So I've come to the realization that I am "Stinkin" at this whole blog thing! I wish I was just disciplined enough to just do this thing! I would also love to just be able to communicate well. I love reading other blogs, especially my sister-in-laws. You guys are so good at putting your lives into words. Oh well, I guess some of us are just not gifted with the word thing!

On a positive note. Since my last blog, we received confirmation from Shoahannah's Hope that we would be getting a grant from them. GOD IS SO GOOD at providing just what we need. Why do I even doubt sometime?? Through out this whole process it seems right when we are down or questioning what we are doing, GOD steps in there and shows us we are following what HE wants for OUR family. So anywho, now we are just holding tight on a referral!!!

~Ciao

Sick of being Sick

So we finally are home from what seems months of traveling here and there, even though it was just 4 weeks. Wow, 4 weeks is still way to long to be on the go. Anyway, we are finally home, and guess what, yep, I'm sick! The last few days at my in-laws house brought on some allergies which then decided to change to a full blown sinus infection. Yippee Skippee!

So, we got home last Thursday night, I was up at the crack of dawn waiting for Rapid Response to open. They gave me a Z-pack and told me to rest. So today is the last day of the Z-pack (which I remember the last time I used this I thought it was a miracle drug, working within 24 hours of taking it). Not so much this time around. I feel I think the same or a tad worse than I did on Saturday. Lets just say this sucks and I'm off to rest again, oh yeah, and flush my nasal cavities out with saline solution. Don't ask, its really gross!

Bummer

Salem!

So I can't believe our dossier has already been out of our hands for a month now! That is one advantage to being busy I guess, time flies! So last week was fun, we went to Easton, PA to visit with Scott's uncle and sister's family. It was a fun time, but I must say that we were bummed as Thursday came and went. That was the last day to get a referral and be able to travel before the courts closed in Ethiopia. (They close the courts due to rainy season from August 1 to October 1.) I know we were wishful thinking, but it would have been cool to get a referral by then. Oh well, we can still get referrals during this time, but would not be able to travel to get our child until October. Anyway, I keep reminding myself that this is all in God's timing and not my own. He knows what is best for us as a family, not me(-:

Kudos to all of you with multiple children! We brought our 2 nephews back home with us for the week, and holy guacamole!!! Its no wonder Starbucks is making it big!

~Ciao

Here is a pic of Elijah from the slide at camp, as promised....

It was so much fun!

As we were leaving and packing up the vehicles,

I walked by one of the doors and this is what I saw...

He was so ready to go home, but to tired to get in the car,

so he laid his pillow and blankie down right there...

Camp

Well, I must say, I was not the most excited person leaving our home Sunday afternoon. We had just finished packing up and were heading to Jr. High camp about 45 minutes away. We had just got off of a busy week, an all day Saturday -- Upwards Soccer Games/Scott's Birthday/Upwards Finale Program. Let's just say I was tired and so NOT looking forward to spending a week with Jr High kids, get home for a day and a half go off to Michigan for a week at CIY with our High School bunch.

Well, its a good thing God knows what we need. So far it has been (surprising to me) very fun. My dorm girls have been so easy...they are great! It's 20 minutes before lights out (even though our lights were off already for Elijah's sake, but they didn't have to be in bed) and they are all in bed, whispering quietly. They get up in the AM great. They all happen to be in Scott's and mine family group as well where the whole group listens and is pretty much attentive.

Anyway, we are having a really fun time. During rec time yesterday, we were swimming at the lake. Elijah went down the "big" waterslide, all by himself, on his TUMMY!!! It was so fun, I have to take my camera today and catch some shots. Anyway, that's it for now.

WHAT IS THE DOSSIER

I've had quite a few questions like this "what is a Dossier anyway?" So to answer the questions, it is pretty much a ton of paperwork, pictured above. Each individual document had to be individually notarized, verified by our county that the notary was correct, certified by the state that the verification was correct, sent to CHI in St. Louis, then to Washington DC to be certified by the US (I think) and then was sent to Ethiopia.

Don't worry, I had no clue what is was before entering this journey.

~Ciao

What we were doing the past few weeks...

I mentioned in yesterday's blog that I haven't been on in a while, family in and what not. Well the major reason for that was the home improvement project of dividing our garage. 2/3 extra room and 1/3 garage. With a new child coming, we needed the extra space for sure!!!

Tons of thanks to Vern and Barb for their hard work and to Dad for his tidbits of how-to information. Anyway, here are some pics from the past 2 weeks of the transformation of our garage.

Before picture, the real before was a ton worse but I forgot to take a picture of it. This is after clearing a lot of the stuff out.

Morning of day 2

Day 3 (I think??)

A view from the new "Garage" side

2 Weeks Later...The Final Project....well until we get the trim and ceiling fan done.

~Ciao