Catching Up Part II

Holy cow time flies!  Much has happened in a year (since my last post!).  

We were lucky to travel to California last September, with the girls, for a visit to Disneyland! Never had I thought we would visit Disney World and Disneyland in the same year!  Brad had business in CA, so us girls went along and hung out by the pool during the day, and visited Disneyland in the evening.  I know, a hard life, right!  

Then, in the fall, we began looking into a dream of ours to have a little place a the beach. Well, we had actually been researching, saving, and crunching numbers for several years, but but began to actually look at places in October.  In the beginning of April 2016, we settled on a little condo in Corolla, NC.  We love it there and it's perfect for our family.  Three bedrooms, 2 baths, a hot tub and access to many pools, amenities and lots of little extras. Unfortunately, we can't live at the beach all the time, so right now, our little place is more of an investment property that we rent out via a property manager during the vacation months. Hopefully one day we can take it out of the rental business and be at the beach more often, but for now, it's a win-win for us.  It's usually available when we can go down, and when we aren't there, it's being rented out for other families to enjoy.  We named it "The Anchor House" because to us, it's our little shelter from the storm of life and gives us hope for the future. [Hebrews 6:19].  The beach is our happy place!   To see a little about our condo, you can visit or blog-in-the works at http://baxter075.blogspot.com/  Or you can visit the property manager site at www.Brindleybeach.com and search for The Anchor House.    If you are interested in a stay, let me know!  Below is a picture of the sunset on the sound directly across from our place.  We love it!  



Note the horses in the back on the dune.  This is why we love Corolla! 

The girls hanging out in the hot tub at The Anchor House!

In May, we celebrated my mom and dad's 50th Wedding Anniversary.  Despite the fact that they wouldn't let us have a party for them, we surprised them with a stretch limo and a trip to Baltimore's Inner Harbor for a yummy brunch.  

Here's some pictures of the boys -- one heading to prom and one heading to a wedding.   They dress up pretty well!! 

In other news, we now have a Junior in College, a Senior in High School, a big First Grader and a kindergartner!  Life's about to get really busy again with sports, school and everything Fall!

Ellie is doing fantastic.  She made it through kindergarten, even though I wasn't ready for her to go!  I cannot say enough about early intervention for her.  I know that many people frown upon putting a "label" on their child, but they seriously helped Ellie get into the grove and catch up with some things she struggled with when we brought her home!  I'll post another time about all of her therapies, but I just can't say enough about getting help early in a child's journey.  With that being said, life isn't perfect and sometimes her early trauma and abandonment issues are very evident.  But, we typically know how to get her back to a place of safety, and then all is well.  

Ellie's 6th Birthday Bash! 

Did I mention that Ellie is swimming like a crazy person?  Seriously, this poor little girl screamed at the sight of water when we brought her home (b/c water wasn't for play in Ethiopia).  She is now jumping in the deep end and swimming the length of an Olympic pool. She has made serious progression with water and I could see her being on a swim team some day!  We will pick lessons back up in the winter months, because who doesn't love getting into a cold pool in the middle of winter!  Ha!

Both boys are ramping up for another Football season - so you know where to find us every Friday night and Saturday, mid-August through November!  We really do love the game and watching the boys blossom into young men and fight for their team.  We also really love getting to know other families and tailgating and just having fun with them all.  This year will be bittersweet for Dylan, as it will be his last high school football season.  That last game and senior walk on the field after the game is tough!  Colt leaves tomorrow for his college football season.  I don't know where the summer went.  It seems like he was just getting home from spring semester!  



Faith is our littlest and will head to kindergarten this year.  Cue the tears .....  She is more than ready and super excited to start her "school career!"  Ha Ha!  She is a smart girl (who loves to talk), so I sorta feel sorry for her teacher when she begins a dissertation on flamingos or the blue footed booby.  She sure does love her animals.  I see some parent-teacher meetings coming my way soon!  

Faith had preschool graduation in May  -- that was a sweet moment!

Brad and I will celebrate our 24th Wedding Anniversary in October!  Keep in mind that we've known each other since we were 12, so really we are celebrating our 30-something year together!  Next year maybe we will do something special, but to me, everyday is special with him.
I hope everyone one (the 2 of you) who read the blog are doing well.  Like I say, no news is usually good news!  Maybe I'll try to post again before a year goes by! 

 

 

Angie

One Year Ago

One year ago, we went for our USCIS fingerprints and had been on the “official” wait list for 5 whole days. We were so excited and things were moving so fast. We fully expected to have our little one from Ethiopia by Christmas of 2010.
Fast forward one year. Wow. If you would have told us last year that in January of 2011 we’d be awaiting the arrival of a baby (not from Ethiopia but from my tummy), I would have thought you were crazy! Never, Never, Never in a million years would I have thought this was possible. Never would I have thought we’d be getting a nursery ready for 2 babies (one from my tummy and one from Ethiopia). If you would have told me 5 years ago that we would have 4 children, I would have laughed at you! You know when you go for a job interview and they ask you what your goals are and where you think you’ll be in 5 years…??? Well, I never saw any of this coming. I would have said you had the wrong chick! Ha!

