42 WEEKS...

Can you believe it??? We are at 42 weeks of waiting for "little guy". I woke this morning feeling a little bummed! I took my shower, got dressed, and was making the bed when I turned to hubby and just said it...42 weeks! And he says...is that how long we have been waiting?? WHAT??? Like you do not know...the exact amount of time we have been waiting...what is wrong with you? :) I did not say this to him...but I did think it! He doesn't know these details because he is not obsessed with it. He just works and works to make sure when the time comes we are prepared! Me?? I know the details...I know the exact dates of most everything we have done in the past 3 years for this journey. If he wants to know he will ask, otherwise I keep him informed. WEEKLY...Just like you. :)
So...we met our new consultant via email this week. The change is hard and a bit frustrating but we truly were not even close to bonded with the last one so really NO BIG DEAL! We know we are getting close to the top end of the list and that makes us happy! We know there could still be a bit of a wait and that makes us sad! But hey...there is nothing quite like an adoption roller coaster...RIGHT?
I got to watch a baby boy this week. He is SO SO SO sweet! I really enjoyed it! :)
The kids start school in just 5 more days. I think we are ready. Emilie has her back to school night Monday. She is headed to a new school that they are just opening due to over crowding! (AGAIN) The bad thing is she will start a new school next year as well. (middle school) I am hoping for an easy transition for her. She does not deal well with major changes so we will see. I am sure it will take a few weeks to get in a routine.
Emilie is having a sleepover with a friend tonight. We are hoping to go to a waterpark tomorrow but will see if the rain will hold off. We do have a backup plan.
Hope you all have a great weekend!

Blessings~
Tina
***He that handles a matter wisely shall find good: and who so trusteth in the Lord, happy is he!
Proverbs 16:20

41 WEEKS...& BACK TO SCHOOL SHOPPING!

We are now over due! :) We have been waiting 41 weeks to see our little guy's face. We are so hoping and praying that we will have him home for Christmas this year but...I am trying to prepare myself that it will not happen. The thing is I do believe in miracles and maybe we will get one soon! There hasn't been any referrals this week. We did find out that the baby boy referred last week had a DTE date of late Aug so that is good for us. We may be closer than we think! Wouldn't that be a GREAT surprise.

This weekend is tax free weekend for school shopping in MO. I took the kids this morning to get their shoes, and Em the back pack she wanted. We are going to do some more shopping tomorrow at the PX as it is ALWAYS tax free for us. I was wanting to get to the commissary so we will do that as well tomorrow. I am hoping to stock up on things. Emilie chose some cute shoes that are white and one of her favorite colors, blue. She, also, got a backpack that is blue with white polka dots. She will be heading to 5th grade this year and Randy will be a JR. Tifanie is in her 2nd year of taking classes at the community college. UUGH- I am SO old! Don took Randy to get signed up and get his parking yesterday. That was a nice chunk out of the acct. These kiddos aren't cheap! :)

I had the joy of watching one of Don's soldier's little ones this week. He is around 4.5 months old and so cute. I would rock him to sleep and just hold him for a while as he was sleeping! TOO SWEET!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It is supposed to be VERY hot here.

Blessings~

Tina
***I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. Philippians 4:13 (EVEN continue this waiting thing!! :) )

GOD IS GOOD...

Thank you, God, or allowing the many court dates to pass today! What a wait they have had...many since the end of January. What a blessing to see all of these babies today.

SO...CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL WHO PASSED TODAY!

Blessings~
Tina

40 WEEKS & ZOO TRIP!

Randy with his "new" Friend.

Watching the sea lions!

Our navigator!

We did get to the zoo on Sunday. It was a great day outside...and we got to see all of the animals. I think Emilie enjoyed it for her birthday!

Today we are hitting a big milestone...40 weeks...FULL TERM! I sure wish it worked that way in adoption as well...BUT...we still have several weeks to go. We did find out this week that we were 32 on the list and their were 2 baby girl referrals this week so now we should be 30 on the overall list. ***UPDATE: Just read that there was a baby boy referred yesterday. So..we should be 29 overall!*** Still unsure where we stand on our preference but I think we are 10 or below...
I am VERY happy for those who did receive referrals this week. They waited a little over a year for their precious little bundles. I can't wait to see them pass court and share their little ones with us. CONGRATULATIONS!!!

