Hello From Ethiopia

Hi all!

We are at the hilton this afternoon to confirm our flight and were able to buy 15 mins of internet time. All is good here. We are both good, no sickness. Jet lagged...but doing good. Chala-Eli is great! So laid back and easy going. Our first night together went pretty good...he coughed a lot, but woke up with smiles for us. We are going to try and get him looked at by the orphanage dr before coming home, as he is very congested and coughs a lot. He is so sweet. Everyone will love him. We already do =)

Our visa appt was this morning and everything went smooth for us at the embassy. Chala was a breeze and happy the whole time. We hope to meet with the birthmom tomorrow morning.

I was not able to get into my email or blogger account, so you can just use this to update my blog Jim - thanks! We miss the kids a lot and are ready to come home. We love you all!!!! Can't wait to see you!!

all our love,

Jenn and Jeremiah (and Chala-Eli!)

They have Eli!

Just received a call from Jeremiah and Jenn that they have Eli with them now and all are doing great! They are very happy. Please keep praying for them and Eli as they adjust. They go to the embassy early tomorrow (while we sleep tonight) to get his passport and visa. Pray all goes smoothly!

Thank you for praying!

Jim

They Made It!

We finally received that long awaited call that Jeremiah and Jennifer have made it to the guest house there in Ethiopia. They said the flights were uneventful which is an answer to prayer. When Ella was talking with them on the phone, she kept asking "Do you have Eli yet?" and then she would say in a sad voice "but I want to talk to him."

As we are sleeping tonight, they will be going to the orphanage to meet Eli, their son for the first time. I know they will appreciate your prayers. I will keep you updated as I get news. Jim (aka the substitute blogger)

Off We Go

That's it.
Bags are packed.
To do list has been done.
We are as ready as we will ever be.

Did I mention that this just feels so incredibly surreal?

Wasn't it just yesterday that we were sending off our initial application?





















I am not sure what internet access will be like in Ethiopia, so I probably won't be blogging. But my father in law has promised to post updates on here as we contact him throughout the week

Here are some specific prayer requests we have for this week:

• Safety in our travels.
• Safety, peace of mind, and happy hearts for Ella and Ezra here at home.
• A peaceful transition for Eli and the ability for him to trust Jeremiah and me.
• Opportunities to share what the Lord has done and for Him to be glorified!

Thank you for your prayers!

Until next week...

Puppy Power

I have a feeling Ella won't be missing us too much.

Why, you ask?

Take a look at what Gramma and PawPaw brought with them...






































Now I can only hope that all four survive a week with Ezra.

Ready or Not

Here we come!

Today is the last day before we leave. It just feels surreal.

I could blab on and on about what I am feeling...but, oh wait...I think I've already done that.

So, instead (lucky you) I will leave you with some details about our trip:

• The weather is expected to be in the mid 60's to low 70's, and dip into the 50's at night. I think this is my first trip out of the country where I am going to a place that is not sweltering hot. I am liking that idea.
  

• Because of the altitude of Addis Ababa (8200 feet above sea level) there are no mosquito's and therefore no need for us to take malaria medicine. Yeah, I am liking that too. Much as I enjoy having (malaria medicine induced) crazy dreams of killing my nieces and nephews.
  

• The time in Addis Ababa is 8 hours ahead of us on the east coast. Pray accordingly. (Just kidding...pray anytime you think of us!)

• I am bringing a lot of snacks for us. As much as I like to think I am an adventurous eater...I'm really not. I'd rather not spend the first week of meeting Eli stuck in a bathroom. Oh, and I've packed an arsenal of stomach medicines should the need arise. Really, I am a walking pharmacy. Perhaps I should set up a clinic while I'm there.
  

• We have a 9 hour layover in DC tomorrow. All because it saved us $150 bucks. Sometimes I really need to not be so frugal.

• I made the kids a packet to open for each day we are gone. They have a specific thing to pray for each day as well as a task to do. And of course, a fun toy to play with and candy to enjoy =) I also have fun ideas for swimming, going to the movies, and going to the library with the grandparents. They probably aren't going to want us to come home.
  

• We are taking a whole suitcase dedicated to orphanage donations. It is mostly taken up by two solar powered security lights the orphanage needed replaced. I am very excited we were able to do this.

I have some pictures to post later. But first I need to finish packing.

Welcome Home Details

I have had a lot of friends asking if it was ok to meet us at the airport when we get back...and YES, it is.

