Adventures in Ellis Land

Fall Fun

2011-11-19T22:59:00.002-05:00

Well since I have been called a slacker mom for not posting pictures of the little guy in his Halloween costume I decided to do a slide show of all of our fall activities. This is for you SRGN :-)
To think I am a working mom of only one child... and am barely functional, LOL
I was able to join the Pre-K class on two field trips- to an apple orchard and to the pumpkin patch. I originally hadn't planned to go to the pumpkin patch so I asked my parents if they wanted to go with their youngest grandchild. Thank goodness they changed the date of the trip and I was able to go also. Now my parents were supposed to going along to chaperone their grandchild, but it was so cold that day they ditched us after the hayride, got some hot cider at the snack bar and headed back to vehicle. When we got back to the car the heat was on full blast, they had eaten the lunches I packed and they were reading the newspaper. My mom said, "Boy are we glad you decided to come and drive!"

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Welcome 2011

2011-01-01T13:32:00.002-05:00

Well since I posted on the last of 2010 I felt it would only be fitting to post on the first day of 2011. I can't believe winter break is coming to an end and once again I am finding myself behind the power curve with home organization!!! Of course the little one is riding around the house on his Diego big wheel,crashing into walls and running over his new toys. The big one is lying on the couch watching tv. I should be washing and folding clothes, thinking about taking down Christmas decorations, etc. but what am I doing?? sitting behind the computer... I figure if the rest of them are being unproductive so should I. Who in the world came up with the household norms that say I should be doing all the work???
Happy New Year!!!!

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Merry Christmas!!!

2010-12-31T18:08:00.002-05:00

I thought I would finish out 2010 with a post to my blog. I admire those of you who can keep this up. I guess I could if I would carve out a block of time strictly devoted to this. But unfortunately I have found that I have a touch of ADD and I tend to jump from one thing to another. As a result I have a lot of undone projects. Perhaps I should incorporate this weakness into a New Year's Resolution!! Ha Ha!!

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Fall Fun

2010-10-31T21:53:00.008-04:00

This post is for you know who you are(LOL). Since I hadn't updated my blog since the snowstorm of 2010 thought I would post some fall pictures.

The Big Snow

2010-02-08T22:40:00.004-05:00

Well the east coast got hit pretty hard this past weekend! I can't believe how much snow we have had this winter. To think, they are forecasting another major snowstorm for tomorrow. I guess schools will remain closed for the rest of this week and hopefully I can be productive while snowed in. Of course all I feel like doing is laying around on the couch, LOL! The little man loves the snow and we have to suffer his major meltdowns when we make him go in the house to warm up!

Prince Charming

2010-01-30T23:34:00.004-05:00

Last weekend the little guy attended a princess birthday party for one of his church friends~ of course I had to buy him a shirt befitting the occasion. The cake was gorgeous and yummy too! fully decorated with Princess Tiana... the swamp...alligators and all! Happy 2nd Birthday A.M.T.! Prince Charming had a ball!

Happy New Year 2010

2010-01-27T22:39:00.001-05:00

Well since I just sent out holiday cards last week and the cards have this website on the back of them, I thought perhaps I should post something for 2010. We spent the week after Christmas into the New Year outside of Harrisonburg,VA in the mountains at our timeshare in Massanutten. It was nice being with family- Mommy, Daddy, my brother/sister in law and their 3 kids, my sister/brother-in-law and their 2 kids and us. The little man really enjoyed himself because he had someone to constantly entertain him. He was too little to enjoy snow tubing with the rest of the gang but maybe next year he will be big enough!

Santa's Elf ( Year 2)

2009-12-25T23:03:00.003-05:00

When I bought the little elf outfit last Christmas I bought two. One for last year's size and a bigger one so he would have something cute to wear Christmas Eve night this year. He was so cute when he headed down the stairs...he could see presents and he started walking so fast he almost tripped down the stairs. The highlight of the morning was his GeoTrax train set.

Cookies for Santa

2009-12-24T23:15:00.002-05:00

This year I could put my cookies for Santa plate and milk for Santa cup out and actually have something in them. He had a ball making cookies. Of course S.R.N. had to make me feel bad when she told me her nieces left healthy snacks for Santa and the reindeer...apples and carrots. Well Santa told me that he preferred cookies and milk. He has to maintain that fat belly. It's cold in the North Pole...he needs the body fat :-)

It's Time for the Summer Bubble to Burst...Back to Work

2009-08-28T22:24:00.016-04:00

Scenes of Summer...the birthday party...playing at the park...chasing bubbles... mowing the lawn...at Sesame Place...cruising in the Corvette

Summer break is officially over... it was nice not having to get up at a specific time and I am sure the little guy appreciated being able to stay up late and sleep in but now his little bubble is about to be burst! We didn't do anything spectacular this summer..we celebrated his second birthday at a park that had a train and carousel so I could do a Thomas the Train theme, we went to Sesame Place, NC and to MD's Eastern Shore several times to visit family. It was nice to not have to think about grading papers, lesson plans and grad. school but now it's back on the wheel! I am very thankful that my parents help ease me back into the school year by coming and staying with us my first week back to work so the little guy can still stay at home,I can stay at school late and we can have home cooked dinners nightly!! The hubby even gets breakfast in the morning before going to work. Boy I wish my parents could move in!!! I guess I am a bit spoiled and I am so sad when they leave!

