Craigslist Score

Dan and I got a great bike for Elly via Iowa City's craigslist. I just love Craig. He's got some great deals, and we love meeting fellow citizens of the earth who love passing along perfectly good things.

Here's Elly on our latest find!

Here she is last night at 8:30pm, too excited to get ready for bed...

Her maiden voyage.


WAY TO GO ELLS!

She is quite proud of herself! She is not the natural-born daredevil her sister is on the bike, but she did a great job. Now we just gotta figure out those brakes!

Funny and Random

The other day I put Elly in a denim skirt-all...like overalls only a skirt. And she had a weird look on her face and asked if she could go look in the mirror. She went, took one look at herself and said, "I can't wear this! I look ree-dik-a-lus!" We busted a gut. Then Eden saw her wearing it and said, "I know how you feel Elly. When I used to wear that, I thought it was a boy's outfit at first."


Also- just thought this was funny and I want to remember it-

Elly calls people's sons and daughters their "sweeties." I am not sure where she got it; though I know that our neighbor girl Addy calls people's kids their "honeys" so maybe it is a three year old thing?

Spring Break Projects

The girls decorated these inexpensive plates from the dollar store and I hung them on a plate rack that I bought at Goodwill for $2.38. I spray painted it brushed nickel metallic (paint was $3). Total for the project- under $9.

I also bought this plate rack at the consignment store and spray painted it as well. And those plates are from a set I bought at Kmart for $8. Yeah, I'm thrifty.

These two cuties are priceless.


I will have to post pics of the dresser we transformed from drab to fab...for less than $10!

I have this friend...

...and she blessed me today with a post on her blog. She is a sweet, if not wild, super awesome girl.

Thanks Em for this post from your blog:

Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try and figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don't, dear friend, resent God's discipline; don't sulk under his loving correction. It's the child he loves that God corrects; a father's delight is behind all of this.

Proverbs 3 from The Message

Forgot!

I forgot to add another squeeze of lemon:

I got a pair of EUC Clark's shoes at Goodwill for $4.38 and a bathrobe for Elly for $2.38. Nevermind the bathrobe has been personalized with the name "Sophie."

And Elly has been VERY good lately and such a joy to be around all day. Eden is her normal, pensive, wishes she could be alone in a tree with a book self. I love my kids. All four of them.

My Fourth Glass of Lemonade

Here are the good things in this situation (though I would obviously trade these for Esias, I am trying to be positive here):

1. I got more pics from the agency, they are from February but very good in showing his development. He is pushing up on his hands, holding his neck VERY well, and grasping objects! He is precious as always and we got a smile! The first we'd seen.

2. I have lost 8.4 lbs and I feel so much better. I am on track to losing more, and waiting longer gives me more time to do so. I want to feel good in Ethiopia and be able to deal with the hectic pace, etc. not to mention the fact that I will have three children once we get back!

3. Dan can give more plasma and we can pay down the adoption debt more before incurring the costs of another child living with us.

4. He definitely won't be subjected to cold and flu season now!

5. We get our third dose of TwinRix HepA and HepB vaccine to protect us further while we travel.

6. My vertigo is under control right now.

7. I am starting to become more compassionate towards those who wait and wait and long for motherhood. Even though I have two children with me, I am starting to understand the pain of infertility maybe...the longing every month for this to be "the month" and to be yet again told no.

8. We have been blessed by so many people taking pictures for us and sending them to us after they travel that we have a nice set of memories of his infancy, even if we did not get to experience it firsthand. I am letting go of the dream to have him before he turns one. That may not happen. His b'day is in June.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

Romans 8:28

"For God is not a God of disorder but of peace."

1 Corinthians 14:33a

Ok apparently I misunderstood the email. It was not a translation error. They were just not able to understand what was written by another bureau so they were unable to make an opinion. This is not totally clear to me.

Trusting God and praying this is resolved soon.

More delays.

We have again been delayed in our court proceedings. There was a translational error. We will get another try April 16th.

Sweetness.

Elly: Mom, if you get wobbly, you can just hold onto me.

Me: Elly, that is so sweet. I am so lucky to have girls like you. Why did God bless me so much?

Elly: Because he loves us.

Me: [smiling]

Elly: I know everything in my heart because Jesus is in there.

Psalm 143:8

Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I lift up my soul.

Elly the Coed

Elly: Mom, do you know I went to college? That amazing place with big numbers?

The Webers (who many of you were praying for- on the prayer calendar) did not pass court today. Bummer dude. I know the feeling. We are hoping this gets resolved in the next few days and we still have a travel buddy, Lord willing, if our court case passes on Thursday.

Bike?

If anyone is planning on selling or giving away a child's bike (size 12" or 3-5 year old size) we would love to buy one! Elly has outgrown her little "barn bike" as she calls it, and Eden is still using hers. We were looking at new ones but Elly is pretty tall for her age so she may be ready for the next size in the next year or so, so a used one would be best. If you have one, let us know, we will make you an offer!

