Our Journey of Love

What It's LIke

2011-04-29T07:53:00.001-07:00

Last night I put these jammies on Allison that we were given from another ET adoptive family. Already, most days the miracle of her adoption gets lost and forgotten about. We are a busy family of five, and already we are finding our new grove with three kids, regardless of how they came into our family. But last night as I was putting these pjs on her (probably for the last time because she's growing so fast) I looked at the map of Africa and it hit me about all that we went through and did to bring Alli into our family. We went to Ethiopia, twice. She was born on the other side of the world under circumstances that we may never know. We talked about ET and I let her play with the flag. We want her to always love Ethiopia because it will always be a part of who she is.

6 Months

2011-04-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

Today marks 6 months since we came home with our sweet Allison. It's worth mentioning and celebrating here on our adoption blog, but I'll send you here for the update.

Thanks for following us.

Will You Pray?

2011-03-08T20:12:00.000-07:00

I've come to the blog many times in the past to ask for you to pray, but most times it was for our own adoption and our own sweet Allison. The roller coaster of adoption threw us for many loops on our journey. But this is not about us.

There has been news flying in the adoption world that Ethiopia is going to cut their adoption program by 90% (you can read the article here). That's a huge number. Rather than processing 50 children each day, they are going to process 5. This decision is not haphazard. There are allegations of some agencies doing things unethically, and the extra time will be to make sure that all the "i"s are dotted and the "t"s are crossed, and that Ethiopia is not just in the baby business, but that each child is truly an orphan needing a family (the implications alone break my heart).

But my heart is also breaking for the many families, including many of my friends, who are waiting, and may now be waiting a lot longer.

So please pray that this mess gets cleaned up, and that every child is protected in their journey to a new home. And please pray for the waiting families as they wait.

adoption and HIV

2011-03-07T14:58:00.000-07:00

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

I used to watch the Today show daily, but I have now traded being informed about our world for the much gentler world of Mickey and his clubhouse. But today I just happened to turn on the news so that I try not to be completely naive about the goings on outside of our home.

This story made me stop mid-banana slicing (much to Allison's dismay) and brought tears to my eyes (after just doing my make-up), but I love that love and stories from Ethiopian families are coming into the mainstream. I am thankful for families like the Twietmeyers and for Jenna Bush and the Today Show for sharing their story.

You can find out more at http://www.projecthopeful.org/

Thank You Dr. King

2011-01-17T13:43:00.001-07:00

Last year I posted that I had never thought much about World AIDS Day until we started the process that would bring our daughter to us from a country and continent torn at the seams by AIDS.

I also have to admit that until this year, MLK day was just another day off of school. Yes, I knew that he was a great man who did great things, but this year I can't help but think how he changed my life. If it hadn't been for him, there is no way that we would now have a society where color doesn't matter and that this white family has a black daughter, and my biggest concern is how to care for her hair. (And yes, I know that we may face other issues and a multi-racial family in the future, but for today it's about where are are now. The other details are for another post for another day.)

Megan and Emily learned about Dr. King in school last week, and it raised interesting discussions and disbelief that people had different (and not equal) privileges just because of their skin color. I am thankful for how far we have come as a nation.

Dr. King, I hope that God gives you a window from heaven to see that your dream is becoming reality.

I have a dream that... little black boys and black girls will join hands with little white boys and white girls as sisters and brothers.

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Sharing What We've Been Given

2010-12-05T11:08:00.011-07:00

Our journey to bring Allison home, though in reality was only just over a year, was a very long year where we learned to trust that God would supply for all our needs, including when our financial needs seemed insurmountable. But He did. Through a combination of family sacrifice, fundraising, and donations we were able to cover all of our expenses without taking out a loan (which was our backup plan). Sometimes the money we needed came in large chunks, and sometimes it came dollar by dollar.

Many of those dollars came from selling handmade jewelry on my Etsy store. But now that our fundraising is done, I want to share with others who are still on their journey to their child(ren).

If you are currently adopting, I would love to help you raise the money that you need to bring your child(ren) home.

Here's what you do:

Become a follower of "Our Journey of Love".
Write a blogpost about partnering with Simple Smiles and More on your family/adoption blog.
Include a link on that post to http://www.weberadoptionstory.blogspot.com/ and http://www.simplesmilesandmore.etsy.com/
Comment on this post to let me know that you are participating.
You can also become a fan (and invite your friends to become fans) of Simple Smiles on Facebook so you will be notified of promotions and sales that I occasionally run for my Etsy store.

Then, when you refer someone to order, make sure they include your name and blog in the "message to seller", and I will pass on 25% of that sale back to you for your adoption expenses. Even if you purchase for yourself or gifts, I'll send 25% back to you through PayPal.

Post Adoption Home Study

2010-11-30T21:33:00.000-07:00

We need to check in with our agency and have reports done before 3 months, 6 months, and a year from coming home. We had our first of those visits tonight.

What I realized tonight is how far we've come. We don't see Allison's transitions and adjusting when we are in the middle of it. Day by day. 24/7 But in talking with our social worker, it seems like we have overcome all of the obstacles that we had during those first days and weeks. It doesn't mean that everything will be perfect from here on out (with kids, you never get that guarantee) but we are feeling more like a fully functioning family. And it feels good.

One month

2010-11-17T15:55:00.001-07:00

I haven't blogged here in over a week! That means that things are going well in the Weber home (since I often use my blog to sort through my thoughts when times are tougher).

Today marks one month since we arrived home with Allison. She has adjusted well to our family and one month seems like a huge milestone for us! These pictures are new ones that I haven't shared from our trip home. Alli slept in a bassinet on one of the flights for a bit. Because she can sit up, we weren't able to sleep while she was in there, but it gave our arms a break. Her first meal in the US was at Chili's at Detroit Metro (though she had baby food). And then we have our ride home, and our first moments at home as a five family!

Orphan Sunday: Part 2

2010-11-07T06:03:00.029-07:00

Not everyone is called to adopt. But all of us are called to "look after orphans" (James 1:27). So on this Orphan Sunday 2010, I want to ask something of you. Can you help one orphan get home to her family?

We have sweet friends who we have met through the adoption process. I remember when she called me on the phone at the very beginning of her journey and was very open and honest with her fears, reservations, and excitement, I was open about our story and where we had been and where we were going. Well this family has just sent off their dossier to Ethiopia. That big packet that hold everything with your side of the adoption paperwork. A culmination of weeks and months of work, form filling, and paper chasing. And with submission also comes one of the large payments to pay the lawyers and governments to process all that paperwork. Paperwork that will (hopefully) soon bring them their match (referral) to their daughter.

They stepped out in faith at the start of their journey, and with this most recent payment, they are struggling.

So, on Orphan Sunday 2010, can you skip your Starbucks? Can you order water at lunch? Can you eat at home today? Then, can you donate that $5-$10 to their adoption fund? Or might you have it in you to do more?

You can read the story of the Arvayo Family here. And they have a secure PayPal link right on their site that will go directly to their adoption expenses.

Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. -James 1:27

Orphan Sunday

2010-11-06T15:24:00.002-07:00

Tomorrow is Orphan Sunday. It's a day that holds a lot more meaning to me in the past two years than it did before.

Now, it's a fine line I walk between being an advocate for orphans, and being an adoptive mom. My daughter is not the "poster child" for adoption. Neither is she my "gold star" for "saving" her. One of the most awkward comments I receive now that Allison is home, and when we are out (especially as a five family and it is obvious that she is not biological) is "How wonderful of you." No one told us that when we got pregnant. Adoption was just a different way to grow our family. She forever is just another daughter in our family, though she came to us a different way.

But at the same time, I need to advocate for the children who are still without families. I know that many readers of my blog are adoptive parents themselves. But I also wonder if someone reading is like I was 2 or 5 or 20 years ago, when "Maybe I'll adopt someday" was just a small thought in the back of my mind. Adoption isn't for everyone (just like parenting isn't for everyone), but if you think that God might be leading your family down this road, may I ask, "What's stopping you?"

And whether you are reading this today, or whether you stumble upon this post years from now, my life and story are an open book. And my passion is for children to be raised in loving homes. And I will always openly and honestly answer any questions you have and talk to you about adoption to help you decide if adoption is right for your family.

Why Love Orphans? from Christian Alliance for Orphans on Vimeo.

PS-To read more about the dance between orphan advocate and parent of an adopted child, you can read the blogs of The Road Less Traveled and Rage Against the Minivan. Both are moms with a passion for adoption and for their children and recently wrote about this subject over a series of posts, but you can start here (if you have a few minutes or a few days to get lost reading what they write). :)

Progress

2010-11-05T12:44:00.000-07:00

It's still a little early in the day, so I hesitate to post this, but I laid Allison down for a morning nap this morning, and although she cried in her crib for about 5 minutes, she then napped for two hours! And ever since then she has been just charming and is even sitting calmly in her high chair right next to me right now eating her lunch. (I think she is half Italian with how much she loves pasta!)

