THE DAY WE MET OUR DAUGHTER

This was it...we woke up on Monday morning the 10th, went down for breakfast and our lives were FOREVER changed by this little Ethiopian girl named Hana! We had breakfast with the group and then Almaz walked in. We did some paper work with her, then 2 of the families went to meet their children. Melissa/Dan and Josh and I stayed back and waited for Almaz to come get us. Before I went to Ethiopia I couldn't understand HOW you can get there, go to sleep then do paperwork all before meeting your kids!!!!!!!!! BUT it was an amazing peace that came over me. I was ready to go meet her but not too hysterical...(probably b/c i knew for sure it was going to happen)...So, we made the "Walk" to Hannah's Hope. The walk I dreamt of for so long, heard so much about and there we were actually walking the walk to the gates of ALL GODS CHILDREN. It all seemed surreal...the whole trip felt surreal...

As we walked thru the gates there were kids every where. Toddlers, older kids and tons of babies. It was amazing. Melissa and Dan met their daughter which I have the most amazing video of. Their amazing daughter looked so cute in her little sunglasses they sent to her. She is beautiful and will be in my heart forever...(ALONG WITH HER PARENTS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
then I walked over with Almaz with Josh videoing to see my little Hannie on the floor on a mat, face turned away from me. I KNEW IT WAS HER! I picked her up and it was like she was always our daughter. I can't explain the feeling...


Kind of like Suzi Redman said to me. When she picked her daughter up for the first time its like "ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh" all the waiting is over and finally there she is...not balling crying just ahhhhhhhhh what a relief. That's how I felt. The balling crying came later in the week. BELIEVE ME! :) Maya looked JUST like she did in person as she did in her pictures but more beautiful. I remember looking at her just not being able to grasp how beautiful her eyes were. They are so black u can't see the pupils...so pretty my girl is and so sweet. As I type this part she is sitting on my lap. Passie in her mouth, very SURREAL...We are so thankful for our little miracle.

The BEST doll we have ever gotten!

So, the day before I leave for Ethiopia I find a package at my door. I open it up and who is it from...non other then AMY BOTTOMLY and Silas! This is the dolly she send me along with the headband Maya is wearing and THE MOST adorable bracelet. What a beautiful gift! There was a little bribery in the card though, saying something to the effect of winning Maya's heart over. Hmmm...we will see. :) What a beautiful doll. It sits on Maya's shelf in her room and today she got to play with it for the first time! Thanks AMY! We love u so much!

Love,
Jul and Maya (who LOVES Silas and Abel)

9 MONTHS

I think its amazing that the day after we got Maya home, my ticker said 9 months since we started the adoption process. Isnt that amazing! The whole thing from beginning to end was 9 months...

Maya is doing great. Had some fussy/teething/shots days but today was great! She came to the store for a little while, visited her husband Abel who by the way is doing better THANK GOD, had tummy time in the backyard with mommy and daddy, ate rice cereal, drank prune juice :) and went to bed. What a life huh!

So...When we arrived at the AIRPORT after we met Danny and Yohanas this is what we did...


Put all of our luggage in the van and drove to the union hotel. It was so surreal to be in Ethiopia, driving to the hotel and being steps away from our daughter but then having to go to sleep for the night after the 17 hour plane ride! It ended up being fine.

I had to call my mom to tell her we made it safe! Oh that was a tough call to my mom. I MISSED HER SO MUCH! That's Rosa. Tracie had a love affair with her. She was amazing. I loved her and 3 other girls that worked at the hotel. What women!

Thats it for now...hope u are all well...I will leave u with a Maya pic!! Cant figure how to turn it around so tilt your head! Thats the first time i put Maya in her sling. Better then my chihuahua right? :)

The Begining of our TRIP to ETHIOPIA...

This was the first pic we took at the airport leaving to go get our girl on March 8th at 2pm. Little did we know what we would face in about 24 hours from this picture...
We are on the plane now on ETHIOPIAN AIR! There is a non stop repeated elevator music that was wearing on my nerves but overall we were sooooooooooo excited to FINALLY be walking in the footsteps of so many people that went to pick up their children...so many people that I love
deeply. Andy and Lisa were sitting right in front of us. What a wonderful couple! We were so beyond blessed to meet and travel with them. (and the other 2 couples...words just cant express)
Anyone who traveled to Ethiopia knows how excited we were to see this on the screen!

