The Hanson Family--Under Construction

Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Off to School We Go!

2009-09-15T10:20:00.000-07:00

I have never been in a tornado, nor do I ever wish to be, but something tells me that if I ever were it would feel something like how it feels to get FIVE people out the door by 6:30am everyday! That's 5 towels, 5 breakfasts, 5 pairs of shoes by the door, 5 toothbrushes left on the counter, 5 piles of school stuff, 2 little people snacks, and ten sleepy eyes! :) So far, it's going amazingly well and I've managed to get as organized as I can be. I still have my sanity, so I consider that to be a major accomplishment!

Nighttime organization and preparation has definitely been the key, along with two very patient teenagers and one patient husband. Cady's varsity volleyball season is in full swing, so a couple of nights a week that drastically reduces the time I have to get things ready for the next day, but for now the kids are loving going to the games. And besides, I refuse to miss one of Cady's games just because it's bath night! That to me just seems silly. Now, don't get me wrong, Ava & Luke are not going to school dirty or smelly, but we just make do in the morning when we have to. I'm learning to let a few small things go, which probably needed to happen anyway...my mom, sister, and husband can keep there comments to themselves about this one. ;)

At any rate, nobody wants to hear how I'M doing, everyone wants to hear about the kids, so here it goes...Ava is in 2nd grade at Aurora Christian and LOVING IT! She is working very hard to be independent as much as possible, but does have a peer helper in class when she needs her. She loves going to the library to check out books, playing outside on the playground, Music class, and her teacher Mrs. Beckley. Her English and reading skills are coming along amazingly well too! Many people do not even detect an accent when she speaks anymore (and it's only been 3 1/2 months!). Her teacher reports she is a little shy at school, but she is making friends and just got invited to her first (non-family) birthday party! Luke is in 1st grade with Mrs. Post, the teacher who has magic powers. Mrs. Post has gotten Luke to sit, be quiet, listen, AND follow directions in the short 2 1/2 weeks she has had him in her class. Luke LOVES Mrs. Post and she just "gets" him I think. He too is learning his letter sounds and just beginning to read. He sits in the front, has a peer buddy, and loves gym, math, Bible, and recess.

The first week of school the kids were exhausted. All day of sitting and listening to instructions given in English just wore them out mentally. Ava would come home and want to show me everything but just couldn't find the words describe all she had done that day. Luke on the other hand just needed to play outside to run off some energy before he could even begin to do homework. Speaking of homework...WOW...I had no idea how long homework would take when everything needed to be explained and/or re-done. Piles of papers with no direction and no possible explanation from the kids made it very difficult to know what went where, what was for practice, and what needed to be saved or returned. In a week, I collected a pile 3 inches high of papers from school! I saved every scrap for fear that something wouldn't be done or done right and a teacher would say, "Do you know what happened to Luke/Ava's math worksheet from Tuesday? I never got it." It was like being a new mom, when you write everything down and you save everything but have no idea of really why you are doing it. They are priceless artifacts from their first week of school now and still sit in a pile on the island in the counter. I just can't bring myself to throw them out, it is still such a miracle to me that they are even here!

By week two all started to get the hang of our new routine. The "tornadoes" in the mornings downgraded to strong thunderstorms. We all got to where we needed to be on time and everyone that needed a lunch and a snack had one in his/her bag. News from Mrs. Beckley & Mrs. Post that Ava & Luke were doing well at school certainly eased my fears that I had done enough this summer to prepare them for an American private Christian education, not the "Free and Appropriate Education for All" that public schools provide (no pressure, right?). I was not a failure after all. Shhhheeew!!! Huge sigh of relief! :) The kids are working very hard everynight on their reading, writing, phonics, and math. Not only are they resilient, but they are bright. They are learning quickly, and we are so proud of them!

When I look at Luke & Ava there is no doubt who is in control of the universe. God has really blessed our family this year in many amazing ways and I am eternally grateful for the patience, flexibility, energy, and grace He has given me. Ava & Luke have filled out lives with such joy. Three months together and I cannot even imagine life without them. People always talk about how lucky they are to have been adopted by an American family, but really we are the lucky ones to have them here with us.

Where did July go???

2009-08-03T11:17:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday America!

Ava & Dad at Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant in Chicago

Luke making his bed! :)

So when the activity level of your household increases exponentially it is very difficult to maintain a sense of time. I find myself saying, "Oh my goodness, it's 11 o'clock already?" nearly every day! We have a great morning routine going and Ava & Luke are responding very well to the "first work, then play" nature of our household. Everyday they wake up, make their beds, clean their rooms, and brush their teeth with very few reminders. It is AMAZING!! They love to please us. Luke will come in and say, "Mom, me room no beautiful?" with a sad face and then lead me down the hallway to his tidy room and yell, "FAKE!" He loooooves to tease me! Our breakfast diet has expanded from just scrambled eggs, to just pasta, to now cinnamon rolls, peanut butter toast, and sometimes eggs. Ava's diet is awesome, she will try anything. She has a very healthy appetite and is not picky at all. Luke, on the other hand, doesn't like anything that is not ice cream, french fries, pasta, hamburger, or cookies. To top it all of, he hates chocolate!He has to be the only person on the planet that doesn't chocolate!!

Nearly everyday we have about an hour of school time. I try to focus mainly on phonemic awareness and reading since that will probably be the most difficult part of school for both of them for a while. Luke used to be completely disinterested, but ever since visiting his school last month, his motivation and interest has increased. He used to also be so overstimulated that he wouldn't even sit for long enough to do a lesson, but his skills are gradually coming along. He has some basic pre-reading skills and is getting better everyday. Ava is a wiz at reading! Her memory is amazing!! She learned over 94 1st & 2nd grade sight words in three sittings. Her biggest downfall right now is vocabulary. She knows the sounds and can pronounce the words, but doesn't necessarily know what the words mean in order to comprehend a passage. This will come, I am not too concerned. She has gone from 3-4 word utterances in English one month ago to full 9-10 word sentences within a reciprocal conversation. She is picking everything up very quickly. I have also noticed in the past month that Ava & Luke will now talk to each other in English sometimes rather than Amharic. This speaks volumes about their English development, in my opinion, as they are obviously now starting to think in English too!

Initially we had some pretty serious concerns about behavior, but I have to say, this is not something we worry about anymore at all. Their behavior is completely normal, they follow directions, accept correction & consequences, and are remorseful when they make a bad choice. Luke is definitely more active than Ava, but compared to the torturous airplane ride home we all endured from Ethiopia and the very difficult 2-3 weeks that followed, they have definitely pulled it together in this department. Our first month home I was told on a regular basis that I was not their mother or that I was ugly. It was nothing to be hit, spit at, or given the evil eye for no apparent reason whatsoever. It seems like ages ago that they were so angry about leaving Ethiopia. They do still talk about their Habesha (Ethiopian) mom but it doesn't send them into an emotional tailspin anymore. We can talk about having two moms, how beautiful Habesha mom is, other family members, or memories from the orphanage and they are ok. I love to hear their stories and watch the excitement in their eyes when they recall a funny or scary memory from home.

In a nutshell, Ava & Luke really just seem like healthy, normal, active, well-adjusted kids. God knew exactly what we could handle but I think that the travel home was a major test of our willingness to rise to this challenge. We can finally laugh about how hard it was and that feels like a good place to be right now. The kids start school in three weeks. I am very nervous about this but I have faith that Aurora Christian is the right place for them. I'm not sure where July went, but I can tell you where we are headed and it feels like a good place. :)

Ok...so I am a failure!

