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!