We'll play in a bit, then we'll try an afternoon nap until it is time to leave to pick the big girls up from school. Then it's Friday Happy Hour at Sonic (we go every Friday after school)!

Scheduling

2010-11-04T08:46:00.000-07:00

If the adoption process taught me patience, adoption parenting is teaching me flexibility.

I like schedules, planning, and routine. Allison does not. I am letting her lead and hoping that she will fall into her natural schedule, and that isn't working. At all. One day she'll take one nap, the next day it's two. Today she woke up at 6:00am, had a morning bottle with Tony, and started crying at 6:30 and didn't end until I laid her back down at 7:30. And now she's out.

Thankfully I was able to run across the street to my sweet neighbor who drove the big girls to school this morning. Though I'm not a fan of Hilary, I do agree that "it takes a village" and am thankful for all the help that has been given to us.

The Bottle

2010-11-03T11:25:00.000-07:00

This is a continuation of my thoughts from yesterday's post, here.

I thought I knew about being a mom. I have two older girls who are turning out quite well, if you ask my opinion. I spent years on the leadership of MOPS, and people have even come to me for advice on parenting once in a while.

So why do I feel like I don't know anything anymore?

Though bio parenting and adoptive parenting may look similar on the outside, now that I'm here I'm finding that there are very important, though subtle from the outside, differences.

For example, this morning Allison was having a "freak out" session. I tried playing with her, I tried holding her, I tried walking with her, I tried feeding her, and nothing worked. So I pulled out the secret weapon -- the bottle. I am trying to be consistent, and trying to get her on a schedule, and trying to build some routine, but a bottle is just what she needed/wanted and she calmed down in my arms immediately. Then we played, then she went down for a nap a few minutes ago (canceling my lunch date with my love, but I'm sure he'll give me a rain check for another day).

Even though I processed through my thoughts yesterday about 14 months vs. 3 weeks, I still had the "old" me fighting to stay strong and not give in to her fit. That she is over a year old and shouldn't be getting mid-day, just for the heck of it bottles. Goodness knows that M & E wouldn't have gotten a bottle if they acted like that at 14 months.

But the rules are different, and I have to change everything I know.

14 months or 3 weeks

2010-11-02T20:42:00.000-07:00

One of the strangest things about adoption is trying to figure out how to relate to your new child. Biologically she is 14 1/2 months old. She crawls, she babbles, she plays with her toys, she has opinions about what she likes and wants (and doesn't like and want). But at the same time she is only a three week old. She has only been a part of our family for three weeks. She has only been in our home for three weeks. She has only been in this country for three weeks.

I have two older bio kids that I had from birth, but how I related to them at 14 months doesn't necessarily apply with Allison. By 14 months I would tell them no, and if they had a fit I would let them cry it out. But with Allison, many of the rules are different. I don't know if, when, and how to discipline. I want her to love us, trust us, and bond with us, but we also have rules and expectations in our family. So right now it is a minute by minute dance to meet her needs, remembering that in many ways, she is really a 3 week old.

I also miss some of the grace and mercy that is given to moms of newborns. She sleeps through the night, yet I am still exhausted. We have been blessed to have meals brought to us by family and friends, but sometimes it feels strange to receive a meal from a friend who has a child younger than Allison. She has it all together, and I am still feeling like the mom of a 3 week old and can't get dinner on the table for my family, but I don't have a newborn, I have a toddler. I haven't gotten a shower every day this week. It is a big accomplishment that I folded a few loads of laundry today. I was late picking the big girls up this afternoon, and if I had a 3 week old I would get the "new mom" sympathy, but instead I am just a dirty mom, a lazy mom, and just a late mom (and I'm never late at school pick up). I had to wake Allison up to pick the big girls up, and then there was her diaper change, and clothes change, and I just felt like a new mom.

Allison's Welcome Home Celebration

2010-11-02T18:52:00.000-07:00

Arriving in Phoenix was a surreal experience as our family and friends met us at the airport to welcome Allison home.

Thank you to everyone to celebrated with us, and thank you to Korri Ray for taking these priceless photos.

Meeting Allison for the First Time

2010-10-29T12:49:00.002-07:00

I am still playing catch up now that we can post pictures and video of Allison. Here are the first moments when I met Alli back in August.

Week 1 Wrap Up

2010-10-25T16:42:00.000-07:00

I have so many thoughts running through my mind. And it seems like when there is a ton going on, and lots to blog about, that's when you have the least amount of time to sit and write.

But, we have been home one week. And what a week it has been.

We are totally wrapped up with our sweet baby girl, and already it is hard to remember our lives without her. The sound of her laugh and her babbling fills our days. Megan and Emily are awesome big sisters and love to play with her. We have been blessed with wonderful meals from family and friends and that is a huge load off my shoulders. We are also loving our visits with everyone who has stopped by to meet Allison.

But we are still in transistion, and we are still getting to know each other. Jumping into parenting with a 14 month old is very different than bringing home a newborn, and I don't think I was prepared for just how different it is. She is active, and she has opinions. We don't always know what she wants, but we are trying our best.

We also think that she gets tummy trouble from milk, and we have been giving her a bottle whenever she is fussy (therefore, making the long term problem worse). So, starting at bedtime, we are going to a soy formula and hope that it will help her times of intense unhappyness that just comes on suddenly.

I just wish I knew what she was thinking. What did she think when we drove out of Toukoul? What did she think that first morning when she woke up and we were still there? What did she think when we flew all those long hours on the way home? What did she think when we took her to Wal-Mart? What does she think about still being here with us? Does she understand that this is her home?

Thankfully she sleeps through the night, but I am still so tired. I am thankful that Tony is still home this week, but working from home. Next week will be the real test, and I hope we'll be ready.

Our Homecoming

2010-10-19T03:05:00.002-07:00

Since we have just been so busy eating up every little moment with our 3 girls, my friend Korri photographed and has also blogged about our homecoming on her blog, so you can read about it and see pictures there until I get caught up.

Thank you so much Korri and everyone who celebrated with us at the airport.

http://mkjca95.blogspot.com/2010/10/adoption-homecoming.html

Home

2010-10-17T20:10:00.002-07:00

I am so overjoyed that Allison is home, but so jet lagged from almost 48 hours of travel that I can hardly function.

I'll catch you up on all the wonderfulness in the days to come.

Our Story

2010-10-13T07:09:00.001-07:00

Wednesday morning

2010-10-12T22:43:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was another great visit with Allison. I am so in love with that little girl. She is doing well, and she is content to sit with us, but she is still so quiet. But yesterday she was warming us to us more and was smiling and laughing by the end of our visit.

We then spent the evening with our friends at the hotel, and had to say "See you soon" to our dear friends Ryan and Melanie, as they flew home (they were here for their court date and are also friends from home). But we love you R&M and will see you at the airport on Sunday when we come home!

Today we will go up to Entoto Mountain and this afternoon we will check Allison out of Toukoul. Our updates may be fewer after that because we are not supposed to take her out into the city.

Monday and Tuesday

2010-10-12T03:55:00.000-07:00

We are having such a wonderful time, but of course, our best time is our time with Allison. We got to visit her yesterday, and she was just content to sit with me, and even fell asleep in my arms. I am even having a hard time sharing her with Tony right now. I am so in love with that little girl.

Since we last came, she now has three teeth. It's sad that I've missed so many milestones, but I am happy for all the milestones yet to come.

We have also loved giving out pens and dresses to the people in the city. I can't wait to share more, including pictures, when we are home.

We're Here

2010-10-10T07:48:00.000-07:00

I feel like I'm living a dream. I woke up a few times last night in our hotel, and thought I was dreaming. I've wanted to be back in Ethiopia so much for the past 10 weeks, and especially the last two.

We are so blessed to be here with good friends, and while the orphanage was closed today, Sunday, we still had a great day sightseeing outside of the city of Addis with a van full of our friends.

Thank you to everyone who gave us pens. We had a wonderful time giving them to the children at every place we stopped. I'll have pictures when we get home (we have an internet cafe near our hotel, but the connection speed is slow).

Tomorrow morning we get a visit with Allison, and I can't wait to hold and kiss her. It was amazing to unpack all of her things in our hotel room last night when we arrived, and her crib is all ready in our room for her.

PS-Megan and Emily,
Mommy and Daddy love you so much, and we miss you and can't wait until Sunday when we will finally be the Weber 5!

Good Morning from Amsterdam

2010-10-08T23:16:00.000-07:00

It is 8:15 am here in Amsterdam, and we have finished two out of three legs of our journey. Uneventful (which is good) and we will be meeting up with at least two other adopting families for our AMD to ADD flight.

We will arrive in Addis late at night, have dinner at the hotel, then off to sleep so that we can have a full day of sightseeing on Sunday. Then, on Monday, we will have a visit with Allison! Yay!

We love you all!

Here We Go

2010-10-07T21:58:00.000-07:00

It feels surreal.

When I was little, I always said that I would have some biological kids, and then I would adopt. And tomorrow we will board a plane to make that dream a reality. In so many ways, Allison is already my daughter. Already Tony's daughter. Already Megan and Emily's sister. And we have missed her so much these 10 weeks.

