Addis here we come

Well, we departed Boise this morning at 6:00 a.m. to have breakfast with our dear friends and family.  What a great send off.  Tonight we are in San Francisco waiting to board our flight tomorrow which will take us to our boys.  We have talked about them for two days.  Praying about them for two days.  It is all in God's hands now.  I guess it always has been.  So, in 48 hours we will meet our sons and our lives will forever be changed.

We are off to Ethiopia

I think there is a song, Oh, our bags are packed we're ready to go, I'm standing here outside your door."  We are packed, one bag weights in at 52 pounds, it can only be 50 lbs. three are at 42, 45 and 40 respectively but no budge room.  Not sure what we are going to do but we will manage.  Both carry-ons are over 15 lbs but I think I can wiggle mine and put something in my "purse" to distribute it a little differently.  We are doing everything we can not to have to pay extra baggage fees.

I usually have the house decorated, tree up, lights on, stockings hung by the chimney with care.  This year, no tree, no stockings, no lights.  Just no time!! Next year the best year ever.

We are so excited to see our boys.  We pray they are excited to meet their new mom and dad.  Pray for a safe trip for all the families traveling now and for our children to stay healthy and be safe.

May the traveling angels have mercy on us.

Eight days to Ethiopia

We leave for Ethiopia and our boys in eight days.  This morning I decided to cancel my lecture and continue to prepare for the trip.  I will be packing, unpacking and repacking.  I have checked our travel documents and will check and recheck probably at least 12 more times before we leave.  I just get a tingling in my scalp when I think about the momentous trip coming up.  We received an update on our sons yesterday with pictures.  I can not even begin to describe the emotions I feel when I read the updates and stare constantly at their pictures.

In their pics they are wearing shorts, we have 12 inches of snow here so I don't think that is going to work! I'm thinking Miss Pug, our cocker spaniel, will have competition for the front of the fireplace!

Please continue to pray for the families and the kids.  Please pray specifically for their safety, continued court appts. and embassy appts.

19 days and it's going fast!

This week is Thanksgiving.  This will be the last Thanksgiving we will not have children at our table.  There are so many lasts in our lives and yet the "firsts" that are about to come are so welcome.  We leave in 19 days to meet our children in Ethiopia.  We have watched the videos that friends have sent, we have starred at pictures and blown them up and framed them.  We are preparing their bedroom and the house and yet we turn to God daily to help prepare us and to ask for his help in preparing them.  During this time of year we have so very much to be Thankful for.  May you and your family have a very Happy Thanksgiving and may you remember your blessings as well.

The Reality Is!

We traveled to Portland this last weekend.  Me to work and Chuck to visit some friends he hasn't seen for quite a while.  We realized this would be our last weekend to travel without children.  We tried to imagine what it would be like to pack a 3 & 6 year old into a car for an 8 hour trip.  The funny part is we have "no clue".  The really laughable part is we are thoroughly looking forward to it.  We saw a little girl with no front teeth and realized again we will have that same chapter in our lives times 2.  We both instantly thought of the Christmas song all I want for Christmas is my two front teeth and wondered if we could sing it in Amharic?  The dentist appts. the ER visits, the soccer games, the school meetings all of the things we should have done when we were in our 20's & 30's.  We were chosen to do these in our 50's, albeit early 50's. Our God does have a sense of humor!.  We know our God has chosen us for this very special time.  We are his warriors and this is a new journey which we look especially forward to with great humor and Love.

41 days

Today I was feeling sorry for myself.  We haven't met our boys, two other families have and they waited even longer than we have to meet their own children.  I was wishing I weren't self employed, I was wishing I could walk into my employers office and say I need a month off to spend with our boys.  Then the Lord spoke to me and reminded me of all the blessings he has showered upon me.  I am truly thankful for those blessings and was feeling much better about being self employed and teaching at a University level. Somehow, I was reminded of the really important things and not the trivial things and the day was a great start to another weekend.
41 days and counting

43 days

Yep, 43 days and counting down daily.  Chuck as pulled the reins in just a little with my spending, shoppng, as we found some bags of donations I forgot we had.  I think he thinks I'm not a "collector" but starting to become a "hoarder".  LOL  I Thank God daily that we have been blessed enough to provide so much.  Yesterday after I heard from the Laughner's I cried.  I cried for two children who have lost so much, I cried for their father, and brothers and sisters and I began to doubt my ability to be a good mom.  My most precious friend reminded me the only thing needed to be a good mom was to be able to "Love".  I was reminded immediately of God's Love for us, and for the orphans.  Somehow the day got better and I am now just anxiously awaiting more pictures.  Chuck is my steadfast.  He wakes up every morning and says "I can't believe we are going to be parents".  We see our boys toddling through the house, Chasing the dogs and cats and each other.  Somehow, becoming a mom isn't so hard to visualize and the complete and total change in our lives is welcome.
Yep, 43 and counting and so excited for December 10, 2009 when we leave and begin the real journey to our sons.