Summer Break is almost here!!!

2009-06-06T14:20:00.001-04:00

Now that the school year is coming to an end, I reflect on how crazy it was to go to grad. school, work and try to be a great mom. I think my classroom suffered this year because part of me felt I had to be Mom of the Year to my son and the another part felt I had to be the Straight A Graduate Student. Well, I didn't achieve that balance too well. I guess on the outside it looked like I did, but the reality of the situation was that I always felt like I was running...like the little hamster on the wheel. Grading papers, lesson plans, papers due, reading assignments, taking time to play with little one, etc... I am really ready to get off, thank goodness summer break is around the corner!!!!

The Ladies Man

2009-03-29T22:44:00.004-04:00

On Friday night the elementary school where I teach hosted its first dance- The Spring Fling. We had a great turnout and I took the little guy as my date. Needless to say he spent most of the evening hanging on my leg or in my arms. I think the kids running around on the dance floor was a bit much for him to handle. Although he was acting a little shy he did spend a little time with the daughters of two of my co-workers. He was quite a little gentleman!!!

The Snowy Day

2009-01-27T21:21:00.005-05:00

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Today all schools were closed at 12:00 pm for the weather. So I was able to spend time with the little guy on his first snow day. At first he was a bit hesitant about walking in the snow. I think he had difficulties walking since he was bundled up in his snowsuit. But once he started running around, he had a blast! He had a fit when it was time to come in.

A Day I Will Never Forget

2009-01-20T22:55:00.004-05:00

While the little guy watched the inauguration at home on the television, I braved the cold to witness history when Barack Obama became the 44th President of the United States. It was freezing!!!! But the excitement of the crowds made it bearable.

A Future President??

2009-01-10T15:04:00.015-05:00

Everytime our little guy sees President-Elect Obama on tv,newspapers, magazines, etc. he has to point him out to us. He refers to him as OMama. Recently, however, when he sees him he says OMama and then he says his name. Hmmm, do we have a future president in the making? (Is it time to amend the constitution to allow foreign born citizens the right to run for president?)

Santa's Busiest Elf

2008-12-24T11:04:00.006-05:00

As you can see, Santa's busiest elf was the highlight of our holiday season this year. We are trying not to be over indulgent parents so on Christmas morning Santa left an Elmo chair for him and Elmo Live. As we walked down the steps the first thing he saw was his chair so he exclaimed, "Elmo, Elmo!" Everyone had already told us he would probably find more enjoyment from the packaging, so I probably could have wrapped up empty boxes :-).

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I actually think we enjoyed his reaction to Elmo Live more than he actually enjoyed the toy.(But isn't that what parenthood is all about?)

A Perfect Gift

2008-11-30T22:26:00.004-05:00

This weekend I received the perfect gift to mark our referral anniversary. A friend of my mother's is a quilter and when we first heard about the little guy she said she wanted to make a quilt for him. Once we decided on a pattern for the room she started working on his quilt. She usually works on several quilts at one time and as she quilts she keeps a journal about the process. The words in her journal brought tears to my eyes. It was filled with her thoughts about his future and on being parents. She explained the meaning of the symbols on the quilt and she placed a pocket in the back to hold the journal. The quilt squares she used were from the pattern used on a quilt presented to Nelson Mandela.

It looks absolutely wonderful in the room. It was truly the perfect referral anniversary gift!

Time Flies

2008-11-27T16:19:00.001-05:00

We got our referral call on the day before Thanksgiving last year. It is hard to believe that a year has passed. We spent this Thanksgiving with my parents. Last year we passed around his referral picture and this year our little blessing was being passed around.

The Friendly Lion

2008-10-31T15:49:00.003-04:00

We did go to a Fall Festival at a local elementary school the week before Halloween but this year I decided not to take the little lion trick or treating. He stayed at home and helped pass out candy , when he wasn't trying to eat it. Everyone who came to the door remarked at what a cute lion he was...I guess even when he tried to roar he couldn't look ferocious.

Working Moms are Superheroes!

2008-09-07T15:09:00.003-04:00

Well since I started working again in September I have not had time to post as much as I would like. I have so much more respect for all the working moms in the world (especially the working elementary school teachers). I am not organized (I thought I was) nor can I multi-task (I thought I could). Perhaps going back to work wouldn't have hit me as hard if I hadn't started graduate school at the same time. I already have a Masters Degree and National Board Certification, so it's not like I had to put myself through this- but it's that first born child, overachiever syndrome. I can't even imagine working on a PhD (Girls, I can't join you- I have much respect for my sister, my aunt and my friend Morgan) but once I finish this Educational Adminstration Certificate I think that's it for me (at least I say this for now:-)
Our little guy is in great hands at the Pamper Me Child Care, a home daycare with one other child (actually it's more like staying at a surrogate grandparents house.)

Summer Fun

2008-08-03T14:54:00.006-04:00

The little guy had a fun summer. He spent the 4th of July in NC with the Ellis family where he had his first try at 4-wheeling. At the end of the month, he took his first trip to Disney World with the Turner family. He had fun splashing in the pool. He also loved It's A Small World, but Disney World with a 1 year old isn't that fun. We will have to take him back when he can enjoy more rides. The main purpose of our trip to Florida was to go to the Delta Convention and of course he had his first introduction to Greek life at the stepshow.