I am so glad that we followed our hearts last summer. When we knew this was right for us. We could have ignored it, and stayed with things just as they are, but there would have been a piece of our family missing that we would never know.

In 10 days our family will be complete (for now).

Thank you for following us, praying for us, supporting us financially, donating to our garage sales, buying jewelry, and having your pictures taken. Thank you for sweet baby gifts. Thank you in advance for welcoming us home at the airport and celebrating with us. Thank you for the meals that are already lined up so that I will be able to focus on my sweet baby for those all important first weeks home.

I will try to update as often as we can while we are gone, and of course, once we are home.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 37

2010-10-07T14:04:00.001-07:00

The grand finale!

I did it! I set out to post 23 pictures of Ethiopia (that ended up being 37 due to our Embassy woes), so that you, and eventually Allison, can know what a beautiful country it is. Ethiopia has become so dear to my heart, and in a matter of hours, I will be back on a plane headed there to bring our sweet girl to our family and her second (and forever) home.

And yes, the landscape of Ethiopia is beautiful, but what makes it such a wonderful country is it's people. So just like the grand finale at the end of the fireworks on the 4th of July, I couldn't choose just one more picture. So here are four examples of the beauty and joy in the people of Ethiopia.

We're So Close

2010-10-06T14:10:00.000-07:00

We are so close to leaving to bring Allison home, but my eye started hurting yesterday morning. It started as an annoyance, and got worse through the day. Last night I was in pain. And to make things worse, I wear contacts, and my glasses are my only for back up and the first and last 5 minutes of the day (from the bathroom to my bed).

It also set me behind in our packing last night and today, so we have a lot to still do in less than 40 hours!

So I am heading to the doctor in a little bit and hope that he can work a miracle so I can be at the top of my game for what we have ahead of us.

Whew!

Loving Ethiopia: Day 36

2010-10-06T08:44:00.001-07:00

This is the home of Emperor Menelik II up on the top of Mount Entoto, overlooking Addis Ababa. The building on the left is the dining hall, and the building on the right was their living quarters.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 35

2010-10-05T15:13:00.001-07:00

Farming.

Most of the families who live outside of Addis do farming. And that farming is done with oxen and hand plowing. When we were there in late July they were planting teff, which is a grain used to make the Ethiopian staple, injera.

baby sister

2010-10-04T15:56:00.001-07:00

Many, many ~~years~~ months ago, we bought this shirt for our baby sister for Christmas. (You can read about it here.) We knew she was coming, but we didn't know when or who she was. Just now, I was pulling out her clothes to take with us to Ethiopia, and the time is finally here to take her shirt to our baby sister, who we now know as our sweet Allison.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 34

2010-10-04T13:42:00.002-07:00

It may not be fancy, but this is our home away from home. And in just a few days, we will be staying here again.

I have to recommend to everyone adopting from Toukoul that you really want to stay at YGF. You can find cheaper places to stay, or you could spend more for a more "Americanized" experience, but the staff here is so helpful and kind and understands the needs of adopting American families.

So if you are reading our blog because you are adopting from Toukoul, this will take so much stress out of your journey (and when you are adopting, you need to take every opportunity to relieve stress).

What Love Looks Like

2010-10-04T07:49:00.001-07:00

This is what love looks like. My sweet friends, Heidi and Melissa, are part of a freezer meal exchange, and this month each of those lovely women made an extra meal to share with us! What a wonderful gift, and we are so thankful to have the task of dinners eased for a bit while we transition Allison home.

Also, my wonderful friend, Michelle, is setting up for meals to be brought to us (and also for gift cards to take out on Tony's way home from work) for the first few weeks once we are home.

I am not one of those moms who has a hot, homemade dinner on the table right at 5:00 (though I really wish I was). I am the mom that looks at the fridge at 4:30 and tries to decide what I can make with what we have, so these meals are a huge blessing to us.

PS - If you would like to be added to the schedule for meals for our family, let me know, and I can send you the Food Tidings link. We would be so grateful, and you'd probably get to meet Allison (shameless bribe -- I know). :)

October 3rd

2010-10-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

I've been a little bit sad today. We thought that October 3rd was going to be our "Family Day". All day I've been thinking about where we would be and what we would be doing if our Embassy appointment hadn't been changed. And it makes me miss Allison, and makes me ready to have her home and start the next chapter of our lives.

But, we have not "wasted" these past two weeks while we've waited. We have received some generous donations, that we might not have received if we hadn't faced the road blocks we did. It has allowed a bit more breathing room in our finances, and that helps my stress level. We have actively been collecting donations to take to Ethiopia, and we had not set that up based on our previous travel dates. We were able to attend Megan and Emily's 1st quarter conferences, and celebrate their conferences, and some awards they received at school last week.

But now it is time to really get in gear for our final stretch before we leave on Friday. I'm sure the next few days will go quickly, yet seem so long at the same time.

And we are looking forward to October 14th -- our new "Family Day"!

Loving Ethiopia: Day 33

2010-10-03T15:48:00.002-07:00

Girlfriends.

These girls live together in the small village where we stopped during our time outside of Addis. I am not sure of the structure of the village, if everyone is related, but I love the idea of living in community. There are about 30 people in this village, and the work, play, and live together. I feel I am doing well when I see my best friends once a week, but I would love to have this type of community.

Pens

2010-10-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

We are so excited over the pens that we have received to take to Ethiopia. These pictures are a few more examples from our first trip, and how the kids (and young adults) treasured the pens that we are able to give. So far we have collected two gallon sized Ziploc bags full to take back. We will enlist the help of the other families we are traveling with to help us distribute the pens that we have. So thank you if you have already gotten pens to us to take, and if you would still like to send some, we are still collecting.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 32

2010-10-02T15:30:00.001-07:00

Again, like yesterday, I don't know the story of these women, but all along the roads in the city there were women set up roasting and selling maize.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 31

2010-10-01T10:12:00.001-07:00

I keep coming back to this picture wanting to share it, but I haven't yet, because I don't know the story behind it. But it is just a moment in time, down a street in Addis, that I captured while driving through the city.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 30

2010-09-30T22:03:00.000-07:00

Shopping.

This is inside the store at Alli's orphanage. On our first trip, I loved that we were able to by most of what we wanted with the proceeds benefiting the orphanage, and now I am getting excited to go back and get more. We are taking two suitcases full of donations for Ethiopia, so it doesn't make sense to bring empty suitcases home. Right?

And really my goal with shopping in Ethiopia is to bring Allison's first culture into our home. Never to ignore that she is Ethiopian, but to celebrate it.

8 Days

2010-09-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

Today is 8 days until we get on a plane and leave for Ethiopia to bring Allison home. I hope. I have a heavy feeling this morning as I remember being 8 days away from our trip, 14 days ago. I hate that some of my excitement has been lost because of the delay, because 14 days ago I was having my carpets cleaned in preparation to have a crawler in our home again, and visiting with a neighbor, and then we got the call, and the roller coaster began. I hate knowing that part of our group got their date reinstated to September 30th and they are there right now, and their children are in their arms, and I want to be happy for them, but I am sad for us.

So, Thursday, September 30th (our first Embassy date) is coming to a close in Ethiopia, and I hope we get word that on this Thursday, when our attorney went to the US Embassy that this time we are on track for our Embassy appointment. I hope that I will finally make it to 7 days until we leave to bring Allison home. Then 6, then 5, then 4.....

Loving Ethiopia: Day 29

2010-09-29T20:42:00.000-07:00

Celebrations.

On one of our nights at the guest house, we were treated to a traditional Ethiopian dinner, followed by dancing. We enjoyed watching the dancing, and later even participated. But the employees of the guest house were so happy and had so much fun that we were blessed to be a part of it.

One Less: Matthew West

2010-09-28T20:32:00.000-07:00

This morning on K-Love I heard about Matthew West recording a new song that was inspired by a family who adopted their daughter. Matthew West's music has a special place in my heart because I adopted his song, The Motions, as kind of a theme song that has been an encouragement to me though the bumps and wait of our adoption (read about it here). We got home and out of the car before the actual song had played, and I got doing other things, but through the day, I kept thinking about this song.

So, now it is evening, and I finally had a chance to find and hear this song. It's beautiful, and just like my post about the new VeggieTales movie, I am so glad that people are becoming aware of the needs of orphans, both domestically and internationally. There are so many children without a family, and there are so many families who could open their hearts and homes to take a child in as their own.

