So, I was told by many, "You think waiting for a referral is tough? Try waiting for a court date once you have a referral of a child in Ethiopia waiting for you." Well, let me just say THIS SUCKS!!! I have tried being so patient and prayful, but Holy Cow, this REALLY STINKS! So, to pass the time, I am redo-ing our basement! It's about time we make a Kid Cave, right? It is turning out super cool! I have had tons of help from Ben, the speed-painter! I will post pics when it is all done! It will be a great place for the older kids to go hang out once baby gets here and we are in need of some s p a c e :-)
Tomorrow morning we leave dark and early for vacation at Hilton Head, SC!!!! I was bumming big time thinking that because of financial garbage, we wouldn't be able to take the kids anywhere and then our wonderful neighbors (my BFFs parents) offered their vacation home to us this week! So Jess and I and all of our kids are taking off for 5 days at the beach!! I just wish Sten was able to come. His schedule at work didn't permit him to take off :-(
I am seriously PRAYING ALL THE TIME that we get a court date this week! I will have my cell phone glued to me this whole trip!! Please, join me in my prayer! I will keep you all posted!!
~Amy
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Gymbo...and then some :-)
Jess and I went to Gymboree today because they were having their semi-annual RED BALLOON SALE!! Let's just say there isn't much stock in 3-6, 6-12, 12-8 months left. WOW, it was intense to get such fantastic deals. I'm exhausted from the excitement!! (Yes, i am being serious about all of this! Those of you who know me know that I LOVE Gymboree and love to dress my girls in it!! I sell it all on eBay when I'm done with it and most often MAKE money on them!!!)
Well, I just spent the last 35 minutes winding and unwinding (with a pencil) a Wee-Sing tape that Jenna loves to listen to on her headphones at night, trying to find the twist in the tape. Well, after three COMPLETE cycles, there was no resolution to the twist. UGH!! Why do we do these things? Well, because to hear your precious daughter singing word-for-word the songs you grew up to and the look on her darling face when she gets in bed, all tucked in, ready to say prayers and enjoy her music! That's why!
Ok. time to locate Sten. Last I heard (2 hours ago) he was going to be home in a few minutes! HA!
Well, I just spent the last 35 minutes winding and unwinding (with a pencil) a Wee-Sing tape that Jenna loves to listen to on her headphones at night, trying to find the twist in the tape. Well, after three COMPLETE cycles, there was no resolution to the twist. UGH!! Why do we do these things? Well, because to hear your precious daughter singing word-for-word the songs you grew up to and the look on her darling face when she gets in bed, all tucked in, ready to say prayers and enjoy her music! That's why!
Ok. time to locate Sten. Last I heard (2 hours ago) he was going to be home in a few minutes! HA!
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sharing is caring.
So in my absolute obsessive searching of the internet for ET adoption blogs and info that I may not have known that could possibly bring me to a greater understanding (BAhahhahahaha)...I came across a GREAT blog and this entry that I think every warm-blooded individual should read: What Not to Ask...
http://www.godwilladd.com/2010/11/top-10-things-not-to-ask.html
http://www.godwilladd.com/2010/11/top-10-things-not-to-ask.html
Monday! What a zoo!!
Today I was privileged to accompany the entire kindergarten on a trip to the Baltimore Zoo!! I was nervous that my patience would wear thin (I actually really do not like going to places with tons of people, walking around on blacktop in the heat) BUT, I surprisingly enjoyed every minute of it! I think Jenna's adorable-ness attributed to my good mood! We saw so many beautiful animals! It never fails, though. Every time I leave a zoo I feel terrible for the animals being in captivity. I know, get over it. Still..... a CHEETAH in a 30x30 area, really?
Now I have a tired (but still pleasant) six year old who needs a bath and a story and will be out like a light!
She is famous for her "jenna-isms" so here is one: As we were coming home from errands this evening, Jenna says "I know this may sound picky, but when I grow up, my husband is gonna HAVE TO know how to fish". hahaha.
Abe got a cellphone today....ONLY because it was out of sheer bribery to play football (he secretly wanted to play, just like last year, but his slightly lazy side was pitching a good argument why he should object!) AND because it is only $9.99/month on our plan, unlimited texting, unlimited calling to all cellphones in the US. Pretty sweet deal!!
Tomorrow I am back to the bank to get photographing permission letters notarized for the families traveling to ET in the next few weeks! Hopefully Baby will be moved to the transition house (the HOH) by then so they can take pics and video of her!!!!
Off to bed-down the chilluns!!
Now I have a tired (but still pleasant) six year old who needs a bath and a story and will be out like a light!
