HELP BRING MY ETHIOPIAN PRINCESS HOME!

I have had several friends and family asking how they can help as I draw closer to bringing my Ethiopian princess home. I have always been independent and self-sufficient, so I squirm a bit as these inquiries come in, wanting to say “I’ve got it all covered!” yet quickly realizing that I am certainly going to need help and support in many forms. So I have come up with a list of ways you can make a difference:

MONETARY DONATIONS – It’s no secret that international adoption is a pricey endeavor – but certainly worth every penny! I am still anxiously waiting to hear whether my sister and I will be required to make 2 trips under Ethiopia’s new policy – something I certainly didn’t anticipate or budget for. And it appears we will be flying to Ethiopia at peak season when flights are at their most expensive – probably $2000-2500 roundtrip for each of us (times 2 if we have to make the 2 trips). If you would like to make a monetary donation to help fund our travel, click on the DONATE link at the top right of this page.

FREQUENT FLYER MILES – I assume no one has any frequent flyer miles for Ethiopian Airlines (ha), but we will also need to get from Nashville to Washington, DC (Dulles - IAD) for the Ethiopian flight. If you have a surplus of miles you might be able to donate, please contact me.

YARD SALES! – I am participating in TWO upcoming yard sales – my trash may very well be your treasure! The first is a giant yard sale hosted by Gaylord Entertainment employees this Saturday, May 1st from 8 AM-3 PM at the Gaylord Entertainment Pavilion, across from Engineering and the Commissary on Opry Mills Drive. Then anything I don’t sell will go to Yard Sale #2 which I am co-hosting with a friend on Saturday, May 8th at 2850 McGavock Pike, Nashville 37214. If you need more information, let me know.

ETHIOPIA DONATIONS – I will be bringing donations to Ethiopia for my daughter’s orphanage and my agency’s transition home, House of Hope. Here is a list of needed items:

Medical & Hygiene Items for Staff & Children: Surgical masks, chewable vitamins, band-aids, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, Neosporin ointment, Tylenol

Cloth Diapers (no disposables)

Toys: books, puzzles, rattles, coloring books, large crayons, jump ropes, balloons

Quality Children’s Clothing, Underwear & Shoes: new or gently worn – all sizes and seasons

Baby Care Items: diaper pins, baby wipes, baby soap, teeth rings, bottles & nipples, blankets, crib sheets

LARGE SUITCASES – To transport these donations, I will need 1-2 large, durable suitcases (that I may opt to leave in Ethiopia).

I appreciate any contribution you may choose to give – nothing is too small, and it will all make a difference. I am blessed beyond measure to have so much love and support. Thank you again for celebrating this incredible time in my life!

I GOT MY CALL!!

On Monday morning, I received an email devotional that said “God Wants To Surprise You”. And my best buddy, Dan, had told me that he thought Monday would be THE DAY which made me all the more nervous. Sure enough, he was right! Yes, it finally happened – my phone rang on Monday, March 22nd at 1:00 PM with the news I’ve been so patiently waiting for. I have been blessed beyond my imagination with a beautiful 7-month-old baby girl. She is absolutely perfect – such a cutie! Above is the video of me seeing her face for the first time. I will treasure that moment forever! (Excuse my messy desk and red nose & eyes! Ha)

I have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from my family and friends – THANK YOU! Many of you are asking the same questions, so I thought I would answer them here as best as I can for now:

WHAT IS HER NAME? I am still considering a handful of names – it’s a huge decision! When I finally decide, I will let you know.

WE WANT TO SEE PICTURES! I wish I could share her pictures with you here on my blog or by email, but I am unable to do so until she legally becomes mine. However, if you see me in person, I will be happy to show you the copies I have! I can give written permission to any families traveling to Ethiopia before me to take additional photos, so hopefully I’ll get more soon!

WHEN WILL I GET TO BRING HER HOME? Believe me, that’s the big question I am asking! There is a lot up in the air at the moment concerning whether I will be making 1 or 2 trips to Ethiopia (likely 2) and exactly what the time frame will be. On average, I am hoping to have her home with me within 3-4 months. The news about the possible 2 trips is so new that the details are ever-changing, and my agency is doing its best to get definitive answers for me asap. You’ll know once I know!

Please continue to pray for me and my baby girl in the coming weeks. God is so good!

SO CLOSE!

Well, the last time I posted I was “Top Ten”, the next day I moved to “Top Five”, so here’s hoping this post will bring similar luck. Drum roll, please…I AM NOW AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. Okay, actually, I’m not sure if I’m #1 or #2 (there’s a mystery family in front of me, but I’m not sure if they are waiting on a baby girl or a sibling group), but the bottom line is that the call I have waited exactly 2 years, 1 month, 2 weeks & 3 days for could come at any moment. My cell phone is officially with me at all times just waiting to ring!

The big news for this week was a completely unexpected announcement that the Ethiopian government has declared that prospective adoptive parents will now be required to travel to Ethiopia for their court date prior to bringing their children home. Yes, that means I will be making TWO TRIPS to Ethiopia. I will be the first to admit I am not the greatest at adapting to change, so I’ve been a little whacked trying to wrap my brain around this news. There are still many unanswered questions, but I am trying to focus on the positive. First and foremost, it appears I will get to meet my daughter sooner than I expected. And secondly, by meeting my daughter prior to going to court, she will now automatically become a U.S. citizen when we arrive in the States rather than having to go through a re-adoption process. Of course, the negatives include having to leave Ethiopia without my daughter on the 1st trip, and there’s the expense of an extra flight. Hey, it’s just money, right? :) I would rather be putting those dollars towards my daughter’s education, but I am faithful in believing that this is all a part of God’s plan as He maps out my journey to unite me and my sweet girl.

Please keep me in your prayers in the coming days as I anxiously wait for the call that will change my life forever.

Yes, I am proud to announce I am officially in the Top Ten - #9 to be exact – on the waiting list. Such a long way from my original number of 105! Unfortunately, baby girl referrals are slow-going at this point which may mean at least another couple of months before I get THE call. If you go back and read my previous postings, you’ll see how much the timeline for international adoption can fluctuate. I thought I would be a mom by now, but God has a different plan. I have been so patient throughout this journey, at peace knowing that it’s all going to happen in God’s time. But I have to admit I have been struggling for the past few weeks. The human side of me is growing restless and wants it to happen NOW. But I’ve had a couple of messages delivered to me in the past week that put me at ease. First, another waiting mom-to-be pointed out that since this will likely be her last child (she already has a beautiful Ethiopian son), she is learning to EMBRACE this period of waiting, knowing she will probably never experience this journey again. I recently read that waiting is not just about the end result – it’s about what you become throughout the process. So I am choosing to EMBRACE this time as I draw near the finish line. And I was struck by the sermon at church yesterday that said that SUFFERING is a gift from God, just as is His deliverance from the suffering. This uncomfortable feeling of anticipation (suffering, if you will) is all a part of appreciating what’s on the horizon.

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!"