2009-07-20T19:17:00.000-07:00

Ok blog followers...please accept my sincerest apologies for not posting as regularly (or at all) since our first week home, but I've got to tell ya, the kids come first and we've been doing some pretty cool stuff this summer. Here are some of Luke & Ava's highlights/firsts these past 7 weeks:

1. We stayed in a hotel

2. We went to the zoo

3. We waded in Lake Michigan

4. We are learning to ride a bike

5. We registered for school (first & second grade)

6. We went to the waterpark (A LOT!)

7. We learned to swim

8. We have made LOTS of friends

9. We have seen the doctor, dentist, dermatologist, and will see the eye doctor Thursday

10. We went to Navy Pier

11. We are learning to read

12. We have eaten in Ethiopian restaurants in Chicago AND Columbus

13. We have attended THOUSANDS, ok, maybe a hundred, baseball games

14. We have mastered the iphone and itunes

15. We love computer games

16. We clean our new bedrooms and make our beds EVERYDAY

17. We shop at Target

18. We have stayed overnight alone at Grandma's

19. We are looking forward to our friend Lincoln, also from Layla's House in ET, moving to Aurora (how cool is that?!?!)

20. Luke won his first trophy as the Reds batboy :)

21. We love pasta, chicken, french fries, and ice cream and would eat that everyday if we could

22. We play baseball in the backyard with our neighbors everyday for hours on end

23. Ava went to a volleyball camp at ACS and loved it

24. We LOVE our new cousins, aunts uncles, grandmas, grandpas but can't figure out why they are all not "Hansons" :)

25. We went to a White Sox game

26. We watched fireworks on the 4th of July

30. We spontaneously tell our mom, dad, brother, & sister "I love you!"

It doesn't get any better than that! :)

First week home...

2009-06-02T19:52:00.000-07:00

Based on the drastic reduction of my free time I have resorted to bullet lists for updates. Sorry, we're just all gonna have to deal for now...It's the best I can do for now folks!

One week down and here is a rundown of how things are going....

Ava Etsubdink & Luke Anteneh LOVE their new cousins!!

They love ice cream, french fries, chocolate, and popcorn!

Ava & Luke are great sleepers and trust me, based on their energy level, they NEED IT!

Luke is an AMAZING soccer player!

Ava is very interested in softball, computers, and telephones!

2" of bathwater makes me a hero NIGHTLY!!

The kids have successfully learned their telephone number, address, and how to cross the street safely :)

Steve (Dad) is their HERO! The minute he walks into the room or comes home from work, they turn on the charm and it's hugs and kisses galore!

Seatbelts are no longer negotiable; they are instantly buckled and if you mistakenly forget to buckle your own, you will eagerly be reminded.

Who knew?

2009-05-28T18:05:00.000-07:00

Who knew there would be no power the entire time we were in Ethiopia?

Who knew that the experience would be so surreal?

Who knew we would feel like we were in a movie...Ethiopia is really like what you think it would be and exactly like what you see on t.v.

Who knew that even under the most depressing conditions, the people of ET would be warm and kind and the children all so beautiful?

Who knew a birth family visit could jar you to the core of your being?

Who knew escalators, security check points, lines, luggage carts, & baggage claim areas could be quite so overstimulating?

Who knew a 20 hour plane ride would feel more like 200?

Who knew jet lag was this debilitating?

Who knew two small children could have quite this much energy and determination?

Who knew God would give me the strength to keep pushing on?

Who knew our two oldest children were this amazing?

Who knew our friends and family would be so----supportive?

Who knew older child adoption would be this hard?

We did...and every day continues to get better.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Luke & Ava Here We Come!

2009-05-13T09:52:00.000-07:00

We leave in four days! That's right....FOUR DAYS!!! :) I received this updated picture of them today. Too----cute! Can't wait to pinch those cheeks!!!

Nine

2009-05-08T13:03:00.001-07:00

We have reached single digit status folks...the countdown continues and NINE days until we leave for Ethiopia!!! Not a lot to report at this time, lots of packing, work is crazy, but I still don't feel like it has totally hit me yet. One pretty cool thing happened last night when we got home from Jake's baseball game though...We found a package in our mailbox from our agency and inside of it were two disposable cameras---the two cameras that we put in each of Luke & Ava's welcome bags from us. Sure enough they were all used up and ready to be developed. My what a small world this has become! I ran over to Target (this was obviously a warranted trip, as opposed to the other 378 trips I have made since this adoption began) to find that the photo shop was closed for the night. I had to wait until today to pick them up and sure enough they were exactly what you would expect from a 6 & 7 year old taking pictures!! lol Gray streaks, heads cut off, as well as lovely pictures of the ceiling. Nonetheless, Luke & Ava took them so it was pretty adorable. :) In all, I think there were three clear pictures (out of 48) but I will cherish each of these photos and tuck them away for safe keeping.

Sweetest Friends EVER!

2009-05-05T17:49:00.000-07:00

This invitation is AMAZING!!! These are some of our favorite pictures of the kids transformed into the most beautiful piece of artwork EVER! Two of my friends, Michelle Roberts and Dede Neely are planning an adoptions shower/send off for our family. The shower ends at 2pm and our flight leaves for ET at 6pm so we will be leaving the shower for the airport! Hip-Hip-Hooray!! My mom says we're crazy, but I can't think of anything I'd rather be doing right before we leave then spending time with our closest friends and family! :) I am just thrilled! I cannot wait for Ava & Luke to meet everyone!! Our adoption has been such a spiritual journey for us. Nearly 14 months ago we put all of our faith in God that he would see this plan through and He has met all of our needs and then some! One of the things we are doing to help other older children who have not yet been matched with a family is collecting donations for the orphanage that we will be taking with us in 3 Rubbermaid containers. Our agency has provided a standard list of items that they need. This list is below:

Standardized Donation List
Kirkland Formula (Costco brand only)
Chewable Vitamins with Iron (Target Brand)
Children's Tylenol
Crest toothpaste
Deodorant
Toothbrushes
Washcloths
toddler through size 14 underwear and socks (boys & girls)
cami's/sportsbras for girls (avoid bright white)
plastic sandals (any brand, similar to Crocs for children 4-13)
Small white dry erase boards and markers
clean warm weather clothing for children age 4-13
sports balls (soccer, basketball, etc.--Must be deflated)
Cash Donations

You Say It's Your Birthday? It's My Birthday Too!

2009-05-01T20:53:00.000-07:00

Just when I find myself getting bogged down in the details God reveals himself. Yesterday as I was talking to the travel coordinator for our adoption agency she informed me that she had some information to share. "Hmm...I'm not expecting any news. What could this possibly be?" I thought. As it turns out she was able to find out Ava & Luke's EXACT birthdays!! Now, if you remember correctly, dates of birth are typically not recorded in Ethiopia. In fact, when we received our referral this time we were at first told they were 4 and 8, then 7 and 9. A fellow adoptive parent then later shared that on her visit to bring her child home she met our children in the orphanage. Through an interpreter Ava said she was 7 and Luke was 6 but it is pretty common for orphans to be "coached" either by a relative or an older child to not tell the truth about their true age since younger children are more "desirable." A difference of a year or two didn't really matter to us so we resigned to the fact that the kids were 7-ish and 9-ish and that was just fine.

One of the little things that was bogging down my brain was the fact that without a birthdate, how were we supposed to choose one? I mean, ONE day out of 365---there are so many choices!! Being born in Nov. I always thought a summer birthday would be fun. Then I thought, maybe we would use their adoption finalization date in ET: 4/23/09 or the date of our first meeting 5/20/09. Then the competitive, overbearing parent in me kicked in and I thought, "What birthday could we possibly give these kids that would give them the most advantage in school as well as in sports?" THAT'S when God pulled the plug. :) I can't believe I was even contemplating such a manipulative act!! Of course, I would've justified it with stories of their disadvantaged youth and poverty...I am truly ashamed....

So, once again, God has saved me from myself and provided a solution to this madness. In the end, Ava was right. She is 7 and Luke is 6. No deceit, no lies, and now we have the documentation to prove it. The other really cool part of this story is this---Cady and Jake have always shared a birthday week. That's something that's always been pretty cool for them. I thought it would be pretty cool for Luke and Ava to share birthdays too. Well, it turns out they do, but just not how I thought they would. Luke's birthday is Nov. 22, the day before mine, and Ava's birthday? Hers is Sept. 7, three days after Steve's. See? God's plans are ALWAYS better than ours! :) Now EVERYONE in our new family has someone to "share" a birthday with....God is Good.

