tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67586215976677742352024-03-05T23:17:21.417-05:00Better than GoodBut we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. 2 Cor 3:18Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.comBlogger787125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-88841761403067582142013-06-29T11:00:00.001-04:002013-06-29T11:00:29.291-04:00Not all bad...So... just so ya know life isn't ALL bad.
And the last week or so has been some better.
And it's really only one that's upset the apple cart... but there were a lot of apples upset! :) Yesterday we had to make the tough choice not to take the family vacation we wanted to because said boy would not make it pleasant for any of us. And frankly that makes me really mad. Cause were were Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-10951171225481634942013-06-28T15:42:00.000-04:002013-06-28T15:43:07.676-04:00On my mind... So I have started and deleted like 5 posts over the past week.
So much going on... so much on my mind. Yet none that seems to want to come out in a way that would make sense or come out the way I want it to.
Was talking to my supervisor this morning in our usual check-in meeting and said .. I am almost afraid to say it... "There are parts of life that are really good, yet parts that really suckAndreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-58615574120028983272013-06-14T10:04:00.000-04:002013-06-14T10:04:16.107-04:00Exciting VenturesThere have been some fun things happening behind the scenes here that have me so very excited!!
A little back story...
April/May of last year I was in Ethiopia visiting my boys for our court appointment. Since the boys were still in school I was able to go do some visiting and ministry checking during that time. One of those times I accompanied my 'lil brother' A to Korah while he helped a Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-49658514280777387222013-06-08T12:23:00.000-04:002013-06-08T12:33:42.692-04:00Hanging On...and Some Happiness
So our world fell to pieces again after my last post. And since I am working on finding the happy medium of sharing... plus it's just too raw to share publicly...I thought I would spare you.
So just pray for us, we have several hard decisions to make and resources to find for one of our boys.
On the happy scale we have S home for the summer! She came home in April. She's back at working at theAndreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-3175805732718142312013-05-31T13:14:00.000-04:002013-05-31T13:14:41.382-04:00Looking back...I have spent the last couple of days looking back over my blog at all the ups and downs and ins and outs of our adoption journey to bring home A and B.
I now kind of wish I would have been able to find the words to talk about the process of life since then... but honestly I am not sure what I would have shared. Still trying to figure that out.
It could be that I just don't have the words. We Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-20066543277280277042013-05-30T14:54:00.001-04:002013-05-30T14:54:33.651-04:00Some good stuff....So it's not all been hard stuff... :) Here's some super cuteness for your viewing pleasure....
Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-58097428434305545322013-05-29T12:40:00.000-04:002013-05-29T12:40:27.096-04:00Where we began... FoodI had to laugh after my last post about people not reading the blog any more :) Cause it's not like I have been very faithful in blogging. So that's y'all that are still hanging around ;)
So we didn't have much of a honeymoon with these guys... not sure if it was because they were already sort of comfortable with me from the visits... or if we were just 'lucky'?
Or biggest issue was food. We Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-66079169317765589452013-05-28T17:03:00.002-04:002013-05-28T17:03:46.207-04:008 Months home... Life is HardI just went back through a bunch of old comments. :)
I am not even sure that there is anyone that's still reading this... or even how long I will be able to keep this up. SO SO much has happened and is happening.
We came home on Sept 23, 2012. We had a beautiful homecoming.
The boys settled ... for a few days. Then.... the honeymoon was over.
It was like the honeymoon we had for our Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-57589913353773172542012-11-13T08:45:00.002-05:002012-11-13T08:45:48.470-05:00We are home!! We have been home almost 2 months now... gosh do I neglect this blog!! Wonder if anyone will even read this...lol
It's been a real time of transition and growth for us all!!
The boys are sweet and want to integrate ...yet of course still miss Addis and all that they have ever known. Their English gets better all the time... and so does our Amharic.
Our biggest struggle was food choices to Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-76225316335627394922012-09-12T16:59:00.001-04:002012-09-12T17:02:13.861-04:00THEY ARE COMING HOME!!!I am so sorry I have taken so long to update this thing... it would mostly have been whining and I do enough of that on FB...lolBut yep... you read that right... TWENTY ONE MONTHS after the beginning they are coming home!!!I leave Friday morning to head to Ethiopia... my Embassy appointment is on the 17th and then... We are HOME on Sept 22!!Hub's is staying home with the kiddos and holding down Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-38592002235070937042012-06-21T14:13:00.005-04:002012-06-21T14:37:09.135-04:00Waiting... Have I shared with you in the past that I am not a good waiter?Well... I am not.I feel like I need a WA meeting. Hello my name is Andrea and I am not a good waiter.I miss my boys. Period. It's time for them to come home.A has to go through a test to see if he has TB which will take another 6 weeks and then I am not sure what then happens with the Embassy.B's paperwork is waiting because the Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-16422364567951544652012-06-06T09:34:00.003-04:002012-06-06T09:41:13.096-04:00Help Us Bring them HOME!!We are having a fundraiser to bring our new sons home... can you help? Or share on your blog if you feel so led? :)B's Birthday is on June 7th and we can't think of a better birthday gift for him. Can you spare 13.00? To help him home?Go here to see how!!Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-91392999907526694822012-06-02T23:07:00.001-04:002012-06-07T13:19:11.033-04:00And then there were 2 More!!!We are so excited to announce that we are now the proud new family for B and A ...!!!A little back ground on our story….We were a family of 4. Two parents, 2 kids and a dog…the kids were teens and life was comfortable.Then God had other plans. He shared the story of adoption with us through Steven Curtis Chapman’s family. We decided to move forward…after many mountains were moved we were able to Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-42250596733873813742012-03-31T08:36:00.002-04:002012-03-31T08:45:47.618-04:00COURT!!!Wahoo!!Finally got a court date!After much back and forth and me and about the end of my rope... God knows huh?... we got a court date!!!This is technically for A because miracles of miracles he was the one submitted. They are working very hard to get B's case done. There is a piece of paper that needs to get competed so that we can talk to the judge about both of them.... I am still not sure howAndreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-38291535611852141552012-03-19T14:15:00.002-04:002012-03-19T14:49:49.493-04:00Random Catch up StuffWell, first news is that I am not going to Ethiopia at the end of March. That was a tough blow!! When I was in ET with the boys in November I felt for sure that we would be back there in February to get our court date done, as that dream started to fade, I made plans in my heart to go at the end of March. Hoping to go with the BEMM team and see the boys at the same time. I was getting pretty Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-643884024179693892012-03-03T11:30:00.003-05:002012-03-03T11:39:47.286-05:00It's a no go.... again...Well...Didn't get any news.Still waiting....Still don't know why B's case is waiting on 1 paper... where it's coming from or why? Still don't know if A was submitted?I am beyond frustrated... I did get an email from our agency last night that expressed frustration on their part too with the non answers coming from ET. Our rep will be in Addis this coming week and if we do not hear from them Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-44747611026767407972012-02-26T20:37:00.002-05:002012-02-26T20:50:29.186-05:00Could it be????Looks like A's paperwork is going to be submitted to court this week!!!Just a few short weeks ago we weren't sure we would have ANY papers to submit, and this week they will be placed in the court system!B's papers still have 1 stinkin piece to be completed. I think it's a dreaded MOWA letter?... but I don't know.It's been a really long 8+ months waiting to be submitted to court.. it's almost Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-44995725533556976712012-02-10T22:03:00.002-05:002012-02-10T22:36:18.808-05:00Hope Comes in the MorningIt's funny that when God gives you insight, He then gives you some semblance of peace.We have found out that A's paperwork is completely finished and B's is only one piece away from being ready for court submission. It's a miracle!!!It looks like we may have a court date in March...or at the very latest April! SO excited about that.The conundrum is that I was planning to go with BEMM to meet the Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-6883645107424550872012-02-04T14:58:00.002-05:002012-02-04T15:15:42.026-05:00GriefI have struggled.Seriously, struggled these last several months.I can't begin to describe to you how I have felt other than unhinged, emotional, and unsteady.When we found out in December that it was possible that we would not be A's parents it kicked into high gear. The waiting and wondering, the praying, the crying out to God... the feeling that my heart was being ripped from my chest.If God Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-16548351276890104592012-02-03T09:49:00.007-05:002012-02-04T14:41:47.490-05:00Moving FORWARD!So excited to say that we are finally moving in the right direction! :) So excited!!!The mountain we needed to move was moved. God is so very good!! And He's contining to make things happen.On the home front there's exciting things happening as well. The boys got their report cards yesterday and N got is first EVER O for Outstanding in Work Habits!! :) And E is now above grade level in subjects Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-64859470740682363832012-01-30T20:14:00.003-05:002012-01-30T20:44:43.230-05:00Mountains TumblingWell we have a bit of movement! YAYB's case only needs one more piece of paper and then can be submitted to court! That's a major step in the right direction.We still have some issues with A's paperwork. Luckily God has placed some some amazing people in place to help. The mountain seems to be crumbling... rock by tiny rock.It's been such a hard road. It feels like I am dealing with pregnancy Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-90186260802097898962012-01-27T11:02:00.001-05:002012-01-27T11:05:29.961-05:00New African Connections ListedHey!It's been so fun making these wall creations!We have a couple of new creations ... Check them out Have had most of them sell out as I make them... be sure to get yours as a gift for a fellow adopting parent, for your new child as a gift... as a beautiful addition to your collection of art. ;) ok... I know that last one is a stretch, but the stained one in particular is beautiful in person. :)Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-48306864227739315822012-01-25T13:19:00.000-05:002012-01-25T13:21:10.970-05:00Why am I still here?I was talking to a man on the phone the other day about my thoughts for the 501c3 I want to start…I have been trying to nail down the concept and information, and was talking about grants and start up costs with him.He was very intrigued by my idea and then was astounded when I said I had been to Ethiopia 5 times already. Then I was sort of astounded. Really?!! I have been there 5 times? To Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-91183428129294015972012-01-24T09:14:00.002-05:002012-01-24T09:38:36.946-05:00A little updateLife has been a little crazy around here... waiting in limbo has been the hardest part.We are still waiting for news that B's case has moved through the local court and can be set up to move into the federal court and get us a court date.And we are still waiting to hear that the 2 pieces of paper have been obtained for A's case to know that he will be ours. I think that's the hardest part ever. Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6758621597667774235.post-87345046501264317012012-01-23T08:27:00.001-05:002012-01-23T08:32:09.711-05:00A little piece of AfricaHey guys!I know I haven't been here to update much :) I figure you don't want to hear me whining about the fact that we are STILL waiting on paper work. We have had some pretty cool situations happen though that I think will be the thing we need to get the ball really rolling.Any way... I am going to Ethiopia in March.Either for a court date for my guys ...or just to visit them cause it's truly Andreahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18136731845815385051noreply@blogger.com0