Happy Birthday to Me!

2008-07-01T01:01:00.004-04:00

Today our little guy turned 1!
I decided not to do a big birthday party for him since we had just done a big party in April for his baby dedication. I figured it wouldn't matter to him anyway but many people said that I had to do something to celebrate his first birthday. While in Babies R Us last weekend, he spotted a shirt with Elmo on it. (Elmo is one of his new favorite characters.) When I saw the matching crown I figured that was his way of telling me he wanted an Elmo birthday party :-)
So I ran around on the day before his big day and put together his first birthday party. He loved his Elmo fruit arrangment but he wasn't too sure about the cake. Of course his favorite gift was his Elmo puppet book.

The Big Guy and the Little Guy

2008-06-15T00:38:00.005-04:00

Well anyone who reads my blog knows that I hardly post these days. The little guy likes full attention and it is kinda hard to sit down at the computer and type entries during the day and by the time night rolls round there are tons of other things I need to be doing. But since I posted about Mother's Day I thought I would mention the holiday devoted to Dads.
On Father's Day the hubby was certainly being the proud Daddy since it was his first Father's Day. We went to dinner with friends after church. Of course everyone at the table was having fun teasing the proud Daddy about being so overprotective!

My First Mother's Day

2008-05-11T23:00:00.008-04:00

Today was my first Mother's Day and we spent the weekend at my parent's house. I thought it was fitting to spend my first Mother's Day as a mother with my mother. Hubby finally bought me a video camera but now I don't have time to play with it. Now that I am a mother I have new found appreciation for the mothers of the world. We went to church in St. Michaels and then went for a scrumptious Mother's Day dinner at Chesapeake Landing.

As an adoptive mother this day also brings to mind my son's birthmother and the sacrifice she made by allowing us to raise her beautiful son. The love and strength it took for her to make that choice is truly amazing.

Once there were two women
Who never knew each other.
One you do not remember
The other you call Mother.

Two different lives
Shaped to make you one.
One became your guiding star
The other became your sun.

The first one gave you life
And the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love
The second was there to give it.

One gave you a nationality
The other gave you a name.
One gave you a talent
The other gave you aim.

One gave you emotions
The other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile
The other dried your tears.

One sought for you a home
That she could not provide.
The other prayed for a child
And her hope was not denied.

Heredity or environment
Which are you a product of?
Neither my Darling, neither.
Just two different kinds of Love.

Happy Mother's Day to both of us!

Dedication/ Praise Celebration

2008-04-19T19:46:00.010-04:00

On Saturday April 19th, we had a baby dedication/praise celebration to honor God for the blessing He brought into our lives. Family and friends from near and far came to share in our joy. The youth choir, girls and boys praise dancers, T.B. who sang and C.S. who performed a praise dance participated in the program. Afterwards we had a reception for about 100 friends and family members. It was really more like a family reunion and our little guy enjoyed meeting everyone!

Special thanks to Andre Wade (www.adwphotos4U.com )for the photography!!!

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Our School Visit

2008-04-12T11:38:00.000-04:00

Before I left for Ethiopia I told my class that I would probably not be back this school year. I did promise them that I would come back and introduce them to my son. On Friday, they hosted a Welcome Back party for us. It was great to see them! I couldn't believe how big they had grown. They were so excited to see the baby and he was excited to meet them! They each wrote me a letter and several brought gifts for the baby. My substitute, G.W., baked cakes and the kids brought in treats. The baby and I had a great day! The class can't wait for us to come back for another visit.

Welcome Home Shower

2008-03-31T00:12:00.004-04:00

Today we attended a Welcome Home Shower! Of course our little man was the star of the event! Thanks to the T. Family for hosting! He received lots of great gifts. When we got home we played with the musical fish bowl and the penguin bowling. It was like Christmas! We continue to be grateful for the blessings our friends and family are bestowing upon us.

My Little Bunny

2008-03-23T21:15:00.000-04:00

My family and friends know I am a holiday person. I have socks and shirts/sweaters for practically every holiday. Most of my holiday outfits scream- I am an elementary school teacher! Not only do I have the clothes but I also have the decorations. (In case you didn't notice the bunnies in the background of the picture)
Today my poor son had to endure a day in an outfit plastered with bunnies. (He was so cute though!) Since he is a boy I can only dress him in these holiday outfits while he is young. So I'll have fun while I can!

First Doctor's Visit in the US

2008-03-18T00:03:00.000-04:00

On Tuesday March 18, we had our first pediatrician's visit. Our little guy was a champ. The doctor was amazed by his pleasant disposition. He listened attentively while the doctor talked to him but he wasn't too happy about the examination or the shots. Since he had not been immunized he had to get 4 shots. Good thing a kiss from Mommy made it all better!

Reflections on the Journey

2008-03-15T01:29:00.006-04:00

My thoughts and feelings about this journey cannot be expressed in words.
So instead I thought this montage provided a small glimpse of my thoughts. The people of Ethiopia are beautiful inside and out. Despite the poverty that many of them face, they are a proud people who possess a strong spirit. After visiting a developing nation you truly realize how blessed we are to live in the United States and the many things we take for granted.