She is famous for her "jenna-isms" so here is one: As we were coming home from errands this evening, Jenna says "I know this may sound picky, but when I grow up, my husband is gonna HAVE TO know how to fish". hahaha.
Abe got a cellphone today....ONLY because it was out of sheer bribery to play football (he secretly wanted to play, just like last year, but his slightly lazy side was pitching a good argument why he should object!) AND because it is only $9.99/month on our plan, unlimited texting, unlimited calling to all cellphones in the US. Pretty sweet deal!!
Tomorrow I am back to the bank to get photographing permission letters notarized for the families traveling to ET in the next few weeks! Hopefully Baby will be moved to the transition house (the HOH) by then so they can take pics and video of her!!!!
Off to bed-down the chilluns!!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
A yardsale-ing we will go!!
So, our Saturday morning Sailing was a bust. Well, for me, not the kids. They scored!! Jenna got a Louis Vuitton purse for $4!!! And Eli got the Hogwart's Castle Lego set for $25 (it's over $100 retail!) But I am still amazed at how much some people want to charge for their junk! Oh, we did get 20 Disney books on tape for $5!!! That was a success. Now we just need to get Jenna another tape headset! CVS has them, I've been down that road before!
The weather is great today! I am going to sand and repaint the white rocking chairs, paint some in the house (touch-up) and get rid of junkage in the basement! We are going to remodel the basement, so all must be cleaned out!!
Later today, Maggie, Jess, Katee and I are going to the outlets, then to dinner!! Woot Woot!! I am excited for some girlie time, full of wedding and baby talk!! YAY!!
Peace!
The weather is great today! I am going to sand and repaint the white rocking chairs, paint some in the house (touch-up) and get rid of junkage in the basement! We are going to remodel the basement, so all must be cleaned out!!
Later today, Maggie, Jess, Katee and I are going to the outlets, then to dinner!! Woot Woot!! I am excited for some girlie time, full of wedding and baby talk!! YAY!!
Peace!
Friday, June 3, 2011
Serenity? Yes, please. And make that a double!!!
Ok, Ok! I know it has been FOREVER since my last post! I will update now, on this rare Friday night when I am off work and without any obligations. One kid is in bed dreaming sweet princess dreams, one is watching a new series with his dad on Netflix, two (one real kid, one borrowed kid) are blowing things up on the Xbox and one is frantically cleaning the ENTIRE house (to his mother's standards) in order to earn back his phone....all while I sit here, feeling incredibly blessed (and guilty over the Chai Tea milkshake I had tonight). Things are good, really good here. Wanna know why? Sure, I'll tell ya!
First, we are the proud parents-to-be (so tacky, I know) of a beautiful, gorgeous, stunning 6 month old baby girl in Ethiopia!! Referral day was May 16, 2011! What a crazy, emotional day THAT was!! I have been addicted to her three little pictures. Staring, wondering what she looks like now, what her personality is, what she is doing at different times of the day :-) I just can't get enough! We have been debating how to spell her name, and what middle name(s) to give her. I'm sure by the time she walks across the stage at her high school graduation, Sten and I will have come to an agreement!
Second, Sten has had enough overtime and travel with his work to cover the BFC (Big Fat Check) that accompanied our referral acceptance that we did not have to plan the 5K race fundraiser. I am SO not the type to fundraise, not sure why...it's not like it's begging. If people don't believe in the cause, then no biggie. But still, I feel funny. I guess that stems from the earner trait that was embedded in me from my childhood days, having the biggest paper route in town! Well, we earned the money for the check AND Sten has traveled enough that we now have miles to cover all legs of our 2 trips to and from Ethiopia! BLESSED? I think so!!
Third, and most magnificent, my spiritual journey is ON FIRE! Over the past year, I have grown so close to God, that sometimes, I just talk out loud to him. Right here. In my little world, I am renewed. I have had prayer after prayer answered throughout this adoption and my whole "I think I'll get sick and try to croak episode". It is quite incredible!
Fourth, my best friend in the whole wide world (Jess) is having a baby girl in October and I am thrilled that we can be on this journey of "pregnancy" together! She has been such a rock for me during all of this, that I am certain I would be in a psych ward somewhere right now if not for her talking me down off of every I-can't-do-this-any-longer-cliff!! I lub you, Jess!!
And lastly, I did a last minute vitamin drive this morning and had pretty great results. My friend from FMH, Renee, is traveling to Ethiopia tomorrow and has permission to travel to the House of Hope transition house where baby will soon be moved until we bring her home! Renee is going to deliver:
16 large bottles of Infant drop Vitamins
Oodles of Desiting
Oodles of Hydrocortisone
Oodles of Neosporin
4 huge bottles of Gummi Vites for the big kids
and some small toys for the bigger kids, too!!!
