our dozen beautiful feet

Leap Frog products are amazing.  The Leap Frog Letter Factory video had all of my kids saying their letter sounds before they were two years old.  I'm not normally a big fan of learning by video, but this was so painless and fast, I'd highly recommend it.  The kids love it, and have all gotten a head start on reading due to this video, and the follow-up, the Talking Words Factory.  We also really love the Sing Along Read Along set with beginning readers. Here's Chotu, saying all his letter sounds (except Q, thanks for pointing that out, Sis), at 21 months old.  (Sorry for the bad videography... and the repetitive shots of his diaper... and un-clothedness... he's potty training)...

We heard through our agency two important things are happening this week. One, the staff of adoption agencies in Ethiopia are meeting to discuss how to handle the situation with the Embassy and what to do. Two, the USCIS is holding a meeting to discuss what is happening with the US Embassy in Ethiopia. Our agency will be a part of this meeting. This year, the US Embassy in Addis Ababa has made some changes in the way they are processing adoption cases and the visa applications related to them.  The evidence that has always been acceptable to prove a child's orphan status and need to be adopted has suddenly come under scrutiny and is often not acceptable anymore.  The way Ethiopia processes cases is no longer being trusted and the Embassy has decided they need to do their own investigations, re-interview birth parents, request documents that are not generally issued in Ethiopia like death certificates, and even gone to the length of requesting police reports and court de...

With our agency, International Adoption Guides, we are privileged to be a part of an online group where we can interact with other families in the process with the same agency.  Often, usually at least monthly, families are traveling to Ethiopia for their court appointments and Embassy appointments.  IAG allows and encourages families to carry care packages for other people's children when they go, and take as many photos as they can when they visit the care centers.  Families upload these photos to a private picasa account that we all have access to. I can't tell you how wonderful this has been for us.  We have access to many other families that we can ask questions to.  We often get updates on the Embassy and what's happening with different people's cases.  We celebrate together when people get referrals, or pass court, or get their Embassy appointment.  It's become a little online community that has really blessed us.  It's nice to see things ...

We hit a slump last week.  It was the end of the unit, and the kids were getting a little bored with more stories of the wandering Israelites in the desert.  I was a bit ready to move on myself.  We didn't do much last week in the way of activities except for this: I think this is a pretty cool activity.  It was pretty simple to do... and the kids got to practice the names of the 12 tribes and see how perfectly God designed the camp so the Tabernacle was protected from all sides.  I appreciated the organization that went into this.  Every time the Israelites made camp, each tribe and family knew right where to set up their camp based on the location of the Tabernacle.  That must have made the process so much smoother. For week 10, I haven't taken any pictures.  None.  L has hit his own slump of bad attitude.  He's having a hard time listening to stories and answering questions this week.  He's not wanting to do any ...

Our house is about 1000 square feet.  Maybe 1100 if I'm being generous.  I so long for a "school" room where I can hang up maps and posters and keep all the school mayhem contained and just close the door. But right now, I don't have that.  And I don't know if I ever will.  For a few weeks, I've been obsessing over finding an apartment with the right combination of things I want, which is crazy, because we can't even move for over a year.  Not until after we bring our daughter home, or we'll have to update our home study, which is much easier said than done while living overseas. So we're here.  In this little home.  And I decided I'm going to try to make it work long term.  Why not?  Why keep looking for something better when it does not seem like I'll actually find it. : )  There's a lot that goes into this, but the Apostle Paul said, "For I have learned in whatever situation, I am to be content." (Philippians 4:11).  So ...

Until we have our court hearing declaring this little girl ours, we can't share much about her.  But for now, these are the feet that will make ours an even dozen...

After years of waiting, and months of paperwork, and three months of more waiting, we've seen her face. Friday night, my phone rang and I noticed it was a number from the US.  I answered and was greeted by our adoption coordinator.  My eyes I'm sure got huge, knowing that could only mean one thing... it was time!  She said, "I've got a little girl I want to tell you about."  I think I was only half listening to everything she said, trusting that it would all come in an email in a few minutes.  I was trying to repeat everything to Paul.  Oh, my, it was so exciting!  We received the email a few minutes later, read through all the text and scrolled down and both gasped when we saw her photos.  She is so, so tiny, and so young.  But such big beautiful eyes!  I so wish I could show her picture, but it will have to wait. We officially accepted her referral today, and now the ball is rolling.  I can't stop looking at her face!  We're...