I am counting down the days until there is One Less little girl who has to live without her family, an One Less family who is waiting to bring their little girl home.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 28

2010-09-28T20:29:00.001-07:00

PENS:
During our day trip to the Portuguese Bridge, we were talking with our driver, Wendi (pictured in the red jacket), and he told us that the kids love getting candy and pens. As we passed through a small town we stopped at a little store and, along with our friend Kelly (pictured holding the pens), bought most of their candy and all of their pens. This picture was taken as we stopped to see some wild baboons along the road. Whenever we stopped we were surrounded by kids either asking for something, or trying to sell something. They preferred the pens over the candy. We were so sad that we did not have many pens and decided that when we go back, we were taking pens with us. On one of our last days, we were shopping for dresses for our girls and I gave a little guy the pen I was carrying in my backpack. He came back a minute later sad because it did not work. I felt SO bad, but it was the only pen I had on me. Luckily, someone else in our group replaced it for him.
So today, I scrounged through our house and came up with a large collection of random pens; many from hotels and realtors, and even a few old SOS pens. The girls helped me test every pen, because I did not want to give out a dud again. Most of this process has had to be a mommy & daddy process, but it is fun to be able to involve the girls when we can. They had fun helping, and I could see that they knew why it was important to make sure they worked and who they were for. I love to see their little hearts be so giving and loving to a country and to a people they cannot completely understand.
If you have any pens you are interested in sending with us, and can get them to us before we leave, we would gladly get them distributed. It is amazing how, what seems to us to be, a simple ballpoint pen can bring such joy to a child. It is so much fun giving to kids who are so appreciative.

by Tony

Loving Ethiopia: Day 27

2010-09-27T22:20:00.002-07:00

Here's another view of the outside of the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Again, it was amazingly beautiful, and I am so glad that we got to visit it. On the right side of the picture is one of the many stained glass windows. It was beautiful from the inside, and our guide told us that at night the entire cathedral glows with the stained glass when the church is lit from the inside.

What I Love: "It's A Meaningful Life"

2010-09-26T18:09:00.002-07:00

I love that adoption is becoming more mainstream. (Either that, or we're just more aware of it). I love that adoption was highlighted in our church service this morning. I love that we know so many friends with adopted kids, especially our Ethiopian families. I love reading novels by Karen Kingsbury because she is an adoptive mom, and intertwines adoption into her stories. I love learning the Bible from Lysa TerKeurst and Renee Swope (both adoptive moms).

And, I love that VeggieTales is coming out with a new movie about an adoptive family, and that Steven Curtis Chapman is a part of this project.

First, here's the DVD trailer:

Next, watch this music video from the DVD (but have your tissues close):

And now, watch this clip from Steven Curtis Chapman to hear his heart behind the music, and his heart as an adoptive dad:

Loving Ethiopia: Day 26

2010-09-26T15:25:00.001-07:00

This is one of the stained glass windows from the Holy Trinity Cathedral. It was interesting that in this cathedral, as well as others that we visited, they had scenes from the Old Testament on the left side of the sanctuary and New Testament scenes on the right side. They are amazingly beautiful and intricate.

Do you have shoes, blankets, or diapers?

2010-09-26T15:11:00.001-07:00

When we were at Toukoul a few months ago, we asked what the orphanage needed that we could bring back when we came for our Embassy appointment. We were told that they needed shoes for the older children and blankets and diapers for the little ones.

So we are asking, this week can you clean out the closets of your elementary aged kids (children's size 8 up to adult size 6) and send us their gently used shoes? Or, do you have unused baby blankets that we could take with us and leave for the little ones in the orphanage?

Could you go to Wal-Mart and pick up a pair or two of new shoes to send to Ethiopia for a child who has none? Maybe a package of diapers?

If you live near Chandler, you can contact me to set up a time to drop them off. Or, if you live out of town, I can send you our address so you can ship them to us (the USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are a great option).

Thank you!

Loving Ethiopia: Day 25

2010-09-25T15:41:00.004-07:00

The interior of the Holy Trinity Cathedral was amazing. Up near the ceiling was this painting of the Trinity; God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. Around the Trinity are four icons of Mathew, Mark, Luke, and John though they are depicted as a man, an eagle, a lion, and an ox (though I don't remember who is what and why-I need to research that).

On this trip, and also when I went to Eastern Europe in college, it is so interesting to me to see different cultures worship. It makes me analyze what I believe and what is Biblically based, and what is based on culture and tradition. But it also reminds me that I love and serve a big God, who is God no matter what side of the globe I am on.

Girlfriends

2010-09-25T15:08:00.000-07:00

I am so blessed by my girlfriends. I have been with these girls for years now and they have walked and prayed through this entire journey with me (you might remember that they threw a surprise shower for me a few months ago).

On Thursday it was starting to sink in that Friday (the day we were supposed to leave) was going to be a hard day for me, and I really should have some plans rather than just sitting at home feeling sorry for myself. So I sent out an e-mail to these girls to meet me for coffee at Paradise Bakery. Cindy stepped up and even offered her home so we could hang out longer with her little ones at home. Five of us made it to coffee, then Michelle and I continued on to Chili's to meet Melissa for lunch. Then Michelle and I headed over to the mall to start our Christmas shopping. I even got this adorable shirt for Allison for Thanksgiving.

By the time we finished there, it was time to pick Megan and Emily up from school. And I had survived what could have been a very rough day.

Thank you girlfriends! I love you all so much!

Loving Ethiopia: Day 24

2010-09-24T15:27:00.000-07:00

In Addis, we visited the Holy Trinity Cathedral. It is breathtaking to see the beauty and care that has been put into their places of worship, in the middle of a country that has had so many struggles in its history.

What Happened?

2010-09-24T08:40:00.001-07:00

This is where I should be. On a flight, on my way to bring Allison home. And up until last Thursday, I had no doubt that September 24th would find me on a flight to Ethiopia.

I think I have aged 10 years in the past week. So many uncertainties, and changes. But now, today is here, and we did not get the answer we were hoping and praying for. I am here, and Allison is in Ethiopia. For two more weeks.

What I really don't understand is why 3 of our 7 families are either in Addis or on their way. Why the Embassy didn't accept our file, but accepted theirs. No one has answers for us, and we may never know. But they are the three families who contacted the Embassy themselves when we were asked not to. We did what we were asked to do, and we sit at home. What happened?

I know that in a year this will all be a distant memory of a bump in the road, but today is a hard day.

Thankfully I have great girlfriends, and I am heading over to meet them for coffee and friendship. I just don't think I could stay home by myself doing my normal stay at home mom thing.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 23

2010-09-23T20:00:00.000-07:00

Boys will be boys, even in Ethiopia.

Being the mom of girls (which I love) it amazes me every time that we have little boys over, that ANYTHING can become a weapon. A wiffle ball bat is a sword, a stick is a gun, and so forth.

Even in Ethiopia these little boys need to get their "man-ness" out, and show their strength and power. Only these boys are growing up in their father's footsteps and learning to be shepherds. They make these whips out of eucalyptus bark. And when they whip them, it makes a very loud crack. We heard it all over the countryside, and this little one was more than willing to give us a demonstration when we pulled over on the side of the road.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 22

2010-09-22T20:09:00.001-07:00

This is a traditional Ethiopian coffee pot. After roasting the beans, they are ground by hand, and boiled in this coffee pot. Then the coffee is served in a series of three cups. The first one is extremely strong, then more water is added before each of the other two cups.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 21

2010-09-21T23:01:00.001-07:00

On our last day at the hotel we were able to take part in a traditional coffee ceremony. I posted before that Ethiopia is the birthplace of coffee, and Ethiopian coffee is wonderful (you can actually purchase some here, and we get a donation back for our adoption). But it is more than just coffee and there is an entire ceremony that we were able to take part in (you can read more here).

This is the first step of the ceremony where they roasted the beans right there for us. Plus, there was a rain storm coming in, so the smell of the coffee beans and the rain was amazing.

Tears

2010-09-21T21:07:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how quickly each day gets easier and better since our huge disappointment on Thursday. But still, I can spontaneously burst into tears.

On Saturday at breakfast, it was when Emily prayed for mommy not to be sad that she has to wait longer to get Alli. So many tears that I had to leave our family breakfast that Tony had made and just go to Alli's room to cry and pray.

And today, was my best day yet, until I tried to tell Tony that one of the families in our group who got to keep their September 30th date had posted on their blog. I was ok reading it, and I am happy for them, but so sad for us. But when the words were coming out of my mouth, the tears beat me to it. Sobs of disappointment and ache.

So I wipe away the tears, and just keep breathing. One moment at a time, until it is our time to bring Allison home.

Silver Lining

2010-09-21T12:16:00.000-07:00

First of all, nothing would be better than having Allison in my arms next week rather than next month, but since things have been changed out of our control, I'm going to sit and make a list of some of the good things that are going to come out of waiting.

We get to meet up with our friends, Ryan and Melanie, in Ethiopia. They will be there for their court date and we hope to do a day trip with them.
We weren't faced with the financial decision and burden of changing our tickets back to our original dates.
Tony has some responsibilities at work that make it hard for him to take off at the beginning of the month. This moves us to return home at the middle of the month.
My grandma (my dad's mom) went into the hospital yesterday, and might have had a stroke, so my parents are currently up in Sedona/Cottonwood with her trying to figure everything out.
I get to spend the first 4 days of Megan and Emily's October break at home with them. (Let us know if you want to have a play date.)
The girls will be out of school while we are in Ethiopia, allowing Amma and Papa to take them places, do things, and spoil them more.
Megan and Emily will then be home with us for two days once we are home, but then will be back in school, allowing Tony and me to fully focus on Allison and her needs during the day.
We will get to take Megan and Emily to a Diamondbacks game on Friday night with free tickets they earned through our library's summer reading program.
Tony and I will be able to attend Megan and Emily's 1st quarter conferences at school.
I get to fit in a few more kid free breakfasts, coffee dates, and lunches with girlfriends.
Maybe Tony and I can fit in one more date night because it will be awhile before we can leave Alli with anyone.