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We're Home!!!!

2008-03-12T11:55:00.005-04:00

We arrived at Dulles on March 7, 2008 after flying for approx. 18 hours. Our little guy was a champ. He didn't fuss much during the flight but he didn't like riding home in the car seat too much since it was his first time in a car seat. While we were in Ethiopia and on the flight back every told us we had a dream baby. But God knew what we would have to do once we arrived back in the states.

While we were in Africa, Herb's mom passed away. As a matter of fact she died the day we met our son's birth mother. As soon as we arrived home we had to repack and drive 5 hours to his parent's house to prepare for the funeral the next day. I don't even think the baby spent more than 10 minutes in his room.
God's word is true...Ecclesiastes states to everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die...A time to weep and a time to laugh...a time to mourn and a time to dance...
During the course of the weekend we experienced all of the this. The funeral services truly reflected the sweet spirit Herb's mom had and we all believe that her spirit guided us safely home.

Shower Blessings

2008-02-24T14:48:00.004-05:00

I was blessed to be surrounded in a prayer circle by about 30 of the most wonderful women in the world today. My friends S. and S. hosted a baby shower and blessing service in my honor. I am truly grateful for everyone's love and support! Words cannot express my gratitude. Not only was I showered with gifts but they also brought items to be donated to the orphanage. As part of my testimony I shared the song "He's Been Faithful" by Vicki Yohe. I have included a link to the song~ because He has truly been faithful to me!

Five Days and Counting!!!

2008-02-22T10:25:00.003-05:00

Yesterday I got the social report on little Geremu. It was full of adorable pictures and information about his personality. Of course we spent all day yesterday reading the information about him and looking at his pictures. Today I was blessed with a day off from school because of an ice storm. Hopefully I will be productive. I still can't believe it...FIVE DAYS AND COUNTING!!!!
Here's our little prince...

The Best Class in the World

2008-02-19T21:31:00.003-05:00

My students are excited to meet the baby. On Friday one of my students brought in baby shower decorations,so we hung them on the SMART board. Today I sent a letter home that I agonized over for quite a while. I announced that more than likely I would be staying at home with my son for the rest of the school year. I may have to come back in June to finish the school year, but I don't know yet.
My son has spent the last four months in an orphanage and has had so many transitions in his little life. I would feel bad about having him spend time in daycare right away.
My last day would be February 26th and we leave for Africa on Feb.27th. I really have mixed emotions about this because I have the world's best class and I am also very dedicated to my profession.
I am still wondering how in the world I am going to balance teaching and motherhood. People keep telling me you learn to balance the two, but I believe it will be hard. Guess I'll see in September!

10 Days and Counting!!!

2008-02-17T21:35:00.004-05:00

Well today we finally finished the nursery! My favorite buddies P&A came to help finish it up. When we finished A exclaimed," Seth's room is beautiful!"

Tens days and counting... While sitting in the nursery I couldn't help but tear up. After all the interviews, paperwork, and more paperwork I can't believe we have a travel date and it is 10 days away. It is still hard for me to believe that an actual baby is going to be sleeping in the room. God is faithful to his promises and for that we are forever grateful!

The Power of Prayer

2008-02-12T19:28:00.001-05:00

After an emotional few days of not knowing what in the world was going on with our adoption,we now have an official birth certificate and yesterday we received our travel call- we fly to Ethiopia on February 27- with an arrival date of February 28, 2008! The travel agency called while I was teaching my second graders and my students immediately asked " Is it time to get your baby in Africa?"
Yep...it's finally time! Thanks to all who prayed for us! If you don't believe it~ try it~there is power in prayer!

Riding the Emotional Rollercoaster of Adoption

2008-02-09T16:00:00.000-05:00

I am ready to get off of this rollercoaster!

As I posted earlier~ On January 17, the Ethiopian courts officially named us the parents of little Geremu Assefa. All we had to do was wait for the birth certificate and then they would call us with a travel date.
Well, on Wednesday I got a phone call, but it was not what I was expecting. Our adoption agency representative called to tell us there was a problem with our case and that the birth certificate had not arrived and worse case scenario, our child could be declared unadoptable and have to stay in Ethiopia. WHAT IN THE WORLD???? Needless to say, I felt like a ton of bricks had landed on me.

The US Embassy is reinterpreting immigration law concerning orphans coming into the US from foreign countries and it looks like our case is one of those in the mix. We understand that this needs to be done to make sure that international adoptions are ethical and legal but that does not help me feel any better.

What is an Orphan?
Under U.S. immigration law, an orphan is a foreign child who does not have any parents because of the death or disappearance of, abandonment or desertion by, or separation or loss from, both parents. An orphan can also be a foreign-born child with a sole or surviving parent who is unable to provide for the child’s basic needs, consistent with the local standards of the foreign sending country, and has, in writing, irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption.

If it appears that the child is not eligible for classification as an orphan under the U.S. immigration law, the USCIS will issue a notice of intent to revoke the approval of the orphan petition. When the petitioner receives such notice, he or she is provided an opportunity to submit evidence to overcome the stated grounds for revoking the approval. An Orphan Petition May be Denied if the USCIS determines that the child does not fit the legal definition of “orphan.”