I can't promise what we will look like or smell like or behave like after all those hours on the plane. But. You've been warned. Oh, and we probably won't be sticking around too long or going out to dinner. And no one can come home with us =) But. We would love a greeting party! So come. If you want to.

Here are the details:

We fly in on Saturday July 3rd to RDU Airport at 1:37pm on a United flight.

Thursday Thoughts

Ezra is really into building these elaborate garages and roads for his cars. He works very diligently at getting everything arranged according to some plan in his head. Pretty darn cute.






























And something clicked for Ella this past week and she is swimming. I mean really swimming. Underwater and everything. Pretty cool to see. She is so proud of herself. (So am I.)

I am making a public admission of guilt to being addicted to playing Tetris on the ipod. When nothing else will stop the jumble in my mind I can count on Tetris. Or some silly monkey game. Not to brag or anything...but I am pretty good. I think Jeremiah is regretting introducing me to it.

Speaking of the jumble in my mind.
THREE DAYS!
Until I see this face.
Face to face.






















I was able to meet with a fellow adoptive mom and friend (and fellow durhamite!) over coffee last night and bombard her with questions =) Thank you Megan for meeting with me! She was an incredible source of knowledge as they brought their Sam home just six months ago. I especially appreciated her help in compiling a list of questions and ideas for our meeting with Eli's birth family.

Today is Jeremiah's last day in the office before we leave.

I am bringing two pairs of shoes.

And the DSLR.

Happy Thursday!

Growing Pains

Ella totally schooled me in memory this week.
So not cool.
I feel old.

I can't get used to her new hair cut.
Every time I look at her I see this big girl (like maybe seven whole years old).
Where did my baby go?
My first tiny baby?

















I remember crying on the delivery table right before I had Ezra. Crying because I knew my love would never be singular for her again. It would always be divided with Ezra.

Of course, looking back, I realize how silly that was. But it wasn't silly at the moment.

I cried today as I watched Ezra line up his cars across the living room. His little world as he knows is about to be over. I know that his little world is about to be (ultimately) better...but I still cried. Still mourned. It is part of the process of life. A new chapter is about to begin...and that means one has to end.

Yes, I will probably look back and think, how silly. But it doesn't feel silly at this moment.

Ella's New Do

Jumble

What size shoe should I pack for Eli? How much money do I need to bring to convert into Birr? What was the name of that website that gives the current exchange rate? A cookout milkshake sounds really good. I wonder if I have any ECB's I need to roll before I leave? Maybe I should pack two pairs of shoes in different sizes. My throat is a little scratchy. I hope I'm not getting strep. I need to remember to call the doctor to bring a supply of antibiotics for strep in case one of us comes down with it while we are gone. What kinds of snacks should I pack? Will Jeremiah's iphone battery last the whole 15 hour flight over there? Will he like us? Will I like him? Should I bring lice shampoo? What kind of lotion should I bring for Eli? Are there potty chairs at the guesthouse? Am I ready to be the mommy of three? Is Ezra going to share? Which camera to bring? I want to bring the DSLR. But. I don't want to worry about it. Probably should bring the point and shoot. But. I really want my DSLR. I really need to plan out the kids packets for each day we are gone. I need to get Levi groomed before we go. Mmm...milkshake. Oh my Lord...FIVE DAYS. I know he likes eggs. Need to make sure to have eggs at home. Adapter. Converter. What if he doesn't attach? Batteries. What if he freaks out on the plane ride home? What size pull ups? Maybe I should bring three pairs of shoes? No. Overkill. Two. I'll just bring two. And socks. FIVE DAYS.

(just a one minute glimpse of my thoughts this week)

(better late than never) Not Me Monday

I always inspect my children carefully before we leave the house and nothing escapes my watchful eyes. Therefore, it was not my son who wore two completely different shoes to the store. And it wasn't because I was distracted by my daughter who was wearing her ballerina costume over her princess dress topped off with a tutu.

Oh no. Not me. Not my children.

I did not overestimate my abilities while picking up our dog Levi from the groomers along with above mentioned impeccably dressed children. Therefore, I did not give into my children as they pleaded to see the animals at Pet Smart while holding onto leash contained Levi.

So, of course, my impeccably trained dog did not pee on my feet. In the middle of the store. In flip flops.

Oh no. Not my dog.

And I of course did not slip. In the middle of the store. In my flip flops

I always model the correct and responsible reaction to my children. Therefore, I, of course did not high tail it out of there rather than take the time to find a store clerk.

