Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Care Package #2 and a Full Mommy Heart

One soft blankie that Mommy slept with for a few nights so you will know my smell.
A pink and brown polka-dotted outfit with sleeves because it can be chilly this time of year in Ethiopia.
4 pairs of Minnie Mouse panties.
2 pairs of socks.
One My Little Pony with a mini hairbrush.
One little Disney Princess case with Old Maid playing cards because ALL kids love playing cards even when they have no idea what to do with them.
A card with a couple of new pictures for you.

Oh sweet girl, how my heart is longing for you.  We received our first pictures of you just 3 days ago and I was amazed at how much your hair has grown!  It is a beautiful crown of soft curls, just like your big brother.  There was even a very short video of you, only 12 seconds long, that I have watched at least a hundred times.  You look so happy.  Your big brown eyes sparkle and your smile...oh that smile.

I wonder how much you understand.  I wonder if, when you look at the pictures in your album, you realize who we are.  You are only three, and your life has had so many twists and turns already that I can't imagine how confusing this all must be.

So I pray.

I pray you feel our love from across the ocean.  I pray the Lord prepares your heart for us...that He will knit our hearts together even now so, when I finally see you face to face, you know exactly who I am and that you realize fully and instantly that you belong with us.  We long to bring you forever home.

I love you fiercely, precious one.

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Another step closer...

Got fingerprinted yesterday!

Found out TODAY that Little Sister has our care package in her cute little hands!

My cup overflows.

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Went shopping today...

and with Little Sister so heavily on my heart I just have to say that I CANNOT WAIT to be able to show you her picture!!!!!

Got the CUTEST little fuzzy blanket for her...and a My Little Pony.  It is going to be amazing to be able to snuggle her close and sing the same bedtime song I have sung to her brothers and sisters for the last ten years.

And if I don't get new pics of her soon I may EXPLODE.

I'm just sayin'...

Delivered!

Just a happy little note to say since our DTE date of June 11 the dossier has made it's way from Virginia, through Paris, France and Dubai, and has arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!  The status, as of today, June 17, is DELIVERED!

Whoop Whoop!




Monday, June 14, 2010

Doro WHAT?

As  we prepare for Little Sister's homecoming, I realized that I should be practicing what are most likely her favorite foods.  Two things I have consistently seen listed by children who are waiting for their forever families are Injera and Doro Wat.  (Oh, and much to my relief, PASTA.)

Now injera I get.  I am a girl who grew up on Tex Mex and injera sounds like a sourdough version of a torilla.  I think I can do that.  The fermentation of the teff (a tiny Ethiopian grain) will probably take some practice, but SURELY I can figure it out, right?  The other dish I see mentioned is called Doro Wat...Ethiopian Chicken Stew.  Sounds good, right?  You take a piece of injera and scoop up the stew and pop it in your mouth.  Yummy, yes?

But then I read the ingredients and, apparently Ethiopians LOVE them some spicy food.  As in take-the-tastebuds-right-off and put-hair-on-your-chest spicy.  Oh boy.  You mean my little three-year old darling LIKES that?  Now I am all for spicy Tex-Mex, have even sweated through some Chicka-Chicka-Boom-Boom and loads of Creamy Jalapeno sauce (can I get a witness?) but I am thinking this is a level of heat that, until now, has been unknown to my tongue.  I may be making two versions of doro wat...Little Sister's comfort food edition and, well, a milder version for the rest of us wimps.
Coming up...Injera with piles of Doro Wat, Misir Wat, and Yataklete Kilkil.  Yowzers!

Ewww.




Monday, June 7, 2010

Care Package #1

1 Fancy Nancy Purse...pink with bows and ruffles
2 plastic bead necklaces
1 pair of pink Fancy Nancy sunglasses
1 little bitty baby doll wearing purple
1 Disney Princess camera that says "You look beautiful!" when you press the button
1 little t-shirt and a pair of matching capri leggings
1 pair of white socks
1 photo album
1 greeting card with Mommy's voice recorded saying "Little Sister, this is Mommy.  Daddy and I love you so much and we will be very happy when you come home.  Be a good girl and we will see you soon"...followed by the song "You'll be in my Heart" by Phil Collins

I wanted to say "ewedeshalo" which is Amharic for "I love you" but, well, let's just say I need to practice a bit before this southern girl tries to whip out the Amharic for all the Transition Home to hear!  Pitiful.  Just pitiful.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

One step closer to little sister!

Today I trekked all over the county with 4 kids in tow as I got the dossier county certified, authenticated, and copied!  Then we went to Target (affectionately known as tar-jay) and bought some items for LS's first care package.  Ahhh, how REAL it all became!  To hold those itty bitty outfits, to imagine her loving on that baby doll, and picking her very first Fancy Nancy purse and sunglasses just made me feel like...
her mommy.

And it feels good.

To KNOW that she knows about us...that she has been told we are coming.  Oh the joy that gives my heart!

The kids and I have been so crazy busy since last week with the end of school, Memorial Day festivities, and now the ending of the paperchase.  Tomorrow, once that packet of papers is in the hands of Fed Ex, we are going swimming and RELAXING at last!  We need some down time in a big way as I begin preparations for our first year of homeschooling, 2 trips to Africa, 1 trip to visit grandparents, and hopefully a weekend away with my dear hubby.  Yep, never a dull moment.

Summer, you are a most welcome guest and we DO hope you will stay a while!