Tristan and his passion for the lunar eclipse

We moved up the list!!

We are now #79!! This is going to be a long process, but it will be in God's timing, for that I'm sure!! The basement is coming along nicely, thanks to the help of a friend. We are now painting Lauren's room, and the family room is almost plastered. We went to see the movie "Enchanted" tonight. I love it and will want Sahara to see it. I also got some great recommendations on some great books for her. "Shades of Black", I love my hair","Shades of us", and a series of "Jump in the sun fairly tale classics". A series of fairy tales like Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast... but the characters are black girls. I love it!!!

Fundraising and Selling

The worst part of this whole process besides the wait.....fundraising!!!! I saved quite a bit. I was going to buy a used Corvette, candy apple red, convertible, very sweet for a single woman!! But I had to weigh the instant pleasure of driving a sports car, and the long term pleasure raising children gives. The baby won!! I love my children and love being with them. I'm very selfish with my time with them. I'm not the mom that wants to get them out of the house for a little peace and quiet. I want my kids home, invite your friends over here. That's the only reason for making a family room in the basement. Which is getting further along, thanks to the help of a friend who isn't going to charge me what he should so he says. Let's hope!! We should be able to paint Lauren's bedroom some day this weekend if not next week!!! Yeh!! I had a fundraiser at church. I sold chocolates and Christmas candy for the season. I made a little there. I just applied to Shoahannah's Hope, and will apply to a few others soon. And I'm trying to sell everything not nailed down on Ebay. Lauren wondered how much we could get for Jacques?? If we need to sell every thing we have for 99cents, it will happen. God knows the way it will happen, we just need to follow His direction. God also knows the perfect timing of when Sahara will come home.

Forums/Blogging

We are using Children's Home in MN as our Ethiopian agency. It is the most wonderful experience I could ask for thus far. They have this Awesome group of women, mothers, and mother's to be. We all belong to this forum that this mother Carrie organizes. She is wonderful!! She keeps a running list of people that register, to follow progress, and see your name move up the list. They say that only half of the people in waiting register with her. How silly is that??? We have this great network of people, why would anyone want to do this alone??? CRAZY!!! As of today, we are #80!!! Which means in reality, we are #160.

I started lurking last July after Lifest, when as a family we decided to adopt a girl from Ethiopia. Lurking means that you just read other people's experience and don't post anything about yourself. There were certain people I could relate to. Then I found out what blogging was. I would stalk peoples blogs. I wanted to start a blog, but had nothing to say.... if you know me you think that is impossible!!! Stop laughing.....

my 2 favorite blogs are http://raisinglucy.blogspot.com and http://adayatthebeauchamps.blogspot.com !!! I really could relate to Heather who just recieved a referral for her son who was 15 months old. Because we were going to take a child up to 18 months, I could relate. I feel God preparing me for a child around a year old. So I read every now and then about their children the same way you read this.

Lastnight I was on the road working in Ashland, WI. Way up north!!! I got into my hotel after 8pm. I logged onto the chsfs website and started catching up on everyone and went to Heather's blog. I wanted to research how much her son weighed when she picked him up. I guess, I'm starting to nest....... So I started looking back at that time frame and read the funniest story. She and her son went to the store and when they came out a snake was coming out of the bumper of her car!!! She tells of the whole experience and how all these police officers are trying to get the snake out and how as a mother you feel what might have been for your child. The story was so funny to read!!! Then I realize that I am laughing so hard, in my hotel room, at midnight, the TV isn't on, my room is silent, the hotel is booked, and a woman burst out laughing!!! I wonder what my neighbors on each side, and above me thought I was doing???? I just knew that I was going to walk out in the morning and my neighbors were going to be out there waiting for me to come out!!! Lucky they left before me.....

I am so thankful for a Sisterhood of adopting mothers!!!
May God Bless My Sisters and their Babies!!

Working on the Basement

I spent the better half of the weekend plastering in the basement. I can't wait until it's done!!! I am so sick of plaster, I will never do this again!! While working I listened to Seven Curtis Chapman's "All About Love" CD. He as his wife Mary Beth have adopted I beleive two girls from China. He wrote a song, "When Love Takes You In". About how it feels to be an orphan and when love takes you in, it's for a lifetime. Can you say cry ??? The whole CD is all about love so I spent the better half of the weekend crying for my Sahara!!! I miss you baby!!
The children spent the long weekend with there Dad, which is never a good weekend for me!!! It's important for children to spend time with their fathers, but I d0n't like to share them. When our social worker came to our house to meet the kids, I think it was Tristan who said, "Sahara will be so lucky, that when she got done with school, she won't have to remember who's house she was suppose to go to." ENOUGH!!! I miss all my children!!!

Shopping and planning

We are in the long waiting period. What should we do??? Go shopping!!! At the end of summer I bought a bunch of clearence summer clothes sizes 6 months to 2T. I have no idea how old or big Sahara will be. I just did some more clearence shopping for winter. They have the most adorable things!! Lavender will be her color. I buy everything in either lavender or orange!!

So what am I still shopping for??? Used crib, highchair, stroller, jogger, clothes and toys

I am finishing my basement single handedly! I am woman hear me roar!! I would get help for a day or two from friends, but it gets old quick. I am just about done mudding and taping!! Amen!! The basement was designed to be finished with a bathroom and bedrooms. We are going to move Lauren to the basement to have her own private bath and have Sahara take her room. We are also making a huge family room for the kids to have friends over.

I love family!! I love my children!!!

Offically wating

December 20, 2007 we are offically waiting for a referral for a girl under 18 months old from Ethiopia. This was a family desision to adopt. We voted on the sex, age, and name. Her name was desided at Lifest 07' We went every day to Walmart to buy ice and supplies and Lauren would look up names in the book section. It was hard to agree, but Sahara is it! My vote was Grace or Genivieve. I got a quick NO!! I wanted a younger child, Trisan wanted to teach her to walk, and Lauren works in the 18 month old section at church. We will let God deside how old He thinks we can handle.