April 29th, 2010

Howdy!!!
Wow life seems to be in fast forward these days, so it has been a while since the last post. We have done alot to prepare emotionally, financially and physically. We are working to line up finances and continuing to look for fundraisers, sacrifices and ways to pay for our little men. We have no worries for God is in control! We have loaded up our library card with as many adoption books and books on Ethiopia that our public library had. We believe education is power and are hoping to read up and prepare our hearts and minds. Last weekend we went to Phoenix for a picnic through Building Arizona Families, our agency. We all met at a precious little park where we visited, played and ate together. There were families just applying, matched, adopted kids, adopted adults, parents, etc. We loved visiting, comparing notes and finding prayer partners for each others journey. There is one family who Lisa had paired us up with and we had been emailing back and forth and we were both able to attend the picnic. For some reason seeing and playing with their children made the fantasy of our boys more a reality. They adopted 2 young children from Ethiopia recently and have been a great source of info, support and prayer even though we had never met. But then on Saturday watching their little ones play made us realize soon enough hat will be us. Not planning, and hoping, but parents of 2 blessings from our Lord. While in PHX we took the opportunity to stop at IKEA and purchase crib #2 and high chair #2. Since we made the decision to keep the boys int he same bedroom at first we needed a matching crib and chair. I will attach a pic or 2 of the new arrangement. We are thrilled and anxious, we keep looking in the others eyes quietly and then both say,"I want our referral". So odd to be in a time great peace, fear, hope and anxiety all at once, thankfully we are not in control and our God has a better plan than we can imagine!!!

April 19th, 2010

Howdy!!!
We are getting super giddy and excited! On Sunday Ben gave a sermon on dedicating our children's lives to the Lord, and how difficult teaching our children about Christ can be, but the biggest role in a parents life. Many families not only dedicated their children, but also dedicated their role as a parent to be Godly. What an impact, as we sat in the audience agreeing that this is the way we plan to lead our sons and thankful to be part of a community that believes the same. I can only imagine the struggles we will face in raising disciples, but know God has entrusted us with them and we will put our life in His hands.

Many a precious people have asked how they can help us to get ready, buy, make, do.....as of now we are doing great, but I might be asking for silly favors int he future, so thanks for offering. We have not registered anywhere or anything, we are building our family in a nontraditional way, and it is hard to perform traditional events like that right now. I believe in the future we will register at Target, just for little fun stuff, but we have taken it upon ourselves to prepare for our children...hence the pics below! We still have the biggies like stroller,car seats, etc to get, but are buying as we see sales, coupons, and slowly but surely will have our "needs" met we think. We actually found bedding that almost matches exactly to what we had done in the nursery already, and bought it last night. We decided to keep the boys together for their own peace at first, therefore trying to double up one room for two men. Next weekend we are going to an event for adopted families in AZ in Phoenix so we plan to pick up another crib and high chair that matches the one we already have. We don't want everything to be matchy matchy, but the furniture for sure must we think. Exciting! I think having a space and goodies prepared for 2 will make it all seem more real!Thank you for your offers and generosity to support and provide for our little guys.

Our grandmother is the cutest little thing alive and just a hoot to be around, we wish we are closer and able to visit more often. She generously and amazingly made our boys blankets and even attached pictures of Tyler with his blanket that she made for him decades ago. Now we will be sure to take pics of our men in the same manner as their dad with their matching blankets..yes all 3 will match, some new, some really old!We long to wrap them up and comfort them with their great-grandmas love!

If anyone knows of any good devotional books for adoptive parents let us know. We would love a devo book specific to our situation, and don't know of any, nor have we seen any for sale.Let us know if you have ideas!

We love you all and wish you the best...hoping time goes fast..we don't want to wish our life away, just want our babies home!

April 12th

Howdy!
One of my kids in class family recently had a baby boy ad they are the kindest things and wanted to share a few of their goodies that the baby has out grown. Boy they were not kidding she showed up with several bags. We washed it all and put it in the closet in chronological order, assuming our boys might be too big for the majority of it, but regardless the orphanage would love it! We also ordered the coolest toy boxes and they arrived!!! Finally getting out little men a bunch of toys and treats for their homecoming. The amount of clothes, shoes, toys, diapers, etc increases what seems like 10 fold, making the costs of everything sky rocket when there will be 2 the same age, rather than 1. Now we are on the hunt to find everything else that matches the previously purchased things if they are going to stay in the same room. Constantly over joyed and anxious to see their precious faces! Wonder how I can blow their referral pics up into huge posters to cover my walls with...that excited!

April 11th, 2010

Howdy!
On Friday we were notified we had one more document that needed to be changed in our dossier, but that the staff in Ethiopia was notified of our changes and good to go knowing we had changed to 2...what a relief! Today after church we were interviewed for a piece on international adoption. The journalist was actually a grad student at U of A and super friendly. Hard to explain everything in terms that the average journalist who is not very familiar would understand. However, we love sharing the journey we are on with others! We are continuing to plan and prepare...ordered organic green play cubes, bought a few outfits, purchased a play yard and a toy or 2. After consulting other who have been in our boat, and surfing the web, we believe we are going to let the boys share a room. So now we hope to find matching bedding, crib, chair etc for #2. We got all excited designing nursery #2, but think it is in the best interest of our boys for them to have each other at first at least. Thank you for your continued prayers and support, we feel it daily!

April 8th, 2010

Howdy!
Yesterday we had our travel and referral conference. We went over all the medical, paperwork, visas, immigration that goes along with the referral process. Then discussed travel, what countries for layovers, good travel agents, etc. By the end of the 2 hour meeting the director said the next time she talks to us might possibly be the call that our referral has arrived. We are definitely going to have 2 boys 5 months or younger at that time. The average time is between 4 and 6 months, with some being only weeks, and some more than 6 months. For us the 4-6 month window starts June 22 through august 22. We assume we will have 2 sons by then!!! Woo-hoo. Now the excitement of preparing possible room #2, choosing names, toy shopping, etc!

April 4th, 2010

Howdy!
We couldn't let the most miraculous day in the year pass with out sharing our best Happy Easter Wishes! He is Risen!

Looking forward to finding out if the board accepts our change for 2 little men and anxious to hear the results of the most decent meeting with attorney and authorities on all the new laws....hoping to hear word this week...