My stomach feels like it did when I was a child on Christmas Eve. I know something good is coming and I just don't want to wait!

I went to Toys R' Us last night and did some shopping to occupy my mind. I feel so guilty because I am not in the mood for the shopping/gifts part of Christmas. When I was checking out I made the cashier void my order, not once but twice, because I had changed my mind about what I wanted to buy. I am sure she thought I was a psycho. I then go to Target to buy a Yankee Candle to make the house smell pretty and my credit card is denied. For a $26.78 purchase. What the heck? Seems when I had the cashier void out my order it red flagged my credit card. Chase called Dave to make sure it wasn't stolen. Never a dull moment around here.

Last night was the official start of the Advent Season (always starts the 4th Sunday before Christmas). Two years ago we read Jotham's Journey, last year it was Bartholomew's Passage, and this year we are finishing up the Trilogy with Tabitha's Travels.

We make it a fun family time before bed and always have lots of good snacks to go along with the reading. Last night Paige did my hair while we read. Don't I look lovely?



I think all that shopping did me in! Although, Dave looks happy and it's a good bottom shot of the dog furiously wagging her tail. (Photography by Paige)

Labels: Adoption, Advent, christmas

I can't believe that next week at this time we will know if Amelia and Levi are officially a part of our family. Friday is the big day ( it will be Thursday night here in the U.S. when the court proceeding are actually going on). They are already firmly planted in my heart but it will be so nice to know that the Ethiopian government agrees and they are our children "officially".

Dave is upstairs painting Paige and Amelia's room. We are decorating it with lady bugs and dragon flies. We found the cutest wallpaper boarder. I can't wait to show you all when it is done.

Next Saturday my family is giving us an Adoption Shower. I feel so blessed to have so many people who are supporting our decision to adopt. This afternoon one of our neighbors called us from Toys r Us and asked if it was OK if they bought Levi a bike? How nice is that. I have been weepy all day thinking how loved our children are going to be.

I really feel like I am pregnant. My hormones are running crazy and I cry about everything. I hope I can get through the shower next week without totally losing it.

One things for sure....Friday I will be crying either way. I just hope and pray they are tears of joy and not frustration. Will you join me in praying Levi and Amelia home this week?

Labels: Adoption

Labels: Adoption, Family Fun, holidays

I went with Samantha and a bunch of other 13-14 year old girls to the 10:30 showing of New Moon last night. By the time I droped all the girls back at home it was almost 2:00 a.m.. I am feeling it this morning.

The movie was good. Much, much better than the first one. However, I do have one beef.

If you are over 30 please, please, please do not hoot and holler when Edward or Jacob come onto the screen. That totally freaks me out.

Sends me back to memories of Mary Kay Latterneou? I am sorry, that is just gross. I'm just sayin..................

Labels: Family Fun, teenagers

Here I am with my parents and my brother. This must have been towards the end of the night. I look tired.

My parents having a moment to themselves. They still look pretty happy after all those decades of marriage.

The week so far:

Monday: Get a letter from USCIS stating they cannot process our one time extension of our I-171H until we have our now 18 year old son fingerprinted by the FBI. They also state that we will need a completely new home study. What? At the bottom of the form their is information about people that do not belong in our family. It seems they have our paperwork mixed up with another family.

I can totally understand why Zach has to be fingerprinted, although, we thought it would not be an issue because our petition was excepted a week before he officially turned 18. I talked with our social worker and she also does not understand why we would need a completely new home study. We have emailed, faxed, called, etc. and can get no one to answer our questions.

Tuesday: Decide to have Zach go down and have the live scan fingerprints done that are needed for our social worker to update our home study. Oops, can't do that, as my child has lost his drivers license!!!

Wednesday: All government offices closed.

Thursday: Send Zach down to DMV, where he waits in line for three hours to get a new drivers license. They give him a temporary and tell us the new one will arrive within two weeks. Two Weeks??? Eeeks.

Basically, we cannot take care of this situation until he gets his new drivers license. It is possible we will pass court and not be able to travel because the paperwork will still not be complete.

I want to cry!

Please, please pray that we get his new driver's license in a few days. I know that if we storm the doors of heaven our Heavenly Father will not ignore us.

I have talked with our local Congressman and he has assured me that once we pass court he will do everything in his power to expedite the paperwork. We just need to get Zach's fingerprints done so the process can start.

I am really trying to stay calm, but my insides feel just sick over this whole situation. I am so mad at myself for not looking at all the paperwork more carefully and not catching this mistake a month ago.

I know our children are being well cared for right now. I just don't want anything to keep me separated from them one moment longer than I have to be.

Thanks for your prayers my friends. You are the best.

Labels: Adoption

Her cake represented all that she loves in life.
Singing happy birthday. Isn't she pretty?

We have a friend who is an ammeter photographer who came and took pictures. I will post more when I get his shots. I'm sure they will be great.

We had around 70 people there, big band music playing in the back ground, old photo albums to look through, and family and friends to catch up with.

The food was fantastic and I ate way way to much.

I talked with my mom yesterday morning and asked if she was all recovered from Saturdays extravaganza? "Oh yes" she tells me, "I'm all rived up and ready for the next 10 years of my life now!"

I guess I better start thinking about her 100th birthday party pretty soon.

Labels: birthdays, friends and family

My mom turns 90 next week. So, besides all the excitement over our court date and trying to get the house organized and ready for two new additions, we decided to throw my mom a giant celebration.

Because, you know, we have nothing else going on.

Seriously, I love my mom so much, and am thrilled to have this party for her. However, the timing, it could have been a little better.

The party is at our house. Tables and chairs have been delivered. Catering ordered. Cake ordered. Etc. Etc. Etc......

My brother and sisters have been a huge help getting everything ready. It has just been a much larger undertaking than I had originally thought.

We are expecting around 90 people. Please pray for no rain. There is no way I can put all those people in my house.

We went and had our hair done.


Samantha modeling her new do.

Our sweet friend Shauna cuts our hair. Paige brought her giraffe for a quick trim too!

Very intently watching Shauna do her magic on Mr. Giraffe.


Doesn't he look great.

Our friends have been so fantastic to us during this adoption journey. Samantha and I both had our hair washed and styled plus our eyebrows waxed. Shauna charged us $20.00. It was the "adoption" special apparently. Yes, we are very blessed.

Well, it is 5:00 a.m. and I am off to Walmart to pick up a few extras for the party tomorrow. I'll post pictures after I take a long nap tomorrow evening.

Labels: Adoption, Family Fun

December 4th is our day!

Yahoo!!

I could be holding my babies in January!!!

I am so so happy!

Labels: Adoption