A little R and R at the end of the Marathon!

Season's greetings my faithful blog readers! I meant to get out a Christmas Wish to you all, but have just now cracked open my computer after the chaos and joy of the last several days! Here are a few highlights....
Fri and Sat...mommy sick with the tummy flu she very cockily said she wouldn't get :( (hard to make magic when you can't get out of bed!)

Sunday...back on track and into overdrive to make the "magic" happen! Sunday night, dinner and wine by the fire with dear friends....a great way to ease into the season!

Monday...So much excitement the air just crackled! Made carmel corn, finished wrapping, toted presents to the tree, solo-ed at church and had tears running down my cheeks as I thought of my daughter as we sang silent night. Loved having Nana and Papa here for our manger meal. Finally got kids to sleep and wrapped the last few surprises!

Christmas Day....OH WHAT JOY ! Three little boys in complete Christmas magic Mode! Put up the air hockey table...put on the football outfit as it was unwrapped...many shouts of it's just what I wanted! Then loaded the sleigh to go to nana and papa's new house for more presents and fun...so glad they are just an hour away now. And as eyelids finally started to close..."mom this was the best Christmas ever!"

Wednesday...But wait there's more...across town to Gr and Gr's house for 5 dogs, 5 kids, and adults surviving on food and wine...more presents more fun! Then back home, 3 sleeping boys, full tummies, full hearts!

Thursday...WOW....a tornado of christmas magic has hit...but lets savor the magic just a little longer!

I will post some pictures after I find the camera! I know it's around here somewhere...

Paperwork is in Ethiopia!

It doesn't necessarily mean anything is imminent...but we can check another item off the list. Our Dossier is sitting on someone's desk in Ethiopia! That is pretty exciting! Just happened to notice that the Dossier to Country box was checked on our CHSFS checklist. So, that means it was certified, authenticated, etc here and is now there to be translated and prepared for that all exciting referral. In checking with my contact at the agency, we are still in the 5-7 month window. Last year at this time there was a huge flurry of referrals. For all my "journey" mates sitting at the top of the list...may this month bring your long awaited news and may you move off that list!!

baby steps continue, but it helps to know a little progress has been made!

Warning: Pity Party Ahead!

I want my daughter. I am tired of waiting. I don't want to wait any longer. I want to set up her nursery. I want cuddles, and diapers, and middle of the night feedings. (now..me laying on the floor banging hands and fists....children running in with chocolate to cure mom's tantrum...okay slightly better)

I feel incredibly selfish, wanting this child sooo much. In order for her to come to me, she will have to go through great loss and tragedy, her birth mother will have to make one of the hardest decisions....and yet, I have to acknowledge that I am impatient. I do want her home.

It is looking like the wait is increasing. My contact at the agency said to be ready for a 7 month wait. So long February referral. Maybe by April. Just seems like such a long way off. Then there is that wait to travel. Waiting, waiting waiting....soo not my best skill.

Okay, done with the pity party. I am going to go indulge in Chocolate....lots and lots of dark chocolate!

3 Months Down

Wow! We hit the three mark month today! There was a time a while back that I was thinking a late Dec, early Jan referral would be possible. Not so much the case now as things seem to be moving a little slower. J and I were talking about the process last night while making dinner. He was asking how soon I thought we would get her picture. I told him I figured it would still be a couple of months. He got a sad expression and then said..."then we have to wait 8 weeks to go get her" When I told him that it was actually closer to 12 or 16 currently he was pretty sad. He said "Mom that means we won't meet her for up to 17 weeks because you get to go a week ahead of us...wow mom, this is going to be really hard. I can't wait for my baby sister to get here"

Pretty sweet. He is going to be an awesome big brother. Right now the wait is easy... there is so much going on. At times I even forget I am waiting, but there is always that feeling in my heart and mind, telling me that something wonderful is just around the corner!

So happy 3 months down...hopefully less than 3 more to go!

World AIDS Day

Today is world AIDS day. As a mother embarking on a journey to adopt a child who's life more than likely has been touched in some way by AIDS, I am passionate about this cause. The AIDS crisis in Africa is no secret. But as we sit in our cozy little homes across America and get lost in the hustle and bustle of life and the holidays, it is all too easy to forget that our brothers and sisters in Africa are dying of a disease that medication and education can help eradicate. Take action today...first, become educated. Because it is World AIDS day, there are tons of links on top news and web browsers with great information right at your fingertips. GO to joinred.com and be a part of the RED campaign started by Bono and making huge strides. GO to the Lutheran World Federation website and find ways you and your family or congregation can make a difference, LOG on to unicef.org and make a donation. And as you shop for holiday gifts, look for the product (red) items. Even a little bit, done by enough of us will make a difference. If it all still seems to distant, the goal to lofty, imagine my daughter...a child that most of you reading will have in your life. How will we be able to look her in the eye when she is older and tell her we were too busy to do anything to help her people, her country, her very soul? Take action...YOU can make a difference!