Oh no. Not me.

Mourning Into Dancing

I've never known sadness like I experienced when we learned that our little girl, Myla, in our fourth month of pregnancy, had died.

She was due to be born July 3, 2009.

I've never known such anticipation like I am experiencing today as we prepare to bring our little boy, Eli, home.

We will be home with him on July 3, 2010.

Let me clarify...we do not see Eli as a replacement for Myla. If you've ever grieved a child you understand that having another child will never replace the one that was lost. The new child is simply another blessing from the Lord.

But I can't help but be overwhelmed with the significance of the date. In a years time I can go from the depths of grief to the heights of joy at new life.








The words of David in Psalm 30:11-12 capture exactly what I am feeling:

You did it: You changed my mourning into dancing;
You ripped off my black band and decked me with wildflowers.
I'm about to burst with song;
I can't keep quiet about you.
God, my God, I can't thank you enough.

Oh, and by the way...7 DAYS

The Bees Knees, part 3

Father-in-law.

Just the name strikes terror into some people's hearts.

But not mine. I love mine.

I could mention all the things I love about him. But I am most (and forever) grateful for the incredible father he was to my Jeremiah. For doing his part to set the example and being a man worth following after.


Happy Father's Day!

We love you.
















(Now my mother-in-law on the other hand...)

Kidding Deb...you know I love you too! =)

The Bees Knees, part 2

I couldn't even begin to put into words the kind of Daddy Jeremiah is to our kids...

Funny
Engaged
Sensitive
Fun
Creative
Patient
Firm
Flexible
Sacrificial
Worth Following...

Ella and Ezra are incredibly blessed. Eli is too...he just doesn't know it yet.

















Happy Father's Day Jeremiah!

We love you.

The Bees Knees, part 1

I love my Daddy. And I have always known of his love for me. Quiet. Unconditional. Pancake making. Horsey-ride giving. Wisdom imparting.



Happy Father's Day Daddy!

I love you.

Two Good Questions

Ella: What does it mean to serve God?

Me: Well, it is making choices that please him...

Ella (interrupting): Oh, ok. Do you think all these blueberries I am eating will turn my poop purple?

Me (sighing inside): Probably.

Blessing and Responsibility

Why has God blessed me?

Especially when I look around the world (or even in my city of Durham) and so many have so little.

I love how David Platt puts it in his book Radical:

"I have been blessed for God's glory. Not so I can have a comfortable life with a big house and nice car. Not so I can spend lots of money on vacations, education, or clothing. Those aren't bad things, but I've been blessed so that the nations will know Christ and see his glory."

It is easy to disconnect God's blessings from God's purpose.
It is easy to delegate the task of spreading the Gospel to the few, the chosen, the called.

Easy. Yes.

Right? No.

If I call myself a Christian, then I am called to make his name known.


















Just something the Lord is working out in my heart these past few weeks.

Thursday Thoughts

Things are moving along as we nail in (literally) the last few remaining details before we leave in 10 days.

10 days?

10 days!!!

Here is a picture of their finished room. Well...mostly finished.
I plan on painting the bunk beds white at some point, but you know how that goes...















It has worked out that Jeremiah's parents will be keeping Ella and Ezra here while we are gone. That is such a relief because they will be able to take care of all the pet and household duties...and I won't worry about a thing. Thank you for all the offers of help! It is a wonderful feeling to know the support system we have as we begin this new journey of parenting Eli.

Not wanting to break the streak we have going on...we had to cancel at the very last minute our planned trip to visit my family because our pediatrician called me (after 5pm!) to tell me that Ella has strep. Man, I sure wish there was a way to make those rapid strep tests more reliable. We are not sure if she has hand/foot/mouth disease on top of the strep...but nonetheless...we aren't sharing with my family this weekend.

Ella (and me) were devastated.

Since I worked like a dog yesterday getting the house clean, the lawn mowed, the laundry done, and all kinds of odds and ends tied up so we could go on this trip...I seem to have the next few days free. Any ideas of cheap, easy, fun, and not a lot of planning required consolation day-trip ideas are welcome.

I really enjoyed working with the third graders this week at VBS. They aren't too old yet to discover that I'm really not that cool. And they listen way better than a certain four and two year old I spend a lot of time with. And they laughed at my jokes. And the boys don't have B.O. yet. Other types of odors...yes, but not B.O.