I want so badly to be leaving on Friday, but since we aren't, I need to get back up and move forward. I know there will still be tears and longing, but thank you for your love, prayers, and encouragement.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 20

2010-09-20T20:37:00.001-07:00

Today brought heartache with the disappointment of our setback in bringing Allison home. But, I as was preparing for today's picture, I read in Revelation 7:

14b And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great
tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of
the Lamb.
15Therefore,
"they are before the throne of God
and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will spread his tent over them.
16Never again will they hunger;
never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat upon them,
nor any scorching heat.
17For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
he will lead them to springs of living water.
And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."

This is a description on Heaven and what a beautiful thing we have to look forward to. The waterfall in Ethiopia reminded me of how many times God refers to Himself as water and living water and that He refreshes us. And I'm so glad for that.

But, we are not there yet and we are told by Jesus that "in this world there will be troubles of many kinds, but take heart, for I have overcome the world." John 16:33 And these past few days I've felt trials.

So while I've had tears this weekend, tears today, and more than likely, more tears in the next 18 days of waiting, I am holding onto the knowledge that I have a God who is my living water and will wipe away every tear from my eyes.

We Have an Answer

2010-09-20T14:41:00.000-07:00

First of all, thank you to all of you who prayed, donated, encouraged, and loved us this crazy weekend. I think I've aged 10 years since Thursday morning.

But, this morning we received our answer from our adoption agency that our date is not moving, and our US Embassy appointment will be on October 14th. Two weeks later than we were originally told.

So now, I am not 4 days away from leave to get Allison, but 18. And that feels like forever.

Loving Ethiopia: Day 19

2010-09-19T15:03:00.002-07:00

I don't know much about this woman, but I think about her almost daily. Up on Entoto mountain there are eucalyptus trees. People make the climb up the mountain to collect sticks and leaves to sell as firewood down in the city. Sometimes they load the eucalyptus on their donkeys or other animals. Other times they bundle up the sticks and carry them down themselves. Like this woman. And once she's done her trek and her selling for the day, she might make the equivalent of $2-3US.

Monday

2010-09-19T14:35:00.000-07:00

It is currently 12:30am Monday morning in Ethiopia. That means that in a matter of hours, our attorney will be at the US Embassy and they will determine if they will accept our paper work and our appointment will be on September 30th, or if they don't accept our paperwork from our attorney, our date stays at the later date of October 14th. Two more weeks.

We expect to hear from our adoption agency early tomorrow morning (AZ time), and we'll post anything as soon as we know.

Keep praying for September 30th, for the flight changes with Delta, and for the finances.

Update...

2010-09-19T08:52:00.001-07:00

I remember riding Space Mountain at Disneyland when I was four (I'm sure I had to stand on my tip toes to reach the height minimum) and then was scared to death of roller coasters until junior high (and that was only because we went with our church group, and I'm sure I only rode to impress some boy).

And just like Space Mountain, we are continuing our roller coaster ride, in the dark.

It feels like we are on an upswing. We feel, because of various comments and conversations, that our Embassy date will be moved back to September 30th. The cost of changing our flights might be within what we are able to do (though I hate the feeling that all the changes were "wasted money" as we are changing our flights to what they were on Thursday morning). And, we have had some donations come in to help us cover those costs.

But we are not done yet. And I am afraid to get too excited in case it only sets me up for more disappointment come Monday morning. But today, we will start packing. In faith, we are moving forward as if we leave for Allison in 5 days!

We are seeing God moving and believe it is because of your prayers for our family! Thank you, and keep praying. This isn't over yet!

A letter to our friends and family

2010-09-18T22:49:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and family,

After such a long journey to bring Allison home, we have hit a bump during the final week that has left us spinning.

A short recap:

August 2009: We started our adoption process
May 6, 2010: We were matched with our beautiful daughter. We saw her picture and knew her name for the first time.
July 30th-August 8th: We traveled to Ethiopia to meet Allison and to appear in Ethiopia court to finalize our adoption. On August 5th, Allison legally became our daughter! (When we first started the Ethiopian adoption process, we were not required to physically attend court, but the laws changed during our process. Although our trip was amazing, it added extra costs that we had not prepared for.)
August: Found out that our US Embassy date was September 30th. We booked tickets with Delta for September 24th – October 3rd.
September 16th: Got a call from our agency that something was wrong and the US Embassy changed our date from September 30th to October 14th. We were in shock as everything was set for travel: Tony’s time off, childcare for our older daughters, travel plans. But, we quickly did what we had to do and changed our flights for the new dates, including paying hundreds of dollars in change fees.
September 17th: Found out that the mistake that was made in changing our appointment might be able to be fixed, moving our Embassy date back to September 30th. We are traveling with 6 other families. Only we and one other family had changed their tickets. The other five are now waiting to see what happens.

What happens now:

On Monday, our lawyer in Ethiopia will return to the Embassy to see if they will accept our paperwork for an Embassy appointment on September 30th. If that happens, we will have the option to change our flights back to what they were on Thursday morning before we got a call from our agency. But there will be another charge of change fees, plus we will have to pay the difference between what we originally paid when we booked our tickets weeks ago, to the new price of buying two tickets to Ethiopia only four days before we travel.

Please pray:

That the US Embassy will accept our documents on Monday for our appointment on September 30th.
Assuming that the Embassy date changes back, pray that we can find someone who works for Delta who can help us change our tickets back without any additional cost.
Or, that we can find a generous donor(s) who can help us cover these additional costs. Even before these changes happened, we had run out of money in our adoption fund. Now we are running on faith. We have a secure donation link on our blog that uses PayPal.

Lastly, please pray, and please forward this to your church, prayer groups, Bible study, and friends and family. When the church works together, things can happen.

Thank you,

Tony, Sara, and the Weber girls

Loving Ethiopia: Day 18

2010-09-18T22:42:00.002-07:00

I was just about to climb into bed when I realized I hadn't blogged a picture today yet. It's been quite an eventful and prayerful last 48 hours.

Tony asked me how long I thought I would be, and I told him I wasn't sure because I never know where a blog is going to go when I start it, and I didn't yet have a picture in mind to blog about. But it took less than a second after my picture folder opened up to know this was the picture for today.

The fence.

That's how I feel. Ethiopia, and Allison, are on the other side of a fence. I can see it, but I can't cross. I know I will find a way, but I don't know when or how. And at times today my focus has been on the fence (as it is in the picture) and the landscape on the other side it a bit blurry.

So I continue to wait and pray until I am on the other side of this fence.

Dear Delta Airlines,

2010-09-18T08:19:00.002-07:00

Dear Delta Airlines,

My wife and I are adopting a little girl from Ethiopia and have already traveled once, about a month and a half ago, and are traveling again soon for our second trip to bring our baby home. When we found out our dates, we purchased our tickets to leave on 9/24. Thursday, 9/16, we were contacted by our agency that the US Embassy rescheduled our appointment and informed us that we needed to change our flight plans to 10/8, which we did. Today we found out that the Embassy may reinstate our previous appointment, but we will not know until Monday 9/20. That will leave us 4 days to be able to rebook our tickets back to our original date of travel on 9/24. I understand that the prices for international travel 4 days before a flight will be very expensive.

Assuming that the US Embassy reinstates our original appointment, we will be left a choice; Pay $1000-$2000 extra in change fees and current rate prices to go, or leave our babies across the world for 2 extra weeks.

Is there anything you can do to help us if that happens? We are not looking for free tickets or free upgrades. I am just hoping that we could have the opportunity to rebook our original flights at the rates we had already paid.

Thank you for your time and consideration of this gesture to help us to complete our family.

Tony & Sara Weber
602-859-2808

The Ride Continues

2010-09-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

I love roller coasters, but I'm ready to get off this one. I got out of bed early on this Saturday morning because my mind was racing with all the what ifs and what this Monday may hold.

It is looking more and more promising that our Embassy date will be able to be moved back to September 30th. We will know for sure when our lawyer goes to the Embassy on Monday to see if they will accept our paperwork. That is the first miracle that we've been praying for since we first heard about the possibility. Please keep praying for this possibility.

But, then if that happens, we will need to change our flights back, which could be expensive. So please pray with us that finances will not be what keeps us from our daughter. We know that He can work it out, so join us in prayer.

Lastly, this is taking an emotional toll on me. We will go through this weekend not knowing if we will be leaving on September 24th or October 8th. I miss my baby so much that my heart is breaking. Our God is a God of peace, and I need His strength and peace through this process.

