WELCOME!

We are so excited to share our Ethiopian adoption adventure, and our CRAZY lives with all of you! Our hope is that it will encourage you to step out in faith to do what God has called you to do! There are FIELDS of fatherless children waiting for someone to care for them, to love them, to tell them of JESUS' love for them...will YOU be the one??







Friday, December 4, 2009

Merry Christmas To Us!

FINALLY, we have our "official" referral and travel dates for our little girl! We will be traveling January 17-23rd for our first trip.....this is a LOOOONNNGGG time away, and I'm trying REALLLLY hard to be positive and not hate holidays at this moment for interrupting my plans!!! Typically the wait to travel after the official papers arrive is 2-3 weeks....mine is SIX WEEKS! Okay, enough "bellyaching". But just wait, those of you who are yet to be matched or yet to request a child, you think THAT waiting is(was) hard? Wait till you see his/her face! You'll be very intolerant of any obstacles that get in your way and keep you from getting to your child too:).

With the official referral, we also got a new picture of her and she looks like she has grown so much. I have to honestly say that I'm kind of grieving the time I didn't have with her as a young baby...I know this is probably normal and will pass once I get to see and hold her, but it's just really difficult to know that the process is still months away from being over. Months that she is going to grow and reach milestones that, once again, I'll miss. UGGH! I think the enemy is trying to rob me of my joy, what do you think?

So, what to do now....? Well, I'm waiting for the travel packet so I can start planning the trip, I need to go Christmas shopping, make some homemade goodies(okay, they're "made in my home"..DON'T JUDGE ME!:)), shop for my new daughter and her caregivers....that's two weeks filled....hmmm, what to do the next 4 weeks...I know...I forgot to worry, fret, obsess, and drive my friends and family crazy! There! Six weeks full of holiday cheer!

More cheer later!
Renae


9 comments:

  1. Many of us who adopt Internationally go through the process of mourning the loss of those first few months or years. However, in the big picture of life, it's such a small and insignificant thing. You will have so many new first with your daughter.

    - Your first Christmas together
    - Your first birthday celebration together
    - Your first kiss
    - Your first hug
    - Your first photo together
    - Your first trip to the zoo
    - Your first family vacation
    - Your first time eating together

    The list goes on and on and on. Don't mourn the firsts that you have missed, but instead celebrate all the wonderful firsts you will get to share.

    Happy Holidays!

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  2. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAA--HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! Praise God!!!!

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  3. Wouldn't it be cool to be in the country at the same time!? I would love to meet someone over there if there was time.

    I lost your email. I wanted to know if she was in the same region as my girls, if you can share that. kelly9mayden@yahoo.com

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  4. Congratulations!!!!
    I'm glad you finally got the "official" paper work that you need to travel. With Christmas coming up, the time should go by pretty fast.

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  5. So happy for you. Have a wonderful time buying stuff for your trip, her and caregivers. you could also spend time making a photo album of your family to leave with her.

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  6. Thanks for all the encouragement as usual ladies!

    Renae

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  7. I am so happy for you!! Bulgaria is wonderful.... this trip will be a whirl wind!! Take lots of pictures and enjoy the sights! Just enjoy all the moments. I can't wait to hear all about it!

    I will never forget the first moment my little girl walked into the room. It was love at first sight... now if I can get the 800 processed and get back across the pond to pick her up, life will be perfect!!!

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  8. Oh Renae!!! What a neat Christmas present the Lord has given your family this year! And next Christmas, she'll be in your arms! Congratulations! In addition to a photo album, you could also make a special pillow case for her.

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  9. Congratulations, Renea!! I hadn't been on my computer and following everyone for a few weeks and then I checked tonight to hear this wonderful news!!! I am just soooooo happy for you!!! And I know that God is simply filling her little heart with a comfort and love that surpasses our understanding! He is letting her know that her forever family is comin' to love on her big time in just a matter of weeks!!!

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