These two men are the most amazing men I have ever met (besides Josh and my dad)...Danny and Yohanes were our drivers in Ethiopia. Their love for the kids is just amazing. I loved being with them and just watching how the kids at Hannah's Hope absolutely ADORE them...I will forever keep them in my heart! Oh and to hear the kids say "DANNY" in their little Ethiopian accents is too cute! :)

Seeing our names on this sign was a very sureal moment. We were in the country where our daughter was! We were on the same continent! I just couldn't believe it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hungry Girl

Maya has been a little fussy today. She didnt take a nap and seemed so hungry so we tried Rice Cereal. She ate it very well. What a sweet girl she is. I was going to try to watch a movie today but the little girl wouldn't let me. Wanted mommy's 100% attention. Things are good around here. Still jet lagged but doing well. Going to stop by work tomorrow! I am excited to get out of the house. More pics coming! xoxo

First Doctor Visit

Today was Maya's first visit to the doctor! I cant find my moms (ahhh) camera with all the pictures from the big day though so i will close with another pic of Maya. Anyway she has been such a great baby! Today after the shots though she was fussy and just wanted to be held by mommy...wow what an amazing feeling! Then grandma and I took her for a walk in the stroller. A very nice day...

I know i havent posted about our time in Ethiopia. Right now i just don't know what to write about it. It was an amazing experience. I would LOVE to be back at Hannah's Hope with Almaz and my travel group. I literally long to be there, hearing Amaric, watching the kids, watching the special mothers...watching the amazing children bond with their new parents. If the plane ride wasn't soooooooo long I would want to go back soon...BUT I am happy and content at home. IF ANYONE GOING NEXT WEEK CAN GET ME THE NAME OF THE CD ALMAZ PLAYS FOR THE BABIES WHEN THEY ARE SUNBATHING PLEASE LET ME KNOW! I am just dying to hear that music and play it for Maya at home...

Here is a pic of Maya with one of her favorite people in Ethiopia!

Thanks Lindsey Wheeler for my BABY LEGS!

We had such a great day today. Maya was hysterical laughing for an hour today. Rolled over all the way from her back to her belly! It was the CUTEST thing ever! Just adorable...

First Moments Meeting The Family!

I know u have seen our airport pics but here are a few more. I am trying to upload some more pics from today...

Reiunited and it feels SO good!

Tracie and Abel came over today...take a peek. They were kissing and touching each others face. It was the CUTEST thing. It is so good to be home...I CANNOT tell u.

First kiss (on the cheek of course!)

we are home!

Hi everyone. I just got to jump on the computer. I havent read any comments or anything yet but i want to say a few things. Maya is about to need a bottle but i have been thinking about 5 points from my trip...

1. All Gods Children is the most amazing agency. I would use them over and over. No bumps on the way, everything was planned out to the tee. The people there are amazing.

2. Almaz is an angel sent from God who untied us with our Hannie/Maya.

3. WE are so in love with this little girl. The emotions I feel for her and Ethiopia are too amazing to express now...it was very hard for us. Very amazing but very emotional.

4. The families we traveled with are the most amazing people i have ever met. They are just such amazing people that will be in my heart forever...

5. I am in love with the children there. Your babies, toddlers and kids are just amazing. They have such spirits...I have much to tell about each child so as the days go on i will send emails to each of you okay? I know some of u are traveling soon...Megan and DD and Jacqui...i cannot say enough about your kids....just no words. they are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I heard that 11 (ahhhhh) referrals went out when i was gone. Thats amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just love them all, u are all so beyond blessed to have these children as part of your life u are not going to believe it!!!!!!!!

and now without further adue...(how do u spell that) Here is my Maya Hannie...
this is not a pic from Ethiopia when we were with her but one i got before. I havent loaded anything on to the computer yet...

With Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Sammi and mommy and daddy

This is my sister, Sammi holding Maya!

The Beelers are doing great!

I got my Julie update this morning. They are really doing well. I am so proud of her. It is hard enough being a first time parent... but being a first time parent in AFRICA? w/o the comforts of home and your support... Again, I am so proud of Julie! She is doing great! AND SO is Josh. She said Josh is such a good Daddy!

She is loving Ethiopia and they are in awe of Maya.

They will be leaving tomorrow night (about 3 pm our time) for the plane ride.

Just wanted to share they are doing great!!! She'll share the details when she gets home I'm sure.

Tracie

MAYA IS HER MOMMY AND DADDY'S ARMS!

Woke up this morning to an e-mail from Julie! I was beyond excited to hear from her! I dreamed about it all night.

She said they are doing good. They were about to go to their embassy appointment. She said that when she got to Hannah's Hope, she put Maya in the sling and she fell asleep while she toured Hannah's Hope. Her and Josh are both in awe by little Maya's beauty.

