Court Re-Scheduled: Take Three!

So, I wasn't going to post for a few reasons until after our case went to court and we could celebrate by the kids being officially ours, but I changed my mind and would love prayers if you read this. Friday our case went to court in Ghana, but there were a couple more papers the judge requested and they postponed it until today. Then today woke up to hear that our case was rescheduled again! The judge decided that they only wanted to take one case today and ours was the one he didn't choose for today, but said later this week. We'll see.... I almost feel like the time I went in for false labor twice with Greta. Third times a charm, right?

I feel bad that the kids (Fia and Kwame) have to keep going to court, only to turn around once they get there. What a hassle for the staff too. The kids are probably confused, but like Daron said, hopefully they are just having fun going for an adventure out of the adoption center. I did get a picture of them going to court on Friday from one of the visiting moms and it was fun to see. They were dressed up in the shirts that we sent them that look Brady Bunchesque with all 7 of us on it. I also got to be reminded that not every country requires car seats, let alone seat belts. How funny to see that and remember the "old days."

This morning I was pretty frustrated even though I know that God is watching over this process and he knows what's best. I just need to trust that the timing will work out perfectly. The last two weeks I have been reading James, and actually facilitating a class on that book of the Bible, and it reminds me to find joy in all the hard times. Of course, as I thought about it today, my first thought was "Yeah right". But really, it isn’t saying that I need to pretend to be happy or joyful, instead he(James) is suggesting that I need to have a positive outlook and that through the hard times, we gain endurance and strength. This really shouldn't be a big deal and I shouldn't’t be so discouraged that it is moved to another day, I am sure it will be just fine. I TRUST that. I just want our children home and each time it gets postponed, it adds more time to when we can bring them home.

If I can ask, I would love your prayers through this and all the ups and downs of this process until we can bring our children home.

I Got a Smile Award!

Now, I don't want to BRAG, but this isn't the first time I got a "Smile Award!" :) My first time was in high school when I got the "Best Smile" award with my friend Jeff Marshall! Ha! What a funny time........high school. I wished at the time I would have gotten best legs! Anyway...

I just got nominated for this Smile Award by two people that I really respect in our cyber adoption world! I appreciate that they believe I should get this, but I also think that I must have fooled them! ;) Both Heather and Chanda have been great inspirations in this adoption process. They were both in the pilot phase of our Ghana adoption program when it had many more kinks with the learning curve. I am in awe of how they handled themselves and have so much respect for each of them. Not only that, but they have been two women that have encouraged me/us when we felt like we would never get a referral and rejoiced with us when we did. Thank you Heather and Chanda for who you are!! Below are what they said for my nomination:

Heather: "Kristin had the longest wait for referral in the history of the AAI Ghana program, but never complained or grouched about it. Kristin inspires me with her patience, encouragement of others, faith and deep love for her family."

Chanda: "The next award goes to Kristin, who is another mom adopting from Ghana. She and her family waited, and waited, and waited for the referral of a little boy. It was amazing how much grace Kristin showed during her wait. Fortunately, she's no longer waiting for the referral. They found out the little boy they were waiting for had a sister, too. "

It is humbling to read this and it does put a SMILE on my face(especially today) thanks ladies!

Characteristics for the Smile Award:
1. Must display a cheerful attitude.
2. Must love one another.
3. Must make mistakes.
4. Must learn from others.
5. Must be a positive contributor to blog world.
6. Must love life.
7. Must love kids.

These are the rules for The Smile Award.
1. The recipient must link back the the award’s creator
2. You must post these rules if you receive the award.
3. You must chose 5 people to receive the award after receiving it yourself.
4. You must fit the characteristics of the recipient of the award, as posted by .
5. You must post the characteristics of a recipient
6. You must create a post sharing your win with others.
7. You must thank your giver.

So. . . I belive all my friends through AAI have gotten this award now, so I’d like to give the award to some other people that put smiles on my face. Drumroll please.................

Amber: She is someone that just brightens up a room! She exudes joy and is full of encouragement for me and others on a regular basis. Amber and her husband go to church with us and I am so thankful to have gotten to know Amber the last year and look forward to many more years ahead. Thanks for making me SMILE!

