Getting Ready for a Change

Well, I am down to 23 days until we fly to Ethiopia, but who's counting??

I have been doing some shopping for donations to take with us. I went to the dollar store and loaded up on coloring books, crayons, puzzles, bouncy balls and stickers. I also picked up super cute band aids. What kids doesn't love a cute band aid? Owen's class at Church is collecting money to buy vitamins for us to take. Those kids are so sweet and caring. Miss Cindy is wonderful!!!!

It's been a crazy couple of weeks. We have been really busy at the bakery. A lot of special orders and we participated in a fall festival in Monticello. We had a booth set up selling cookies, bars and pie. It was a nice day out, not too hot. It turned out to be a very long day, but we did ok. We started icing cookies at 7 am and I think we finally got home around 6-6:30...I don't even remember I was so tired. I slept for 12 hours straight that night. It was wonderful. I wore my new Dansko shoes that day to break them in before the trip and my feet felt pretty good considering I had only wore them once before for a couple of hours. They are so cute. They are leopard print...for those of you who know me well, I am bit of a fashion diva. I'll try anything once :) Hey, I went to a Fashion College and now I am baking pies...so all that schooling has to go to something....so I use all that education for shopping for super cute shoes!!!!!

We have also been very lucky the past few weeks to receive pictures of the girls and a few days later we received a video too!!! Oh my gosh. I cried through the entire thing. It shows Eliza "trying" to walk...she's not real steady yet...still holds on to a finger to take a step. It also shows Ava playing with some other kids outside on a slide. She is very serious and quiet. She doesn't really smile...that just broke my heart. But I also have to consider the girls just got moved to the transition home a day or so before the video was shot so I am guessing she was a little scared and confused. They are both so cute. I know all parents are bias, but seriously.....Ava is just pretty..she has a beautiful face, her lips are that perfect heart shape. And Eliza has HUGE brown eyes with the longest eyelashes I have ever seen. I can't wait to see them. I just want to hug them and give them kisses. I know they will probably be scared to death of me, but I will do my best to love on them without totally freaking them out :)

We got another picture today. Both girls side by side and Ava has her arm around Liza. It looks a little half hearted, like Ava is thinking....who is this kid? and why do they want me to hug her? Well sweetie, she is your baby sister!!!!! I wonder if they realize that yet? Anyway, back to the picture.....to my surprise...Ava is now bald too!!!! For those of you following along this crazy journey of ours, you will remember that a few weeks back I got pictures of Eliza with a shaved head because she had ringworm and it's just easier to care for it if the nannies don't have to mess with all that hair. Not sure why Ava's head is shaved....our agency director, Sue, wasn't sure. I don't think she has ringworm.....at least I couldn't see it, if she does. So who knows. Hopefully, I will find out soon. It just killed me to see that!!!! She had a really pretty head of hair, nice soft curls. And the day before I got the picture, I had gone to Sephora and bought a ton of Carol's Daughter's product to take on the trip. Guess that will lighten my load a little bit!!!!! Looks like I need to invest in hats and headbands instead..... :)

Our iPad contest is almost over....we draw the winner this Saturday. So if you want any last minute tickets, let me know. We have been so lucky to have such wonderful friends and family participate. THANK YOU. We also had a surprise visit the other night.....I won't give names....but a very nice young man from our church came by....I though he came over to talk to Darren. We are friends with his family and he helps out with the youth group. I figured he just wanted to talk. Well, that wasn't it at all. He decided that he wanted to help with our adoption expenses and gave us a good sum of money towards the cause. I freaked, and cried. We tried to give it back....what 18 year old doesn't need money??? But he, of course, refused. He said he thought long and hard and really felt it in his heart that he wanted to do this. I'm crying now just thinking about it. Both Darren and I were humbled and so full of joy. I could not believe there was a teenager out there in this crazy mixed up world, who would rather give their money to us...to help bring home our babies. Seriously, most boys that age would be buying a new car stereo. What a super God loving man. He is such a good kid and his parents are so lucky and I know they are so proud of him. He is a blessing to us and our church.

Our agency yahoo group had posted a comment to give scripture that has been meaningful to us throughout the adoption process.....I loved seeing what everyone wrote.
Here are some of my favorites and I think these really fit "us" right now....enjoy....

"Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
This is the way, walk in it." Is 30:21


Habakkuk 2:3 "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 bay a single day."


"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18


And Last but not Least....

From Mother Teresa: "I know God will not give me anything I can't handle. I
just wish that He didn't trust me so much."