What's up?

I have thought about posting every time I've been on the computer but either don't have time or really don't know what to say. The last couple weeks have been, well let's just say challenging. A couple Saturdays ago I fell on our basement steps and sprained my ankle pretty bad. This required a visit to the ER, an aircast, and crutches. To say the least I was NOT happy about this because I had so much I wanted to get accomplished that day and I didn't want to pay for the expensive trip to the hospital (you know we have a daughter from across the world that we're trying to bring home :) Also I have been on a roller-coaster of emotions lately. We had our conference internet call last week and I was overwhelmed. I had heard that adoption isn't for the faint hearted and never quite understood but I do now. It's a battle daily to trudge through the paperwork, make phone calls, raise money, etc. I'm not saying that I would ever not start this again but I am saying that I could NOT do this without the Lord almighty guiding me, holding me up and pushing me along the way. I keep going back to those videos I've found on Youtube of our orphanage in Ethiopia and others stories of bringing their precious ones home. It always brings me to tears and I am reminded why we are doing this. God has called us, though not always easy but oh, so rewarding to do this! So here I am in a nutshell lately, trudging along looking up above to keep me going.

Why Ethiopia?

I have heard about Tom's Shoes before but now I realize their importance. To think that these poor people are suffering just for the lack of shoes and socks. (something so small and normal in the US)

Hannah's Hope Ethiopia

This is our adoption agency and where our baby girl will come from!

Well, we've been working our way through our paperwork since we received our folders. I finished my personal profile and I'm on to our "Eyes Wide Open" workbook. Whewww, that's a lot of writing! I haven't written so much since college. We have everyones medicals scheduled and working on getting everything else accomplished when Joel isn't working in Howe, IN on overtime. I know we can do this I know we can do this....I feel like the little engine chugging up the mountain. :)
This last Saturday I fell on our steps in the basement and sprained my ankle pretty bad. We ended up with a trip to the ER, an air cast and crutches for me. Ughhhh not what I was planning to do that day. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband that did ALL the laundry that I had planned (since it was very piled up) with the exception of folding. Through all of this both Joel and I said that we are so thankful that neither one of us has to deal with this on a daily basis. I am trully greatful that we are healthy and able to get around without help. Today I am doing much better but still a bit sore, I hear it's going to take a bit for it to heal. I took it all as God was telling me to slow down and relax for awhile.....so that's exactly what I did! ;)

Paperwork, online classes, background checks, copies of important documents, work, children, basketball games......AGHHHHH!

Ughhh my head is spinning. I know that I wanted to start all of this paperwork already but once we received our folders on Monday I've been a bit consumed. It seems that it's always there hanging over my head now and I'm trying to think of time that I can get just one more thing done on the list. I know that everyone that has adopted has gone through this before and they made it through so that gives me hope. Finding time though for my husband and I to be together without 3 screaming children fighting for our attention seems to be highly impossible anymore. I guess I need to buck up and start having some late nights. (this is not appealing at all to me since Claire has not been sleeping through the night lately...I think she's working on more teeth) I keep thinking once this is all done I will feel so proud that we got so much accomplished but getting there seems so far away. If you think of it please pray that time becomes available and that both Joel and I have motivation when needed. We desperately need it! :)

Our Meal Blessing!

As I previously posted our church had a meal fundraiser for us and another family on Sunday. Part of this was us talking in front of our church a little bit about our adoption and our calling. If you know me at all you know that I am not a public speaker (that's putting it mildly). Well, I really didn't talk during this time but my wonderful husband, who's not very eloquent with words, did. I have to admit he did an excellent job and saved me some serious anxiety. Later he said that after the fact he should have said things differently but I really believe that he shared what God wanted him too. I am so amazed and humbled at the support that we received all around. Many times doubt creeps in where it shouldn't and this was something that has helped me to be reassured yet again that God has our back. What a gracious and mighty God He is!!! To boast not of what we received but to keep record and give all glory to Him the meal brought in around $3500.00!!!!!This amount will be split between us and the wonderful Shaw family.  I feel really so blessed and humbled beyond words today. Thank you again to all that are supporting us in any way they can. You are greatly appreciated!!!

Join Us!

This Sunday our church is holding a meal fundraiser for families that are adopting in order to celebrate "Sanctity of Life" What an awesome blessing. Currently that is us and Brian & Amy Shaw's family. We are adopting from Ethiopia and they are going to Uganda. I can't wait to bring these precious babes home from Africa!!!!
Where: Pettisville Missionary Church (Pettisville, OH)
When: Sunday, January 16th
Time: around 11:15
Come to enjoy a great Italian meal and some yummy desserts!

We overnighted our agency agreement papers (signed and notarized) and our first fee of $8,615.00 on Tuesday! I was so excited! I kinda felt like we would never reach this point, not that I don't have faith in what God can do but it's kinda always been my way of protecting myself. If I don't get excited or think of the worst that can happen then I'm not too disappointed or shocked by the results. I know it might not be the best thing but I'm working on that. :) Well, thanks to our blanket fundraiser, generous donations, our savings, my babysitting job and christmas gifts we came up with a little over half of what we needed. We did have to take out a loan for the other portion but hopefully with tax rebate time coming around we can pay that off soon. Our next step is to start our home study and dossier paperwork. I hear this is crazy but I'm ready for it (okay maybe not really ready but just ready to be "doing" something). On the 16th our church is doing a dinner fundraiser for us and another family in our church that are adopting. I feel so blessed and very greatful for what they are doing. I'll write more later when we actually receive our packet and I get to see what we are in for. ;)

Christmas funnies!

I don't really have to say anything about this pic do I? HA! What a goof!


Joel was NOT PLEASED with the 8 million pieces for this kitchen center that Santa brought this year.




Someone was NOT a fan of Santa this year!


Who knew sleds were so fun in the house on carpet.




Who was more excited about this bathmat?

Christmas time!

My lovies sporting their Christmas Eve PJ's.

My little peanut in her Christmas dress.

Our fam when Joel's parents came over to bring gifts.

Brodie's Preschool Christmas Party that Joel got to go to this year.

Claire with her Daddy!