pictures....finally!

A few of our favorite pictures of Addia!! We are waiting on some great family pictures and I'll post those when they come. Addia has been such a blessing to our family. She brings such a joy to our house.

home, love, happiness....

We are completely in love with Addia!! She has done amazingly well. I have wanted to post an update, but I have been waiting on getting our main computer fixed and it's still not done. I can't post pictures until I have it back, but I still wanted to let you all know that things are great in our home. I really didn't expect to be where we are now for 2-3 months. Our first night home was rough, but she has slept through the night every night since the second night home. Thank you Lord!! She has followed "my schedule" really well and has bonded so well with all of us. She is a joy and blessing to our family!! I keep thinking why do more families NOT do this. In the beginning, you may feel like you are helping an orphan, but let me tell you, that child will bless you more than you can imagine. You can see God's hand in the whole process and He places the children in families with intention and purpose. He knew what we needed, He knew what she needed. I think of her birth mother often and I pray that in her heart, she knows that her baby is happy and safe. Some days, I am trying to figure out how to do a good job of transitioning from baby needs to pre-teen needs. I pray that most days, I am available to all four of them, but I am sure that I fail often. Most of all each one knows how much I love them. I feel so blessed right now and I promise to post pictures as soon as I can. She's adorable in every way! If you have ever even thought of adopting, please DO IT!! 5 million beautiful orphans are waiting in Ethiopia for forever families.

Addia...here we come!!

We found out this morning that we have been approved by the US Embassy. We leave Saturday. We are so thankful that the time has come for us to welcome Addia into our family forever. God is so good!! For everyone waiting, hang in there. God will see you through the journey and be with you every step. We return on Friday, September 24th. We are beyond thrilled!!!

when will we go??

Our papers were supposed to be filed with the US Embassy in Ethiopia on Tuesday and we thought they had been. Then yesterday, our caseworker emails to say that the Embassy would only take 12 of the 19 files that CWA had to submit. There were just too many to take at one time. Our's WAS submitted!!! The other 7 families have to wait, yet again, for another two weeks to have their files submitted. My heart goes out to them. We were so thankful that our's was submitted and now we wait to hear that it's been approved. The crazy part is that there is still a chance that we may travel for a September 21st appointment. That means we would leave a week from Saturday. CRAZY!! For those that don't know me, I like to have a plan, I like to control things and be organized. Well let me just tell you, this adoption process teaches you over and over again to let go and trust God. I have no control right now. I can't make a plan. I just have to wait (again) and see what happens. After two years in this process, you would think that I would be great at this by now, but NO, my ways always try to creep in and I have to choose to let go. I have gotten better. :) We are trying to get prepared in some ways. Donations are packed. I do think having to go twice helps you not feel overwhelmed with the second trip. Mark and I feel like we know what we are doing this time. I am hoping our approval happens quickly and we are boarding a plane in 8 days to bring home our fourth child....

I know I'm biased, but...

I've been home sick today. The kids have been back in school for two weeks and they've been sick and then I got sick. Why is a fever so much harder for an adult? I did receive a little surprise though! Our caseworker sent many pictures of "Netsie" today. All of her nannies call her "Netsie" so that will be her nickname for a while. I know I'm biased, but is she not the cutest?? You can just see her personality in some of these pictures. She has two new teeth since we saw her on August 4th!! She also has some sort of rash or maybe ringworm under her nose. She needs to be home where her Daddy can make her all better!! For those that don't know, he is a family doc. She looks like she's holding herself up on furniture. Oh I want to see her do all of these things! Can I also just say that she looks like our other kids?? Her facial features remind me so much of them and even some of my baby pictures. God is in the details and I love that. Can't wait to bring her home!

update

Once again, we are waiting. You would think that we would be good at this by now. God has taught us to trust Him and the waiting is more bearable than it use to be. I never feel alone. God is there and friends who are living this same journey are always there to listen. CWA is saying that our papers should be submitted to the US Embassy on September 7th. Then we wait to hear from them. Once the Embassy has investigated our case and approved it, we will be given an Embassy appointment. These are offered once every two weeks so we are hoping to travel in October. September 21st would be the first possible time that we could travel, but it is doubtful that we would be approved by then. Addia's first birthday is October 24th so we are hoping to be with her by then. Thank you for your continued prayers....

here she is!

Introducing Addia Faith Netsanet Collins....
Netsanet was the name her birthmom gave her and it means "freedom".