We are very prayful that they will approve the orphan petition and we will get a birth certificate and a travel date in the near future.

Those who read this...keep our family in prayer!

We know God is an AWESOME God and He is faithful to His promises!

Baby Shower Time

2008-01-30T18:12:00.001-05:00

Today I had to update my fingerprints with the Immigration ofc.(a bureaucratic ordeal that lasted well over three hours!) and in the afternoon I attended my first baby shower. I have attended and helped to host about a million baby showers in my life, but this time I was finally one of the honorees! The school's social committee hosted a baby shower in honor of four of us. I told E., who is due in March, we should have had a wager on whose child comes first. Since the others are visibly with child, I wore a shirt that read...PREGNANT WITH LOVE FOR MY CHILD IN ETHIOPIA.

My teammates, the dream team, had fun celebrating with me! A special thanks to S. who never stays late at school. (She stayed just for me :-) Now we are all just waiting for that travel call so they can meet baby Seth in person!!!

What Color Is Your Brain?

2008-01-25T22:20:00.001-05:00

As usual I have tons to do, but instead of doing what I need to do I am once again goofing around on the computer. I was reading another adoptive parent's blog and saw this personality quiz. Supposedly I am a blue brain. I don't know if I 100% agree with this but feel free to try it out yourself. Hmmm but maybe that's why I can't get anything done...I'm too busy thinking about things.

Your Brain is Blue

Of all the brain types, yours is the most mellow.
You tend to be in a meditative state most of the time. You don't try to think away your troubles.
Your thoughts are realistic, fresh, and honest. You truly see things as how they are.

You tend to spend a lot of time thinking about your friends, your surroundings, and your life.

What Color Is Your Brain?

Nursery Under Construction

2008-01-19T11:40:00.000-05:00

H. used to be in the Army and served in several artillery battalions. My daddy was also an artillery officer many, many years ago. For this reason, I know that during times of battle it is necessary to call in the "big guns". So my parents (the big guns)are here this weekend to lend a hand at getting Seth's room together. We emptied the bookshelves and put up the border. Well, at least that is a start.

One Step Closer

2008-01-19T11:09:00.000-05:00

Although we received our adoption referral on November 21,2007 the Ethiopian courts had to officially approve our adoption. The case was heard on January 17, 2008 and we received a call on January 18 that the Ethiopian government has officially approved us to be the parents of Geremu Assefa.
Since we are offically through court I can now post his picture.
Introducing....Geremu
The first picture was the one we received at referral on November 21, 2007. The next one was received in December and the last one was received this month.
It saddens us that he has grown so much and we were unable to see him develop but we are very thankful that he has remained healthy.
When the agency let us know that we were approved by the courts they outlined the next steps in the process.
1. When the decision is granted, the written court order is drafted and is usually issued within a week.
2. Once the court order is issued, a letter of support is requested and received from the Ministry of Women's Affairs office (approximately 1-2 weeks after decision).
3. Once the MOWA letter is received, the birth certificate is issued-this usually takes 3-5 business days.
4. When the birth certificate is issued, the agency will receive a scanned copy of it and will verify that the information is correct. At that point, the agency will advise us of a travel date-approximately 3 weeks advance notice. The agency will advise Ethiopia staff that the birth certificate information is correct and they will proceed to obtain the child’s Ethiopian passport, Embassy medical exam and will prepare the final paperwork to submit to the Embassy for interview appointment.

So if everything goes as planned we should be traveling to Ethiopia in about 6 weeks. Oh boy! So much to do!

Bridge to Ethiopia

2008-01-12T21:01:00.000-05:00

Our son is from a country rich in tradition and culture. Today we attended a function at the Ethiopian Community Center in Washington, DC. An adoptive parent contacted the center to see if a partnership could be forged between the Ethiopian adoption community and Ethiopians in the area, hence the name of the group is Bridge to Ethiopia. An Ethiopian explained that many of their children are the first generation to be born in the United States so they too want to make sure their children learn many of the traditions of the culture. Students of Ethiopian descent performed traditional dances and the components of the traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony were on display. We tasted the kolo (roasted barley) that was passed around in a traditional basket and H. liked it so much they gave him the rest of the bag after the performance was over! Since Gerumu is not legally our son yet we can not post his picture on our website, we can however, share it with those we see. So of course whenever someone asked if we had received our referral I quickly pulled his picture out of my wallet. Just like a proud Mom! (smile) Most people are amazed at the fact that he looks like a member of our family from birth. After seeing his picture, an Ethiopian man at the gathering asked how we were matched with him...all we could say was... it was God!

More Paperwork?????

2007-12-29T22:38:00.000-05:00

You know this cartoon is kinda how I am feeling about this adoption process. AHHHHH!!! I just realized our fingerprints are going to expire on January 9, 2008. We need valid fingerprints to get his visa. We received an email from our adoption agency with the subject line of "Next Steps". In order to process his visa paperwork at the Ethiopian embassy we have to fill out more good 'ole USA government forms. So it's back to the United States Citizenship and Immigration website to download more forms!!!! Will it ever end???!!!!! But nevertheless, we will continue to jump through hoops to get to our little boy.