I got the privilege to take some pregnancy photos of our good friends, Josh and Kristen over the past weekend. They are expecting a girl, Natalie Clair, in early August. Here are some of my favorites:

















































Aren't they just too cute!

And speaking of babies...I am just so excited for my sister Mary Kate, who is due any day now with her second little girl, Madelyn Ruth! Any day now! Bring on the babies =)

Happy Thursday!

And so it begins (again)...

Ezra asked "why" this week.

For the first time.























Oh dear...

Crave

About a year ago Ella began asking for her own Bible. A "real" one was her request. Not a devotional Bible or a kids Bible or a picture Bible. While I am not usually so inclined to give my kids what they are asking for just because they are asking for it, a Bible is another story.

And so, the hunt began. Which we included her in, because she has quite the opinion on what she likes.

After just a little bit of searching (and convincing that the camo Bible really wasn't for her) we finally found it. It is just her size...and purple.

Perfect.

And now, for the past year, her Bible has been a treasured item throughout her day. She will sit and "read" it during her room time (who cares if it was upside down for a while) and will take it to playdates. She sleeps with it in her bed (which is reserved for only the special-est of special items near and dear to her heart). She has earmarked the book of Esther because she says it is her favorite...and the name she wants to give her sister someday =)

She may not really be able to read it or understand it. But she esteems it.

It thrills my heart.

And humbles me.

Do I crave the word of God like I should?
Do I long for it?
Do I linger in the Word hesitant to leave?
Do I make it the priority of my day?

Scripture explains what our desire for the Lord and his word should be like with such metaphors as a newborn baby craving milk or like a deer thirsting after water (1 Peter 2:2 and Psalms 42:1).

I can't speak for the deer analogy...but I know what my children were like as babies when they wanted milk. Nothing else satisfied them. No amount of distractions or pacifiers.

And so my prayer is the humble one that I will follow the example of my daughter. That I will crave the Word and cherish it above all else.

Many hands make light work (and a big mess)

Eli now has his own set of red letters. Courtesy of his sister and brother.

VBS Week

Grey Stone kicked off VBS week last night.

Apparently I have written a lot about VBS over the last two years, as I have eight posts with a VBS label on them.

Who knew?

Jeremiah and I started our very first week at Grey Stone four years ago.

And for the record, we don't recommend ever making VBS week your first week at a new church. Although it was a great crash course on name recognition!

Ella was just seven months old. She went with us every night and I remember her not being so happy about the very late bedtimes she had to put up with. Now, at four years old...she has known this week was coming for weeks and was positively giddy with excitement!

Did I mention that I don't have to cook all of VBS week as they provide free meals for the whole family?

I might have been giddy with excitement too.

Sadly, all that Ella will get to experience of VBS this week happened last night. As she woke up last night crying that her mouth hurt her and running a fever. A quick run to the doctors this morning confirmed Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease. Don't worry. For those of you who havn't heard of it...it is not serious. Just highly contagious. And untreatable. It just has to run its course.

Poor girl is sooo sad to miss her VBS week.

Poor mom is sooo sad that her child exposed all the other preschoolers.

And that I don't have a single VBS picture to put in this post.

So, here's a random one of Ella at 7 months old for your viewing pleasure...

Memory Monday

Zechariah 4:6

Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty.

__________________________________________________________________________

And a great question I had to ask myself this morning after reading David Platt's Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream.

Would I say that my life right now is marked by desperation for the Spirit of God?




p.s. Great book. Read it.

14 days

(The girls) Family Fun, part 2

Girls just wanna have fu-un.
Woah-oh girls...just wanna have fun.

And nice looking toenails.

Which we all three have now...

Family Fun, part 1

We have been enjoying the pleasure of Jeremiah's parents company the past few days. Since they live in Florida we sadly don't get to see them as often as we would like.

Soaking up the family togetherness...






















Paw Paw bought the kids a kite on the day where it might quite possibly go on record for the un-windy-est day of the year. Bless their hearts...they gave it a royal try. In 90 degree heat and what felt like 100% humidity no less.

















Us girls are going out this morning for a girly experience...Ella's first! Stay tuned later for more info and pictures on that!

If I only had a brain

I have gone to the grocery store more times in the last week that I normally go in two months. I will get home thinking I have gotten all we needed...only to realize within a few hours that I forgot something.

Not something like granola bars something. But something like a toilet paper something. The kind of somethings you really can't go without.