Another Loop On the Roller Coaster

2010-09-17T14:21:00.001-07:00

The Embassy has told us they might be able to get us in our our original date, September 30th, after all. But we won't know until Monday since they are closed for the weekend.

If that happens, we can go get Allison as planned, but will have to switch our airline tickets again at the listed prices, four days before we travel. Adding hundreds, if not thousands of dollars to our drained finances.

Or, we leave her in the orphanage in Ethiopia for two more weeks knowing that we could have had her home if money wasn't an obstacle.

Please pray with us, both for the paperwork to move, and for the finances to be raised. We are in the home stretch, but we are still so far.

If you are able to donate, you can use the link through PayPal on the left side of our blog. I know if we all work together, we can get Allison home!

Lastly, please share our blog on your blog and/or your Facebook. I believe that God can move when we join together in prayer.

Love,
Sara

Loving Ethiopia: Day 17

2010-09-17T11:06:00.001-07:00

I've had to change the title of my daily photo posts. It is no longer a countdown of 23 days. On September 24th, when I thought I'd be done blogging, and on a flight to Addis, I will still be here. Waiting.

So I'm now titling my posts, "Loving Ethiopia", because that's what I'm doing. I'm loving Ethiopia through pictures for all the world to see, and especially for Allison when she grows up and wants to know more about her first home. To know that we didn't decide on international adoption to be able to gift a child with US Citizenship and save them from a life in a dismal country. But we chose to adopt because of the very sad truth that there are mommies and daddies who can't raise their babies, and that leaves an innocent baby without a family. But we have a family longed for another baby, and had room in our hearts for her, however she came to us. And she came to us from a beautiful, wonderful, first home.

So Allison, this is from the top of Entoto Mountain, overlooking your home city of Addis Ababa.

Two More Weeks

2010-09-17T09:29:00.002-07:00

I know that many of you have heard about our new 2 week delay in our adoption, but I want to quickly explain what happened, and why we got bumped.

In short, the US embassy in Ethiopia is moving. Yes...really. They have been building a new embassy for a couple of years and it is ready. During the time they are moving, there will be no appointments, so we got pushed back 2 weeks.

Our group of 7 families from our agency have become "The Guinea Pig Group". We got to be one of the first groups required to make the additional trip for court, and now we get "the privilege" of christening the new embassy. Don't get me wrong, I like new adventures, but with Sara and I both being planners, we could use a little less new and a little more status quo for the rest of this process.

My Heart

2010-09-17T09:09:00.001-07:00

Thank you so much to everybody for your encouraging words through the blog, facebook, texts, and phone calls. It really means a lot to me. Thank you.

But, you know that through out this journey this blog has been real and honest and raw. It is my chance to share with our friends, other adoptive parents (many who I now also count as friends), and also to record this journey for myself, and someday for Allison to know just how loved she was before she even came home.

So this is a sample conversation from yesterday, and it's translation:

You: Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about the delay. How are you doing?
Me: Oh, I'm fine.

but what I mean is....

Me: I had my heart ripped from me 6 weeks ago. I met my daughter and then had to leave her. All that I had to hold on to was a date of when we would get to hold her again and bring her home. But now they have even taken that date away from me. I know that in the big picture two additional weeks of waiting isn't that long, but I was just told to wait 22 days to have my heart put back in place when I was counting down already and had gotten all the way down to 8!
Today is one month until we will be a family of 5. But what really stinks is that I already passed and celebrated the one month mark 2 weeks ago.

So I try to be strong. Partly because that's how I want to feel, partly because I don't want to blow you away when you ask a simple question, and partly because to put these feelings into words brings on the tears, and I have better things to do than redo my make-up 50 times a day. (Though I don't know if anything will completely stop the tears from coming in the coming days -- and fair waring, they've been coming randomly, without warning. Just ask Tony.)

I know in my head that this is a minor setback. I know that it is still relatively soon that she will be home. But that's 14 more days that her crib is empty and her room is silent. 14 more days that our home will not be filled with a baby's laughter and even cries. 14 more days that her high chair sits unused at our dining room table.

I am a planner, so everything was planned right up until the minute we were to take off on September 24th. Now, there isn't much left to do, but wait.

I know that life is not a smooth journey, and that adoption has bumps along the road, but for the past 23 hours, I feel like I've been derailed.
Each morning she is the first thing I think of when I wake up, and I mentally check off how many days are left. Well, even this morning I did that, but I thought, "Today is Friday, one week until we leave! Oh, three weeks until we leave."

So I wait, and I pray, and I am still so very glad that you ask how we're doing, and still say that you're so sorry and that two weeks will go by quickly, but here is how I'm really doing because it's much safer to share this on the blog. Thanks for reading.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 16

2010-09-16T21:50:00.002-07:00

I'm at a loss for words tonight.

Today my spirit has been crushed, but I know that the days will pass, and soon we will again be 8 days, and then 7 days, and then eventually Allison will be in our arms, and then eventually she will be home. And we will have journeyed this path that is lighted with prayer.

But I am thankful, that even as my heart is heavy beyond what I think I can bear, I can go to Him in prayer, and He will grant me comfort and peace.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." -Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30)

Two More Weeks

2010-09-16T12:16:00.001-07:00

2 weeks

14 days

336 hours

20160 minutes

1209600 seconds

In the course of one phone call, that's how much longer was added to our wait to see, hold, kiss, and bring home Allison. Tony got a phone call this morning (our wise social worker called him rather than calling me) to tell us that the US Embassy in Addis is moving, and so they are rescheduling our court date for October 14th, rather than September 30th. Just like that, our world is turned upside down. Two additional weeks of waiting. (Not to mention the change in airfare. Tony is on the phone right now.)

Just when I didn't think I couldn't wait 8 more days, now we don't leave for 22 days. Right now my heart is breaking and the tears are flowing.

I miss you so much Allison!

23 Days of Ethiopa: Day 15

2010-09-15T15:02:00.001-07:00

What could you live without?

Your Wii?
Cable?
TV?
Your computer(s)?
iPhone?
Supermarket?

Your own room?
Dishwasher?
Washing machine?

Electricity?
Running water?

We stopped at this "real" village. Real as in real families live here, it is not a museum for tourists. Real families who live without any of these "necessities" every day. And they are happy and they are kind. They loved to have their pictures taken and then to be able to see the image on the back of the camera. We took lots of pictures, and I'm going to print them and take them back when we go for the families to keep. I don't know how often they get their pictures taken, but it didn't seem like it happened often.

Looking Back

2010-09-15T09:39:00.000-07:00

As we are about to close this chapter of our lives, I am sitting at the computer and looking back over our past year, what we've been through, and how God has led us every step of the way.

If you have not followed us since last summer (or even if you have), here are a few blog posts to catch you up on where we've been.

Sara's Story

Tony's Story

Confirmation of Ethiopia

Our "Theme Song" and our first glimpse of Toukoul through the eyes of another family

Ok, I could keep going all day, but I have some things that need to get done. But thank you for reading our blog, following our journey, encouraging us, and supporting us in prayer.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 14.5

2010-09-14T20:35:00.002-07:00

Ok, I couldn't resist just one more picture from the Blue Nile Gorge. This is the picture that Tony took because I was just too ~~scared~~ smart to not push it to climb out to just one more ledge towering above the drop off. But Tony did, and my heart was pounding almost as much as if I had been the one out there. Almost.

Again, no picture can do it justice, but he is looking STRAIGHT DOWN! That little stream down at the bottom? That's a raging river. Way, way, way, down. Did I mention that we were high up about a waterfall in the middle of nowhere in Ethiopia?

Oh, my stomach still turns at the sight. But, he made it back alive, with pictures and video, and that's what counts. Right?

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 14

2010-09-14T20:13:00.001-07:00

This is the last picture I'll blog about from the Blue Nile Gorge (I think). But it was so amazing and this picture doesn't even come close to showing the power and height of the waterfall. And I keep coming back to how quiet and unassuming the surroundings were, compared to our National Parks filled with tourists. Besides our guides, we were the only people there. It really was a once in a lifetime experience and I am so glad that we were able to be there.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 13

2010-09-13T13:32:00.001-07:00

The moment.

I'm going to take a break from the nature and people of Ethiopia because my heart is breaking for one very special person in Ethiopia. Friday marked two weeks until we leave, and now that the end is in sight, but heart literally aches to hold my sweet Allison in my arms and bring her home.

Our new friend, Wendi, played the role of driver, translator, guide, and even photographer. He took pictures for us in those first priceless moments of meeting Allison. And while we still can't post pictures of her, this picture of Tony, capturing my first holding her in my arms, takes me back to the moment. And I can't wait to be behind the blue gate once again.

And then, last night I realized that three weeks from last night, we will finally be putting Allison to bed in our home. Three short, yet at the same time, so very long, weeks.