Jenny: Okay, so this is someone that I met the first week we moved into town and we basically begged her and her husband to be our new best friends. Seriously. Jenny is super cool, super loving, super funny, super real, super mom, super blogger(I am thinking she is thinking this is super). I love her! You will have to check out her blog- she is religious about it and hilarious! Jennys make me SMILE!

Kir: Kir and her husband went to seminary with Daron and I before we had kids (actually Kir and I didn't go, but we were their scholarship so that counts for something,right?). We lived in the same apt. building and just hit it off as couples. She is amazingly fun, wise, supportive, understanding, chic, beautiful inside and out, etc. etc. I also can't wait for them to move to the Pacific Northwest to cause some commotion as the rebel pastor's wives(not really if any Superindents are reading). Thanks for making me SMILE!

Karleen: Karleen and her husband were the ones to lead us to AAI. They adopted from AAI's Ethiopia program and helped us get started with the process. She has watched my back in the beginning of the process and always there to offer advice. Her dry sense of humor definitely keeps me laughing and trying not to take life(ie: spouse and children) so seriously. I am so thankful for her smile and how she is modeling adopting in our small town. I also love that she won't sugar coat things! Thanks Karleen for the many SMILES you have given me!

Deb: This woman has been in my life since, well, I was awkward and young. Deb has put a smile on my face ever since we met. As a kid she would come and spook my sleepovers just at the right time and tell us stories while at the same time being disguised. (She is an amazing storyteller and I am surprised she hasn't written a book yet!) Deb loves to laugh and she is contagious with her smiles and laughter. When I got married, she played a practical joke on me that lasted years........She is a delight both in person and in the blog world- I am so thankful for how she makes me and many others SMILE!

Sweetness

Here is cute story about our kids we got from Hilda, one of the traveling moms meeting her daugther in Ghana right now:

" On Sunday when we went to church, the little ones including your two, went up front to little rugs and kind of sat down or laid down while the older kids had to sit on wooden benches. Nana (Kwame) was standing by me for a long time, but then went right to where Mefia was laying down and laid next to her. She automatically reached over and put her arm around him. It was so sweet and just shows how close they are."

Gotta love that as a mom! Thanks for sharing this Hilda!

Update on kids

We just got an update on our kiddos in Ghana from one of the traveling parents that were bringing home their FOUR sweeties! She brought our kids part of their welcome bags, which included these little stuffed animal blankie things and a photo album book of our family, home, and their new rooms. Here is what she wrote:

"Kwame and Mefia- Kwame ran up to hug us when we walked in, he was all smiles. Mefia was a little quieter, as usual. She was wearing a size 12 months shirt! Seriously, she's small, but not that small!! I'd guess 2T/3T. 18months/2T for Kwame. But don't quote me!(oops, I just quoted her!) They gave them the bags in another room, but I got a pic or 2 of them when they came back out. They loved their lovies, and the Aunties read their books to them over and over. They seem to feel just fine, and looked great. They both took part in preschool, an Mefia knows some of her colors, and was joining in on the singing which she didn't do last time. "

Oooohhh!! It is just so much fun to hear about your kids, especially when you haven't met them yet!! I love to hear that they loved their lovies and picture books. How fun that they wanted to read their books over and over again. Justus, Greta, and Ella were also all smiles hearing about this. They are so excited that their new siblings now know about them and they can't wait to meet them-almost as much as Daron and I!

Happy Tuesday!

Hi Jennine. I just wanted to be at the top of your blog tonight!

Happy Birthday Doodles!

Just want to say a quick HAPPY BIRTHDAY to BRADLEY DOODLES HAL.........!!! Happy birthday brother bear!
If I think back, you have always been a wonderful big brother to me!!(that is, except when you locked me outside the sliding door without shoes on during a Chicago winter with lots of snow when you were supposed to be babysitting and taking care of your innocent little sister, or when you were supposed to make me a pb&j for me and you put butter on it too even though you knew it would make me gag, or...if you were supposed to pour me some apple juice and instead your poured extra large glasses for your other siblings and a teensy bit for me, before placing the apple juice on top of the fridge out of reach of your much, much, much younger sister).