AMAZING!!

2009-04-30T08:58:00.000-07:00

Wanna know how much English the kids have? Look at the beautiful letter we received from Ava this weekend....

AMAZING! What a gift! We leave in 17 days and have started packing already! First aid, food, water, and personal items are already in our suitcases! I'm usually a procrastinator when it comes to these things, so Steve is of course wondering what has come over me!?! He'll be thankful once we're in ET and I'm able to hand him a DIET COKE (something not found in ET by the way)! I've got it all covered and can't wait! This letter from Ava (Etsubdink) makes it so real. I just can't wait to swoop her up! :)

Twenty-Three

2009-04-23T17:13:00.000-07:00

Twenty three has always been my favorite number. It was the day of my birth, the number Steve sported on his MHS basketball uniform, and of course who can forget about Micheal Jordan #23?? Well, today was yet another adoption milestone and whaddya know?!? It's APRIL 23rd! Coincidence? :)

We learned this afternoon that we have to be in Ethiopia in 23 days...lol just kidding, actually in 24 days (still kinda weird, but just my opinion). So basically, in less than four weeks we travel to ET to bring the kids home! Woah! I can't even fatham that this is really happening! I was completely calm about six hours ago when we first got the news but now I am kinda freaking out a little (not gonna lie---A LOT!) but it's all going to be ok (seriously, I feel like I am forgetting to breathe, is that possible?!?)

At any rate, tomorrow is the day Steve and I get our travel shots. Next it's mattress shopping as we still need one twin mattress for Ava. We have tentative travel plans set with Susan Parr Travel using Ethiopian Air (leaving May 17th and coming home May 23rd (there's that number again!!!). I am still compiling my list of questions for the birth family visit and have gotten some great ideas from my AAI yahoogroup. I still need to get some things organized around the house and I guess start packing. Oh my goodness...start packing!!! Tomorrow I only have 23 days left!!!! :)

Psalm 23 (NIV)

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

"Are you going somewhere or do you just like little things?"

2009-04-21T14:15:00.000-07:00

So, the kids are officially HANSONS (crazy, right?) and I have been busy filling out insurance paperwork and shopping for everything under the sun that comes in "travel size" (including toilet paper which I have been advised is a MUST for packing as it is not readily available in all areas). At my last shopping excursion, the ever so astute checkout lady asked, "Are you going somewhere or do you just like really little things?" Ok...so maybe the travel size Q-tips were overkill, or maybe that was just a dumb question! I have to admit it was fun to be able to say, "No, I'm going to Africa!" (Such joy!!) And besides, with the weight limit for luggage and the donations we hope to collect I have to be practical! I can't be bringing a liter bottle of Pantene conditioner when 2 ounces will do!! C'mon people!! I also had a major revelation today that might surprise those of you who know me best---compulsive e-mail checking really has no effect on how quickly information comes. Who knew?!? Still no e-mail from the agency about when we need to travel to ET yet. :( Hopefully tomorrow though, so stay tuned!

Wow..."Thanks" just doesn't seem to cover it

2009-04-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Over the past few days since we passed court, Steve and I have been overwhelmed with well-wishes and offers for assistance in the coming weeks until the kids come. This entire experience has been so humbling...I don't even know what to say anymore (Me? Speechless? I know! Crazy right?). We have had offers for showers, kid/pet/house watching, clothing, shoes, carpooling, and the list goes on and on! It's amazing to us how many people are on this journey with us to bring home Ava (Etsubdink) and Luke (Anteneh).

Those that really know me know I am not very good at accepting help. I have been trying to get better, but it's really uncomfortable for me for some reason. It's not really a control thing---ok, nevermind, who am I kidding? Yes it is. (Sorry). But in all honesty, in this situation it's going to be really hard for me to say what we need, because I don't really know. I am still trying to get sizes (for those still waiting for the "all clear" to begin shopping) and part of me really feels like we'll make do with the things we have for a while. We've gotten a lot of very nice hand-me downs for the time being that I think are wonderful, so I guess we'll see on that one.

In terms of our travel, I feel like that's our biggest need right now. We have estimated that our costs for airfare, hotel, food, visas, and gifts for the orphanage will total nearly $10,000. This is like the cost of a small car, so this is probably freaking me out the most right now. We are still coming up short on our end and only have a few weeks to go. Plus I know there will be medical costs involved once we get the kids home, so I am just trying to figure out how all of this will fall into place. I did find a cheaper hotel than the Hilton or Sheraton in Addis Ababa that looks clean and safe called the Dimitri Hotel. That's one cost saving option I think we're going to pursue.

In the meantime, there is one area that might be an easy way for people to help out if they'd like. We are going to be taking donations to the orphanage for the children and would love for others to help us collect as much as we can. We got a list of needed items for Layla's House that we will be collecting until we leave. If you'd like to help, e-mail me at hanson23kim@yahoo.com and I will arrange a pick up! The list is VERY specific by brand because not all of the workers speak English so they recognize the packaging and that's how they identify the use for the product. For example, toothpaste and diaper rash ointment both come in tubes, so they have to be able to tell the difference. Make sense? Here is a list of items they are requesting:

Standardized Donation List:
Kirkland Formula (Costco brand only)
Chewable Vitamins with Iron (Target Brand)
Children's Tylenol
Crest toothpaste
Deodorant
Toothbrushes
Washcloths
toddler through size 14 underwear and socks (boys & girls)
cami's/sportsbras for girls (avoid bright white)
plastic sandals (any brand, similar to Crocs for children 4-13)
Small white dry erase boards and markers
clean warm weather clothing for children age 4-13
sports balls (soccer, basketball, etc.--Must be deflated)
Cash Donations

We plan to limit our packing and hope to collect as much as we can for the orphanage. As a point of reference, very little of the "cost" of an adoption actually goes to the orphanage (about 15%). Most of the costs/fees are government, paperwork, attorney, and travel related. Our agency cares for 100+ children at a time, many who will never be adopted. For example, in our situation, we are adopting two children, but our fee to the agency fee doesn't double, so they use our one fee to care for as many children as they can. In addition, many of the things we take for granted in the US simply aren't readily available in ET. Something as basic as baby formula, is very difficult to get in ET and when babies are orphaned, there is no mother to rely on for her milk. This, compounded by the dismal economy of the country, has caused a shortage of baby formula in ET, something we see in ready supply and in many different forms/brands in the US.

The list is pretty basic, as you can see. I guess that's why it's difficult to accept more than what we need right now for ourselves or for Ava & Luke. Thank you, really, thank you, but we hope that rather than giving to us, you consider giving to the orphans living in ET right now waiting for their forever families. That would mean more to us than anything. <3

WE PASSED!!!

2009-04-17T09:10:00.000-07:00

Sorry it has taken me until today to post. Things have all kind of been a blur since my friend Kathy talked me into calling AAI yesterday when I hadn't heard by 1pm whether or not our adoption case had passed court. I called, I think I identified myself...I'm sure I did...but I honestly don't remember now. The AAI secretary put me on hold, and then a voice from the heavens said, "Hello Kim, your case was heard and approved in Ethiopia today." I sat speechless---"heard and approved" what does that mean?? Then the lovely voice broke the silence with, "Congratulations!" "Wow!!!" I thought, "this must be good news!" So then, like any normal, sane person, I replied to her, "What do I do now?!" My voice was cracking and she laughed. She seemed to know that I didn't mean, "Sweet Jesus, what in the world am I really going to do with two more kids now?!" but instead more like, "Where do we go from here?" It all was truly this fumbling mess of information sharing and now today I feel like such a dork for not being more composed, or for not saying all the right things, I was in complete shock!! This moment that we had prayed for---so many people had prayed for was really happening!!! Praise the Lord!!!! Now, I have failed to mention up to this point that I was driving my car downtown Oswego at the time (my apologies to all of my law enforcement friends, and especially to my mother) but does this really come as that much of a surprise? So why stop now, right? Of course, the next person I have to call is Steve. He was suprised and excited, but knew I had like a million more calls to make, so then the calling extravaganza began! By the time I got home I was exhausted from sharing, celebrating, talking, crying, and celebrating some more, so I literally PASSED OUT! Can one become exhausted from too much good news? It was truly a miracle and we were so--- thankful! It was a beautiful day in the Hanson house! Now of course the real fun begins, making travel plans, shopping, and the ever popular task on the to-do list....travel shots!!! Arghhh---I cannot escape them now!!