Gifts for Geremu

2007-12-23T18:25:00.000-05:00

Once you accept an adoption referral you can send a gallon sized ziplock bag to the orphanage for your child. (Of course I had to use the jumbo sized bag). Two friends bought gifts for him as soon as I found out about the referral, a cute blanket toy and a soft cuddly blanket. Thanks S. and P.! K., a co-worker who works part-time at an embroidery shop, placed his birth name on the items and I sent them over along with a photo album of pictures of us. Thanks K.! Our little buddy A. can't go to Target without wanting to buy something for the new baby. So she told her mommy that he needs bibs and a toy. Her mother has warned us that she is not going broke buying things for our child! An ESOL teacher at the school gave me my first BABIES R US Gift Card for Christmas. Thanks K., I am saving it to buy him a special first outfit :-) A family of a student I teach bought him an adorable snowsuit. Thanks C. Family! My mother lives in MD, but one of my VA "moms" bought him a cute little giraffe rocking toy and placed it under her tree for Christmas. Everyone who went to her house over the holidays asked about the toy she had under her tree. Her response was ...it's for Seth! Our little guy is not even here yet, but he is well loved and has his first Christmas gifts!

The Cat's Out of the Bag

2007-11-26T18:52:00.000-05:00

When I got the adoption referral on Wed. my co- worker, who also happened to be my student teacher a few years ago was the first person I told at work. No one else at work knew until today when my friend who moved to Arkansas sent me a beautiful fruit arrangement with a balloon attached that said "It's a Boy!". (Leave it to her, always looking for the WOW factor) Of course the questions started in the office, and the principal called my room to see if I had heard something and had not shared with her. So I just emailed the staff to let everyone know. My teammates and I enjoyed the fruit during team planning!

Thanksgiving in the Mountains

2007-11-24T18:38:00.001-05:00

We have had a timeshare in Massanutten VA for more than 10 years and have never been to visit since the day we decided to buy in. Since Daddy and Mommy are retired, Mommy has decided to use it as much as she can. This Thanksgiving she thought it would be nice for the whole family to spend Thanksgiving there. They got there on Monday and the rest of us came later in the week. By Thanksgiving Day we had all arrived and we were able to share a picture of the newest member of the family. I think we all ate too much but we had a nice time.
The day after Thanksgiving instead of shopping, we went to an indoor waterpark. I probably would have enjoyed shopping more but my better half had a great time with his nephews. Of course we couldn't help to reflect on the fact that next year at Thanksgiving there will be one more little person added to the family.

It's A Boy!!!!!!!!

2007-11-21T16:57:00.000-05:00

We got the call today!!!! Well actually he got the call and then he called me. I happened to be sitting at my desk since it was a half day. He said well we got the call....I said what!!?? He said hold on and I will put you on three way. The referral is for an adorable 4 1/2 month old infant boy born on July 1, 2007.
His name is Geremu Asefa. The name Geremu means I am amazed. The agency told us it will probably be an additional twelve weeks until we get to fly to Ethiopia and pick him up. We are unable to post a picture of him on the internet until we receive a birth certificate naming us as the parents. If you don't live close to us and haven't seen his picture, take our word for it, he is ADORABLE!! Oh boy! So much to do.....Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and we are TRULY THANKFUL!!!!!!

The Adoptive Mother~ (soon that will be me!)

2007-11-16T23:16:00.001-05:00

Well, we have now been waiting for almost 7 months. On the agency's unofficial list of parents waiting for referrals we are # 3...so perhaps in the next few weeks we will get that life altering phone call.

A member of the adoption forum found this article and shared it~

Being an adoptive mother is not for every woman. She must possess not only the natural mother instinct but an understanding and appreciation of the situation that brought a child into her arms making her a mother. The adoptive family came to be by choices made, choices made by the first parents and by the adoptive parents. This bond the adoptive mother has with her child grows over time, like the child did within his first mother’s womb. Day by day, touch by touch, with each tear, kiss, and memory made they became a family. Adoptive mothers have that special knack to let love grow.

An adoptive mother knows that she’s a mender of wounds, not just of the physical skinned knees with a band-aid and a kiss, but of the heart. She gives love, acceptance, and permission to ask and talk about the day the child was born and of his first parents.

Adoptive mothers are embracers, not only of the child with many hugs and kisses, but of the child’s heritage and history. She embraces the facts of her child’s past with strength for herself and the child.

She’s not only a memory maker planning family vacations, activities, and birthday parties, but also a memory keeper. Details of a birth, photos, and of the parents who brought the child into the world are kept along side the newspaper clipping that announced it all. All these things are kept in a special book that tells the whole story.

She’s a tier of shoelaces and of hearts. She weaves lives together into a tapestry of a new family, with many different brightly, colored threads showcasing their individualities and family origins. Together they create one unit attached to each other.

Adoptive mothers are experts at finding lost objects, but understand and validate the profound, deep loss left by adoption. She allows the tears to fall and grief to be felt, allowing the mourning of the mom not there. She is secure in knowing that she’s not a replacement, but a finisher of a race for someone who, for whatever reason, could not run any longer.

This role is not for the weak of spirit, or the easily wounded. Loving a child not born to her but calling him her own, but this is what she does, it is her calling. She is a mother.

And still we wait...