ALSO...several passed court yesterday, including an adoption buddy, Tiffany! YEAH...SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!! This was all good news as many thought it was not going to happen due to some other issues. BUT God was in charge! AMEN!

This morning it is just hubby and I and all of the pets. Emilie is at her grandparents and Randy is gone to CIY with his youth group. Randy will be home Sat afternoon and we will get Em on Sunday. I just received a text from Randy and he is having a great time. He says it has been an intense week. Don and I are going to go out to lunch and get our hair cut. He has to be at work at 4 so... I am going to make more salsa this afternoon. We have run out and the family likes it better than store bought.

I hope you all have a blessed weekend.

Tina

***(I saw this on another blog and it made me feel a little peace! ) But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, BE PATIENT. For it will surely take place. It will not be late by one single day.

Habakkuk 2:3

CHANGES...AGAIN!

Well...today we heard that our 2nd adoption consultant in the last 9+ months was resigning from the agency to move on to another job. Now...I understand that things change and that life will go on...BUT...I am SO frustrated! I am concerned because the person we are getting is completely new to the Ethiopia program. We are at a point where we have some questions and I wonder how long it will take to get them and if we will get the correct info.
Don is dealing with this much better than I am. I am just ANGRY! Hey...3rd time is a charm...RIGHT? Gotta see the upside in this somewhere...
On a positive note several passed court today and that makes me **SMILE**!

CONGRATULATIONS ALL!

Plus...there have been a few referrals this week! YEAH--

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!

Blessings~
Tina

39 WEEKS...9 MONTHS!

Today we officially hit 9 months of waiting (39 weeks). I didn't think we would hit this point. We waited 9 months with Vietnam before we switched and I really thought this one would go faster. HMMM...That is what I get for thinking, right? This week has been a tough one. They have decided to close court this year. They are just waiting a little later to do it. SO...it will close from Aug 21st to beginning of Oct. (have to love the open date!) Anyway... It looks like 2 referrals were taken back due to some issues with an orphanage director. VERY SAD! That made us bump up a few on the overall list but I THINK we stayed the same on the request list. (REALLY THOUGH WHO KNOWS!!) A little bit of sunshine...there were 2 referrals given this week. A very young sibling group and they waited 16 months for their referral AND a baby girl and they waited a year almost to the day! I am certain our wait is at least a few more months away plus things seem to slow down whent he courts close. Still...KEEPING THE FAITH that our little guy will be here for Christmas.

Don should be home tomorrow afternoon! YEAH- I am ready for him to be home. I think he is ready as well.

We are finishing up our Bible School tonight and have no plans other than running around to do tomorrow and then Sunday we are going to the zoo. Hope the weather is nice and not too hot.

Better get some things done. Gotta get some groceries also! UGH- :)

Hope you all have a blessed day!
Tina
My sister sent this to me this week...she knew I was struggling! (from a song by Babbie Mason)
***God is too wise to be mistaken, God is too good to be unkind, So when you don't understand, When you don't see His plan, When you can't trace His hand, TRUST HIS HEART! ***

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, EMILIE!!

Today is Em's 11th birthday. Where does the time go? We were so excited the day she arrived. We had waited 2 years and 9 months for her arrival! (Another one of God's plans vs our plans...guess who won that one too???) She arrived at 10:13 am on July 23rd just one day before her actual due date! She was our only child to carry to the full 40 weeks, so weighing 6 lbs 14 oz we thought she was HUGE! She was only 18 inches long so she looked like a little butterball. Emilie was born with tons of energy which she still has!

For years her Daddy called her his miracle baby and so she would tell people...I am the miracle baby! She would follow her bubby abd sissy around all the time sneaking things away from them and then trying to sell them back (at age 2).

Emilie is very passionate about many things! She loves the outdoors and LOVES all animals. I can see her working in some job that allows her to be outside and with animals someday.

Her Daddy could not be here on her birthday but sent her a present and will be home on Saturday. We are taking her to the zoo on Sunday. Today we are going to Chuckie Cheese! YEAH-

Em- I hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for being such a blessing to all of us!

Love, Mom and Dad