PACKING

I had this feeling or thought tonite as i was hysterically, yes Tracie hysterically packing. I was like a non stop machine on a mission. As i was packing all the donations that so many wonderful people have given us to bring on our trip i thought, all of these little onesies or pants or bibs will be on your future children (you AGCI people)...Maya is probably wearing donations from when the Rudy Family or the Armstrong Family went and our donations will probably clothe Dee Dees baby or someone's child we do not know yet. What an AMAZING thing to be part of. I am so grateful for this whole process and feel blessed beyond measure to be a little tiny part of it!

The COUNTDOWN

So, today has been a long day thinking about how Sunday will be my last Sunday before we go to Ethiopia. Monday will be my very last Monday without MAYA FOREVER! Is that amazing! She will be with me for ever after Monday the 9th! I am having a little (maybe more then little) trouble being patient. I want to go get on a plane tomorrow and hold my little girl for the first time! I packed all of her things. Maybe over packed a tad. :) So the official count down begins. Tomorrow will be 10 days until we leave for ETHIOPIA. Today is still 11. Does that sound too impatient?

Baby Shower

Here are 2 pictures from my baby shower. It was so nice. My mom and Julie (that works for me) had it at the store. Its was beautiful!

Tracie Is Home and We are going to ETHIOPIA!

okay has there ever been anything cuter! This is Abel who I am IN LOVE WITH. It was unbelieveable to meet Tracie, Ted and her kids and friends at the airport yesterday! They had an amazing trip! We went over after and they were amazing ENOUGH to let us watch a video of their trip and our little Maya! THANK U TED AND TRACIE for taking pictures of Maya and loving her so much! ABEL AND MAYA together forever soon on March 14th when we come back!

Thats right, we are leaving on March 8th to ETHIOPIA. I am packing, packing, washing clothes, bottles, nipples and passies! Its amazing and so surreal!

Last Email From ETHIOPIA!

Just got a great amazing email from Tracie...She must be on the plane now with her NEW SON! Can u believe it! It seems so surreal! We will be meeting her at the airport TOMORROW! I cannot wait to see her, Ted and of course ABEL! I will be posting pics as soon as I can! Still no travel date but hopefully we will hear soon! Still enjoying the THOUGHT that I have a daughter!

Love, Julie

WE GOT OUR TRAVEL CALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well not exactly the travel date BUT we KNOW we got thru court and MAYA is officially OURS! We are parents! Its very surreal! We will HOPEFULLY get a call from our agency at the end of the week or beginning of next week to see when we get to go in MARCH! We are so excited and VERY relieved!

Thanks for all your prayers!

Love,
Julie and Josh and SOON Maya!

Tracie is having such an amazing time in Ethiopia! Its amazing to read her emails. She sounds so happy and SO in LOVE with her little boy! I cannot wait to see her on FRIDAY!

TRACIE in Ethiopia!!

Hi Everyone!

So Tracie made it Ethiopia safely. I was up all night thinking at 1am last night they were able to hold their son for the first time! So amazing! I am just so happy for them I can cry at the drop of a hat! Really...

Anyway this morning I couldn't sleep as we are PRAYING to get our travel call this week, I left the house early and get this email from TRACIE! (in green)

Enjoy!

"hey guys. i can't believe i finally got on the internet. we went to hannah's hpe today and got him. he has been with us all day. he is a DOLL BABY!

OH JULIE... I can not even tell you how LITTLE MAYA IS... she is a TINY THING... you better go get some smaller clothes :-) someone thought we were taking her home because we held her just as much as Abel. SHE IS GORGEOUS... picture do her no justice. her eyes are amazing and the girl smiles NON STOP.

IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL COUNTRY... very very poor. i have seen things that have broken my heart.

MUCH MUCH MUCH LOVE
Don't know if I'll be able to get back on... internet is hit andmiss.

LOVE LOVELOVE LOVE
Tracie "

As you can imagine that is all i needed to hear to feel peace today! There is a small chance she is going to be able to call me so I will let you all know when i hear from her. Thank you for praying for them! They seem to be doing AMAZING!

xoxo
Julie