Just what I needed

I have been feeling pretty discouraged lately about how long this is taking. Then I talked to Eli whose paperwork for 2 children has been in Ethiopia for 4 months and got even more discouraged. Having a pity party, but then I went to our Ethiopian adoption group dinner Friday night. It was just what I needed.
I got to see updated photos for Sunshine and Brandon's boys and Rebecca and Drew's son and daughter and I was more hopeful that it will really happen for us. Both the families are leaving this coming week to go pick up their children. Just being with all these wonderful families that have been through what I am going through, really helps. It is so wonderful that they understand your angst and impatience. You get to hear their stories and see their beautiful children and how they have adjusted and it some how makes things better.
I feel so blessed to have found this group and I hope everyone that is going through an adoption finds a similar support group.

Tshirts

The t-shirts arrived. They look great! I am so excited. Thank you to everyone that has bought one so far. I am ordering x-large now since some people requested that size. That should be here in a few weeks. Until then, we have small, med and large. We are selling them for $25.00 for people that are out of state and $22.00 for people in Oregon. Enjoy!!!!

Thanks again for helping us raise the money for our plane tickets. Love all ya'll!

Curling cures everything

I was feeling so sick today. It started last night after a very stressful week at work. I couldn't get warm last night for most of the night I was freezing, then boiling a little later in the night. I woke up this morning just feeling achy and sick. I just didn't want to do anything. But Naing is on the board of CASO (Canadian American Society of Oregon) and we were having a curling night for them tonight. I had said I would help teach and organize things. Naing went to Portland early afternoon to put the rocks out. I so didn't want to drive the 45 minutes to get there and do this, but I promised and I was bringing some of the things they needed to set up. So I went, and guess what I started to feel better. I had fun playing with some members of the Canadian group and even though we lost to the president of our curling club, a good time was had by all. So when you are feeling blah, go throw a rock or two (curling rock that is) it does wonders.

53 days and counting

Our paperwork has been in Ethiopia for 53 days. Yes I am counting. I'm so trying to not focus on the "wait" and instead focus on the "end" but it is hard to do. Some days are harder than others.
Our t-shirts were shipped to us today. We should get them next week and then start selling them to help cover the cost of our trip. So if anyone wants one, let me know. The front says "This shirt is changing lives" and the back says "Expecting from Ethiopia". We are selling them for $25.00. Thank you to everyone that has said they want one, I hope they invoke conversation when people wear them.

grateful

Yesterday at the little coffee hour after service, we were told by men's group that they want to donate $400 to the orphanage in Addis. That is so exciting and amazing to me. Naing and I have been attending this church about a year. Naing has done somethings with the men's group gone on the retreat, etc and they were very supportive of him when he was changing jobs. So here are people we see once a week for about 2 hours and they have donated clothes, pens and paper to the orphanage and now are going to give money as well. I am truly grateful for their help and hope that this can help change some lives in the orphanage.

Happy New Year

We celebrated New Years Eve and our anniversary going out to a romantic dinner at Red Hills.
It was so lovely. I can't believe it is 2009! Guess I'm old cuz time is flying by.
But with the New Year comes our new family. As we had dinner last night at this wonderful little restaurant we realized this won't be happening for our anniversary next year:) but that is ok cuz we will trade those quiet times for family times.
We spent the afternoon at Debbie and Don's house and it was fun to see their kids, now teens.
I was there when they adopted both of them at birth and now look at them. I can't wait!
We wish you a year of peace and prosperity for you and yours.