2007-11-10T23:43:00.001-05:00

One misconception people have about people who do not have children is that they have lots of time on their hands. If that were the case, we would have the garage and basement cleaned out and be twiddling our thumbs awaiting the arrival of our bundle of joy.
But since that is not the case, this week was a particularly busy one... I had report cards to do, as well as plan a surprise bridal shower and serve as "wedding coordinator" for a secret wedding for our friend S.R.G. She found her true love and the two of them are riding off into the sunset as husband and wife...well not really...they are driving to Arkansas to start their new life together. (the driving off into the sunset just sounded a bit more romantic)

We wish them all the best! We know that they will be fine as along as they remember- Marriage takes three- husband, wife and Jesus Christ.

Trick or Treat!

2007-10-31T21:51:00.000-04:00

Since we know we will eventually get the call,even though we don't know when, we spend a lot of time reflecting on the changes that will come into our lives. Today is Halloween and of course regardless of your feelings on it- children love dressing up and getting candy. Next year,I will have a little person or persons with me when I answer the door to hand out candy or I will actually have to go Trick or Treating with children in tow. But until that time gets here, my favorite little trick or treater came over to show me her costume and get a few pieces of candy.

Ellis Land Can Be Pretty Scary at Halloween!

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

and wait...

2007-10-13T23:56:00.000-04:00

Today our church congregation, led by our pastor Rev. Ellis, walked to the site where our new church will be built. It was a gorgeous fall day for a stroll down Minnieville Road.

While we wait...

2007-09-09T22:17:00.000-04:00

There are tons of things we need to be doing while we wait for our call. We need to clean out our garage and basement to make way for all of the things children bring into a house.

But are we??.....Of course not!
We celebrated dad's 80th Birthday on September 8.
We all can only hope to look as good when we are 80!

I had the pleasure of serving as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the event.

It was nice to see his brothers and sisters together honoring their dad. We all wished his mom was well enough to attend the celebration.
We know many people our age who have lost one or both of their parents. We are truly blessed to have parents that are still with us.

Mesgana Dancers

2007-08-13T08:00:00.000-04:00

Well, we've been waiting for 4 months...
While we wait for our referral we continue to read and learn about the beauty of the Ethiopian culture. I probably have more Ethiopian children's books than a native Ethiopian. On August 11, 2007, the day before our 18th wedding anniversary we went to see the Mesgana Dancers at George Washington University in DC. They were wonderful! Mesgana is the Amharic word for gratitude. Amharic is one of the many languages spoken in Ethiopia. The Mesgana dancers are a group of twelve students from the Children of Ethiopia Education Fund program. The COEEF is a non profit foundation that sponsors girls so they are afforded the opportunity to attend school. Opportunities for girls are limited in rural East Africa, epecially in education. Just think the amount of money we spend on one outfit will pay tutition, uniform and school supplies for a child for one year!

Enjoy the performance!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Wait, Wait, Waiting...

2007-07-10T12:38:00.000-04:00

So how long will it take? The agency tells us that once our dossier is approved it takes anywhere from 6-8 months to get a referral. We have requested a male infant under 12 months old but we are open to twins or a sibling group of an infant and a child no older than 4. Once we receive a referral we wait for a travel date and clearance to fly to Ethiopia. While there, we will stay a week in the guest house connected to the orphanage.

So while we wait, we ask that you keep us in your prayers. We have been married for 18 years and this is truly going to change our lives. But we know who our strength comes from and we know that God has guided this entire process because only He could have made this decision possible for us.

Why Ethiopia??

2007-06-29T00:40:00.000-04:00

Why not??

During the summer of 2006, we watched the movies Hotel Rwanda and the Constant Gardner. The visual images of the children left behind to fend for themselves for some reason touched our hearts and minds. Now it is not like we didn't know the plight of some of the children in Africa. We have seen the Feed the Children late night infomercials for years, and actually we usually turn the channel but for some reason this time, our hearts were touched. We started discussing the plight of the world’s orphans especially children in Africa. In July 2006 we went to an interest meeting at an international adoption agency. The agency happened to have a program in the African nation of Ethiopia.
In our research we found out that Ethiopia on average has more than 4.5 million orphans! Even though there are many children that need homes in the US, we felt the life circumstances of US born children give them a much better chance at even the most basic survival. In Ethiopia, orphaned, abandoned, or relinquished children may not have access to medical care or proper nutrition, and the potential outcomes for their lives are much more dire.
Not only was there a great need for adoptive parents but they are known for having a relatively straightforward and predictable adoption process, lower costs than other countries (even though none of the costs are low) and available infants. The process used to be faster but more and more people are choosing to adopt from Africa.

We have always heard- No Test~ No Testimony... and that is true. This decision on how to bring children into our lives was truly a TEST. For the test we are thankful because it caused us to stop focusing on the trivial things in life. ( Even though for one of us, it is still a tad bit hard to remember ~ it's not about me...

We truly believe God needed to bring His scriptures to life to draw us closer to Him. As we think about the birth parents that will allow us to raise their children we truly understand the unselfish nature of God when he gave his only begotten Son to us to save us from our sins.

