Ida Izabelle

Introducing.....my new niece! Daron's little sis, Sarah, had her baby yesterday(10.11.08) in New Zealand! Brooks and Sarah are living there for a couple of years and they just welcomed their first child -so far away from all of us! We all can't wait to meet our beautiful little niece/cousin-she looks so precious in the pictures. Congratulations Brooks and Sarah-we are so happy for you! Isn't life amazing????

It's a bit overcast today!

Well, the sun didn't quite come out today, both literally and figuratively! There is hope though, because I do see it peeking out and fighting to show its face! Our case went to court today in Ghana and the judge that we had decided that she wanted to take the case and review it until court next Friday(heavy sigh!!!) What can we do? Nothing. I just hope and pray that she feels good about making a decision in our favor next week. Please keep her and our family in your prayers!

Our hearts are starting to ache more and more for our little ones that are so far away! When we got our referral in August, we were hopeful to bring them home early November. With court being changed soooo many times, it just keeps getting pushed back. Another HUGE obstacle we could find ourselves trying to climb is getting their Ghanaian passports. They haven't been issued yet and there is a big wait for them currently. Please pray for a miracle that they would be ready as soon as we get the adoption decree!

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, I'll Love You Tomorrow....

In the words of Little Orphan Annie, "we're only a day away!" Our case is supposed to go to court again tomorrow, so we are praying that tomorrow the kids will be legally ours. If you feel led, please say a quick little prayer if you can; we would love to bring our kids home as soon as possible! Updates tomorrow! (sorry if I now have got you singing the tune to 'Tomorrow', I haven't been able to get it out of my head-oops!)

Back to School Pics!

It is now OCTOBER and I haven't loaded anything from back to school-oops! Justus is liking 3rd Grade, Greta-2nd and Ella is in half-day Kindergarten. Yep, I have no children at home in the mornings. So far it has been filled up with work, meetings, the gym, and every so often a day to myself at home. Actually, I think that only happened once and I used that to finish writing some grants for our adoption, so that was nice. People keep saying enjoy your time until your little ones are here. The fact is, all I can think about is them, so I just want them home forever with us! I am hoping then I will actually get more done when they are home, instead of checking my email, blogs, and yahoo groups any spare moment in case of new information. It will happen eventually and hopefully I won't hardly remember the labor pains!

After drop-off on the first day of school, we had our 3rd Annual Mimosa Party! Moms come with all different emotions-all are welcome!Some are there to cry together over the fact that their baby has gone off to school and they don't get to spend special moments durning the day with them any longer. Others are there to celebrate that their child/ren have gone back to school after a LONG summer. Either way, no judgement allowed and we just come together to offer a toast to a new school year! It is also a fun way to meet new moms since we never send out invites, but invite people in the halls and classrooms that morning. It was a blast!! Our home was in the middle of being painted outside, so it was a bit thrown together-but worth it!

Court, schmourt!

Just to keep my family and friends up to date, we heard today that our case won't be going to court this week, but hopefully at the end of next week. I will definitely post if it does, but if I don't post that means...KEEP PRAYING!

In the words of my friend Megan, I am still "Jamesn' it"! (see post below)

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!