International Family

I was thumbing through our new Ethiopian cookbook (thanks Heidi and Karen!) looking for ideas for SJ's first days home. I got to thinking about our beautifully international family. We've got a Danish Granny, Filipina Auntie, Lola, and kids, and our upcoming addition from Ethiopia. Lumpia, doro wat and mashed 'taters all on the table at holidays, it doesn't get much better!

Add in our friends and we have Korea, Mexico and China in the house!

More Sleepless Nights

I am an occassional insomniac. It comes and goes and usually ties in with major life events. So, here I am again, about to travel to Ethiopia to get our daughter and the insomnia is back. Did I mention that I am a beast without sleep!? Tylenol PM and a warm bath, maybe that will work...

News of our girl!

A wonderful lady who recently returned from Ethiopia with her daugther, Mihiret, sent a message about our daughter. A small bit of information from a stranger who saw SJ while half a world away! Amazing. Thank you Father God.

Because He Lives

Happy Easter! We celebrated with the B family over at our place. A lovely lunch followed by an Egg Hunt. Granny and Papa came over to drop off B's basket and visited some too. In the evening, our church cell group came over to play. The kids had so much fun, it's a blast being the mama of a little boy. I got a little weepy wishing S could be with us too...

Waiting Some More...

We were so relieved to hear on March 12th (Olivia's birthday!) that we had gotten through court! SJ is officially our daughter! Happy happy joy joy!
After getting through court, we wait again. Now we are waiting for SJ's birth certificate and a travel date. Time seems to drag on, I try to fill my time with fun and friends, but still can't distract myself enough.
Super Daddy just got back from a ski trip to VT. Super Daddy brought the kids (yes, I'm a mom of TWO!) books from a little bookstore there. I was so touched that he had thought of SJ while on his trip.

Our Daughter

After referral day computer angst, Super Daddy and I decided to accept the referral of Tsehaynesh. She is a beautiful 2 1/2 year old little girl with caramel skin and huge brown eyes. Her name means "bright like the sun", and my father in law suggested nicknaming her Sunny. Super Daddy and I went out to celebrate and had the thrilling fun of getting to tell everyone the fantastic news.
SJ* will join our family in late April, God willing. We love her already, have her picture up everywhere and are goofy with excitement.
Our son is so excited for SJ to get here. We pray for her every night and he tells me he is lonely without her. What a super big brother he already is!

*This has been edited for security.

NOTE: We are not permitted to post pictures until clearing court. I have gone back and edited this post to add SJ's photo well AFTER clearing court.

We FINALLY got The Call! Referral Day Story

After 6.5 months of waiting, our Social Worker called (Wed, 1/23) with the wonderful news that we had been matched with a little girl. Thankfully Super Daddy was home and we were both able to hear the information. I had decided to stay calm until we were sure we could accept the referral, but calm didn't last long. See, our computer was on the fritz (again) and I couldn't locate a friend who was home AND had an operational computer AND printer AND internet access. I ended up at the local library, and yes, their printers were down too! I then drove to Kinkos and yes, their internet was down. I then proceeded to stand in the middle of the Kinkos and sob. The manager asked me to try the computer in his office and EUREKA, we got through and I could see her face. I got everything printed off and stopped by our pediatrician's office to drop off the medical files. Then, back home to wait for the Dr to call...