Maya Pics

These pics were taken at the store probably 2 weeks after Maya came home BUT how cute are they! :) Waiting for more Referrals this week! Come on Referrals...so many people waiting for their kids!

Maya is officially sitting up almost on her own. Had her first green veggie tonite. Sweet Peas. Didn't love them but didn't hate them either. I mixed them with sweet potatoes and she liked them better! She is doing great! Having a little trouble with the afternoon nap. We are FINALLY getting into somewhat of a schedule. That has been the hardest part for me.

ALSO Happy First Birthday Gracie Redman! Wish we were there to celebrate with you Suzi!

TOO LONG WITHOUT A POST!

So much has happened since our last post. My computer is BROKEN and so is my internet so I have no where to post and check/stalk other blogs so i have a 5 minute window before my internet goes out (which someone from AT and T is coming to look out tomorrow) so i will be quick. A couple of things.......

Congrats to the next travel group! So exciting!
Maya got her ears pierced! I will post pics later. Tracie is supposed to post on this post a pic from today...WILL U DO THAT TRACIE?
Maya is eating food...sweet pot, carrots and squash.
Just had our first post adop meeting with our homestudy.
Work is busy!
Things are going great. I miss so many of my blog friends!
Dee Dee...xoxoxo thinking of u today and all the time.
Melissa KOONS...i miss u! Where are u my friend!
Suzi.......sorry we havent connected. I just emailed u.
Lindsey Wheeler......tomorrow!
Amy Bottomly and SILAS...........oh how i miss u two!

okay thats all for now. Getting a new laptop then the pics will be coming more frequently.

Love u all

Two Peas in a Pod

T-Shirt get your T-Shirt

Just got a bunch of Ethiopian t-shirts in and I wanted to run a little Spring Sale. BUY ONE ETHIOPIAN T-SHIRT (full price) and GET THE SECOND HALF OFF. (You can mix mens and womens). The proceeds will go towards a new washing machine for Hannah's Hope in Ethiopia.

Call Obligato at 865-558-0822 to place your order.

Cost $28 for first and $14 for the second.

Maya and Abel

Hi Guys

Here are the cutest pics of our naked Ethiopian babies together!

THE WAIT

I keep thinking about ALL the people who I am friends with who are in the process of waiting for a referral, waiting for court, waiting for travel...I very vocally spoke about my struggle of the wait......oh it was sooooooooo hard for me. Its hard for everyone and even though the statement you will forget the pain once your child is in your arms is soooooooooooo true, it just never made me feel better. IT IS SO TRUE, ACTUALLY BETTER THEN I IMAGINED. I just never thought it would actually be my turn walking thru those gates of HH. How i LONG to go back. Do not be weary my blog friends its your turn soon. God has given us such a BLESSING in Maya! Oh it will be your turn soon!

Maya is doing AMAZING. She is 6 months old. We have her 6 month check up soon. She is eating rice cereal. Loves the store. Loves her sling, we are bonding big time. She loves her daddy and grandparents...she is a doll.......i am in love with her!

Day 2 HHE, Golf Club and SHOPPING!

Back to Ethiopia, Its so hard to get the time now to sit and reflect on exactly what went on every day BUT this was one of my favorite days in Ethiopia. We went to Hannah's Hope in the morning which was ALWAYS my favorite times in Ethiopia. There is just nothing like being with all the kiddies and Almaz, just nothing like it. I would do anything to be back at Hannah's Hope minus that plane ride. Here is Maya/Hannie with some of the women, Special Mothers that took such amazing care of her. They are one of the reasons that my little girl is the happy girl she is now! I am forever GRATEFUL to these women!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are they not just the most beautiful women u have ever seen!

So if u can begin to imagine the amount of laundry that has to be done for all the kids and babies at HH...here is just a small sample that has to be handwashed and hung dry. The washing machine that they need to buy is actually 20k in Ethiopia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They need a commercial sized washing machine and dryer and that is how much it is in Ethiopia. Until they raise the money for that they will be hand washing and hang drying all of that clothing!

Here are some pics of my amazing travel group friends that I MISS SO MUCH!

The most amazing thing about the families that we traveled with was their immediate love/bond with the kids. Oh it was just amazing to see the kids LOVE having parents FOREVER.

Lunch at the golf club! It was such a beautiful day we ate outside. Danny and Yohanes ate with us. Sarah is holding Maya, It was like yesterday I remember exactly what we were talking about. Sarah I miss you, you left such an impression on me...I just PRAY one day we can all get together again.

Here is Kyle sitting with Yohanes. Kyle is 16 years old and traveled with his parents. To read more about them check out their blog. He is an amazing 16 year old. Just such a loving, great guy. What a good BIG brother. Yabbi and Gerti were crazy about HIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (So were we :))

After we had lunch we went on a SHOPPING SPREE but we didn't buy nearly enough. I wish I had the chance to go back and buy all the things we forgot.