Many people wonder but are afraid to ask… will the child be healthy? Is it possible the baby will be HIV+ or have AIDS?
When the babies are brought to the orphanage they are immediately tested for AIDS and other diseases (Hepatitis, etc.) and “quarantined” to secure the health of the other children in the orphanage. That blood work is repeated 3 months later for verification. In addition to that, parents can order independent tests to be analyzed by their pediatrician stateside. Yes, there are hundreds of thousands of children who do have AIDS in Africa, who are not being adopted. Once it is determined that a child is HIV positive, the child is taken to an AIDS orphanage. After malnutrition, the most commonly reported health problem in adoptable orphans is a simple stomach virus that can be treated with antibiotics and parasites .

Aren't there black children that need homes in the U.S.?

2007-06-25T12:54:00.000-04:00

Yes, there are but we were not led to adopt in the United States.

In 2005 we started the adoption process with a public agency in our state through the foster care system. We attended months of classes and had begun the homestudy process. Each class discussed the situations we might encounter by adopting from the foster care system. Some of the children who are in foster care are children who have experienced abuse or neglect at the hands of their parents and have been removed from their homes. These days many single mothers decide to parent their children and we were told that it was unlikely that we get a child under the age of 2. The biggest “restriction” on parents adopting infants within the U.S. is that only 1.4 percent of pregnant, single women place their babies for adoption (National Survey of Family Growth, 2002). The majority of children in care available for adoption are 7 or older. The first priority of foster care is reunification of the child(ren) with the biological family, and children are frequently in foster care for two years before parental rights are terminated and children are available for adoption.

Domestic infant adoption through a private agency was another option, but it is quite competitive and these days there are far more families wanting to adopt than there are infant children. The process is quite different. Many agencies now advocate open adoptions where birth parents have regular contact with their children. Being first time parents, we didn’t particularly favor this option. Adoptive parents have to prepare Dear Birthmother letters/portfolios to win the hearts of a mother who wants to relinquish her child. This process is unpredictable , you are in competition with other families and ultimately the birthmother could change her mind.

Let the Adventure Begin!

2007-04-26T00:37:00.000-04:00

After many years of prayer, we have decided to bring children into our home through adoption. This decision has taken over 5 years.

Through the years many have asked …"don’t you want children…when are you going to start a family.” Of course like most married couples, when we got married we both assumed that we would have children but, that day hasn’t come. Those who know me well, know that we contemplated for years over how to bring children into our house…to go the fertility route or not… both of us however, wanted children to be a part of our lives. It is truly amazing how God can change hearts and minds and bring two minds on one accord. Through these struggles, we learned a valuable lesson- it is not our will that controls things but HIS will and God had other plans for our lives. We are thankful to be blessed with a church family with a few members who have adopted beautiful children and after speaking with them on numerous occasions and praying much over the matter we made the decision to adopt.

In August of 2006, we made the decision to begin our family through an international adoption. We chose A.S.I.A, an affiliate of Children's Home Society and Family Services( CHSFS) as our adoption agency.

Our first step was to begin the application process. This involved the following:

Apply for an application to adopt with USCIS (formerly INS) called an I600A form ~Get fingerprinted for USCIS ~Start your application process and homestudy. A homestudy is basically an approval from social services that allows you to adopt. Submitting the application and going through the homestudy means you get fingerprinted and collect all sorts of documents like autobiographies that detail your entire life history, medical examination reports from your doctor, tax returns, financial statements, employment verification letters, proof of medical insurance, proof of life insurance, birth certificates and marriage certificates. They also ask for four references letters to be written by non-family members and one face to face interview with one of your references. Thanks to Marlene and Jimmy, Staci, Brenda and Don, and June and Rev. Ellis. Then, they have a social worker meet with you 4 times- 1st a joint interview, then private interviews and the last time is for an home inspection. We assembled all of the necessary paperwork for our application and it was accepted on January 10, 2007.

Our next step was to begin our homestudy/ w our social worker. Our joint interview was on January 27, 2007. My individual interview February 8, 2007 and his individual interview was on February 10, 2007 . Our home visit was on February 24, 2007 and our confidential reference interview was conducted with our pastor, Rev. Ellis, March 13, 2007. Our homestudy approval date was March 27, 2007.

Next it's on the dossier. It is very similar to the homestudy paperwork, but in more detail.
Every document has to be notarized and have a special seal by the Secretary of State. You have to be very careful in all of your dates. NOTHING can expire until the process and travel has been complete, or they will kick the whole dossier (collection of documents) right back at you. No exceptions. You have to make sure you choose a notary, social worker, homestudy agency and doctor whose license or commission does not expire until well after you plan on being home with your child(ren). The documents that we had to collect are as follows: *Petition to Adopt *I171-H (this is what the I600A turns into after you are approved by INS) * Notarized Completed Original Homestudy *Copy of Homestudy License * Copy of Social Worker’s License * Notarized State Police Clearance Letter * Notarized County Police Clearance Letter * Notarized Medical Clearance from Doctor *Notarized Verification of Employment Letters * Certified Marriage Certificates * Certified Birth Certificates *Copy of Passports *Notarized Power of Attorney –

When we walked into the bank to have all of these forms notarized they tried to service us at the counter but after seeing the piles of papers they took us to the back so we could sit at a desk.

When we have compiled all of our documents called the dossier, it is shipped to our agency for approval and then off to Ethiopian Embassy for translations and then off to Ethiopia.
Our Dossier was approved April 26, 2007.

Let the wait begin!