Our Before the Call List

So as many of you have figured, we are getting really, really close to our referral call! I know, I have been saying this for years. But seriously, we expect it to be in the next month. It HAS to be! If not, we may miss the court closure from August until October. I will be a wreck if this happens. So please keep our family in your prayers. Specifically, we need prayers for:

• A referral and court before August
• A healthy baby
• For God to prepare us to raise her and to learn to share our love with two children

We can only praise God for how he has worked in our lives so far and how he has met our needs! He has given us much more than we ever expected. We love you Jesus!

On to the "keep us busy" list! We haven't prepared for Marley. On purpose. We painted her room a pale pink. I plan to get all that "stuff" after we know who and how old she is. To keep us busy not obsessing over our adoption, I know...funny right, I made a list of things to do before we get our call. We better get busy!

1. Paint hallway, Miles' room and master bedroom
2. Install fence for back yard, Social Worker said it needs to be fenced due to the pond (helpers very very welcome!)
3. Prepare vegetable and flower gardens
4. Refinish kitchen table and chairs

The Waitress Made my Year!

Brandon and I had a date night last night and went to really cool restaurant. The waitress came up to me and asked if I wanted something to drink. I looked over the drink menu and ordered a yummy looking cocktail. She looked at me, hesitantly, and asked for my ID. I chuckled and said, "seriously?" She wasn't joking. As I pulled it out and handed it to her, she studied it far too long and I had to ask. "Is everything okay? Really, it's me and I'm way over 21!" And she replied with, "Yeah, that's the thing. It's says you're so old that it isn't even a good fake." WHAT?! LOL! She thought I had a fake ID and didn't even make it look like I was close to twenty-one, instead I faked that I'm thirty-two! And you know what the first thing I thought was? Man, I gotta blog this!

7990 Miles to Ethiopia!

Last night we met an AMAZING group of adoptive families here in Springfield! A friend of a friend invited us to this group and it was so awesome to meet other families that have already made the journey and many who are right where we are. I am just so excited to know that there are so many families right here, real Ethiopian children...lol! I know that sounds hilarious, but after watching so many photo montages, videos on blogs and forums, it's so cool to see real live adopted children from Ethiopia. And the families were so great, did I say that yet?

So here is a shirt that someone was selling for a fundraiser. Brandon bought me one, my first! So our journey will be 7,990 miles from Springfield, MO. If you are one of the families from Springfield, please comment so I can add you to my blog list and keep track of you too!

A Happy Day - Month 7!

Today is a happy day. We have been officially waiting for our daughter for 7 months. Of course, we have been in the actual waiting process for three years. This day, I am much more optimistic. I have experienced almost every possible emotion during this time.
When we talked about adoption as a way to add to our family I was anxious, anticipating the outcome. I have felt the pain of possible placements that didn't happen. I prayed over pictures and life stories of over 30 children that were "available" through our countries foster care system, hoping that one of these children would be ours. Hopeful is what I felt when we decided to adopt internationally through Ethiopia. When we first turned in our application to our agency, I was elated. As time progressed and paperwork took forever, I felt discouraged. I watch families come home with their children through video montages on blogs and forums. I feel hopeful again. I long for the day that I get to pick my sleeping child up for the first time.
I haven't allowed myself or Brandon to really prepare for this child. I know she's coming, but to save myself from overwhelming emotions, I haven't prepared. I AM prepared to parent and love this child like you would not believe. But she may be naked...lol! I'm just kidding. When we receive our referral, I'll prepare a little more. She has a crib, a high chair and a family that loves her so much, what else does she need, right?
So Happy Seven Months to us! May our call just be weeks, or days away!

Me and My Hair...

I am beginning to think this blog is more about me and my crazy hair...lol! I just went in today to get a trim and a color rinse to freshen up the red tones I had, and I saw the receptionist at the salon and LOVED her hair! So...needless to say, I changed it again. The cut is similar, but it has more choppy layers. The color is almost black brown and a small part of the top is a red. I love it! Wait, let me say it again, I LOVE IT! Miles noticed it too. He told me, "Mommy, your hair is black and red," with amazement. All I can say is why not? I have to keep myself occupied with something other than obsessing over our adoption, right? So, I think our referral better come soon, before I go pink! LOL!

Taking a Snow Day!

I'm sure you all have heard about the "ice storms" in the mid-west. We did get some ice, but then we got snow. This is our first time as a family to play in the snow. In November we had about an inch, but this time it's probably almost 6 inches in some areas! Miles got all bundled up and we played with his neighborhood friend and Mommy and Daddy. He LOVED every minute of it!

10 Referrals Yesterday!!!

I believe this puts us in the single digits as for our waiting list! Could it be, that we might receive a referral by the end of February??? How amazing that would be! We will have a better idea of where we are exactly by Friday. The time frame from referral to travel is looking at about four months.
So I was in a really great mood today, thinking of possibly getting our phone call soon, and I made some bread. Check this out!

My Little Salior Man

Miles has a new love for greens! I just had to document this. Tonight was fresh spinach and man he got down. A few nights ago, I made some turnip greens and he ate two servings. I'm so proud of my little man!

Happy One Year

Today marks the day that we sent in our adoption application. One year ago, we switched agencies from the Foster Adopt program in Texas to international adoption in Ethiopia. We actually were talking about changing in October of 2007, after being with the states program for a year. We prayed for wisdom, guidance and direction. God reminded us that our children were in Ethiopia and not in Texas. After many disturbing issues with the Foster Adopt program, we mailed in the application and got very excited. When we started with CHI, there were only about 20 families on the waiting list and by the time we turned in our paperwork, we were number 74! We are much lower than that now and I am optimistically expecting our call within the next two months! I know, it has been three years of me saying that!
Our agency was closed two weeks for the holidays and we are hoping to hear of some referrals today.

Real Tear Jerker...But Great to Help Others Understand a Little