Cha-cha-CHA!

We won't be posting for awhile, because #1, we really don't have anything to post about, and #2, we are going on our first "real" vacay together....to Mexico. Yahoo! This is something we totally would NOT have spent money on had we known we were adopting when we bought our plane tickets months ago, but since the damage is already done, we're taking our trip knowing that it will most likely be our last real vacation together sans children. Adios!

Another healthy ethiopian baby boy!

Okay, seriously, someone call in the Cute Police.

Another couple received their referral!!!!!! Congratulations!!!!!!

oh my goodness.

This video starts a little slowly, but is definitely worth watching in its entirety...This is footage of 3 Ethiopian boys seeing pictures of (and receiving presents from) their soon-to-be adoptive parents. All 3 boys have been adopted into the same family. So beautiful.

The Real Deal.

We got our flippin' sweet big official Gladney app. today!!!!!! Woot. We are so insanely busy right now that I don't think we will start filling it out in earnest till' we get back from vacation 2 weeks from now.

How bad is it, people? Should we be afraid?

He hears all our prayers....

Many of our dear family and friends who read this are praying for us. Thank you so much for asking how you can pray. Here are a few specific requests for now:

1. For financial provision. We are working lots to pay for big chunks of the adoption as we go along. We will also be applying for adoption grants. Will you pray that God would bless us with some grant money? We may possibly apply for a no-interest adoption loan to cover any fees we can't pay. Please pray God would provide for our needs in His perfect way, and that we would have grace to trust Him....... We praise God for providing a well-paying job for me (Jana) for the fall.

2. For clarity and communication. This fall, we will both be working full-time. The catch is, Michael will be teaching during the day, while I (Jana) will be tutoring all evening. I will actually leave the house before Michael gets home from school and won't return till 9:30pm. Essentially, we will be trying to gather various adoption documents, etc. while barely seeing each other for the entire work week. This will be difficult. Please pray that we would be able to communicate well with each other regarding the adoption and stay clear on what we actually need to do.

3. That our families would be emotionally prepared to lovingly receive a "foreign" child into their lives. We hope and pray that they will be fully accepting of a child of another race.


Even the teensiest prayers from total strangers are greatly appreciated!!!!!:)

The I-600A is on its way...

I sent off the I-600A form today. Let's hope I did everything correctly.

Gotcha!

Today a bloggy friend-and fellow Texan-- had a very big day in Addis Ababa!! So sweet to see.

Let's get this show on the ROAD, baby.

Yesterday we FIIIIIIIIIINallly had our phone orientation with Gladney! It went great--Judy was so helpful. We feel clear where we were once muddled. Now, off to our I-600!

I thought I would introduce you to the babies we already have--they're ten years old, but babies just the same. Together, they weigh about 10 pounds......Curiously, the story of how we got them is tied to adoption--both domestic and international!

Here's the story: the sweet R. family at our church adopted about a million kids. No, that's an exaggeration. They adopted eight kids from Cambodia, China, and Texas-because that's how big their hearts are. And then, upon adopting all these little people, they looked around and said--"Wow, we have THREE chihuahuas and TWO cats already! We need to cut down!" That's when Michael and I came in. We had been chatting about getting a little shelter dog--maybe some kind of terrier. The R. family donated two of their tiny doggies to help keep us company. We aren't sure how they're going to feel about a new baby in the house......

Lately, the baby seems faaaaaar away,

....and the money we are preparing to shell out seems oh-so-concrete.





I have told myself-- "You may look, but you may not buy!" and "No buying baby stuff!" till later on in the process. I know once I begin, it will difficult to turn back the nesting tide, as it were. Then my sweet best friend, herself currently five months pregnant in Boston, unexpectedly sent me this gift in the mail:

We are using it as an inspiring little reminder of what is to come....