Crack House

Eden has a special place in her room between the bed and the wall where she keeps her toys hidden from Elly (hopefully Elly isn't reading this). Eden lovingly calls it her "crack." This has created some pretty hilarious moments, like below:

Eden: "I couldn't remember where I put this, but then I found it in my crack."

Elly Shrunk Me

This morning as we are getting back to our routine, Elly and I have been having fun together. We were on our way downstairs to play "Princess and Wicked Queen" (guess which one I am?) and she said to me, "You know when I was a grown-up, I had a baby named Shadley. You shrunk small when I was big."

Eden the Vegan

Eden is so funny. Never have I met a kid who sooo loves her vegetables. Last night she would not go get into the bath because she was hovering over the counter eating cabbage (raw) that I had cut for a salad. Then this morning I find her eating a tomato like an apple. She is awesome.

The Kids are Back! pt2

RSSers will like this...

I think after we pass court, that's right, PASS court, I am going to open my blog back up to public at least until after travel so that those who want to see our progress can do so without an invitation. I will have to see how it goes after that! But that will be helpful for those of you who use an RSS feed because my blog will actually be recognized again!

The Kids are Back!

Posting has been a little slow...because the kids were at grandma and grandpa's from Saturday through Wednesday. They are back today and they are about the happiest kids I have ever seen. All morning they have been singing, dancing, playing, and [gasp] getting along!

It was nice to have a little down time, though I was pretty bored without them and the mess they create that keeps me busy! I got a few projects done, had a few nice dates with my hubs and met some friends for good conversations! Might be a while before we can do that again.

ONE WEEK TIL COURT DATE! Wooo hooo! In less than seven days, Esias might be our official son! I feel very hopeful that this is our time.

By Your Side

I don't know why, but the lyrics of Tenth Avenue North really resonate with me. I love their music. The latest one, By Your Side, sounds like my theme song! :)

Why are you striving these days
Why are you trying to earn grace
Why are you crying
Let me lift up your face
Just don't turn away

Why are you looking for love
Why are you still searching as if I'm not enough
To where will you go child
Tell me where will you run
To where will you run

And I'll be by your side
Wherever you fall
In the dead of night
Whenever you call
And please don't fight
These hands that are holding you
My hands are holding you

Look at these hands and my side
They swallowed the grave on that night
When I drank the world's sin
So I could carry you in
And give you life
I want to give you life

Discouraged but knowing God is Good...

Today I got the twelfth notification of a denial for an adoption loan/grant. This time it was from Lifesong for Orphans. I have filled out SO many of these applications all with a hopeful heart that we will be able to receive some money for our adoption. We did receive Shaohannah's Hope grant back in February of 2008. That was a huge blessing and paid our dues upon accepting Jaren's referral. Unfortunately that's been the end of it. And these applications are not just a couple of pages of contact information! These are serious forms. Testimonies of your faith, how you parent your children, letters of reference, COMPLETE financial information, medical history. THE WORKS! I have spent hours doing this, feeling like this was the right thing to do!

I keep going back to October of 2007...when Dan and I just knew we were suppose to do this. We also KNEW we didn't have 20k in the bank waiting to be used! So we stepped out in faith! We are still out here...hanging on by faith. Lord, I know you won't let us fall! Increase my faith!

Photos- I've Been Terrible About Posting...

Pipa seems to be feeling better, though she is not running on her wheel much. But she is acting more normal. Oh, why did I get attached to a hamster??

Elly sporting the 'do that she was created for...the side pony.

We enjoyed a tea party on Friday night,

the girls were quite pleased.

Just a few cute pics of Elly on a humid day where her hair goes wild...


Below are pics from our mini-vacation to Chicago- we ate at a TINY Rib Shack...it was really good.


We mostly swam at the hotel while Dan was in his meetings but it was fun and the girls were very good. It was good for me to have some time away from these four walls.

More Ell-arity

"Daddy, you won the trophy!"
[Dan holds the imaginary trophy in the air triumphantly]
"No, Daddy, it's not a regular trophy. It's a meat trophy."

A Presidential Adoption?

Tonight at dinner Dan asked the girls what they thought E-man was doing right at that moment, so were got to talking about him. Elly said, "Barack Obama doesn't know when our baby is coming. So we're waiting and waiting and waiting..."

Quite Ellyquent, Part 20

The other day I picked Elly up and noticed the back of her pants were wet (not in an potty sort of way), so I said, "Elly, why are your pants all wet?"

She looked at me and said, "Uhh...well, it's a long sto-wee."