I have started more sentences than I care to think about only to trail off half way through completely oblivious to the reason I started talking in the first place. Ask Jeremiah how many times I have called him at work only to forget the reason for my call. I ran out of my "I just called to say I love you" excuses several days ago. Now he is onto me.

Ella has even stolen my line and told me to "focus" this week.

I lay in bed awake into the wee hours of the morning. Which is not normal for me as those of you who know my early bird tendencies can account for.

I just can't seem to shut my brain off.
Or on at the appropriate times.
Or focused on the task at hand.
Or...

Jeremiah told me today that he has never (in our seven years of marriage) seen me like this before. He used the words "ball of excited craziness" in his description of me. It probably should have offended me but I was kind of zoned out when he said it.

Kidding. Kidding. Maybe?

I wrote about adoption brain early in our paperwork jungle of the adoption process. I found it to be very similar to my experiences with baby brain during my pregnancies. And it seems to have made a reappearance (with a vengeance) these last few weeks before we get Eli.

I am all at the same time excited and terrified and overwhelmed and perfectly at peace.

All those emotions must be creating a short in my brain.

That must be it. Right. Right?

And it will resolve itself. Right?

p.s. If you need to get a hold of me this week, just stop by the Hillsborough Road Kroger and you'll probably find me.

at rest

it doesn't happen often. but when it does it's a beautiful thing.






























oh. how i love this crazy but sweet boy.

To Do Update

I know you've been waiting on pins and needles for this...

Red = done
Black = still need to do

1) Get kids room/house ready
- Buy bunkbeds/new sheets/comforter/etc.
- Buy new dresser for Eli
- Clean out toy bins - Organize and wash all size 2t clothes for Eli
- Clean out Ella and Ezra's clothes and dressers
- Get new ELI letters for his room, paint, and hang
- Jeremiah to build a new bench for the kitchen table (we've run out of chairs!)
- Install 3rd car seat (we've got it, just not installed)

2) Plan trip
- Buy airline tickets
- Make final arrangements for Ella and Ezra
- Make arrangements for Levi, cats, bird, house, garden, mail, etc.
- Call doctor for travel medications
- Contact Ethiopian social worker to work out details to meet Eli's birth family
- Shop for orphanage donations
- Book Ethiopian hotel/guest house
- Gather together all travel documents needed/make copies of important documents
- Sucker friends into mowing the lawn while we are gone (we are gonna OWE you BIG time Josh and Todd!)
- Make arrangements for travel to airport/pick up from airport/etc.
- Pack

3) Plan FINAL fund raiser (yard sale/bake sale)
- Organize all items
- Price items
- Finalize where to have it
- Organize volunteers to bake goods
- Place ad in newspaper
- Place ad on craigslist
- Invite facebook friends
- Go through entire house room by room for extra items
- Make up signs

4) Miscellaneous
- Empty entire memory card on camera
- Make dentist appointments for kids - Take kids to dentist
- Add Eli to health insurance/will/etc.
- Look into re-adoption options/requirements
- Organize adoption receipts/request missing ones from agency, etc.
- Make up list of questions to ask Eli's birth family (I'd love any suggestions from families who have done that before)
- Finish up thank you cards for all those who have been a part of this journey

I've been busy...but still need to stay busy too =)

Anybody still want to pinch me?!

Flower Fairies

For all my other mother of fairy/princess loving daughters out there...here is a craft idea I snagged from Family Fun magazine. Ella (and me, ha) had so much fun with it that I just had to pass it along.

1. Go outside and collect a handful of grasses, leaves, flowers, or anything that might make an interesting fairy costume.
2. Draw a stick figure outline on paper.
3. Use your nature collections to design a fairy and her outfit.

Simple and free. Two of my favorite words.

Here's what Ella and I came up with...
























Feel free to pass along any of your simple and free craft ideas!

First Fruits

Summer has a taste...

















The first of the fresh squash and zucchini picked out of our garden!

From the looks of our plants we are going to have an abundant crop...so feel free to pass along any recipes you might have.

Don't feel free to comment on what a mess my hair looks like. I already know =)

Not Me Monday

I did not take my kids swimming last night and count it a bath for them.

Ew, gross.

I did not go swimming last night and count it a bath for me.

Ew, grosser.

Oh no. Never. Not me.

21 days

Feeding Frenzy

This is what happens when you ask Ezra to give Baby Cai a little more cereal...