I can’t explain the changes that have taken place in our life over the last 5 years, and specifically, the last 18 months. Well, yes I can. It’s all God’s doing. A good friend always tells me that if you can logically explain things, then it wasn’t a God thing. So many things in our life today are God things. Honestly, it’s pretty neat to look at our life over the last 5 years and see how God has stepped in and taken over the reins (mostly because we got out of His way and allowed it). I honestly do not know where we’d be today if our path didn’t drastically change a few years ago. (well, yes I do.. let’s just say, broken home, broken marriage, broken-hearted kids and lots of heartache… which is why we are so passionate about marriages too.. but that’s a different blog and different story)

Everything still seems surreal. Waiting has been hard, especially knowing that we have at least another 6 months until we can get a referral for Baby E. Waiting for Baby Faith has been hard too. Oddly hard. I don’t remember being so anxious and impatient when our boys were born, but I think we were in a different spot. We were busy.. trying to make a name and life for ourselves and just getting by. Things are different now. Priorities are different; we are older and wiser; we don’t really care what people think anymore and we are ready to slow down and embrace this little girl. One good thing is with Baby Faith, I know where she is (in my tummy), I can feel her move, see her move and know she is nearby. I can talk to her and she can hear me and she’s part of my daily world, and, I have a ‘general’ idea when she will arrive.

I can’t imagine how hard it is going to be after we know Baby E’s face, but have to wait to meet her and then wait to bring her home. She won’t be a part (physically) of our everyday world. We won’t be able to tell what she’s doing, how she’s doing, won’t be able to talk to her and she won’t be able to hear us. It’s going to be very hard, and I empathize with everyone out there currently waiting for your child(ren) to come home!

So again, as much as I’d like to have it all figured out and have a perfect plan and explanation for everything that’s coming in our future, I revert back to 2 verses in Proverbs (since I love Proverbs):

In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NIV)

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 (NIV)

Can’t argue with that!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year Baby E!

It's 2003!!!   Huh?

September 11th is the New Year in Ethiopia. Enkutatash is the word for the Ethiopian new year in Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia, while it is called Ri'se Awde Amet (Head Anniversary) in Ge'ez, the term preferred by the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church. Of course I have no idea how to pronounce that!  They still retain the Julian calendar, in which the year is divided into 12 months of 30 days each, and a 13th month of 5 days (6 days in leap year). The Ethiopian calendar is 8 years behind the Gregorian calendar from January to September and 7 years behind between September 11 and January 8. So it is now 2003 in Ethiopia! Confusing, huh? I wonder how that affects the paperwork as it goes back and forth from Ethiopia to the U.S.?

I tried to remember what I was doing 7 years ago in 2003. At the time, we were living in West Virginia, and our boys were 7 and 4. Wow! That was the year we went to Disney. Here’s a picture of the boys on the famous Tea Cups... too cute!

~Colton & Dylan - Disney 2003~

As the New Year begins in Ethiopia and as our year is coming into its last quarter, I wonder if Baby E has been conceived yet or if she’s been born yet? It’s still going to be about 11 months until we will know her face and story, which seems so far away. It makes me sad, but I also know that E will have a brother or sister around the same age as her to play and grow with when she comes home…. As well as 2 big brothers to look after the both of them! (I'm still hoping my belly-baby and E are close in age... maybe even having the same birth month!). 

Life continues to takes twists and turns for our family, but it is all by design. I just wish I had the blueprint! Our path that we began almost a year ago has detoured slightly, and although it’s frustrating to a ‘planner’ like me, I am still learning that everything happens for a reason, and that God’s timing is always perfect, even if it doesn’t match our own understanding.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.  Proverbs 3:5-7 NIV

Adoption Yard Sale Success!

Our Adoption Yard Sale was a SUCCESS, I would say!  The rain held off, we had a great variety of items for sale, and we had plenty of eager shoppers.  We were truly blessed by everyone that came shopping, everyone that helped, everyone that donated items and baked goods to be sold.  We couldn't have asked for anything better.  Brad's brother Bryan and his wife Tracy had a separate moving sale in another town.  We were speechless when we received an envelope full of cash from them -- proceeds from their sale! 