Eden's Concert

The Kindergarten Concert last night was a lot of fun. We joined a packed crowd in the gym for a "PTO Meeting/Kindergarten Concert." It's good to know people are not above selling out the kindergarteners to sucker parents into the PTO. It was fun and Eden was able to slightly enjoy herself over worrying about how other kids might not be following every rule to the tee.
--Dan

Small Miracles

Yesterday I was reading Psalm 118 and something very simple yet profound hit me: Instead of asking God why he has given us so many trials, why am I not thanking Him for bringing me through them? We have been through more trials than I would have picked, and I am not just talking adoption, but He has brought us through all of them and we are stronger and more reliant on Him. He is good and faithful to us, He does not leave us alone, He brings us through and will to the end. Thank you Jesus!

Psalm 118

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

² Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."

³ Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."

⁴ Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."

⁵ In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.

⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?

⁷ The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.

⁹ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.

¹⁰ All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

¹¹ They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

¹² They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.

¹³ I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.

¹⁴ The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.

¹⁵ Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!

¹⁶ The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"

¹⁷ I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.

¹⁸ The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.

¹⁹ Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.

²⁰ This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.

²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.

²² The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;

²³ the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.

²⁴ This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

²⁵ O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you.

²⁷ The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up to the horns of the altar.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

²⁹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

MORE PICS!

I am a happy happy enat (mother).

He is very bright-eyed and alert, though tiny and not looking like he is able to sit up yet. It looks like they still hold him very much like a small baby, bundled in blankets. He can hold his head well. His eyes are very focused. His hair is getting long and seems to be soft and curly. Of course the best thing about him is his brown eyes, they are just incredible. He is seriously the cutest baby I have ever seen, and I am not just saying that because he's (almost) mine.

Kim C. just returned from Addis with her daughter, and she was the magnificent messenger of these pictures. She is my favorite person right now. She got some great shots of him- TONS of them. We have so many now we will actually be able to make a nice scrapbook for him of his time in the orphanage. What a gift.

Here's a sneakity-peek at his hair...sooooo gorgeous. I want to touch it! Come on, how cute is he?

We still have no more word on the court date, besides just that it is on the 26th. It is almost here, I can manage to wait 2.75 more weeks. But if we don't pass, seriously, you might have to send me to some home where I can sit in a chair and babble all day and someone wipes the drool from my chin. I don't think I can stay sane through another delay!!! Let's pray we don't have to find out! :)

The girls are getting so big. Eden has grown 1/2 inch since DECEMBER and Elly has grown just under 1/2 inch. Amazing.

Anyone have hamster experience?

My poor Pipa! She is lethargic and not eating or acting normal! Anyone have a hamster and know what she may have? Of course, Eden is not too worried about her, but stinking me decided to get all attached to her!!!

What a Drag, Dude.

I really thought I would hear some miraculous news today that we had gotten a sooner court date, and that they would call me and say, Oh we moved up your date and it was actually yesterday and you passed! I guess that was sort of a dream but oh well. 21 days!

Hope

Hearing lots of murmurings that courtdates for some families have been moved up as much as a month...ours is 21 days away...do I dare hope it gets moved up? Today as I was driving I was thinking about our current court date and how I really feel like this time will be the time it works for us. Then doubt crept in and I thought, "Shadley, don't let yourself get your hopes up. This might not happen." But then I began to reason with myself...if I can't hope in this process, what can I do? Even if it hurts and I get disappointed a million times, I think I'd rather err on the side of hope. Esias current last name (the first name of his father) means "hope." So I think it's meant to be :)

Woot Woot! UPDATED

Kim in Ethiopia saw Esias yesterday! Woot woot!

Here is what she said: "We saw your sweet baby boy today as well as the other Bethany babies. I prayed a prayer for them all. I told him that mommy was coming."

Gives me chills.


Mommy IS coming my boy!

UPDATE- here's more!
I met your beautiful son today. He has a ton of hair and is very tiny. He did not appear to have any teeth. When I went into the infant room the nanny named -- was holding him. I tried to get her to let me hold him but she would not. She took care of Savannah at the transition home. I think this is how you say his name Ya (a as in cat) best. Ya-best. I told him that you were coming soon. I got a bunch of pictures of him and will send them when we recover. We will not be home until Friday night.

Prayer Calendar

Click on this image to blow it up, then print it out and pray with us!!!

Small Update on Adoption

Yesterday we found out that another couple who also has a son almost the same age as Esias got a court date and it is March 24th! That was odd because it was before others' dates, which usually doesn't happen. So to me, this means possibly two things:

1. We might have a family to travel with after all! Since their court date is two days earlier than ours, if we were both to pass court that week, we would possibly be assigned the same Embassy date the following month. Of course, this is all speculation! But it would be great to travel with some other Americans and make some friends along the way!

2. OR, there are dates opening in the courts and we might get an earlier date. Again, speculating here, and I definitely am not getting my hopes up for this one.

The good news is that there is only TWENTY-FIVE days until our court date! PRAY HARD!