Sweet Drowsy Doll

Do girls my age remember the blonde, blue-eyed Drowsy doll from the late 60's/early 70's? Well, for whatever reason (fate, perhaps?), my parents got me a black Drowsy doll instead. How cool is it going to be to show my daughter this picture someday?

I'm up to #20 on the waiting list - can't wait to move up one more notch and say I'm in the 'teens! :)

Somewhere Out There...

It has been awhile since I updated my blog. It has been raining referrals at my agency this week, and I am pleased to report I have jumped to #27 on the waiting list. It feels amazing to be in the 20’s. The wait for infant girls has extended to an average of 14-15 months which means I will now hopefully get that magic phone call around March/April. It is disappointing that I won’t be celebrating this holiday season as a mommy as I originally thought I would, but the time really is passing quickly, and it will happen when God knows the time is right. A friend of mine recently pointed out that, at the very least, my baby girl has been conceived and is living in her bio mom’s tummy RIGHT NOW. Or there’s a chance she may already have entered this world! That gives me HUGE GOOSEBUMPS. Hang on, sweet baby girl – I can’t wait to hold you in my arms!

Waiting For My Appointed Time

This morning's devotional email from Joel Osteen nailed it on the head:

For the vision is yet for an appointed time…though it tarry, wait for it"(Habakkuk 2:3 KJV)

God has an appointed time to fulfill the visions, dreams, and desires in your heart. Just because it has taken a long time, doesn't mean it's not going to happen. Don't give up on those dreams! Our God is a faithful God. No matter how long it's been, no matter how impossible things looks, if you'll stay in faith, your appointed time is coming.

Remember, every dream that's in your heart, every promise that has taken root, God put it in there. And not only that, but He has every intention of bringing it to pass. Hold on to that vision today by declaring, "My time is coming. God is working behind the scenes on my behalf. I will fulfill my destiny!"

Ethiopian Princesses!

I have been richly blessed to become involved in an adoptive moms' group. We meet on Saturday mornings once a month to just visit and give each other support. The group includes Abby & Anne who have both recently adopted sweet baby girls from Ethiopia. They are truly an inspiration to me. Abby returned from Ethiopia over Mother's Day weekend with her beautiful daughter Maggie. And Anne has been home 3 weeks since being united with Olivia who I got to meet for the first time this past weekend.

What's missing from this photo? The Third Musketeer, of course! Hopefully Olivia & Maggie will have another playmate by early next year. :) In six months, I moved from #105 to my current number of 50, so I should be right on track with the estimated 12-month wait. In the meantime, I'll get lots of practice loving on Maggie and Olivia!

Love this quote

I saw this posted on another adoptive family's blog, and it touched me:

We witness a miracle every time a child enters into life. But those who make their journey home across time and miles, growing within the hearts of those who wait to love them, are carried on the wings of destiny and placed among us by God's very own hands.

--Kristin Larson

Happy Mother's Day!

With Mother’s Day approaching this weekend, I have so much on my mind:

• My own mom who will have her first Mother’s Day without her mom. We miss you, Grandma!


• My friend, Abby, who is returning from Ethiopia this weekend with her sweet baby girl, Maggie. The ultimate Mother’s Day for her!


• My furry ‘children’, Maya and Spencer, and the heartbreaking decision I have made to give Maya to my parents after spending a challenging year of unsuccessfully trying to bring the 2 cats back together after they suddenly decided they hated each other. It’s a long story if you don’t already know it! I just hope and pray Maya will adapt to her new home, and that it will turn out to be a blessing for everyone involved. I believe this experience has given me a taste of the unconditional love a mother feels for her child. I selfishly don’t want to let Maya go, but I also want the very best for her as well as Spencer.


• And finally, of course, I’m thinking about how next year I will hopefully be celebrating my first Mother’s Day with my precious daughter. Don’t you love my new t-shirt? :)

Be patient and wait with confidence

I receive a daily devotional from Joel & Victoria Osteen. Today's email especially spoke to me:

"…See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm…"
(James 5:7-8, NIV).

The Bible tells us that we should wait for God’s promises like a farmer waits for his harvest. Now, I’ve never seen a farmer plant a crop and then worry night and day about whether or not it’s going to come up. He doesn’t lose sleep thinking, "Oh, I hope that my corn is going to take root. Please God, let my corn bring a harvest." No, he waits with confidence, knowing that the harvest will come. He does his part, and he knows that seed will produce a good crop.
In the same way, we should wait confidently for the promises of God. We have to stand firm on His Word. It’s not enough to just hope that your situation is going to turn around. Instead of the attitude "I hope I get well", have the attitude of confidence and say, "Thank You, Lord that I am getting well." Start waiting like the farmer. Wait with a knowing. Wait with confidence. Be sure that as you put God’s Word into practice, just like the farmer, you will see that harvest of blessing in your own life in return.

I am waiting with faith, confidence and loads of patience that my baby is on her way. For those of you keeping track, I believe I am now at #73. I celebrate each little advancement up the list!

A Mother for Choco

I was asked by my friend & former co-worker, Samantha, to read to her 1st graders at Inglewood Elementary this week. It was so much fun hanging with those sweet energetic kiddos, and I was moved by the sea of President Obama drawings on the school's hallway wall. I chose to read “A Mother for Choco” about a bird trying to find his mother who eventually lets a Mama Bear become his mom and realizes they don’t have to look alike to love each other and be a family. It's a great book for parents to read to their adoptive children - and I can't wait to share it with my daughter someday.

In less than a 2-month period, if I'm keeping track correctly, I have moved from #105 to #82 on the waiting list. Slowly but surely, we're making progress!

One year ago today...

I just happened to notice that today marks exactly 1 year since I took a big gulp and signed the application to adopt a baby. It has been a year of all-over-the-map emotions – excitement, disappointment, joyful anticipation and fear of the unknown. Yet throughout my experiencing all of these feelings, I have been surprisingly calm and at peace that everything is happening for a reason, and my baby will present herself when the time is right. In other words, in God’s time.
I was bursting with pride for my country this week as Barack Obama was sworn in as our president. I know some people say race shouldn’t be an issue, but how could it not be? To think of how far this country has come! I can’t wait to bring my daughter home where, as President Obama said, she will have “the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.”

After 1 year, the official wait has begun!

I woke up this morning feeling like this would be the day I heard from my agency. And sure enough, Toni just emailed that they have received my dossier from DC, and I am officially on the waiting list. After starting this journey 11 months, 3 weeks & 3 days ago, to be exact, my wait now "begins". The current wait for a referral is 6-9 months then I can expect to travel and bring her home 3-1/2 - 4 months after receiving the referral. Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare for this exciting adventure!