An Opportunity to Share Some Lovin'

We are leaving in early January to visit with our daughter and go to court. On this first trip we will have LOTS of room in our suitcases for donations to the orphanage. This is where you come in. If you have items you want to donate we would love to take them with us. Here is the latest list of suggested donations if you need some ideas. Please note that clothing, toys, etc. do not need to be brand new. Gently used is fine.

• Please note that medications should not be brought to as a donation.
Topical ointments are okay
• Baby Packs/Slings (for the nannies to carry the babies)
• Clothes and shoes for children aged 5-10.
Please note the clothing for infants is not needed at this time.
• Sippy Cups with lids
• Bottles and nipples
• Sheets for cribs & toddler beds
• Lotion(non floral)
• Hand sanitizer
• Toys for toddlers, preschoolers
• Blocks for stacking
• Stacking cups
• Wooden Puzzles
• Baby dolls
• Activity quilts (with buttons/ zippers etc)
• Plastic Feeding Spoons for toddlers
• Fly Paper
• Baby Powder
• Cloth diapers
• Plastic pants or cloth diaper covers
• Clotrimazole ointment
• Diaper Rash Cream (over the counter)
• Disposable Masks
• Flashlights with batteries
• Baby blankets
• Bottle/Nipple brushes
• Thermometers
• Mosquito nets
• Travel Packs of baby wipes (for the nannies to take
with them when they travel with the babies)
• Anti fungal creams (over the counter)
• Vitamins for infants/toddlers/older children
• Educational and Instructional Items – the staff is setting up a classroom
to teach children in at each care center. Education instructional items,
such as the Alphabet to hang on the walls, numbers, etc…would be greatly
appreciated.

Court Date!!!

Just a quick update to let you know that we received our court date! We will be going to Ethiopia in January to meet our daughter and attend court. Unfortunately, Savannah won't be coming home with us this trip but we are praying that our second trip will be soon after our court trip.

Harvest Time at Our House

In the midst of our excitement about our new daughter, harvest time has once again come and gone at our house. I love this time of year! The colors displayed in the trees, the crisp air, and the pumpkin patch are some of my favorite things. It is especially sweet to know that next year we will be able to take Savannah on our traditional trip to the pumpkin patch. Eliza has already talked about teaching her little sister how to pick a pumpkin. Here are some of my favorite pictures from our harvest celebration.

Picking the perfect pumpkin

Eliza & Ethan chatting in the pumpkin patch

Eliza dressed as a Zookeeper and holding her animals, Woo-woo & Pandy

The kids all dressed up--or at least three of them are dressed up

It's a Girl!!!!

Yesterday was one of those days your hang onto forever. Why? We got the call of a lifetime! We have been matched with a stunningly gorgeous 8 month old baby girl!

Let me start by saying that God could not have orchestrated our referral day any better. I had spent the morning at the pumpkin patch with the kids and came home to find my husband had not made it to work yet. We were expecting a call any time to pick up our dogs from the groomer so when the phone rang I didn't even budge. That's when Toby walked over and said, "It's Holt. I'm not touching it!" He is so sweet! He knew how badly I wanted to be the one to answer the phone. We had thought the call would come while he was at work and I would then wait for him to come home to open the email with her information in it. Thankfully, the Lord had a better plan and we were able to open it right away! I'm so glad because I was not sure I would have the endurance to wait for Toby.

We can't post her photo online and are choosing not to email it out either but trust me when I say this girl is BEAUTIFUL!!!! So many things about her made it clear to us right away that she is the daughter the Lord chose for us. We honestly did not expect to get a girl so we did a little scrambling to come up with a name and found one that we think fits her perfectly. We are praying that the Lord will see fit to bring little Savannah home before her first birthday. If not, we trust His timing is perfect and she will come home right on time.

Celebrating with sparkling cider

Has It Been A Month Already?

I can't believe it has been a month since my last post. I really did intend to update much more often but I have found myself wonderfully busy with some of my favorite people. For those of you who are checking in to see how things have progressed with the adoption, we have now moved up to #8 on the wait list for a referral! We really could get the call any time now. It's a good thing we are busy or I might just go crazy waiting:-).

Today the kids and I had the privilege of greeting some friends who returned home from Ethiopia with their kiddos. What a sweet memory and so fun to be on the greeting end of a homecoming. I always feel nostalgic when I go to the international arrival gate at the airport. Not long ago we were blessed to come through that gate with Eliza. It's almost like visiting the room you gave birth in. I am eagerly awaiting the day we get to come through that gate with "Baby Africa". Who knew airports could be so special?

We have had a few adventures in the last month. We were able to meet up with Uncle Dale at the air show and see his airplane, we made our annual beach trip, and we were able to celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday. Huge praise--Eliza, who has had some sensory issues since coming home from China, played in the sand and water at the beach! No tears and she didn't even complain about being dirty!





We started school and it has been great. We are settling into a schedule and even joined a co-op. Eliza started preschool and dance this past week and amazed me with her ability to adjust to her new activities. She has really loved both so far. It is hard to believe she is ready for all of this. These adjustments are much harder on me than her.




Blessings! Hopefully our next post will be about a referral. Just a warning, we are not allowed to post photos or even our child's given name on the Internet. We will be able to give some basics like the age and gender of our baby.

Summer is Winding Down

Ready, set, go!


It's amazing how quickly Summer has passed us by. We managed to make some great memories. I am actually really thankful for how quick it passed because we are that much closer to getting our baby home. We still have not received our referral but as of today we are #16 on the wait list. It could be any time or it could be another few months. Either way we are closer than we were yesterday!

We are gearing up to start school next Monday (the 16th). Toby and I decided it would be best to start early so that when we travel to Ethiopia the kids can just hang out with their grandparents and not worry about school until their jet-lagged teacher gets home. :-)

We were blessed this past month to be able to celebrate Faith's birthday, go to two Holt picnics, spend time at the county fair with family, and enjoy some great fellowship with friends. Here are some pictures from the great times we had. Blessings to you all!!!


At the Zoo with new and dear friends.

At the Goonie House with some of our bestest friends ever!!!


Our nephews Blake & Jaden at the fair.


Toby's parents with all of their grandchildren. (so far)


Eliza & Shani at the Holt picnic.


Eliza and my Mom--two beautiful girls!


Faith blowing out the candles on her 10th birthday cake.

Books with Boo

It's time for another book recommendation from "Boo". There is one book that is brought to me the most often, that she knows so well she can practically read it herself, and whose main character is full of fun and mischief much like Eliza. This great book is called "Olivia" by Ian Falconer. This book is all about an amazing pig who can master anything she puts her mind to. It is definitely one of our favorites. Take a look for yourself!