Shopping Trip

Today Piper and I shopped for formula and vitamins to take with us on our trip. Thanks to the 5th grade students at Roanoke, we were able to purchase 30 cans of formula, 6 packages of Poly-Vi-Sol vitamins, and 480 chewable vitamins!!! Amazing! This will help feed and nourish so many children in need! I can NOT wait to deliver it!

I love the looks of this cart!

I think Piper was on a mission to test out every bike in the store :)

Global Adoption Connection

Yesterday we participated in an event called the Global Adoption Connection. It's focus was on Africa, of course :) I am posting some pictures of the events because they were all great, as was the food, of course! There was storytelling, games, crafts, guest speakers, soccer, music, and lots of wonderful people! (Hopefully this will be an annual event for us to look forward to :))

"African" masks







Food-yum!

Storytelling

Soccer

Piper and her new friend

Our talented singers

Our singing and drumming entertainment

Food Fest

Tonight, Bob and I (he'll want to take all the credit, but I did help) prepared some lentils, a chicken stew and a carrot/potato/cabbage dish. All I can say is, it is time consuming, but I love it. I'm not just saying that because I am embracing my daughter's culture, but I really do love it. I'd have these dishes at least once a week if I could convince my husband to make them. (He really is an excellent cook.)

Our house was engulfed with onion, berbere (a spice essential for these types of dishes :) and vegetable aromas the whole evening. Yum.

The reason for this mass food frenzy is actually the event we are a part of tomorrow. It is called the Global Adoption Connection, and it is featuring the countries in Africa. I've been helping to organize this event with two, wonderful people over the past few months. Let's hope we have enough food, enough people and enough entertainment for everyone who attends. I think it will be awesome! Anyone who comes should have a taste of the sounds, food, dancing, crafts and storytelling of Africa. How could that not be great?!

Here is a look at a couple of the dishes we prepared.....

This is just a test!

If this shows up on my blog, then that means I know how to send a post from my email to blogger! Yay! That way, I may be able to post something while we are in Ethiopia to keep you all updated!

Out of the Twenties!

Well, we are officially out of the twenties! We have 19 days until we head out to meet our sweet baby :) So, what are we doing to get ready to go? Here is a small list.....

• Bob is working furiously to complete some big job projects. He is even working Sundays! I think work is even in the forecast for Father's Day :(



• I am cleaning our house from top to bottom. Now, believe me, it was dirty to start with. Not messy, but dirty. I hate dusting! I will feel a great sense of accomplishment when I get this project done!



• I have been packing, shopping, checking things off of my list. I love to organize!



• I am preparing all of the things for the kids while we are gone. (zoo camp, visit to the lake, etc.) Luckily, my wonderful mother is taking care of them, so that helps a lot. Still, I wanted to create a paper chain for them to mark the days we'll be gone and give the kids a little insight into each of our days while we're gone. I also left a little surprise for them each day to let them know we're thinking of them :)



• POTTY TIME! Yes, we have ventured more seriously into the potty training world. Yesterday we had a lot of success, with 5 stamps up on the chart. We did have a little accident at the park, but hey, no one is perfect :)



• Doctor, dentist, eye appointments galore! We've had many already scheduled appts. to head out to. Kindergarten physical to come. Ouch
  

Next up..... I have plans to shop for some more items that we are going to take to donate to the orphanages. (formula and vitamins) I have agreed to undertake an organizing project at church that involves all of the childcare rooms. (deep breath) I also have a big event coming up this weekend that I have helped organize. It should be a lot of fun!

The Countdown

Well, we are officially leaving in 27 days!!! That feels great to say! Today we booked our airline tickets :) Let the countdown begin!

Oh, and we also got 2 new pictures today from another family who traveled. Apparently our little, sleepyhead had just woken up from a nap.

COURT DATE!

Let me just start by saying this is one of those days that went by as a blur....because once I received the email from my social worker stating that we have a court date, my pace and direction changed dramatically! First of all, let me say that my kids think I'm half crazy. When I took a look at the computer screen and immediately started jumping up and down screaming, my boys simply backed away and stared from a distance :) My spunky, little girl, however, joined in the celebration (although she had no clue why were celebrating). We don't have an exact date yet, but we do know we will be in Ethiopia by July 6th to meet our sweet pea and attend court on the 8th. I am grinning from ear-to-ear and am ready to start counting those days down! Thank you, Lord, for hearing our prayers. The above picture sums up my feelings about today. After all of the excited travel conversation going on in my house, my family took my mother-in-law to a baseball game to celebrate her 60th birthday. As the game came to a close, a magnificent fireworks display began. If there was a window to my heart, I'm pretty sure you would have seen those fireworks going off today when I heard the news of our court date! How great is our God!