Later last night we learned that there were several families in Group H that did not pass court. The news broke my heart for them and made me feel guilty for all of the celebrating I had done without thinking of them on this day. Steve and I both knew there was a very good chance that we could've been any one of those families with all of the struggles with attorneys and paperwork and living relatives being required to appear in court. We have both gotten to know so many of the families in our group through e-mail in the past few weeks. We will continue to pray for them and that their situations are resolved quickly. Each of their babies and children will be first on our lists of little ones to hold, hug, and kiss when we got to ET. We know how eager their parents are to be with them. :) We will keep them all in our thoughts and prayers.

Today is a new day. Steve & I are officially parents to FOUR kids! Yikes!! Cady, Jake, Ava (Etsubdink) and Luke (Anteneh) Hanson. This is all such a blessing to us. We are so thankful that God saw us through and can't wait to continue this journey with Him. Here they are...FINALLY I can post them on our blog! I have waited 13 months for this! Oh...and one last detail that I almost forgot! We travel to pick them up in SIX WEEKS!!! We cannot wait!!

Three Days Until Court

2009-04-13T18:20:00.000-07:00

I think I'm gonna write a book someday chronicling all of the adoption adventures we have endured thus far. In the midst of waiting to hear from our agency regarding the ever not-so-popular Power of Attorney issue, time has flown by. God's little "distraction" to help maintain my sanity? Sounds reasonable to me! :) Suddenly there are only three days until our April 16th court date.

I spoke with Merrily today...the meeting AND hearing in ET were cancelled (seriously). 0-2... Great start to the day. Then I decide, you know, why not just pick up the phone and call Merrily? Perhaps it was time for a good old fashioned conversation!! As it turns out, good thing I did!! We had a nice chat and I learned that our NEW Power of Attorney (my, what an adventure that day was!) is quite possibly in ET as we speak. This is good news! What a roller coaster ride this has been. In three days we know...either YES we pass, or NO we don't. I'm feeling like a self-induced coma may be in order---Arghhh! Funny thing is, if I keep eating like I'm pregnant, it might really happen! (Good old fashion sugar coma here I come!) Thank God for good friends, colleagues, and family. I don't know what I'd without such positive energy!

In honor of THREE DAYS TILL COURT, here is a list of my favorite threesomes (in no particular order):
1. The Holy Trinity
2. Steve, Cady & Jake
3. Mo, Larry & Curly
4. The Bee Gees
5. Faith, Hope, and Love
6. Charlie's Angles
7. Mendota, Amboy, Compton (all part of what I call "home")
8. Jack, Crissy, & Janet (Three's Company)
9. The Three Wise Men
10. Jimmy, Gucci, Coco (my three dogs, in order of ownership)
11. Hanson, Wanat, Ruff (the GREATEST threesome ever...good times I will NEVER forget!)

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T19:25:00.000-07:00

It was a wonderful Easter weekend celebration. It started with a beautiful church service on Saturday night, then a trip to Grandma Dawn's & Grandma Kate's on Sunday. Faith and family--what a perfect way to celebrate God's fulfilled promise. The traditional Hanson Easter Egg Hunt was a big hit...even with the "big kids." It was all too easy to get lost imagining Ava & Luke running around with the cousins. It's like I miss them and they're not even here yet. :( I am doing my best to hang on at this point, but arghh! it is so----hard!! We have placed all of our burdens and worry in God's hands, but what's a mom to do when her children are half way around the world and nothing she could do or say will bring them to her any faster?!? No really, I'm just askin'....

Brief update: Pre-Court Hearing Monday (tomorrow 2pm ET time/4am Central Time) in Ethiopia. Adoption finalization court appearance Thurs. April 16th in ET. Please continue to pray!!! I will post as soon as I hear ANY morsel of news.

Romans 15:13 says, "May the God of hope fill you will all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Top Ten Things to Do When There are TEN Days Until Court!

2009-04-06T10:20:00.000-07:00

10. Find out if the iPhone works in ET. This is especially important for me to remain in contact with Cady and Jake while we are gone. Besides, why would I let my "Blackberry Thumb" injury heal at a time like this?!?

9. Continue to procrastinate about getting travel shots. Enough said.

8. Make a Basic Words and Phrases picture book for us to use while we are traveling home with the kids!

7. Compulsively check my "Before You Go" travel list and continue to ask Steve daily, "So, we are staying in a hotel and not the Guest House, right?" secretly hoping that he will say no so I can be with the kids all day every day until we bring them home.

6. Look into the kids' bedrooms daily and imagine them sleeping in their beds.

5. Continue to stalk websites like Orbitz.com for guidelines on airfare to ET even though I know we will be using a travel agent. It still brings me peace to know that ticket prices are not skyrocketting while I am asleep at night!

4. Avoid getting in shape by eating everything in sight because I am so nervous!

3. Clean. My house hasn't been this clean since it was built in 1999. Every floorboard, closet, bathroom, and bedroom are in tip-top shape. Besides, who's gonna have time to clean with 4 KIDS!!?!

2. E-mail fellow Group H'ers about our worries, fears, hopes, and plans for while in ET and beyond. What a great group this has been. I can't wait to meet them all in person!
1. Remember that GOD IS GOOD, he has a plan, and will bring Ava & Luke to us when it is time. I pray everyday for the kids, for their mom, and for all other families who are in the process of adopting. It is a heart wrenching experience, but already it has been an incredible journey. Now we just want them to get here!

New State Seal...Really??

2009-03-30T07:57:00.000-07:00

Steve & I got our new notary on Fri. morning and I took the train into Chicago to the Secretary of State's Office to get our newly required state seal on our Power of Attorney. Upon arrival, I learned that the notary had signed her name wrong so our new seal could not be given. :( She used her middle initial in her signature which did not match their records, so the notary was void! After a mini-meltdown right there in the office and a few tears of frustration over this entire situation, I hopped back on the train headed for home, checked the schedule, and realized the next train back into the city would not get me back before the office closed for the day. So, using my "never give up" superpowers, I met Steve at the train station, hopped in my car, and somehow made it back to the office in Chicago ten minutes before they closed for the day! I was in such a rush to get to the Secretary of State's Office (the second time) that when I parked my car I made sure to make a mental note of the floor I parked on in the parking garage, I just forgot to check WHICH garage I was parked at! Ooops--minor details! I didn't even care...I had my NEW Power of Attorney forms signed, notarized, and I even had my STATE SEAL!! Needless to say, after a personal "regrouping session" at Starbucks, I pulled myself together and figured out how to get back the garage where I hoped my car would be! Jackpot!! Yep, I was on the third floor alright! With time to spare before the FedEx pickup, I said a little prayer and dropped everything in the box.

I sure hope this craziness brings us all some luck on April 16th! I will continue to pray for Group H. What a day!

Frustration Setting In...

2009-03-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

We received an e-mail today from AAI that our agency's attorney has quit (the split was amicable, like that really helps me right now). So, looks like all of the state seals we got with his name on them are no longer valid...fabulous. Three weeks from today is court so let's do the math---Tomorrow Steve & I get new signatures notarized, next I hop on the train to go downtown to the Secretary of State's Office to get a state seal, then FedEx everything to AAI in Washington (not DC) and pray they receive it by the 3/30/09 deadline (yea, that's MONDAY!). Tough, but do-able, but that's where the things in my control end. Next, the documents have to all be sent to Washington, DC by courier for translation and then sent to Addis Ababa, ET. Then the Ministry of Women's Affairs in ET must write a favorable letter on our behalf and this all must happen by APRIL 16th, which is actually April 15th since they are 9 hours ahead of our time. ARGH!!!!!!!

