6 REMPELS!

WE ARE GOING!!!! YEHHHH!!!! 8 SLEEPS!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! Oh my goodness! Our phone call saying our flights were booked came yesterday and I didn't sleep a wink last night. I am farrr to excited!!

We were really concerned with the unrest in Nairobi, that things would get put on hold( and our visa comes from there.) The last several weeks has been sitting on pins and needles and just wanting this whole waiting journey to come to an end.

Last night was such a blast! We went to our Ethiopia get together which a friend of mine and I have started. A friend of mine in the group does amazing braids and was kind enough to do my hair in cornrow braids. It will allow me to forget about my hair for the trip.

We have SOO much to do before we go it's nuts. We are only going with one other couple. I am a one on one person so that is great. I don't know if I have mentioned it but Bill and I are both going. We had thought that only I would go but now we realized if I am the only person from Manitoba, it might be good to have Bill. It will really make the trip for me. We have never been anywhere together so I am thrilled! Our children are staying at friends in my home town so I know they will be well cared for.

We have always dreamed of seeing our sponsor boy who is in Addis, so we have just made arrangements with Compassion Canada to do that. They are FANTASTIC!! They have helped Bill and I soo much with the arrangements and sent us Excellent info on the country.

Now for Packing!!! Wow!! I really need to get going on that. I have been so unsure that we were actually going that I've been in low gear... now I need to move it. We are leaving our house on Friday to drop the kids and then leave on Sunday morning. My sister and mom will come on Wed. to help me with last minute things. I can't wait... I will post as soon as I get back.

Reality has hit that our trip is getting really close and we have just started packing! What fun! We will have 4- 50 pound suitcases and 2-20 pound Carry on's, plus our "purses"! How will we ever carry all of that? Anyway, I can not believe how much donation stuff we have collected over our 2 years. Lots of toys, towels, medication, school supplies, and lots more. I am just so thrilled to be fulfilling my dream and going out there to make a difference in a few peoples lives. I remember being young and watching World Vision and just wishing so much that I could help a few of the children.



We received a list of suggested Foster Home Donations and blankets was one of them. A really sweet friend of mine was kind enough to have me over to her house one day, and helped me with making a bunch of blankets. What a wonderful time we had dreaming about the trip and about the day our children would all be home together. Thank you so much Jenn!! I had a great time.



One thing that has really been on my mind lately is how Emmy will adjust to us. From the information we got about her, she is very shy. I guess I feel like if I expect the worst and then it's better, then I won't be shocked. We are really hoping to meet her father and wow, what an experience that would be. I remember going through my teens and wondering if I was adopted just because of how different I was from the rest of my family. I think every teen goes through that. I just think it would be nice to be able to tell Emebet that at least we had met her father. I would love feed back on this topic if anyone would want to leave a comment. Do you think this would be a good thing? What appropriate questions would you ask the father? Anyway, I will try to post again as soon as we hear more from Cafac. Happy New Year!!!

Yes, you read it right. We have a travel date. It will be either the week of Jan 21st or 28th. This will depend on the visa I think. We are soo excited!! I can't beleive this will finally happen. Only 40days(at most) till I hold her. Yeh!! What a great Christmas present. We are really hoping to get an update when Roberta comes back. I will try to post when this happens. Merry Christmas!

I can't believe there is a light at the end of the tunnel. We are currently waiting on our medical. Once we have that, then we should be getting our travel date. This has been the most painful "pregnancy" I have had yet!! It seems never ending. I do feel like this will happen though. Within 2 months, we should have her in our arms and I can't wait. We have been to a few Cafac events lately and it's been hard. Just the constant asking where we are at gets difficult after a while. I think it's just the fact that we've been talking about it for so long that we just would like to show her instead of talking about her at this point. Anyway, I'll keep you posted.

Just a quick update!! Our Court Hearing was APPROVED!!! Yeh!! I am soo excited!! I am soo praying for a miracle to travel before Christmas. It would be SO special to have her home for Christmas. Everyone Pray PLEASE! Thank you for the prayers so far. SO now what happens is the medical for immigration. Apparently that is supposed to be to Ethiopia soon.(from Nairobi) Then we get our VISA. YEHHH!! I am flying on cloud nine today.

Just a quick update!! Our Court Hearing was APPROVED!!! Yeh!! I am soo excited!! I am soo praying for a miracle to travel before Christmas. It would be SO special to have her home for Christmas. Everyone Pray PLEASE! Thank you for the prayers so far. SO now what happens is the medical for immigration. Apparently that is supposed to be to Ethiopia soon.(from Nairobi) Then we get our VISA. YEHHH!! I am flying on clowd nine today.

Did I mention that I am a terrible "Waiter"? This two year wait has just really drained me. We have been keeping busy and that has been important. We are currently waiting to hear about how the court day on Tuesday went. We are also waiting for our update on how Emebet is doing, her weight and height. We are praying for a complete miracle to bring her home for Christmas but we know the chances are slim.

Our children seem to realize that she will be coming soon and are very excited. They have colored many pictures for her and have written her letters and cards. There is a part of me that worries about how Jonah will feel not being the baby anymore. I do know though, that the Lord led us to do this adoption and he will help us through any struggles that come up.

Plans for the fundraiser are coming along really well. We have had an excellent response to the people we have talked to. I expect the turn out to be good. A friend of mine works for the local paper and is doing a story on our international adoption and will put our fundraiser in the paper so that should help.

We have done very little packing or preparing for the trip. I am thinking we will get a new travel package from Cafac as far as donations needed and what types of gifts and how many we will need. I look forward to getting the travel date and then I will be pumped to pack. It kinda still seems so unreal that we are even doing this. We have dreamed about it for so long that I can't believe it's actually going to happen. I will post as soon as we have our update.