A Small Town Church and a Baby in Ethiopia

2010-09-12T16:58:00.002-07:00

These are my grandparents. They are two of my favorite people in the whole world (in fact, through the miracle of induction, I was able to have Emily on my grandma's birthday and that means so much to me)! The live in a small town in northern Michigan and go to a small white church with a big beautiful steeple, with the most wonderful people. What's even more amazing is that my grandma told me that Allison was the topic for Children's Church this morning for their entire church. I love that the children stay with their families for worship, then the pastor calls all the children to the front of the church for a lesson, then they are dismissed to Sunday school.

But this morning Grandma and Grandpa shared pictures that we had sent and Pastor Dinah showed all the pictures to the kids and told them all about her and how much her family loves her and has been praying for her. She also talked about how their church has been praying for Allison since Alli was 7 months old. That is a perfect picture of the church living in community for and with each other. As the children were dismissed to Sunday school, they always leave singing "Jesus Loves Me". But this morning after the children had been dismissed, Pastor Dinah lead the church in singing "Jesus Loves Me" a second time. Just for Allison.

Dear Pastor Dinah and the First Congregational Church of Frankfort, thank you! Thank you for your love and prayers. I hope that next summer we will be able to visit and you will all get to meet Allison first hand.

PS - That's little Megan in 2006, the last time we were back in Frankfort at their church.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 12

2010-09-12T09:51:00.001-07:00

This is a view from after we had crossed the bridge. We are looking back up to the bridge and above that is the guide house at the top of the trail.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 11

2010-09-11T21:46:00.001-07:00

When you go to Africa, you have to have a chance to get out and see wildlife. While we didn't go on a full safari, we were so blessed to see a herd (I'm not sure what you call them) of baboons while we were at the river. They kept their distance from us, but they were amazing, just hanging out on a ledge above the falls. After we crossed the bridge, they also went back and forth across the bridge, never bothering us, just doing their thing.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 10

2010-09-10T14:11:00.002-07:00

This is the ~~Bridge of Terror~~, um, the Portuguese Bridge. We hiked down to the bridge, then I almost didn't go across. Have I mentioned yet that I ~~hate~~ don't like heights? But the encouraging prompting of my guide, friend, and husband, I made it across and eventually up and around the other side, but I'll talk more about that another day. Have I mentioned yet that I love Ethiopia and that my daughter is blessed to have such a wonderful country as her first home? I am so glad that we had the opportunity to get out of the city for a day. Absolutely amazing.

Give us this day our daily bread

2010-09-09T17:33:00.000-07:00

We are so close to have hit a bump in the road now, but that's exactly what has happened. Through this entire process every payment has been made. We held fundraisers, collected donations, and have trimmed our family budget everywhere we can. But we are now weeks from bringing Allison home and we have been hit with $2500 in unexpected medical bills and have our $5000 for second travel sitting in credit card limbo. And our savings is gone.

So we are again, trusting that God will provide. And I need to remember that He will give me today my daily bread. Daily bread. Just what I need for today (need--not everything we want). We can't pay the $2500 off right now, but we believe that the medical bills can be divided into interest free payments. I hate to be in debt and it makes me worry about the big picture future, but I need to focus on just needing my daily bread. The airline tickets and hotel costs are on credit cards and we have a few weeks to make a plan before they are due. God will meet our daily needs. I like to have a financial safety net (and there are lots of good reasons to have that), but for us, right now, we have taken a step of faith and it's a little foggy how this will all come together. That why it's faith.

It's funny, but today as I was volunteering at the girls' school, I started talking with a mom. Our adoption came up and she said, "I don't think I could spend all the money that it takes for adoption." Hmmm. Thanks for the reminder God that this is about a little girl who needs a mommy, a daddy, and two big sisters. It's not about the money.

But, we still have needs to meet, so if you feel able, you can give a secure gift through the PayPal link on the left side of our blog. All gifts help. Big or small. And thank you again to everyone who has already sacrificed and given through this journey. It means so much to us.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 9

2010-09-09T17:26:00.001-07:00

On our day trip, our main excursion was to the Blue Nile at the Portuguese bridge. Unfortunately they gorge was cloud filled, but we could still feel the vast size that rivals the Grand Canyon. The difference is that we were were the only visitors. The waterfall was flowing heavily as it is the start of the rainy season in Ethiopia right now. This picture was from a rock outcropping and Tony took it because of my fear of heights. It's a steep, far drop from where he was standing.

We saw so much at this stop, and I'll post more about it in the coming days.

More Detailed Travel Information About This Area

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 8

2010-09-08T14:54:00.001-07:00

Simplicity.

That seems to be a running theme as I reflect on our time in Ethiopia. This picture was taken from a road that overlooks a village on the way up a mountain. There are houses in between the fields, and I wonder about the people who live there. I can't imagine that they lead a rushed and crazy life, but I assume that they are happy and content (I'm basing that assumption by the faces of the Ethiopians we met that day). I assume that the neighbor children play together and that they aren't being rushed off from soccer to dance to piano to Girl Scouts. Not that those things are bad by themselves. But again, my time in Ethiopia makes me step back and reevaluate how we are living our lives and if we have the balance that God created for us.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 7

2010-09-07T14:50:00.002-07:00

I love this picture of this Ethiopian man. When we met him, he was walking up a mountain on his way to the church.

Walking up a mountain --- to go to church.

It makes me think of how I can struggle getting my family to church, four miles away, in our SUV. Plus, when we are late and the parking lot is busy (or it's just really hot), I usually have Tony drop me and the girls off right by the entrance then he goes to park. What if I had to walk up a mountain?

He lives a simpler life allows for a more focused devotion to God that I think we in America often miss, and are worse off for it. Plus, it wasn't Sunday. How often does he make his pilgrimage each week? How far would I walk to worship? It makes me think of his pilgrimage as part of his worship to God. Not just the singing. Or the tithing. Or the working your shift in the nursery. But living a life that worships at all costs. For me it isn't walking up a mountain to attend church, but I need to live a life that worships when ever and how ever I am called to worship.

Thank you Lord for using this Ethiopian man to teach a lesson to this suburban, stay at home mom.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 6

2010-09-06T12:43:00.002-07:00

Back to coffee. This was taken in the same back room of the coffee shop where I took the picture of the green coffee beans. After the coffee is roasted, there were women who hand sorted the bean and pulled out any that didn't get roasted dark enough. Their care for details definitely comes through in the quality of the delicious coffee.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 5

2010-09-05T07:36:00.003-07:00

One of my favorite things about traveling to other countries is to see how other cultures worship our God. It reminds me of how big He is to have created and to love all of us as we come to Him in different ways with different traditions.

This pictures shows a group of sweet children coming out of their Sunday school, half a world away.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 4

2010-09-04T12:00:00.002-07:00

One day while we stayed in Addis, our guide, Wendi, took us to buy some coffee. We were amazed as we stepped out of the car and immediately smelled the wonderful coffee. When we went inside, we realize it was because the coffee is roasted on site. This picture is of the green coffee beans. It's what all of our coffee looks like before it's roasted.

Ethiopia is said to be the birthplace of coffee (no wonder I have fallen in love with Ethiopia).

Here is one version of the legend that we were told while in Addis:

Ethiopia-The Origin of CoffeeAccording to a story, the origin of coffee began in Ethiopia in a nearby city of Caffa (Kaffa)-Some believed it is where it acquired its name. It was dated as early as the 9th century. A herder named Kaldi- an Abyssinian goatherd was just intending to sheep when he noticed one of his sheep was very overactive. He then found out that it had eaten the mysterious “red cherries”. He tried one for himself and fell under its stimulating spell as well. Kaldi was very amazed and took a few to the monastery. He explained its invigorating effects; however the monks assumed that it was a devil’s drink. They threw the berries into the fire thus releasing its pleasant Aroma; they were astonished and pleasantly taken aback. In their amazement and excitement, they hastily removed the roasting berries from the fire and therefore learned how to make a coffee.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 3

2010-09-03T05:52:00.001-07:00

While the scenery of Ethiopia is breathtaking, what I can't get out of my mind are the people. Even with a language barrier, they were all so kind. We met this little boy on our day trip outside of Addis. We were driving through a small village and had a little bit of candy that we were sharing with the kids. When it was time to go, this little one was sweet but persistent. He kept asking for more, and even ran along side our truck for quite a while. We'd drive off and get a head of him, but then we'd get stuck in traffic, and there he'd be as he ran to keep up. Eventually we rewarded his efforts by throwing a handful of candies to him as we left the village.

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 2

2010-09-02T11:55:00.002-07:00

Dear Allison,

I've just been excited to bring you home ever since we left you, but today my heart is heavy with some new thoughts I've been dealing with. We've been calling this our "Journey of Love", and it is. We've loved you before we met you, and I miss you even more since I held you in my arms, but the joy and love and excitement of bringing you home has been with mixed feelings for me for the past few days. Adoption is also about loss and sadness and I've been reminded if that in various ways this week. I tend to forget that in order for you to join our family, you first had to lose your birth family. We don't know anything about them, but it doesn't make them any less real. And when you grow up, you will have questions about them that I won't have answers to. And I'm so sorry about that.