She said she saw Jacqui's little boy and DeeDee's too :-) Megan she said she fell in love with your girls but didn't get a chance to meet your son just yet.

Pray for them as they continue their trip. Julie is a little concerned about having a bassinet seat on the way back... pray they get one. It makes for a much smoother trip. Also, she said Maya seems a little congested.

REJOICING WITH THE BEELERS,
Tracie

JULIE AND JOSH ARE IN ETHIOPIA

This is Tracie....I did not talk to Josh and Julie but I got an e-mail from Rosa who works at the Union hotel. I gave Julie a gift to give to Rosa and Rosa just e-mailed me to thank me for it... SO THAT MEANS THEY ARE THERE AT THE UNION HOTEL.

Right now it is midnight there (it's 5pm here). I am sure they are trying to get some sleep. I am so excited!!!!


Praise JESUS they are there and tomorrow morning will be meeting their precious daugther!

So this is it...the end of the road. We are LEAVING tomorrow! I cant believe it! No more posting for me. Tracie will post for me so check back. I love you all and cherish your friendship and CANNOT wait to meet a lot of u at the blog union! Thanks for your prayers. Keep praying! :) Love you all
Jul

Tracie will post NUMBER ONE

Tracie will post my number one and i will tell her what to write! :) Amy we WILL talk tonite!

2 days. Okay so my computer is broken so I wont be posting anymore until Ethiopia. Tracie will post for me so look out for that! Thank you all for your prayers and friendship. Its been an amazing amazing journey that I cannot believe is almost over OR just really STARTING!





I love you all and will BE HOME SOON WITH OUR LITTLE GIRLIE!





Love, Julie

Can it really be!?! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I am really getting nervous/so excited! I had lunch with Tracie today and man Ethiopia did something to her...she is just so cool, calm and collected and I PRAY that i can be that calm and have that kind of amazing experience in Ethiopia.

Dee Dee, I will hold S and tell him how much mommy loves him. I will also take pics of all the kiddies I said I would. NOW i might not be as amazing and fast as getting them out as Tracie was though! She was amazing about that wasn't she!

Okay now Maya is ALL packed, donations one, just have to pack for me and Josh now. We will officially be holding our little girl in 5 DAYS! Oh i just cannot wait!

Love
Jul

more days until we leave!

I just can't grasp the fact that I am leaving. Not only are we leaving to get our baby girl but we are going to be FIRST TIME parents as well. I just can't imagine finally being a real mommy to my little baby girl! I just cannot get my thoughts around it! I am so excited and feel READY to go. We are packed and just waiting.

Today i got a few surprise gifts that meant SO much to me. One of them was from MY SUZI REDMAN. I knew she was sending me some clothes of Gracies for Maya to wear. WHICH is the SWEETEST thing ever. Then i open up this little envelope and out falls a little charm which has a tiny picture of Maya smiling in it! It is so sweet and I put it on the second i took it out of the box. What a thoughtful gift! Then it actually gets better...Do my eyes cease to amaze me or do i see a lovie! Suzi not only sent me the softest cutest blanket but she sent me a lovie on top of it! Who is nicer then SUZI! So that was an amazing surprise...

Then, my friend Jean's mother...yes mother MADE yes hand made the most gorgeous quilt i have ever seen for Maya! What! This is just too much!

Then LIZ LYONS...who is one of the funniest people I KNOW...surprised me and send us THE CUTEST STUFFED animal i have ever seen. A little choc brown and CITRON (yes i have been struggling to find a way to bring that citron color into Maya's nursery) deer. It is so cute and is going up on Maya's shelf..............

THEN my friend Courtney's cousin came into the store with a HUGE bag full of clothes for Maya! Sleepers, onesies, cute outfits!!! JUST AMAZING!

SO all this to say that all your PRAYERS and gifts have meant so much to us. Words cannot express...Its all very humbling! I am so not used to getting things like this! Then I remember it is all for this little girl we haven't met BUT love so so so much!

Thank you again!

Love
Julie

P.S Lets not EVER forget about Lindsey's baby legs! Thats another FAVE gift! Lindsey. WHERE ARE U! WE HAVE TO TALK BEFORE I LEAVE so we can set up a time to meet and hug already!!

DONATIONS

We fit all of these donations in 2 1/2 duffle bags. What an amazing blessing! So we are leaving in 7 is that right? can it be? 7 days!! Maya is totally packed, donations packed, just have to pack Josh and I and we are ready to go! Counting down the seconds to hold our little girl!This is our peg perego stroller. Thats my friend Anyas car seat but the carseat that goes with our stroller is on its way! It will be in my mom and dads car ready to pick us up from the airport! Crazy to think about HUH.