Adoption Update...

2009-03-24T06:26:00.000-07:00

Twenty three more days until court. :) On that day (provided we pass) they will be ours!

There is, however, some minor risk involved in our previous timeline. The U.S. CDC has issued a new rule for all immigrants (not just Ethiopian orphans) whereby anyone entering the U.S. has to test negative for TB in order for a U.S. visa to be granted. This is obviously a good thing, right? Well, as it turns out, if a child tests positive, he/she must be treated in the home country for 6 months before being allowed entry into the U.S.!! Now, here comes the kicker...this rule change goes into effect immediately but none of the children whose paperwork is already in the ET court system have been tested. Arghh...so now that must be done without any warning or "grandfather" period for those already in the process, which means if either of the kids test positive, they will not be allowed to leave Ethiopia until SEPTEMBER! If they DO test negative, then there are no worries and the kids come home on time. I know our agency is doing their best to get everyone tested right away, in fact sadly, one of the babies in our travel group tested positive for TB and the PAP (prospective adoptive parent) was notified last week. :(

So...the "Million Dollar Question"...How are we doing? We are doing well. News such as this no longer terrifies us. We know and trust that this entire process is in God's hands. It's amazing to look back at how this entire process has changed us. It's funny...when we tell people we're adopting they often say, “God bless you" or they allude to the fact that we are “saving” a life but I have a hard time believing that we are “saving” these two little people who we know will bring such joy to our entire family. If anything, I feel like they are really saving us. So many people have joined us, walked with us, and prayed for us on this journey. We are humbled by this opportunity. All we can do now is keep telling our story.

WE GOT A DATE!

2009-03-12T10:55:00.000-07:00

We got a court date yesterday...it's April 16th!!! Hooooraaayyy!! The countdown has officially begun---35 days and counting! We are beyond thrilled! We have never made it this far in the process before. We lost our first referral before we were issued a date. On April 16th our adoption will be finalized and we will travel to Ethiopia to bring the kids both home 3-6 weeks later! We obviously have lots to do before then and will be very busy these next few weeks!!

I parent teenagers...So what's your superpower?

2009-03-09T11:21:00.000-07:00

Friday Ramblings...

2009-03-06T08:00:00.000-08:00

So, it's Friday and I have no personal adoption news to share, however, I would like to take this opportunity to ramble if I may....First of all, I hate shots. I thought I was tough, turns out---not so much. I called the Health Dept. to schedule our "travel vaccinations" and as it turns out, in my opinion, I am going to need vaccinations for my vaccinations!!! I like the idea of babies and kids getting vaccinated, don't get me wrong...and I'm really not sure how I feel about the whole autism/vaccination connection controversy, but I CAN tell you one thing---the idea of voluntarily injecting my self with LIVE viruses so that my body develops antibodies against communicable diseases such as Hepatitis, Yellow Fever, Polio, Tetanus, and the flu (as well as popping a few pills so I don't get malaria) really doesn't sound like that much fun to me. And, the best part is, they may cause hallucinations, nausea, increased anxiety, panic attacks, AND I get to pay for it! What's that all about?!? Like THAT'S really gonna motivate me to go get it done!! So for now, my palms are sweating at the thought, I still haven't made my appointment, and am overall undecided on whether or not I am going to get the recommended shots.

My "Baby"

2009-03-03T09:06:00.000-08:00

My baby is getting so---tall! Jake is now 5'11'' and still growing like crazy! In Steve's official drivers license photo back in 1987 he was 5'3" and weighed 116lbs! Jake, looks like at nearly 15 you've already got your dad beat! :) And besides that, look at how much he LOVES to get his picture taken with his Mommy! lol

Group "H"

2009-02-27T18:44:00.000-08:00

Yesterday we received an e-mail from AAI, we are in Group H. Group F's court date is 3/3/09 and Group G's was in early April, but will probably be rescheduled for sooner (mid-late March) due to the additional judge that is now hearing court cases in Ethiopia. We will not hear what our date is until all of the previously assigned dates are moved up, but at the current rate, our case should be heard in court in late April/Early May. Once court is finalized, the children will be legally ours. The government then begins preparing documents with"Hanson" as their last name. Huh, "H" for Hanson, pretty cool! :)

To do list:

Call Visa Center in Washington, DC
Compile Donations for orphanage (vitamins, antibiotics, tylenol, toothpaste, rubber gloves, children's tylenol/ibuprofin, etc.)
Choose toys/gifts for kids at Layla's House
Get travel vaccinations
Shop for clothes, shoes, personal items
Finish the kids' bedrooms
PRAY!

Things that make you go "Hmmm...."

2009-02-22T17:58:00.000-08:00

So today I received a marvelous gift via e-mail. A fellow adoptive mother who just returned from Ethiopia with her new son had the opportunity to meet our children while she was there. About Etsu she writes,

"She is so adorable, cute, and funny! I loved her!!! You are going to be so blessed. I didn't get to spend much time with Atenah, he seemed a little more shy. She said she is 7 and Atenah is 6. I would say she is 7 for sure. She looks very small and is missing some teeth. I asked one of the volunteers which one she was when I got there and told them she was nine and two of them said she is not 9, no way! So anyways I just thought she was the cutest and I have plenty of pictures for you when I get them loaded."

(Picture me scratching my head right now.)
What a mystery something like age is in Ethiopia...first the children were 8 and 4, then medical examinations determined they were 9 and 7, yet the children themselves say they are 7 and 6!! It does not matter to us, yet it is amazing there are no public records or documents to prove one way or another, just a child's or relative's memory of "about" the time a child was born or told he/she was born. Hmmm...Really? In that case I think I was born in 1987, that sounds like a good year!

Seriously though, I don't mean to make light of such a serious thing such as age, but the truth is even after we see the children, get to know them, and have them examined here in the states, we may never really know for certain.

Ethiopia---Just the Facts...

2009-02-19T18:42:00.000-08:00

In Ethiopia one in ten children die before their first birthday
One in six children die before their fifth birthday
44% of the population of Ethiopia is under 15 years old
60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition
The median age in Ethiopia is 17.8 years
1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world)
There are 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia.
Per capita, Ethiopia receives less aid than any country in Africa.
In the 90's the population (3%) grew faster than food production (2.2%)
Drought struck the country from 2000-2002 (first year no crops, second year no seeds, third year no animals)
Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school. 88% will never attend secondary school. Coffee prices (Ethiopia’s only major export) fell 40-60% from 1998-2002.
Ethiopia’s doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000.

...Still want to know why we chose Ethiopia?

Things we will be able to provide that our kids might never have had:
-three meals a day
-a shower/bath daily
-their very own tooth or hair brush
-an education
-doctor's care
-dental visits
-presents on their birthdays
-vaccinations
-clean clothes
-their own warm bed at night
-a chance to go to college
-medicine when they're sick

I think I need to start thanking God every day that I was born in America.

Details, Details

2009-02-11T09:17:00.000-08:00

I am thinking that maybe my fantasy of working for, being in, or contributing to Us Weekly magazine (my guilty pleasure, c'mon, we all got 'em!) is kicking into overdrive as people are unusually interested in my life now that we are having two more kids!

Truth be told, I am receiving way more e-mails and it is impossible to keep up, so here are the adoption details as we know them...

Etsubdink (EE-soob-dink) or Etsu (EE-soo) for short is a nine year old girl. Her name is very common in Ethiopia and means "marvelous." She is healthy and beautiful. Anteneh (AN-ton-ay) is 6/7 and is also a healthy boy. His name means "priceless." We are considering keeping their Ethiopian names as middle names and choosing American names but have not made any final decisions yet on this one. Both children are of Amhara descent and are average height and weight for their ages in Ethiopia. We are also happy to report they have been raised Orthodox Christian, one of the oldest forms of Christianity in the world today. Both children were brought to our agency in Addis Ababa, ET late in December and are currently going to school and beginning to learn English.

