And We're Off...

I can not believe that today is the day we leave to pick up our daughter! Wooohoooo!!!! A couple of notes to future travelers....really plan to not have anything left to do on your check list the day prior to departure. I had just a couple of little things to do, but the day quickly filled up with picking up last minute donation requests from Almaz & working with USCIS (the first of which was a pure joy...running around like a mad woman looking for flax seed oil (in liquid form that didn't need to be refridgerated) to take to HH...the second of which NOT SO MUCH). Last night we recorded a CD of us talking to the boys with a different track for each day. We made them super fun & light-hearted. We had fun doing them & HOPEFULLY the boys will like listening to them. We used a program I downloaded online called "RecordPad". We plan to use the same program to record O.E. talking in Amharic, so she will have that sweet reminder of our her heritage. Okay...we'll update SOON from Africa! Ciao!

Ugh!!!

It looks like the whole immigration thing is not worked out afterall. We are having a very difficult time communicating with the "powers that be". Please, please pray that this gets worked out ASAP. N, AGCI, & Sen. Lamar Alexander's office have been working so hard, but it's just not happening as quickly as is needed! Uggggghhhh!!!!!! Oh, USCIS..... :-(

SOOOOO EXCITED!!!!!

The excitement is building. It's difficult to describe, but, in the midst of all the planning & packing, it was easy to lose sight of the reason for our trip. I think it had something to do with the fact that I had TONS to do & couldn't sit a the computer watching video clips of O.E. repeatedly & looking through her pictures! All of the wonderful thoughts & comments from my blog buddies have been a huge help, as well! What a huge support network we are blessed with! Here is a sneak peak at our sweet daughter! I can't wait to have her in my arms. We are so close! God is so good!

Caution: Very Emotional

Today has been a tough day for me! There is definately still excitement about our impending travel, but it's really starting to hit me that we're leaving the boys! It makes me so sad. We've never been on a trip by ourselves, much less a 8 night trip to the other side of the world. I know this is what God has called us to do & I know He will take care of ALL of us while we are apart, but it still is heart wrenching. Please pray for this for us! N talked to the National Visa Center today & it looks like things are squared away there, so praise the Lord for working that out. Now, please pray for peace as we prepare to leave.

Bags Packed...Check!

I was shooting for having our bags packed by Wednesday night, but N told me late last week that he thought we should be done Sunday night! I took him up on the challenge & we just got finished! Woohoo! Now, we just need to do notes, CDs, & fun stuff for the boys, do a few random errands & tasks, & spend time with the boys! We are hoping to hear good news from USCIS (immigration) any day now! Our contact seemed very capable of getting it done quick! T minus 5 days & counting...

O.E. Celebration

Tonight we were showered with love, support, & gifts by our friends & family! We were so humbled by their outpouring & the excitement they share with us!

Thank you ALL! God has blessed us with the most amazing group of people to share this journey with! It is so hard to believe that this time next week, we will be getting ready to meet our daughter for the first time! God is so good!

Yellow Fever

This afternoon we went to our local travel clinic to get our yellow fever immunization. With all the crazy flight stuff, we just thought we better make sure we had that base covered in case we got stuck somewhere like Kenya or Sudan! I called the travel clinic this morning to see what their thoughts were & as soon as I filled them in on our itinerary, they said to come today & get the shot b/c it takes 10 days for it to reach full effectiveness (we definitely don't have 10 days)! So, word to future travelers, you know how there's the disclaimer that yellow fever is not necessary for Ethiopia travel unless you get rerouted through certain other countries. Well, you never know where you may end up!

My Little Helpers

The boys are being amazing big brothers already! They love to help us pack & are okay with tagging along on all the errands we have to run! This is our last week of summer before school starts next week, so we are also making sure we squeeze in some fun times for them, as well!

O.E.'s new room is our staging area for all the trip stuff! Thanks to some seasoned travelers, I had lots of tips early on & I've been packing & preparing for quite some time. I figured, if we didn't make it in August, I would lock the door & readdress it closer to travel. I'm so thankful I started early! It has really helped me not feel too overwhelmed. All you who are waiting until the fall, I wish I could fit you all in my suitcase & take you to your children! While you wait, get started on preparations...it will be here before you know it & you'll be so glad you did! I can't wait to love on your kiddos for you & take lots of pictures!

As far as USCIS (immigration), N just talked to the most wonderful lady at Sen. Lamar Alexander's office. She seemed very knowledgeable about situations like ours, & we are hoping she makes it happen! Please keep praying!