Yay for generous hearts!!
So, there! A short list of the million reasons why things are GRRRREAT right now!!
That was the "Good", now this is the "Bad and the Ugly" :
I am obsessing over dates, numbers and data. I am praying day and night that we get a court date before the courts close in August. (So, every year from mid August to beginning of October, the court system in ET closes due to the rainy season. The roads become impassable and therefore, they close them down. It is also surrounding their celebration of the New Year, so people take vacation then, too.) So, if we don't get a court date before closure, we won't get a date until October and then won't bring her home for another 5 or so weeks after that! UGh! But, if we do make it to court before the closure, the Embassy remains open during that time, so we can travel back within the 5 weeks to attend our Embassy appointment and BRING HER HOME!!!!!!!!!!
Please pray specifically that all of the dates line up and we can bring Baby Girl home in September!! God is so mighty that NOTHING is impossible for Him! I know this is true and I trust Him. Yet, I continue to stress....After I realized we were next on the list for referral, I started with this same ridiculous behavior and it took me about 3 weeks to finally settle into a peace and knowing that this is so far out of my hands, there is no point in stressing. Like my sister Krissy says "God's got your back!" and boy, does he ever!!
So, that's it. I am still me, just sporting a new "do", still 20 pounds overweight and a nervous wreck over all of this stuff I have no control over!!!! Serenity? Yes, please!!! :-)
First, we are the proud parents-to-be (so tacky, I know) of a beautiful, gorgeous, stunning 6 month old baby girl in Ethiopia!! Referral day was May 16, 2011! What a crazy, emotional day THAT was!! I have been addicted to her three little pictures. Staring, wondering what she looks like now, what her personality is, what she is doing at different times of the day :-) I just can't get enough! We have been debating how to spell her name, and what middle name(s) to give her. I'm sure by the time she walks across the stage at her high school graduation, Sten and I will have come to an agreement!
Third, and most magnificent, my spiritual journey is ON FIRE! Over the past year, I have grown so close to God, that sometimes, I just talk out loud to him. Right here. In my little world, I am renewed. I have had prayer after prayer answered throughout this adoption and my whole "I think I'll get sick and try to croak episode". It is quite incredible!
Fourth, my best friend in the whole wide world (Jess) is having a baby girl in October and I am thrilled that we can be on this journey of "pregnancy" together! She has been such a rock for me during all of this, that I am certain I would be in a psych ward somewhere right now if not for her talking me down off of every I-can't-do-this-any-longer-cliff!! I lub you, Jess!!
And lastly, I did a last minute vitamin drive this morning and had pretty great results. My friend from FMH, Renee, is traveling to Ethiopia tomorrow and has permission to travel to the House of Hope transition house where baby will soon be moved until we bring her home! Renee is going to deliver:
16 large bottles of Infant drop Vitamins
Oodles of Desiting
Oodles of Hydrocortisone
Oodles of Neosporin
4 huge bottles of Gummi Vites for the big kids
and some small toys for the bigger kids, too!!!
Yay for generous hearts!!
So, there! A short list of the million reasons why things are GRRRREAT right now!!
That was the "Good", now this is the "Bad and the Ugly" :
I am obsessing over dates, numbers and data. I am praying day and night that we get a court date before the courts close in August. (So, every year from mid August to beginning of October, the court system in ET closes due to the rainy season. The roads become impassable and therefore, they close them down. It is also surrounding their celebration of the New Year, so people take vacation then, too.) So, if we don't get a court date before closure, we won't get a date until October and then won't bring her home for another 5 or so weeks after that! UGh! But, if we do make it to court before the closure, the Embassy remains open during that time, so we can travel back within the 5 weeks to attend our Embassy appointment and BRING HER HOME!!!!!!!!!!
Please pray specifically that all of the dates line up and we can bring Baby Girl home in September!! God is so mighty that NOTHING is impossible for Him! I know this is true and I trust Him. Yet, I continue to stress....After I realized we were next on the list for referral, I started with this same ridiculous behavior and it took me about 3 weeks to finally settle into a peace and knowing that this is so far out of my hands, there is no point in stressing. Like my sister Krissy says "God's got your back!" and boy, does he ever!!
So, that's it. I am still me, just sporting a new "do", still 20 pounds overweight and a nervous wreck over all of this stuff I have no control over!!!! Serenity? Yes, please!!! :-)
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