Our paperwork is currently in the Ethiopian court system and we are awaiting a court date to finalize the adoption in country. This could take anywhere from 3-4 months but it is not guaranteed that we will pass the first time. Once we do pass, we will be assigned an Embassy date and this determines when we travel to pick the kids up to bring them home. Steve and I both plan to travel at this point. It should be a quick 5-7 day trip. Cady thinks she is going to smuggle herself into our luggage (she wants to go so----bad) but we really don't see this happening. Jake on the other hand, he's gonna stick with his protein shakes and baseball here in the states. :)

Shew...a lot of info, but a heckuva lot easier only having to write it once! :) This blog-thing sure is pretty cool! Thanks for reading and thanks for your continued prayers for the new members of our family!

Referral Day 2/4/2009

2009-02-05T09:21:00.000-08:00

"Let's go for it!"...I think those were Steve's exact words.

Granted, this isn't a two point conversion, we're not putting the squeeze on to steal home, and we're not calling a play for a game winning shot at the buzzer, but this is truly the only way we know how to communicate. Eighteen years of this and believe me, it all makes sense. In the sports-crazed world of the Hanson house, this is honestly how most decisions are made. I know no other way.

We received the referral over a week ago and then as luck would have it, soon thereafter we also got some concerning news about one of the children. As we waited for additional information from our director in Ethiopia , our prayers were being answered one by one here in at home. Offers for medical services and financial contributions began coming in from people we have never even met before who wanted to help these children. I can't even put the feelings into words. It was amazing. Slowly our fears and anxieties began to fade, and then the e-mail came from Merrily.

The children were both seen by a dr. and examinations were made. Original concerns were drastically reduced. Clearly the kids would not need more that what we could provide, especially now knowing the resources available to us. They will soon be ours. God is good. Our prayers have been answered, so we are moving forward. Our paperwork is already translated and being processed in court. We will be assigned a court date and will travel 4-6 weeks after we pass court (IF we pass the first time). We are cautiously optimistic that we may travel early summer. They are beautiful, athletic (go figure), and also very sweet. We have a few photos but are slowly collecting more and more. We will continue to keep everyone updated as we go, so stay tuned!!

"We Plan and God Laughs"

2009-01-27T12:24:00.000-08:00

I spoke with Merrily today and she is leaving for Ethiopia tomorrow. Lucky her...it's 79 degrees there today. Not only that, but she gets to spend a couple of weeks with kids that will hopefully someday be ours! :) Hopefully she has a safe trip and comes home with good news for us.

An update on our referral---We are waiting to hear additional medical/dental information from a couple of different sources. We cannot formally accept the referral until we know for certain that all things are "minor and correctable" as is stated in our homestudy approval. Initially, we were certain these two little kiddos were going to be Hanson's very soon, but I just got a quote from a friend the other day that says, "We plan and God laughs." How very true! I guess now we just have to wait a little longer.

I hate to even say it, but I have become the most calm and patient person I know these past two months. Knowing it's all in God's hands sure takes the burden out of mine. I am definitely getting used to this. What peace!

ACS Sophomore Basketball

2009-01-20T21:59:00.000-08:00

Some recent online pix of Jake playing basketball for ACS against Illiana High School. I look forward to watching each of these young men develop over the next four years. It's gonna be something special. We <3 our ACS Eagles!
http://acs-photos.smugmug.com/photos/457051784_KyXcW-M.jpg
http://acs-photos.smugmug.com/photos/457068175_f3MrJ-M.jpg
(this one "might" be a foul!) :)
http://acs-photos.smugmug.com/photos/457063427_q2jnD-M.jpg
http://acs-photos.smugmug.com/photos/457065067_UV4TF-M.jpg
http://acs-photos.smugmug.com/photos/457083819_h9X7g-M.jpg
http://acs-photos.smugmug.com/photos/457050855_Ri48f-M.jpg

Two more Hanson kids on the way!

2009-01-16T11:38:00.000-08:00

It's official! We accepted our referral of a 7 year old boy and his 9 year old sister. We will be keeping their Ethiopian names as middle names and are now in the process of selecting first names for them when they join our family. Unfortunately, Ethiopian law prohibits us from posting pictures of them anywhere online, but I can assure you they are pretty darn cute! :)
Estimated time from referral to travel is 5-6 months, so Steve & I will be travelling together sometime this summer to bring them home. Please keep these new little ones in your prayers.

We got a referral today!

2009-01-14T15:08:00.000-08:00

To get something you never had, you have to do something you never did. When God takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening your hands to receive something better. "The will of God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you." Something good will happen to you today; something that you have been waiting to hear. For God has said, "I will never fail you. I will never forsake you." Heb 13:5

Much more to follow....stay tuned!

Ethiopian Diamond

2009-01-03T07:11:00.001-08:00

So what else is there to do on a Fri. night but drive into the city? It's our last weekend of Christmas break, so at the last minute, we planned an impromptu trip to the Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant in Chicago. The food is brought to you on a platter with an "injera" (Ethiopian flatbread) base. The bread, as Steve determined, is about the texture of a yoga mat. The food is mainly in the form of what we call a "stew" but comes in many different types. We got lamb, beef, chicken, spinach, and collard greens. The beef/chicken mix was our favorite, probably because it most closely resembled a stir-fry.

As if the bread and food isn't interesting enough, you also do not get to use silverware! You tear the bread and use it to slop up the food and eat it! (As demonstrated by Jake and his girlfriend Emily).

To cap off the evening, we did a little shopping on Michigan Ave. and took some pictures to remember the night! We learned a little about what our experience in Ethiopia will be like, and Steve now knows just how many Snickers bars he needs to pack to make it through the week in Africa! lol They were all such good sports!

Peer Pressure

2009-01-02T10:56:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I said I would never do it, but I was pressured into setting up a facebook account today. "All the cool kids are doing it!" Right? Oh well, I guess there are worse things. I have found a few adoptive parents that I talk to online through the yahoo group, so I guess it's cool, and a ton of my old high school classmates are there too! I am getting the hang of it, but still have a long way to go! My bff Mary Sarver is helping me through it! I hope she has a lot of patience!!! ;)

Happy New Year! Let's get ready for some BASEBALL!

2009-01-01T16:12:00.001-08:00

So, it's always baseball season in the Hanson household, but I have to admit, with the adoption we have been somewhat distracted this year and have been slacking on some of our duties, but God knew exactly what we needed to change that! Every year Steve hosts a holiday baseball clinic and pretty consistently attendance has been going up the last four years. Last year, we had over 100 attendees. This year, the economy, coupled with our distractions, attendance was really down. A week before the clinic we had 40 kids registered and were nowhere near where we needed to be to be able to pay our guest staff and pay for the facility. We were all but set up for failure. We were certain to loose hundreds if not thousands of dollars for the organization. By the grace of God, within a week we received over 40 additional registrations (more than we had received in the five weeks before!). Then, to top it all off, it was our BEST clinic ever! The coaches were awesome, the kids were pumped, and we made enough to break even. It was incredible...just the push we both needed to get refocused! Today, not only is it a new year, but we are ready for a new baseball season! What we do takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and it's easy to "fall off the wagon" of enthusiasm when you're dealing with difficult parents, bills, uniforms, coaches, spiritwear, and fundraising day after day. I know that God has an awesome plan for us, I just can't wait to see where 2009 takes us!

Merry Christmas 2008!

2008-12-25T18:21:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas from Cady, Jake and Coco!! This year was much different that others. A referral for a new sibling group was at the top of all of our Christmas lists this year, but no new medical information, so no new kiddos (yet)! But, with the new year comes new hope! As soon as we hear anything, trust me...it will be posted!!

