It has been a good year for the Hale family in Colorado.  We have done a lot of biking, skiing, hiking, and snow-playing.  We have made new friends, played on many playgrounds, and fallen in love the clear, blue Colorado sky.  We love our little house on W. Elmhurst, but Ellie mentions how her old playroom carpet was much “cushi-er”.  I learned that mosquitos and flies don’t live at this altitude, but also that AC is not a standard when looking at homes.  I guess my kids like that because I didn’t spend all last summer shouting, “Shut that door!”, or chasing them with bug spray as they headed out doors for a walk with Dad after dinner.  I did spend a lot of time opening a closing windows and adjusting blinds.

It has been a good year of school, watching our girls grow and learn, and also of learning how our family will be growing to 6 soon.  It is nice to sit on this Saturday morning and reflect all the goodness and blessings that have been given to us.  I tell the girls all the time that “every good and perfect gift is from above” and it is God’s way of showing His love for us.  My gifts are currently sitting on the couch watching Cyberchase and will soon head outside to enjoy that beautiful sunshine.

Happy Saturday to you!

Just sayin’…

Just a little sisterly snuggle on a Sunday morning.

Julia was moved from her hometown in southern Ethiopia to Addis Ababa this week in order for her to get her birth certificate, passport and required medical examinations completed.  Then, Ryan and I will head over there and all that is left is an immigration appointment at the US Embassy and a long plane ride home.  The pictures they included showed her playing with the baby-photo album and wrapped up in the baby blanket we sent her.  One picture showed her gazing at a picture of the girls and me.  It took my breath away.

Evidently, she is not a very good eater anyway and there has been concern over her lack of eating after the move.  They should let us know early next week if her eating has improved.  Of course, as a Mom, I spend a lot of time thinking about, planning for, and (in this case, worrying about) the nutrition that my children need.  There is not really anything that I can do from here other than pray for her and be prepared as possible for the needs she will have once I get to her.  I am thankful for a husband who offers me much reassurance and for my God who can do all things.

Ryan has been humoring me a lot this week as I have been “nesting” in preparation for Julia.  I have checklists – several of them.  We are stocked up on toilet paper, paper towels, detergent, canned goods, casseroles in the freezer…you get the point.  When considering having a family of 6, I am really appreciating Costco in a whole new way.

During this post-court-passing-waiting-to-travel phase, the Bethany workers in Addis are applying for Julia’s passport, new birth certificate, etc. in preparation for applying to the US Embassy for her citizenship appointment.  I told Ryan that I would be more than happy to fill out that paperwork for them for sake of time, since, gee, I have reams of it already for her adoption.  I decided that the forms are probably in Amharic, so I would be useless.  So, my usefulness comes in preparation for our trip…and making sure we aren’t going to run out of toilet paper   –   any   –   time   –   soon.

I heard her grant Hannah a wish, “Abra Cadabra, Alla Kazam, turn you into a lion…or something…”

We are over the moon and are looking forward to traveling in about 6 weeks to bring her home.

I cannot wait to kiss her cheek.

I have so much to do today, but I can’t seem to focus on anything from up here on Cloud 9.

So, I was wide awake thinking about the scenario in Ethiopia.  Our court date is tomorrow – now at 5:00 am, it is almost evening in Addis Ababa, so really just a few hours away.  Is all of the paperwork really in order?  Is everyone healthy and able to do their job tomorrow to present, hear, and decide on our case?

Wow, all these changes for Julia, a whole new identity while she has a regular  Tuesday at her orphanage, one that I hear is a good place.  So many more new things are for her around the corner.  I pray all the time that her little heart will be able to bear all the new changes – positive, permanent changes, but some will be a loss – a loss of familiarity, a loss of culture and country, after so many in her short life.

I decided, I’m not really worried, I’m just waiting.  I was thinking about all our time spent waiting.  I’ve done a lot of waiting in my time – hopefully, I have learned from it.  Maybe some trust, maybe some patience, maybe some peacefulness in hope in the Lord.  Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.”

I could jump on a plane today.  Tears come to my eyes when I consider the time is short now to hold my Julia.  I can’t wait to feel her in my arms, figure out her personality, teach her to trust Ryan and me, watch her be loved on by her big sisters, her grandparents. There are some precious moments to come for my Julia, moments that this Mama, like Mary, will treasure in her heart.

So it is 2 pm in Colorado – midnight in Addis Ababa.  Two things I can be sure of for me tonight:  I won’t be sleeping very well, and I will be trusting and waiting.