And I sit in your room and I can't wait for you to enjoy all the preparations we have made in love for you. But you won't understand that. You will miss your room and crib in Ethiopia. You will miss your nannys. And I will love you with everything in me, but I might not be enough to help your little heart understand what is going on.

But I want you to know that I will do my best as your mom. We will learn and find the right balance for you. There will be hurdles about how you become an American and a Weber, but we also know that you will also be Ethiopian and we don't want to ignore that. We want you to know that we love Ethiopia and her people, because that is a part of who you are.

I love you,
Mommy

23 Days of Ethiopia: Day 1

2010-09-01T08:44:00.002-07:00

We have 23 days until we go back to Ethiopia to bring Allison home, so I'm going to try to blog about 23 pictures from our trip. One each day.

This first one is what it's all about (besides Alli-and I still can't post pictures of her). It is Toukoul's "Blue Gate". When we first learned about adopting from Ethiopia, and decided on going through Dove, and learned that they partnered with Toukoul, we searched Toukoul on YouTube and saw videos of family after family meeting their children after passing through this blue gate.

So, as we arrived in Addis on Saturday night, and headed to Toukoul on Sunday morning, I could only think about meeting Allison after passing through this infamous gate. And we did. And of course, as you know, we met her and she is perfect. We passed through this gate many times during our week, and each one stirred my heart.

And I think about her and miss her as she is still being loved and cared for behind this blue gate. Until we go back to bring her home. Finally we will drive out of that blue gate one last time and she will be with us: forever.

One Month

2010-08-30T08:52:00.001-07:00

Today marks one month until our US Embassy appontment that will grant Allison her immigration into the United States.

Some of you have asked, so here is our schedule for our week in Ethiopia, based on what the Ministry of Women's Affairs in Ethiopia has laid out to be best for the kids.

Friday: Leave PHX early morning
Saturday: Arrive in Addis late at night
Sunday: We hope to take a day trip outside of the city of Addis
Monday: Half day visit with Allison at the orphanage, spend the rest of the day in Addis
Tuesday: Half day visit with Allison at the orphanage, spend the rest of the day in Addis
Wednesday: We'll be granted physical custody of Allison (we already have legal custody as of court on August 5th during our last trip)
Thursday: Our US Embassy appointment
Friday: We will receive her Visa to enter the US
Saturday: We head for home, leaving late at night
Sunday: We arrive in Phoenix! We would love for you to come join the celebration at Sky Harbor to welcome Allison home. We'll post the details as it get closer. We are declairing October 3rd as our family day because we will finally all be together as a family of five.

Allison and Daddy

2010-08-29T21:07:00.000-07:00

As I was going back and editing more pictures today, I came across this one of Allison holding her daddy's hand. I love it and am counting the days until we get to hold her again and then bring our precious baby home.

Pictures

2010-08-29T16:26:00.000-07:00

So, when we went to Ethiopia, I took just over 1400 pictures. When we got home I narrowed it down by half. To have pictures ready for Allison's baby shower I chose my favorite 100 to edit, print, and make into a slide show. But now I am going back to my 700 to re-edit to make a photo book of our trip.

I love Ethiopia. I love the people and the landscape. I love the cathedrals and the teff fields. I love the bustling city of Addis and I love the village where 32 people lived together on their farm, truly the simple life without even electricity or plumbing.

But most of all I love Allison. And as I go through all my pictures again (while the house is quiet because Tony, Megan, and Emily are at Awana on Sunday nights), I miss her so much. I miss her smile with her one little tooth popping through. I miss her tiny little curls and her huge eyes. I miss her soft chocolate skin. Thankfully, in less than a month she will be in my arms again.

And once that happens, I won't have time to edit my pictures and put together an album from our first trip. So, I'd better get back to work.

Christmas in August

2010-08-27T14:14:00.001-07:00

We are in the final stretch of our adoption process. Whew! What a year it has been for our family! We have been amazed at how God has provided for us each step of the way, but now it is crunch time. We need $1000 for our guest house stay while in Ethiopia (in addition to what we just payed for our airline tickets and what we will need for the US Embassy).

So, that's why I'd love for you to think about Christmas while it is still August. When you order 4 necklaces, I'll give you a 5th one for free! And, unlike everyone else's sales, you can choose any necklace to be your free one. Just order 4 (or more) through Etsy, and put in the comments what necklace you want to add for free. This offer will end on August 31st.

As always, every necklace comes with an organza bag, ready to be given as a gift. Just stash them away, and start checking off your Christmas lists.

If you have an idea for a pendant that I don't have offered on the site, send me a message and I can custom make one for you (custom glass tile pendants are $30).

I hope you'll take advantage of this deal as we are in our last stretch to raise our money for travel, and I have the time available right now to make the pendants. Life will be forever changed on October 2nd.

http://www.simplesmilesandmore.etsy.com/

Showered with Love

2010-08-27T13:40:00.000-07:00

I had a wonderful baby shower for Allison just a week after we got home from our trip. It helped the transition from leaving Alli to preparing for her to come home. Thank you so much to my mom, Erin, Lisa, and Alexis for making it such a special day. Lisa made Allison's cake which was amazing, my mom made a quilt for Alli and me to snuggle up together in, and we were blessed with so many gifts to help us prepare for her to come home.

Yours

2010-08-21T10:25:00.000-07:00

I guess this isn't a new song, but I heard it for the first time yesterday while driving, and it brought me to tears (though it doesn't take much these days). I was reminded that "Every child in Africa is Yours". Although we are still over a month away from holding Allison in our arms again and bringing her home to her forever family, she is still in the arms of our great God!

Share Yours by Steven Curtis Chapman

The End Is In Sight

2010-08-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

Today we got the call we've been waiting for, we have an Embassy date for September 30th in Ethiopia. That means that we will fly back to Addis, visit Allison on Monday and Tuesday at the orphanage, take custody of her on Wednesday, attend our meeting at the US Embassy on Thursday (that grants her immigration into the US) and start our journey home on Friday.

The end of September seems so far and so close at the same time. I want to have her in my arms now, but in the big picture 6 more weeks is not that long to wait. The end is in sight, but at the same time, it isn't that the end is in sight, it's that the beginning is in sight. The beginning of our 5 family, finally together.

The timing is also interesting because we arrive home just as Megan and Emily start their 2 1/2 week October break. It isn't how I would have arranged it. I was hoping for a week or two for Alli and me to get adjusted before having the big girls home, but we'll make it work.

My baby is coming home!

Happy Birthday Allison

2010-08-19T14:28:00.000-07:00

One very hard milestone in this journey is that we were not able to bring Allison home before her 1st birthday. Back in May, we were very optimistic that we would, but different things have pushed our timeline back.
But, that didn't have to mean that we didn't celebrate our sweet third daughter. We invited two families over and had cake and ice cream with them (I made our family's traditional homemade birthday cake frosting). Though it was a sad day for me, the happy sounds of 8 little girls in our home (yes, 8 between the three families, and Megan was the oldest) and one big brother (who sat and played with his mom's new phone), made the evening a little sweeter.

The People and Places of Ethiopia

2010-08-14T06:05:00.004-07:00

Traveling to Ethiopia for court was not in our original plans, but it changed our lives by allowing us a glimpse of Ethiopia that we might not have gotten if we had only made one trip with the focus of bringing Allison home.

I hope you'll enjoy these pictures of the people and landscape of an amazing country. One that we are proud to have as our daughter's first home. If you are interested in purchasing any of these prints, visit http://www.simplesmiles.net/ then click on Client Ordering. All proceeds will be used toward our travel costs to bring Allison home.

Happy Birthday Sweet Alli

2010-08-14T04:11:00.000-07:00

Today is Allison's First birthday. Since we got home, I've been doing well with the wait and am thankful to know that she is being cared for well and is healthy and loved. But even in the early hours this morning, I can tell that this is going to be a hard day.

How I wish she were home with us so we could celebrate the way we celebrated Megan and Emily's first birthdays. We'll have birthday cake this afternoon in her honor, but it just won't be the same. But it will make each coming birthday all the more special. I love you Allison, and can't wait until we can travel back to Ethiopia to bring you home.

PHX to AMD

2010-08-09T14:38:00.000-07:00

Friday, July 30th we headed out from our house early, early in the morning. We were finally starting our journey to Allison, by way of Phoenix, JFK, and Amsterdam (and later on to Kartoum (Sudan) and eventually Addis Ababa -- that's a lot of boarding passes). We had no clue what to expect but we were on our way. We had short layovers so that the overall journey would be easier to handle, but that also meant running through JFK. We made it to our gate as they were making the final boarding call. Though it wasn't so bad since it was just the two of us. I had a lot of things packed to pass the time on our flights, but didn't use most of what I brought. Though through the course of the trip I almost finished three Karen Kingsbury books (thanks Gail for loaning those to me).

On approach into both JFK and Amsterdam it reminded me of how much I love to travel and see new places. I'll just have to add both of those places to my list -- after heading back to Ethiopia of course.