We are all wishing for a speedy (but careful) adoption referral very soon! Until then, the rest of our Christmas Break will be spent at the 4th Annual Reds Baseball Holiday Clinic and in Somonauk and Plano for basketball tournaments. Go Reds and Go Eagles! :)

Some updates on physical stats that you can't see from this photo...We measured Jake today at Grandma's house and he is just a hair below 5'11''. Judging by his hands and feet, he looks like he's got more growing to do!! Cady measures in at a solid 5'4 1/4'' (can't forget the "quarter!") and the perfect height for a defensive specialist (although she wishes she were a towering middle blocker, of course). Don't they look like they love each other!?! They are going to make an awesome big sister/brother someday soon! <3

Merrily called...

2008-12-09T13:54:00.000-08:00

Merrily called today and said they just admitted a new sib set---little girl 8 and boy 4 (perfect for starting kdg. in the fall...and snuggling all summer long with mom :) ). We won't have any info on family or medical history or even pictures for a while (few weeks?) but we are hopeful it could be a match for us.

"I am able to do all things through Him who strengthens me." -Philippians 4:13

Little Miss Cady

2008-12-08T08:21:00.000-08:00

Some updates on the happenings of our daughter Cady....

The high school season ended in November, but it's ALWAYS volleyball season at the Hanson house! :) Cady plays on a club team called the Illinois Heat when she is done with her h.s. season. Her j.v. team at school had a great year, coming just shy of winning 20 games with a final record of 19-6 (I think?). She was the team's libero which is a back row defensive specialist that wears a jersey different than her teammates so the referees can keep track of her substitutions easier. She is free to come in and out of the game at any time but not allowed to be a hitter (unless it's behind the 10 foot line). Volleyball is her passion! Her club team just won their first tournament (Congrats!!) so we are very proud of her! She is #32, front row, far right below:

Cady also recently planned a sophomore lock-in at Aurora Christian along with all of the other class officers. She realized, after the fact, just how much work being the party planner really is!

Here she is covered in flour...something about a relay race in the school cafeteria? The best part was they all had to clean it up afterwords. Yikes! I bet they never do that again!

Cady has also been very busy cheering on her friends. Here she is at the state final football game in Champaign with one of her best friends Shannon. Too bad the Eagles lost, but hey, 2nd in state? That's nothing to be ashamed of! She will remember these days forever and so will we.

Sad news...

2008-12-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

I received an e-mail from Merrily today stating the grandparents have withdrawn the adoption plan for F. and B. due to the fighting within the family. The agency currently has no children within our requested age range to offer us, so we are now back to waiting for a referral.

All of our paperwork has been completed for up to two children age 4-11, so we are limited to this range unless we decide to re-do all of our paperwork. I have been told that they receive about 10 new children a month at AAI and there are a few travel groups coming up which will make more room for new kids. So....looks like we're back to waiting. :(

The Light From Within

2008-11-30T13:25:00.000-08:00

It's dark and it's snowing outside. The roads are wet and a storm is moving in. I am inside where it is warm and comfortable and, of course, Coco is on my lap. :) Jake and Steve are working in the basement on Cady's new room today. Together they are laying a wood laminate floor that will spare our new carpeting from her onslaught of beauty products (makeup, hair extensions, hairspray, lotions, perfumes, glitter, paint, and God only knows what else Cady needs or uses on a daily basis!!). With both Steve and I growing up in Mendota (Home of the Sweet Corn Festival) it was funny that the color we both picked out was "corn tassel." I guess you can take the kids out of the country but not the country out of the kids. The rest of the basement carpeting should be delivered this week, so we are making great progress on our new living space. Now we just need more kids to fill up the space! :)

Our guest speaker at church today was Shadonkeh Johnson, a minister from Sierra Leone. His message was about dispelling the spiritual darkness that exists in our world today. His testimony was incredible as he spoke of horrible situations like imprisonment, surviving poison attempts, and death threats as he spread the Bible's teachings in non-Christian areas of western Africa.

Spiritual brightness beamed from him as he spoke. In his teaching, he reminded me of two very important things--that taking up the cross will mean pain for a while, as it did for Jesus, and that happiness is not the same as true joy. Happiness, he says comes and goes, but true joy comes from a relationship with Jesus. The joy of knowing the Lord gives us strength that lights our spirit from within. So if you have faith and believe, you know that wherever the light of Christ goes, there is no darkness. In other words, no matter what the situation--however dark, desperate, or inevitable...you can always find joy in knowing that the spirit is with you...always.

So on this dark and gloomy day, the last day of November, the spirit within me is bright. I have faith that soon we will know something about F. and B., soon I will understand that even when I am alone I am never really alone, and soon the blinded eyes of those I love will seek the light and find true joy as well.

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you." John 14:18

Can 21 be our lucky number??

2008-11-21T10:41:00.000-08:00

Well, it's day #21 of waiting for news on the investigation. Could today be the day??

Arghh...
I think instead of focusing on the wait I'm gonna think about happy things like:
1. It's Friday!
2. ACS is playing a semi-final football game on Sat. (GO EAGLES!!)

3. Sunday is my birthday!

I was also just thinking of how blessed we are with our two kids--Cady & Jake. They are getting ready to move into the basement, or as they refer to it as "their apartment." They are asserting their independence as high schoolers and looking forward to their little oasis that was created for them in preparation for F. and B. to take over their current bedrooms.

Here are some of my favorite pictures of them with their friends. The first is of Jake and his "crew" and the second is of Cady and hers. We are very blessed that they have both made such great choices in friends. We have really enjoyed watching them all grow up these past few years! Ahh...high school memories! :)

Dear Lord...

2008-11-17T09:42:00.000-08:00

Dear Lord,
I thank You for this day,
I thank You for my being able to see
and to hear this morning.
I'm blessed because You are
a forgiving God and
an understanding God.
You have done so much for me
and You keep on blessing me.
Forgive me this day for everything
I have done, said or thought
that was not pleasing to you.I ask now for Your forgiveness.
Please keep me safe
from all danger and harm.
Help me to start this day
with a new attitude and plenty of gratitude.
Let me make the best of each and every day
to clear my mind so that I can hear from You.
Please broaden my mind
that I can accept all things.
Let me not whine and whimper
over things I have no control over.And give me the best response
when I'm pushed beyond my limits.I know that when I can't pray,
You listen to my heart.
Continue to use me to do Your will.
Continue to bless me that I may be
a blessing to others.

Sunday...a day of rest

2008-11-16T14:49:00.000-08:00

No posts about our wait for news of F. and B.

Today I am relaxing. Cleaning, doing laundry, catching up on e-mail and just chilling. It's a quiet day, but a great day. Quiet...peaceful.

Last night ACS beat Driscoll--7 time state football champions. Our whole family was there, but I sat through the game with my friend Michelle. Her son is the quarterback and quite an amazing athlete, I must say! I am so proud of him and of the entire team! I had a great night cheering (brought back old memories) :) I think I broke a blood vessel in my left thumb...oh well, it was worth it! It was so much fun to be there with her. I had a blast! Thanks Roberts family for bringing such joy to a bleacher-bum mom like myself!

The Secret of Waiting

2008-11-14T09:47:00.000-08:00

Trust me when I say this...I am no expert on waiting (My mom and sister are probably picking themself off the floor right now--they know me all too well).

Thankfully, I have wonderful friends as well as other adoptive parents who are trying to help me as we wait to hear news on F. and B. Someone sent me this article today written by Bob Sorge that I never want to forget, so I am posting part of here today for all to see.

"The closer you get to God, the more you realize he's in no hurry. There is no frenetic hurrying in heaven, only calculated purpose. 'Whoever believes will not act hastily' (Isaiah 28:16). Those who step into God's time zone will not allow urgent matters to press them into acting too quickly and getting ahead of God.'

