Momma's New Zoom Zoom

This week I had a conference call with the adoption agency to discuss the details of my first trip. There were several families on the call and we covered various subjects including where we will stay, outstanding fees and other travel costs, how much time I will get to spend with my boys, and what court will be like. They seemed very positive in regards to how adoptions are moving in Ethiopia and I came away super excited. Dad and I will plan on going this first trip and we will be able to spend time with the boys at the orphanage before court and at the transitional home after our court hearing. It sounds like once final court is complete it will take a minimum of two months to get all of the paperwork together for their visas and my interview at the US embassy. One of the great things I learned recently is that I'm going to be able to work from home for the 12 weeks following my sons arrival in the states. This will be a crucial time of adjustment for all of us and I'm so grateful for this opportunity.

I had been thinking about trading in my Land Rover for a newer vehicle for a while. The opportunity arose for me to get a pretty good deal on a new 2011 Mazda CX-9 this past weekend and I felt like the time was right. One of my main goals was to get something that would hold 7 passengers but wasn't a van. Even though Mom busted my bubble when she told me it looked like a van, I love my new wheels. This is just one of many changes that I'm making to prepare for the arrival of my children. The next few weeks are going to fly by and I can't wait to finally be on that plane headed to Addis to meet my kids.

Queen of Sheba

Last night two of my good friends and I went to the Ethiopian Restaurant in Louisville for a special celebration. It was a unique experience and one that I look forward to enjoying with my children. We sampled a couple appetizers (sambussa and kitfo wraps) and then moved onto our main meal which consisted of sega tips, atakilt, fossolia, alicha sega wot, dora tips, and awaze sega tips. Part of the experience is that you eat with your hands all from a community plate. You pick up the food with injera which is a type of Ethiopian flatbread. I loved every minute of it!

Woooooo Hoooooo

This weekend I went with a couple friends on a tour around Scott County taking pictures of barn quilts. One of our finds was a butterfly. I was joking around with them that it could be a sign that I was about to emerge from my cocoon of waiting having no idea how close to the truth that would be. I received an email after lunch from my agency in Texas letting me know of my court date and I'll admit I got up and did a little dance in my cubical (fortunately for me everyone I work around was gone to lunch). After having a moment to reflect, I couldn't help but smile and think back to that butterfly.

The first hearing date is set for May 3rd. The final hearing date is set for May 20th which means that assuming all goes well on the 3rd I will be on a flight to Ethiopia on May 14th. If the dates hold up it will mean that I will be in Ethiopia to celebrate Mulate's birthday with him. I am extremely excited for this glimpse of light at the end of my tunnel. All that kept going through my mind was the phrase "all glory and honor and praise" from a popular worship song. God has been extremely faithful and I've learned so much during this waiting process but I'm so happy that I finally have a date on the calendar. There has been much celebration that will continue tomorrow when I go to the Ethiopian restaurant in Louisville and throughout this weekend as a dear friend returns to town for a visit. I would like to thank all of you who have prayed for my sons and for me throughout this process. I am very blessed to have you in my life. Please continue to lift my family up in prayer throughout the coming months. Life is good and God is great!