Some of the wonderful times included you teaching me how to drive a stick and more importantly do doughnuts in your GTI, sending me letters from your years in Norway, letting your high school girlfriends braid my hair, buying me a "footlocker"(remember those??), getting me just the right gift for my birthdays growing up, arranging for your middle school sister to be a cheerleader on your college campus, taking me out to lunch when a boy broke my heart(he later became my husband), taking time for me, praying for me, being an amazing listener and example of what a sibling should be! You are a gift to me and I love you very much!

Happy Birthday Brad,
Love,
Keeker

Chicken Pox & Ghana

One adoptive mom just came home with her three beautiful kids from Ghana last night. She went on a whirlwind trip last weekend to bring them home, after being there already for a couple of weeks earlier last month. Last night she sent an email saying that our two kiddos, as well as others in the home, have the chicken pox and they were miserable! I am so sad for them! Today I saw pictures that she took of them. :( It is a weird feeling to know that your kids are sick and you can't take care of them. I know that they are being very well cared for at Eban House, the adoption center. But still, I want to hug them and start to learn what makes them feel better when they are sick. I love how God is weaving my heart to theirs already. Please pray that they get better soon and for all the other kids in the home as well. I suppose we better pray for all the Aunties' sanity too in the home. I am sure they are going crazy with this outbreak!

The Last of the Real Men!

Well, thanks to Daron and Thys, the outside of our house is painted with a bold new coat! The trim isn't finished yet, but it is looking great. So far I have noticed that the younger generation of neighbors is liking it, but the seasoned isn't quite sure why I wanted to move away from the 80's look we had going.

One of our seasoned neighbors was riding his bike by and said that Daron was one of the last real men out there (since he was painting his own house and didn't hire out). To Daron, that was the ultimate compliment! Lucky for me, I have got myself a real man- the last, no less!!

We decided to do a little of "you scratch my back, and I will scratch yours" with our friends, so I believe Daron will be painting again soon at Thys's in case he needs to exercise his manliness again soon!

A Day in the Life of a Mariners Groundskeeper

Daron got to be an "Honorary Groundscrew Member" the other day at Safeco Field. Our friends gave us the tickets to do this and Daron was thrilled. He loves baseball and it was icing on the cake that he got to go for a Twins game. We thought that Daron would have to do some dance that the groundscrew usually does halfway through the game, but Daron didn't end up doing that. They said that they never do that with the volunteers, but he wasn't sure if that was the truth! He thought that they took a look at him and didn't think that he could dance. Either way, he had a blast. He got to see such and such a player that has been the best such and such and talked with another player that is someone that I should know. Don't get me wrong, I know the sport. But ever since we moved, I lost track of my favorite teams. Which move was that? I don't remember.

Justus and Greta got to go with and had the time of their life. Daron's cousin, Mat, and his daughter, Claire, also went to the game. They got to go on the field before and after the game. If you watched the last game of the Mariners/Twins series, you may have witnessed Daron running across the field to water the bases.

Thanks again to our amazing friends that shared a fun gift like this!

Family Fun

The guys on my side of the family recently had their annual fishing/golf trip together. While they were doing that, the women of our family had their annual "Watch All the Kids Event!" My sister was up from Cali with her kids and my sister-in-law came over for a few days from Seattle with her girls to hang with all of us. We had some great days at the beach, fountain park, and just playing with cousins. I love to see them all together and now we get to add 2 more to the group!!

After the guys were done with their part, we lovingly ditched handed off our children and headed into Seattle for a spa treatment! Very nice! We also got to shop around for the day and eat at two fabulous places: Shuckers and The Purple Cafe. In between our very important agenda, we just had to take a break at Von's Martini House for a blueberry lemon drop! Yum! What a great memory and time we had together -thanks Mom and Dad for making it happen!!

We ended our time together the next day with our H. Family Fantasy Football Draft! Very fun. Go Lady Wildcats!!! (that is my team and no, I am not as exuberant as I sound right now).