Many of us approach our secret place with a checklist of activities, and we check them off mentally once they're completed:

1. Worship, praise, thanksgiving

2. Bible Reading

3. MeditationI

4. Intercession

5. Journaling

6. Confession of sins.

"Then, once we've completed everything on our list, our time in the secret place is finished. But is it really finished? There is yet another element to be included—waiting on God.
One of the best descriptions of waiting on God is found in Psalm 123:2, 'Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, until he has mercy on us.' To wait on God is to stare at his hand. We stare at his hand for two primary reasons: to serve and minister to him in whatever way his hand might signal us to fulfill; and to wait until he moves his mighty hand on our behalf. Waiting on God is not watching television until God chooses to move; waiting on God is attentively gazing upon him with undistracted focus until he has mercy on us. And until he acts, we just wait on him and love him, I would say it this way: While waiting for God, wait on God..."

"Waiting on God may be the most difficult of all the spiritual disciplines, and perhaps that's the reason so few truly practice it. Just sitting in his presence and gazing … it can be agonizing to us who have become accustomed to being bombarded with data and stimuli. We lack the attention span to wait on God. But he knows that, so in his kindness he designs scenarios that will help us learn how to wait on him. Once we press through and cross the boredom threshold, we open to the joys and adventures of waiting on God."

Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you;and therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the LORD is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him (Isaiah 30:18).

"...I have heard some teach, 'You're waiting for God, but God's waiting for you.' While that may be true in some instances, it is not the truth of Isaiah 30:18. When it says, 'The Lord will wait,' it doesn't mean that God is waiting for you to do something; it means that God is strategically delaying his miraculous visitation because he has greater things in store for you than you've even asked for. But to give you the fullness of what he has planned for your life, he will use the season of waiting to prepare you as a vessel, and also to prepare circumstances around your life so that you will be able to step forward into the proper sphere when his release comes to you. He's waiting so that he can crown you with an even greater blessing."

Thanks Adelle for sending me this article. You are my angel. :)

7 Random Facts About Me (In no particular order of course)...

2008-11-13T14:00:00.000-08:00

1. I was married when I was 19 to my now husband Steve. 16 years later, we're still happily together. This is one of the proudest accomplishments of my life, although I must admit, I owe it mostly to him for putting up with me all these years.

2. I don't eat mushrooms. I don't like them raw, cooked, sliced, or diced. I can't necessarily even taste them in food but I hate the texture of them and how they squeak in my mouth when I bite into one.

3. I bite my fingernails...disgusting I know. If anyone has any suggestions besides pepper paint and acrylics, I'm open! I know it's gross, I simply cannot help myself!

4. I hate surprises. I need to know and I need to know now!!! This goes along with me having no patience as well, but I am working on it!

5. I am a religious person. Went through all of the Holy Sacraments as a Catholic, wanted to be a nun in fact, until about 6th grade. I thought I could marry God and be spiritually fulfilled until I met a cute boy that year that wanted to be my boyfriend. Fell out of a relationship with Christ in my early teens through my late twenties, and have since accepted Christ back into my life. I consider myself a Christian today and try to live my life in a way that is pleasing to Him.

6. I have always dreamed of travelling to Africa and always wanted to adopt from Ethiopia (from about the age of 13). Hopefully at some point this year I get to do both.

7. My children are the light of my world and I want nothing more than for them to be faithful to themselves, to others, and to God. I want them to never settle for mediocrity in anything they do, which is why if you asked them, they would probably consider me a strict and nosy parent...sorry Cady & Jake, just doing my job because I love you!!!

Just passing time...

2008-11-11T21:35:00.000-08:00

Still no news on the adoption today. It is Veteran's Day and the AAI office is closed. :( Merrily said we'd hopefully get news this week. Tomorrow is Wednesday and if I don't get some sleep soon it could get ugly.

Cady had her first night of club volleyball tonite, so I went to Borders and bought the Ethiopia travel guide. Let's hope we need it soon!! She said her practice went well and she thinks she's on the top team. Hopefully she continues to improve and take care of her health so she can have a long and successful season.

Jake started basketball this week at school. He's a freshman, but got moved up to the sophomore team along with a few others from his class. Clearly he got his athletic ability from his mother :). Steve is coaching the freshman, his first "official" coaching gig at Aurora Christian High School since he started teaching there.

Well, it's time to go try to get some sleep. I'm praying for some news tomorrow on F. and B. May God keep them safe.

"Who needs drugs when puppies lick faces?"

2008-11-09T11:18:00.000-08:00

So when you're having a bad day, how can you really be mad at your dog? Coco is my 3 1/2 lb. yorkie that was given to me two years ago this month by one of the sweetest people I know, my friend Jodi. After our previous dog Gucci (I didn't get to pick the name, so don't ask) passed, Jodi's son Vince called a family meeting. Their dog Cami had just had a litter of puppies and Vince wanted our family to have one. The one we got was Coco and she has been the greatest gift ever!! Everywhere we go we take Coco. She is a huge hit at baseball games with all the kids and why wouldn't she be?!?! She is just adorable!!!

With all of the stress, anxiety, and worry about our adoption these days, Coco still greets me every day with a smile...literally, a real smile! I guess it's the little things that are getting us through while we wait to hear from the agency about F. and B. No news, but Coco's still here on my lap, so for today, I'm gonna be okay! :)

Strangers Here on Earth...

2008-08-27T17:07:00.001-07:00

We just finished a series at church called, "Strangers Here on Earth," and to be honest, I think it took me the entire summer to understand what this meant. Ok, so I try pretty hard to be a good person (ok, I know I could so a better job of biting my tongue now and then) but I never imagined that being a Christian might actually isolate me from my own family. In trying to "do the right thing" (i.e. speak openly about my faith, encourage others to accept Jesus Christ, forgive myself for a sinful past, speak of the Bible, etc.) I feel like I get "that look" from those who know me best. I hear it in the phone calls, I see the head cocks to the side when I speak of my faith, and I am beginning to feel a bit like a fish out of water.

By accepting this new life I have not only been forgiven for a lifetime of sin, but I have been given a new lease on life! This is something I feel like shouting from the rooftops! I am feeling like it is my duty to be a Contagious Christian...but what do you do when those you are trying to infect are wearing a full body suit?

As it turns out, this struggle is not unique to just me. Many who have been born again face similar challenges. I am so thankful that my husband Steve and I have been on this journey together. I can't imagine how much more difficult this would be without him. We have an AWESOME church and some really great Christian families have supported our journey (The Roberts, Piszczek, Davidson, Oleson, Schuette, Schneeman, Underhill, Beebe, and Schutt families just to name a few). These people may not even realize the gifts they have given in faith, but in a time when I feel like stranger among my very own loved ones, their influence has been a precious gift to me.

Sure it takes a lot of courage

To put things in God's hands

To trust in him completely —

Your life, your hope, your plans

To follow where He leads you

And make His will your own.

But all it takes is foolishness

To go the way alone.

Trust Him when dark doubts assail you;

Trust Him when your strength is small;

Trust Him when to simply trust him

Seems the hardest thing of all.

Why Ethiopia?

2008-04-09T21:32:00.000-07:00

When asked by people, "Why Ethiopia?" the answer for us seems so obvious...

"Why Not?!"

Ethiopia is a beautiful country situated in Eastern Africa near the Red Sea with a population of 77 million people. Ethiopia, the land of 6 million orphans, where children have a cheerful outlook despite their difficult lives...Where most children are healthy by developing world standards because medical care is so scarce that children with serious illnesses generally do not survive past age 12. Once in orphanages, children are well-cared for and child to care-giver ratios are the lowest in the world (3:1).

While I believe in my heart that there are children are in Ethiopia that God meant to be a part of our family, my husband's heart has taken longer to realize the possibility. Through the grace of God, and a very faithful and trusting husband, we have decided to start this incredible journey around the world to bring home two children to join our family together. Steve has been amazing and has been a huge support through paperwork, finances, adoption classes, and home study meetings. I am truly blessed!

So friends, here we go...we're off!!!! Stay tuned for updates!