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

16 Things about me...

Rules: Once you've been tagged, you have to write a note with 16 random things, shortcomings, facts, habits or goals about you. At the end choose 16 people to be tagged, listing their names and why you chose them. You have to tag the person who tagged you.

1. I'm overly zealous. I'm excited easily and very passionate about a lot of things.
2. I am truly grateful for my husband! He is so amazing and I can't say it enough.
3. I love Springfield, MO. I really do. I know, back to number one...lol. But we really are thinking about retiring here!
4. I used to have really low self-esteem.
5. I talk a lot, sorry, I can't help it, I have a lot to say.
6. I would really like to do some missionary work. I think I might go to Ethiopia a little early and pair up with some missionaries while I'm there.
7. I tend to over analyze things way to much, like... did I say something wrong, etc..
8. I check facebook, myspace and cafe mom everyday at least once. I know, I need to drop one of these babies. Oh, and I maintain a blog. Yeah, one of them HAS to go....hmmm, which one?
9. I love my God, I really do. I know what grace is and have experienced an awesome level of forgiveness and truly appreciate it.
10. I interrupt people all the time. I hate doing it, I just talk too much (#5). I'm working on it. Oh, if I ever interrupt you, please let me know...kindly...lol!
11. I cook everyday and I bake at least two times a week and I LOVE it! It's never been a chore for me except for when I worked outside of the home. I just got my kitchen aid mixer, so watch out Martha...here I come!
12. I secretly...okay, so it's not much of a secret, want to live off of the land. Like, really. Solar panels, gardens, animals and all. I even want an alpaca, for it's fur, so I can spin and knit sweaters with it...lol, seriously!
13. I scrapbook everything. I even scrapbook pictures of me scrapbooking! Thank you Aunt Leslie for introducing me to it! And Chawn, you better get those pictures to me soon, or I'm not going to have time to scrapbook Jordan's album until he's five...lol!
14. I have no regrets for the life I have. Sure I have some "what if's," but not often. I'm so content with my circumstances. It's taken me awhile to get here, but I'm here.
15. I love coupons! I joined this coupon exchange here in Springfield and LOVE getting coupons everyweek! So if you want to mail me all your coupons, I'll take them! I saved $40 last week!
16. This was surprisingly really hard for me to come up with 16 things!

Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful day it has been! Here are a few pictures of our morning. More pictures will follow. Miles absolutely LOVED all his toys and was really excited to get a truck! He also got a remote control dinosaur that is out of this world, we will picture that soon. Miles received many movies, books, games, and clothes. He was lavished with gifts from Santa and the many relatives and really enjoys everything!
He went outside this morning to pick up his friend Tyler in his Hummer, it was hilarious. He drove Tyler to the house to check out his new loot! When Tyler was showing Miles how to work the remote control dinosaur, that is almost 3' tall, Miles jumped on the couch and almost wet his pants with fear. It was so funny.
And.........guess what I got? A Kitchen Aid Mixer!!!! And it's the Professional one. I was so excited, I whipped up Jesus' birthday cake with it and couldn't wait for Brandon to document it. I promised him that this mixer will last so long, it will be passed on to Marley...lol! My parents and Brandon's parents bought me this, what an amazing gift!