll take a lot to compete with Jonah!

I am very excited for the summer. School is about out and we have had several "end of the year" activities for the kids. Most recently an awards ceremony. It's amazing how busy everything gets. I think we have 8 more days to go, but who is counting?

I can't believe we are on the wait lsit!!! I know that unless a miracle happens we won't get our baby until Nov. or later so I am trying to pace myself and not get too excited until it gets closer to that date. I was told the average time to receive a referral is 3-5 months. That puts our referral in about Aug-October. Just in time for court to open up again! Even if they are backlogged, it's nice to be at this point. I am really excited to think that in a few months we will get the first pictures of our baby and information! Then not long after that we'll have our baby! I looked at a blog that chronicles every ones journey once they receive a referral. It looks like everyone who has put "either" and has wanted an infant has got a boy. I really think it would be easier knowing if we were getting a boy or girl so that we could start getting things together. Either way we are excited. I have a feeling we'll get a boy but I had a dream the other day that we got a girl. I also had a friend come over and said that she dreamed we got a little girl and brought her by their house to see her. Only time will tell. If we ever get another opportunity we would like to adopt again. Next time maybe an older child. We'll let the baby break us in some first! We both have always talked of adopting a couple of kids. We were so sad to hear that there wasn't enough interest in the bright futures camp this year so they had to cancel it. I hope all/most of those kids end up getting adopted anyway.

I read the blog "Jobs Daughters". I always love reading that blog and hearing about whats going on. There is a boy that was too old to adopt that they keep in touch with. The things he writes are very touching and its amazing to see his love for God and his "mom" who ended up not being able to adopt him but is working to find a way for him to come to the US. They just stared another adoption and the little girl that they were referred ran away and doesn't know that there is someone who wants her. She has seen all the other kids go to a family and didn't know that it is her turn. They have asked for prayers as there are TONS of orphans and it will be very hard to find her.

Lastly, we found some LITTLE doll sets the other day that were really cheap that we thought the girls in Ethiopia would like. After reading the story I mentioned earlier we wanted the kids to know that there are people out there that think of them often and care greatly for them. We hope to put a letter (in Ahmaric) with each one that lets the kids know that there are several people out there caring, praying, and hoping that they are doing well. Also that they are loved. If anyone is traveling and would have room in their bags to take anything let us know. They would easily fit into sandwich baggies and don't weigh very much. We'd be happy if you could fit one or two (we have about 15 total) We're not picky which orphanage they go to. We just want the girls to have them! If there are any boys that would want a doll they could have one too ;).

Family In Need of Prayer

Some of you may or may not be aware of the need of prayer on behalf of the Steven Curtis Chapman family. They just lost their youngest child in a tragic automobile accident witnessed by two children on their property, and committed accidentally by one of their sons. They are in tremendous need of prayer. Below is a link concerning what happened. Chelsea and I feel compelled to solicit all of you who read our blog to offer prayer on their behalf in light of such a tragedy. This family has given hope to over 1700 families through financial assistance for adoptions, in addition to the tremendous work done as a musician and Christian servant.

We became more familiar with their family through their work through an adoption agency and an included DVD chronicling portions of their own adoption journey. At that time we were truly touched by their testimony. We cannot begin to imagine what they're going through at this time, but offer our sincerest condolences to a wonderful family.

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080522/TUNEIN03/805220370&referrer=FRONTPAGECAROUSEL

http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/

http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/

WITH HOPE
This is not at all how we thought it was supposed to be
We had so many plans for you
We had so many dreams
And now you've gone away
And left us with the memories of your smile
And nothing we can say
And nothing we can do
Can take away the pain
The pain of losing you,
but ... We can cry with hope
We can say goodbye with hope
'Cause we know our goodbye is not the end,
And we can grieve with hope
'Cause we believe with hope (There's a place by God's grace)
There's a place where we'll see your face again
We'll see your face again
And never have I known
Anything so hard to understand
And never have I questioned more The wisdom of God's plan
But through the cloud of tears
I see the Father's smile and say well done
And I imagine you
Where you wanted most to be Seeing all your dreams come true
'Cause now you're home And now you're free, and ...
We have this hope as an anchor
'Cause we believe that everything God promised us is true, so ...
We wait with hope
And we ache with hope
We hold on with hope
We let go with hope


Words and Music by Steven Curtis Chapman

Its Official

I just got an e-mail that we have been officially placed on waitlist to receive a referral!

On its way

The dossier paperwork is complete and has been sent to the courier in DC today!!! Two weeks and it arrives in Ethiopia. We should now be on the waitlist but are waiting for "official" word! How great it feels to be at this point!!!