I wanted to list a few little glimpses of God in all of this because it was all His works:

• 
  
  Someone called me (that didn't know us) and donated a truck load full of items -- lots of good stuff that went quick.  They heard from a friend of a friend that we were adopting and having a sale and wanted to donate items to us.
• Other relatives and friends of friends who donated items to us for the sale.
• Many friends, family and coworkers who donated items for the sale.
• Friends and family that came to help us price everything! (I had dreams about price stickers!!)
• A friend donated a hand-made bag and 2 jewelry sets for our raffle.  (see picture ).  Nancy's Jewelry can be purchased by visiting ww.glitzandglamourjewelry.com   It's beautiful!
• Brad's brother & wife donating proceeds from their sale to us.
• People that came to the sale, not to necessarily buy items, but to hand me a $20 bill towards our adoption.
• People that I don't know (but are friends of a friend) who baked items for our bake sale.
• People who we don't know  (but are friends of a friend) who gave us their giant canopy for the day, in case it rained.
• A little girl in our neighborhood who came 2 separate times to buy a bag of peanuts.  (I'm pretty sure she doesn't even like peanuts) :)
• Both sets of our parents, who showed up bright and early to help set up, direct shoppers, help shuttle the boys to their games, and were there for general support! 
• A friend made me a shirt with a giraffe on it that says "E"... Wait upon the Lord.  Love it!! 
• A friend, near and dear to us, that stuffed a stack of $20's in my hand before leaving!
• Prayers from friends and family that couldn't be here on the actual day, but were here with us in spirit!
• AND LOTS of FRIENDS, FAMILY and NEIGHBORS who stopped by to support us!  Love you guys! 

So, are you ready for the grand total?????   The grand total (which i still have a few coins to count up yet)... was over $1500!!! YES, $1500.   We could not believe it!  This will buy E's one way ticket home!  How cool with that be... to purchase a one-way ticket home for our angel. 

Thanks so much to everyone who helped in any way shape or form. 

We have about a trailer-full of items remaining that we will be sending down to the Relay for Life Yard Sale next weekend.  All proceeds from that sale will go to the Relay for Life Team and the Cancer Society.  I encourage you, if you are local, to check out the sale and show support.  It will be at the intersection of Gettysburg Street & Golf Course Road on June 4 and 5. 

 Big Brother DYLAN, the raffle boy :)                 

Two Months Waiting

Two Months Waiting

Not a whole lot to report.  Just the changes that are already posted.  But something to ponder -- We recently went to the Skillet/TobyMac Concert with the boys (which was totally awesome, by the way....).  TMac sang some of his new songs, but some old ones too.  One of his songs reminded me of something. . . he didn't sing the whole song "Irene" just the chorus, but it goes something like this . . .
 

Hush little baby baby don't you cry

Daddy's gonna sing you a lullaby

Everything's gonna be alright

The Lord's gonna answer your prayer tonight

Hush little baby don't you cry

Daddy's gonna sing you a lullaby

Everything's gonna be alright

The Lord's gonna answer your prayer tonight

He just kept singing those words over and over.  Suddenly those words sunk in and spoke to me.  Of course everything is going to be alright.  As believers, we know that, but it's so easy to forget that in the middle of a crisis or situation.   I think in a world of instant gratification, it's easy to lose sight of the grand plan of things and get caught up in one little detail or set back. 

But we have to remember, all those little things and set backs were already figured into the grand scheme of things, unbeknownst to us.  These little things are not changing our path or His plan for us or for our family-- He already figured them into the 'package deal.'  There's no fine print or hidden costs in His plan for us -- he already PAID it in FULL -- and guess what.... It's a free gift.  Have you accepted it? 

Thanks Toby for reminding me of something I already knew, but had forgotten for the slightest moment. 

Peace

Even with the unknowns and the weekly changes that have been occuring in Ethiopia, Brad and I feel a sense of peace.  It's wierd -- especially for me, being the control-freak that I am -- I normally would be freaking out!  But we feel peace.  It's all apart of the plan -- the growing, the stretching, the maturing of our faith.  The trusting that things will work out -- perhaps not as we have planned in our human minds -- but exactly how He has planned for it to happen.

What we do know is that we will definitely be going to Ethiopia 2 times now.  Our first trip will be to appear in court to show our committment to adopt; our second will be to bring Baby E home.  There's probably going to be anywhere from 3 - 6 months in between trips (I am only guessing here -- we haven't received offical word yet)   We are actually excited to be able to visit Ethiopia earlier in the process to meet our daughter and soak in the country, the atmosphere and culture.  It is going to be tough, however, to get back on that plane without our daughter.  I haven't begun to process that yet. 

So, the good news is we will get to see our daughter earlier in the process.  The bad news is that it is going to add about $5,000+ to our adoption expenses.  Again, we feel peace about this and know that we will have it when the time comes.  We are hoping to do a few fundraisers this summer -- an adoption rummage/yard sale; perhaps a family fun day, and we are still collecting donations for our puzzle. 

So many of our family and friends have been generous in support and prayers.  You know who you are -- thank you again for investing in our daughter and family through prayer and support.   We cannot do this on our own and your words of wisdom, prayers and support continue to carry us.  

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.    

I Peter 5:7

I-171H Received

Yay!  We received our USCIS Form I-171H Form today!  We were fingerprinted on 1/25/10 and this was approved and sent on 2/23/10.. so it took about 4 weeks!  Very awesome, since I was expecting it to take 3 months. 

That's one more thing we can cross off the list!

This form expires in 18 months, so hopefully we will have everything complete by then!