Ethiopian Airlines

Two weeks, two days, 23 hours and 15 minutes until we are at the airport awaiting departure on Ethiopian Airlines!

Paradisian Friends- Gotta Love Them!

Alright, so for those of you that may not know, I worked in emergency services for a while before we moved out here. For the two years I worked in the field I had an opportunity to meet some of the most outrageously hilarious and wonderful people that I have ever met. Not only was the work itself dark and bizarre (if you knew what I did, you would understand), but the group I worked with were the same way. I am so thankful to be able to say that I formed a second family there and have come to love them very much (I know- GAG, but as Mary d would say- GET OVER IT!).
Cheesiness aside, they are a funny group. While I have talked to many at the office, Martha, Stacy, and Micky have kept me most up to date on the goings on of their day to day lives. I have even gotten some fun updates on the lives of others in the office (see below).
Martha snapped this shot while she was in the pet store with Roger (meet Roger below) after a long day at the park.
Originally, I wasn't going to post this, but after a few glances at it, I couldn't help myself. It is such a classic picture of what happens to anyone that works in law enforcement that to pass up the opportunity to post it would, well... it would just be wrong.
Karen, forgive me, I just love it!

Martha and Roger.

For Jolene

OK Jolene- I heard a rumor that you are begging for more updates so here goes a good one.
WE RESERVED OUR PLANE TICKETS!!!!!
We are scheduled to fly out Wednesday the 15th and be home the following Friday. I can't believe it. Every day that goes by means I am one day closer to the girls. It is finally approaching!
There is a small chance that our dates for travel might be pushed out a week due to court complications. However, when we looked at the cost difference between waiting to purchase the tickets vs. making changes to them, we decided to just go ahead with our reservations. I can't tell you how good it feels to be moving in a forward direction. It has motivated me to get things moving on the packing front.
I have had a packing list growing for some time and I started shopping a few weeks back. Since then, I have made a ridiculous number of trips to Target.
I used to love that store. It has everything ya need, all in one spot (hence the logo, I'm sure).
Now, 5 million visits to the store later, I HATE it!!!! It's nothing against the store. It still has just about everything you need. My hatred has more to do with the fact that every time I drive into the parking structure, I am reminded that I have forgotten yet another crucial item on the vastly growing list of things required for travel.
After my 10th or 11th trip, I finally decided to wait to shop any more until I had a REALLY comprehensive list of things I need. I am fairly certain that I made my last mandatory visit to the store yesterday. I walked out with an entire cart full and overflowing with travel needs and goods. I found all but 2 items that both myself and a store clerk failed to locate.
Being as sick of the store and of shopping in general (I know, pick your jaws up off the floor ladies), I asked my wonderful mother to check for the items and see if she might be able to bring them along. Thankfully, she was more than willing and saved me from another dreadful trip!
So, all that to say, I have officially begun packing. So far, I have three relatively full suitcases and two diaper bags ready to go. While I could go on and on about what it takes to prepare for a trip like this, I figured I'd just give you some photos instead.



So Jolene, there ya go. You now have a updated blog entry and insight into what life revolves around for me right now. Who would have EVER guessed I would tire of shopping!

ONE Just Question

Needing Additional Coping Skills.

Most of us start off on this adoption path not really knowing the time line that is in front of us or all that will be required.
One year and a week ago, we began our travels towards two little lives that we loved even before we knew they were ours. We began to pray for them, hope for them, discover more about them and where they might come from. We filled out paperwork, attended classes, met with many people and traveled hundreds of miles just to let people know how sure we were that they were wanted and would be truly cared for and loved in our home.
We asked many questions, some common, others not, but all of them teaching us more and more about what our path would hold.
It wasn't until we were put on the referral waiting list that I finally asked which part of the process was the hardest. Up until that point, I had been too busy with paperwork and government processing to begin to think of what the wait would hold. The answer I was told over and over was that the wait to travel would be the most painful. Little did I know, when I asked that simple question, how true the answer would be.
If I am honest, it has been the hardest 3 months, one week, and two days I have ever had to wait through. At first it felt like I was just in labor for a REALLY long time. Now, after another month has passed, it feels more like I gave birth on the day we received the referral for the girls and I have been in angst, waiting to see my children ever since. There have been words of encouragement and smiling faces as we have continued to wait, but I still wait- staring at the wall- knowing that relief will only come when those little girls are in my arms.
Needless to say, the coping skills I thought I had, have been greatly challenged. It has come to this....




This morning.... five pounds later, I started yoga again!

Rhythm of Africa

I Got Shot!

Six shots later, my arm is sore but I am doing great! For those of you that know me, you know that I HATE needles. It's not so much the pain or the needle itself, it's the anticipation of this really long, sharp object stabbing through my flesh that makes me nauseous. So nauseous, in fact, that I even passed out once (so humiliating).
However, this trip, while filled with anxiety, was not bad at all. The Sergeant that administered all 6 of my inoculations was FANTASTIC. Apparently, they prepped him on my fear of needles and he decided to take the project (me) on himself. While he was more than happy to make some pretty evil faces at the camera, he did a wonderful job and was very kind to this needle phobic. I didn't even get lightheaded until I left the hospital.
Thankfully, Garrett came with me and documented the whole thing, knowing the huge sacrifice I was making to bring our girls home. Needles are a far larger hurdle for me to leap than any paperwork you could put in front of me. I am so glad it's over.
The head nurse was even kind enough to band-aid me with Snoopy and hand me some stickers as I walked out the door.
Looking back- I should have hugged that Sergeant!





I was very humbly reminded today that while my sore little arms are a bit of an inconvenience, the source of that inconvenience is a blessing that we take for granted in America every day. While vaccinations may cost us, they save hundreds of thousands of lives in this country every year. Without them, we would join the billions of others throughout the world that go without, and give their lives to diseases that are entirely preventable for us. I am left grateful for our nation, those that serve it, and the gift it is to live here.

The September Campaign.

The September Campaign Trailer - www.borninseptember.org from charity: water on Vimeo.

Thank you Julie!