http://vimeo.com/15190829 This link will show you the full video.....
Amazing people doing amazing things:)
Amazing people doing amazing things:)
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Friday, August 12, 2011
Introducing Marra Frehiwet!!
So, on July 5th, we learned of our court date in Ethiopia....we were to be there on 7/22.....Lots to do. Tons got done!!
In short, our trip was grueling and the flights agonizing...ok, ok, i don't travel well...I get it :) Ben was able to go with us which was a blessing beyond words! We took off out of Washington Dulles -> Frankfurt -> Addis Ababa , Ethiopia.....30 hours door to door!
We had several goals on this trip 1)Meet and start bonding with Marra 2) Deliver the near 1/2 ton of school supplies collected for the Bright Hope School 3)Paint and decorate the House of Hope where Marra was now staying until we made our final trip to bring her home 4)Learn and soak up as much of the Ethiopian culture and its people as possible....We did it all, and then some!!
Instead of writing it all out now, I will share these two videos with you.....the First is of our trip (minus the Marra chapter, since we didn't know when we would pass court and be 'allowed' to share her pics, we decided to make two separate vids) The second one is all about THE GIRLIE!!!
We found out this morning that WE ARE NOW MARRA FREHIWET'S LEGAL PARENTS!!!!! Just a few days ago we were told that would most likely not happen until October, prolonging our wait by two months....but, through hours of prayer and lots of tears....God moved that mountain.....I knew He would!
Enjoy the footage of a journey beyond your wildest imaginations!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OhtmqZZQ-8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX113zBlZLY
In short, our trip was grueling and the flights agonizing...ok, ok, i don't travel well...I get it :) Ben was able to go with us which was a blessing beyond words! We took off out of Washington Dulles -> Frankfurt -> Addis Ababa , Ethiopia.....30 hours door to door!
We had several goals on this trip 1)Meet and start bonding with Marra 2) Deliver the near 1/2 ton of school supplies collected for the Bright Hope School 3)Paint and decorate the House of Hope where Marra was now staying until we made our final trip to bring her home 4)Learn and soak up as much of the Ethiopian culture and its people as possible....We did it all, and then some!!
Instead of writing it all out now, I will share these two videos with you.....the First is of our trip (minus the Marra chapter, since we didn't know when we would pass court and be 'allowed' to share her pics, we decided to make two separate vids) The second one is all about THE GIRLIE!!!
We found out this morning that WE ARE NOW MARRA FREHIWET'S LEGAL PARENTS!!!!! Just a few days ago we were told that would most likely not happen until October, prolonging our wait by two months....but, through hours of prayer and lots of tears....God moved that mountain.....I knew He would!
Enjoy the footage of a journey beyond your wildest imaginations!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OhtmqZZQ-8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kX113zBlZLY
Sunday, July 10, 2011
School Supplies!!
Officially started the school supply drive today!! Put a message on FaceBook in hopes that friends and family will donate extra school supplies to the Bright Hope School (see link) that is funded by Children's Hope International. I would love to show up to Ethiopia next week with a suitcase FULL of supplies for these eager kiddos!
http://www.blog.helpanorphan.org/search/label/Ethiopia
http://www.blog.helpanorphan.org/search/label/Ethiopia
Saturday, July 9, 2011
T Minus 12 Days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We FINALLY got a court date!!!!!!! We squeaked in with just a few days to spare!!! July 28th we will stand before a judge in Ethiopia and testify that YES INDEED we wish to adopt ((BABY)) !!!!
Sten and I have always worked well under pressure, God knows that, but sheesh do we have a crazy few weeks ahead of us!!
Just a few things to do before we leave:
Prepare our paperwork (notary, copies, certified mail, you know, nothing major for me!)
Gather Donations (doing a school supply drive for the Bright Hope School)
Pack for our trip
Pack the kids' bags for their stay in PA
Prepare for BEN"S 16th BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!!! (Costco, Costco, Costco.....and Best Buy!!)
Work 24 hours this week
Gather borrowed luggage
Get my hair done. (Roots are looking pretty trashy right now!!)
Go to GYN appt. to get this pesky ovarian cyst checked out. I don't want it to swallow up my last ovary while in ET since the other one met the same fate! (But had the conveniences of a hospital to remove it!!)
Sten has to be in Kazakhstan the DAY AFTER court, so he is working like mad not only to prepare his work for the trip but to actually schedule the flights.....Apparently, not too many folks travel from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Almaty, Kazakhstan....go figure!!
And, on top of it all, I have THE WORST chest/head cold I have ever had. Of course.
But, we are still on cloud nine with the unbelievable news that we are going to court before the closure!! And, I have heard that even if our necessary MOWA letter (the one that "blesses" this whole adoption) isn't at court that day, it still can be processed by the clerk of the court during closure b/c the judge approved the case pending the letter. What I've heard, we will learn more once we are there!!
Another great thing that God has lined up for us is that my dear friend through all of this, Sarah, who is traveling with her husband Josh to appear in court the same day as us (what a coincidence!!) will actually be on the SAME FLIGHT as us!! WooHoo!!! Oh, I forgot to mention that Ben is going with us!!! Kinda a big deal!! We really felt it important for Ben to see his sister's beginnings and to start the bonding process now, since there is such a huge age difference and he will only be here for another 2 years, then off to college.
I apologize for all of my ramblings, it's all the snot in my head prohibiting me from thinking clearly. :-)
Sten and I have always worked well under pressure, God knows that, but sheesh do we have a crazy few weeks ahead of us!!
Just a few things to do before we leave:
Prepare our paperwork (notary, copies, certified mail, you know, nothing major for me!)
Gather Donations (doing a school supply drive for the Bright Hope School)
Pack for our trip
Pack the kids' bags for their stay in PA
Prepare for BEN"S 16th BIRTHDAY PARTY!!!!! (Costco, Costco, Costco.....and Best Buy!!)
Work 24 hours this week
Gather borrowed luggage
Get my hair done. (Roots are looking pretty trashy right now!!)
Go to GYN appt. to get this pesky ovarian cyst checked out. I don't want it to swallow up my last ovary while in ET since the other one met the same fate! (But had the conveniences of a hospital to remove it!!)
Sten has to be in Kazakhstan the DAY AFTER court, so he is working like mad not only to prepare his work for the trip but to actually schedule the flights.....Apparently, not too many folks travel from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to Almaty, Kazakhstan....go figure!!
And, on top of it all, I have THE WORST chest/head cold I have ever had. Of course.
But, we are still on cloud nine with the unbelievable news that we are going to court before the closure!! And, I have heard that even if our necessary MOWA letter (the one that "blesses" this whole adoption) isn't at court that day, it still can be processed by the clerk of the court during closure b/c the judge approved the case pending the letter. What I've heard, we will learn more once we are there!!
Another great thing that God has lined up for us is that my dear friend through all of this, Sarah, who is traveling with her husband Josh to appear in court the same day as us (what a coincidence!!) will actually be on the SAME FLIGHT as us!! WooHoo!!! Oh, I forgot to mention that Ben is going with us!!! Kinda a big deal!! We really felt it important for Ben to see his sister's beginnings and to start the bonding process now, since there is such a huge age difference and he will only be here for another 2 years, then off to college.
I apologize for all of my ramblings, it's all the snot in my head prohibiting me from thinking clearly. :-)
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Holy Waiting!!
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
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
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
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