It's so close!

So our file was supposed to be sent last Friday to Ethiopia so of course, I've been tracking it like crazy only to see NOTHING change for 3 days. We finally found out late Monday afternoon that is hadn't left Charlottetown yet. Do we have the best luck or what???!!! The Province made some phone calls for us and now I'm happy to say our file is well on its way. It left Frankfurt, Germany this morning so hopefully next stop is Addis Ababa??? They told me it should be there today. So, that's great. Now the hard part...I don't have any control over anything anymore...no more paperwork to get ready, no more money to scrounge up, no more tracking the progress of my file...now we wait to hear from our agency or Province about a referral. Kids Link is still saying 2-4 months but I'm really being optimistic for a much shorter time because of the age we are requesting (2-3 years old). It's all in God's hands now!

Tonight is Alyssa's first dance recital - we are so excited. Chris is already worried about how he will make it through without crying - too cute! Alyssa is very pumped!

*

Less than 1 week 'till Christmas! WOW, how did that happen?! We are waiting to hear some very important news on Friday - it could turn out to be fantastic news or very, very sad news. I'll let you know more when we find out.

The girls

The boys

The Impossible...

I've changed my blog header to reflect our feelings on this particular adoption...

When I stop to think that our adoption is really happening, I cannot believe it! If you had asked me (or my husband!) even 8 months ago if we would adopt again I would have sadly said "No" and my husband would have emphatically said "No!". After 3 years of daily "harassing" my husband about adopting again, praying God would change his heart, praying for the impossible to happen, we are actually on the journey to another precious child!

My husband said 4 children was enough (we have 3 but always have a foster child living with us).
He said it was way too much money to adopt
He said we wouldn't have the financial resources to raise another child.
He said he didn't want to be "old" and have a baby. (Umm, he's only just turned 36)
He said that even if he agreed to adopt "just one more time", it wouldn't be enough for me and I would continue on my adoption quest forever. (by the way...he wants me to sign a contract that this will be our last adoption - ha ha ha...not a chance!)
He said we couldn't adopt the world.
He said it was way too much money!!!
He said it was way too much money!!
He said it was way too much money and we're still trying to bounce back from our last adoption.

This is what I heard "blah blah blah". Just kidding...I could not listen to his "reasoning" because no child's life should ever be measured by money. I also knew that Chris is and would be the most amazing father. He adores all his children and he makes each one feel like they are the most special child on earth! He loves them, encourages them, plays with them, talks with them, reads to them, spends time with them, gives them advice...Even the foster children we have had in our home still call and visit because of the love they were shown.

I have had TONS of emails, visits and phone calls from families all over wanting to adopt. The #1 reason I hear for men not wanting to adopt is MONEY. It is so sad that we would stop pursuing a child becasue of money. And let's face it, in America (Canada) we have more than enough, even when we think we don't! Are you really going to starve or lose your house if you set aside money for an adoption? Would it be the end of the world if you added a part time job for 10 months of your life to bring a child to their family? Would it be too much to ask to step out of your comfort zone and hold a fundraiser to bring your child home? What else would you like to spend your money on? What will you buy that will make you happier or give you more joy than the love of a child?

If money is your reason for not adopting, EMAIL ME and I will find a way to fundraise your adoption. I am NOT kidding!!!!

ASK for the impossible, BELIEVE the impossible, SEE the impossible happen.

God loves to do the impossible.

Each child deserves to have the impossible done for them!

Watch this video...this is what impossible looks like!

Alyssa's Gotcha Day - January 24, ,2005

A short video I made...

This is a short video I made for our Dinner and Dance fundraiser held for our adoption. Special thanks to Julie and Lisa who let me use some of their beautiful pictures from their trip to Ethiopia!

Finally...good news...

UPDATE on the Update :-) - It's now 8:43 pm and I just received an email from our adoption office saying our file WAS picked up tonight! I have a tracking # for the package so hopefully I can see with absolute certainty that our file is ON THE MOVE!!!

Trying to stay optimistic I will post something uplifting and positive!

I found a song that I really like and the words are very sweet...for all my children...and for my daughter waiting for me in Ethiopia...

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you
Will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray
For all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know
You're walking in the truth
And If I never told you
I want you to know
As I watch you grow...

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage
To dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

From "Find Your Wings" by Mark Harris

I can't believe this!!

Our file is still not sent to Ethiopia!!!! We talked with Kids Link on MONDAY and had all our money deposited into their account so they could send our file. Well, I find out on Tuesday they didn't send it because they had the wrong street address for PEI's office. So, it arrives in PEI on Wednesday and I call the office to make sure it has arrived and that they will send it ASAP. I get an email from them last night saying the courier DID NOT pick up our file but would definitely pick it up on Thursday (which is TODAY). It is now 4:27 and we have not received word yet that our file is on its way. They were supposed to email us as soon as the file was picked up and give us the tracking #. I've emailed them and called them several times today and no one will answer!!!! I really can't believe this! It should have been sent on Tuesday and it's now Thursday and it's still not gone and probably won't be until tomorrow!!!!!

DELAYS ARE DRIVING ME CRAZY!

UPDATE: It's now 5:40 pm and I heard from our Provincial Adoption Coordinator - our file definitely DID NOT get picked up today by their courier service. I called the courier service myself to find out why it wasn't picked up and found out that the company had a pick up order for YESTERDAY and it's now past closing TODAY and they still didn't do the pick up. The customer service rep insists it will be picked up tomorrow. Well, that's nice but what consolation is that when the courier service (that's supposed to be quick and efficient!!) is 2 days late picking up the file???!!! They are now quoting it will take 3-4 days for our file to get to Ethiopia - well, once they finally get to the place and PICK IT UP!!!!

Can we all go???

Chris and I have talked lots about when it's time to travel to Ethiopia. All along, Chris has said that he is not going to go as he really doesn't want to leave the kids for that long again (like when we went to China). I've been saying for months that I would really like ALL OF US to go - all the kids and both Chris and I. I think it would be an amazing trip for our family - not only because we will be together to meet our new daughter and sister but because we will be able to experience the culture and daily life of these incredible people. From what I've heard, the Ethiopian people are courageous, joyful and full of life even as they face incredible hardships with poverty and sickness. Our family is committed to helping as many children as we can in Ethiopia through Two Homes One Heart and being together in Ethiopia would be a life changing experience for all of us.

So, that's another area we need prayer! If all of us were to go it would cost about $7000 more than what we had planned. If you've been reading my last few posts, you will know how impossible that sounds! :-) Anyway...we have several months to make any decisions so this will be something I will be praying about, for sure!

We are all starting to feel the Christmas spirit now and getting excited about Christmas break! I'm glad there's snow 'cause we can go sledding over the break. Our kids love that!

I also found out that referrals WILL be happening over the Christmas break so maybe.....

Just had to post...

Okay...so everyone is feeling really bad for us because we have completely tapped out all our resources to get our file sent. (If you feel bad enough, see the donate button on the side - ha ha ha!) I just want to say that even though we are completely broke, and it's Christmas, we are so ELATED to finally have our file sent to Ethiopia. I really can't express what a feeling it is to have it on its way. We know we have a long wait ahead of us - probabably around 8 months before we travel (and for all my friends adopting from China I KNOW that is not a long time to you guys - I'm sorry!). But, with our file in Ethiopia, anything can happen now - like getting matched with our precious daughter!!! We could see her face within weeks! I really can't stop smiling! We've had some really amazing friends and family rally around us this weekend and help us with resources and support! Amazing!

So, remember my post a few days ago about Christmas miracles...we have our children safe and healthy here with us and now we are anticipating the arrival of another! How much better can it get?!