Adoption Update

We haven't posted any news on what's happening with the adoption, because not a whole lot has been happening. We have been (what feels like to me) SLOWLY creeping down the list and as of yesterday morning had moved from 53 in May to 35. It has been WEEKS since there has been any referrals at all. I have been outwardly expressing 'all in God's timing' while praying to convince myself, but still feeling dissapointed at times.
But in less than 48 hours we have moved 3 spots...now to 32! Still a long way to go but too excited not to share.
Merry Christmas!

A few of my favorite blogs....

Three posts in one night you say....
This is the last one. I mentioned how I love to read blogs.


Here are a few of my favorites:

http://everybitterthingissweet.wordpress.com/

http://zenhabits.net/

http://ianfamily.blogspot.com/

http://momentumgathering.com/

http://www.drawnfromwater.org/


A quick note on this last one. Drawn From Water is an organization I've become amazed by. I encourage you to check it out. Just this past week they have begun accepting sponsorships for individual orphans they care for.

Adoption update

We are number 39 on the infant girl list! The end of July and beginning of August brought a lot of movement for our agency's lists. However, we haven't moved in several weeks. There are things changing in the Ethiopian adoption process that are making our timeline more unknown. Mainly court changes, and the fact that adoptive families have to travel twice. I have become resigned to the fact that it may be quite awhile before we bring home our third child, All in God's timing....the good news is the longer we wait the more Sarah Bess and Davis can do to help : o ) ... but the longer I have to debate with Sarah Bess what this little girl should be named.
On a related note, our new friends from our church arrived home with their little boy from Ethiopia a month ago. We went to a party tonight in his honor. He is precious and we are thrilled to have this family now in our lives.

The Absent Blogger

So I realize it has been almost four months since I have posted on this blog. For several weeks, it was on my always constant 'to do' list. Then I decided I really didn't 'feel' like posting. Recently, I tried to decide why. Here's what I've decided:
1. I LOVE to read other people's blogs. (I'll list a few of my favorites in a seperate post). The blogs I like to read often inspire me, or at the least give me a little to think about. The authors seem to be "real" writers. This blog became more of an 'update' on the kids. Which if I thought people were actually reading it still for an update would be one thing, but I know I have very little 'followers' (Hi Mom to you)
2. My updates on the kids are duplications of the kids journals. My friend Emily does a great job blogging about her daughter (again back to that good writer thing) and turns her blogs into a book for her daughter Kay.
However, I don't tend to write what I'm really thinking or feeling about on a public blog. I do keep a personal journal for Sarah Bess and Davis and have started one for our newest addition. Those are what will really tell them their childhood stories.
Well, I guess it's basically just those two reasons. So, for now... I don't plan to post too often (...yes, I realize I wasn't posting much before). I will post updates to our adoption process b/c I know that can be helpful to other families.... and of course what people (aka my mom) really want... pictures!

Number 53!!!

We are now done with the 'paperchase' aspect of the adoption and have been put on the wait list for an infant girl. We are very excited to be at this point. We should now know of our baby girl in 8 to 12 months!

Sarah Bess can drive the John Deere!

I have no picture of this, but this is blog worthy! Sarah Bess has FINALLY figured out how to drive the John Deere tractor Sudie and Papa Rob gave Davis about a year ago. She still drives pretty slow, but is actually turning the wheel to go in the direction she needs to go to not drive it off our greenway path. While Davis has tried many times to instruct her on how to do this, he is none to happy that she has figured it out (as this means she wants a longer turn!).
Also in Sarah Bess news, I wanted to share this story so I would be sure to remember it. On Sunday we were sitting at an intersection near our house that can be pretty busy. It is also one that people don't seem to know how to drive very well. We were going straight across, but someone pulled up on our left (in our lane). Jimmy said, "What are they doing?". Sarah Bess calls from the very back of the van..."HONK THE HORN DADDY!"

Easter

We had a wonderful Easter at Sudie and Papa Rob's. Nothing like enjoying the peacefulness of the ocean. The kids loved hunting Easter eggs and getting their Easter baskets. I think from all the Easter egg hunting they may have more candy than at Halloween- a dream come true for Sarah Bess! They left some carrots out for the Easter bunny (which he didn't eat) and their baskets on Sudie's porch (Davis was very specific that the Easter bunny was NOT to come in Sudie's house). They can now play so much more independantly on the beach. They had a great time filling up their 'squirters' and squirting everyone's feet with some VERY cold water. It was a faboulous long weekend.

Why?

I know not everyone understands. It has been hard for me to put into words why our family is beginning this journey to bring home a daughter from Ethiopia. I came across this video on another blog... so if you've got 10 minutes, check it out...

(I can't figure out how to make it a link, so cut and paste in your browser and it should work. If not go to youtube and type in ethiopian adoption Lucy)

www.youtube.com/watch?v=duyL9UjLrdM

Here We Go Again

We are very excited to share that we have decided to add to our family. We are adopting a baby girl from Ethiopia. We have just begun this journey and won't be bringing our daughter home for at least another 12 months. We have currently completed one home study visit and for those of you that know anything about the adoption world are busy doing the 'paper chase' to complete our dossier.
Sarah Bess and Davis have mixed feelings about a 'new baby'. Sarah Bess is THRILLED and announces it to anyone that is willing to listen...Sunday School teacher, preschool teacher, nursery staff. Davis is unsure but is excited that he will share bunk beds with Mei Mei (Sarah Bess) when the baby first comes home.
We are using our same adoption agency as last time, CCAI, but this time they are partnered with an agency that completes Ethiopian adoption, IAN.
We will be sure and keep everyone posted through this blog.
We are SO appreciative of the support we have received from family and friends as we begin this journey.

Swim Lessons

This weekend Sarah Bess and Davis had their first swim lessons. They had a great time (well...Davis did. Sarah Bess was on the VERY exhausted side and would cry if they tried to get her to put her face in the water). However, she seemed afterward to be excited to go back next week. Davis even tried floating on his back. Way to go!...They do look very cute in their new Lighting McQueen and Hello Kitty Sun Glasses...or should I say "Oh La La My Family Is Posh"

First Day of Dance

In January Sarah Bess started her first dance class. She has been asking to take dance, and talking about taking dance for quite awhile now. I was hopeful the night before that she would have half as much fun as she was anticipating.
She had a blast! She was smiling from ear to ear the whole time. Some of the other girls would come over to the window looking for their mommy, not SB. She just hung on the teachers every word. Because of snow, she has only had two classes, but the two missed will be made up. She has her third class tomorrow and she is almost as excited as before the first.
It's not too surprising as she is constantly dancing, singing and making up new songs around the house.

Snow and Sledding with no sled

January and February has brought snow to our area that we are not used to (nothing compared to what they have been getting in VA and north, but still a lot for us). As parents we were not prepared- no snow boots for Davis, no sled, no real 'supplies'. But we made the best of it...nothing like the plastic bag around the shoes, the snow ball fight with snow that won't pack and best of all...sledding in a laundry basket (while I am not on video, I also participated in this activity and let me say it is FUN!)

Christmas 2009

We have had such a wonderful holiday. Sarah Bess and Davis loved all there was about Christmas and had a great time visiting with Papa Rob, Sudie, GaGa, D Daddy, Uncle Sam and Aunt Usha.