November is National Adoption Month.

I wish each good family that had even the possibility of making room in their home would open their eyes to the world of the orphan. I wish I could shake people and make them see what I and so many others have seen in orphanages. I wish they could feel the yanks on their heart strings (trust me, it’s more than a slight...

November 2, 2011
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Halloween…Again.

It seems like we have one of these every year! So why do I seem to get more tired every year when it’s over? 🙂 We had fun last night. The boys were all pirates (all, yes, even the husband). Gabby was such a stealthy ninja people didn’t even recognize she was a ninja and got only 3 pieces of candy. Next year she...

November 1, 2011
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Remembering 9-11, 2001.

Ten years ago, I woke up to news on my alarm clock (I absolutely hate the beep-beep-beep alarms).  I heard the tower had fallen. I was confused, thinking Salt Lake (where I was living) had taken down an old building and wondered why there was so much horror involved in a demolition. So I went downstairs and turned on the tv. I was absolutely...

September 11, 2011
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More of the same…

Other than a new living room floor, not much new is going on here. Kinda nice, kinda boring 🙂  The carpet was cheap and ugly and I never liked it. I just needed a good excuse to get rid of it. And since we have a new-ish puppy that liked to pee in one corner and liked to snag and chew it, I figured...

September 7, 2011
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Baby Update

So things have been going well with Mili. She’s talking, walking, has a few more teeth, understands what we tell her (and if she disagrees, she lets us know that, too). The older kids have taken to her like a duck to water. She has truly become “one of the kids.” She just blends right in. We still have a couple food issues though....

July 27, 2011
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Our Adoption Time Line

Here’s a time line of our adoption process. There were times it felt longer and others shorter, but I think it’s fairly decent. January 19, 2010—Decided to adopt January –Mailed out application to first agency March 10—Denied through agency (religious differences) March 12—New application to new agency (West Sands Adoptions) March 17—Began home study March 24—Approved by West Sands Adoptions June 30—Home study complete...

April 3, 2011
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Ethiopia Trip, Part 2.

We got word about our second trip, the one where I actually go get our baby and bring her home. We are leaving in just a couple days and I’m such a bag of mixed emotions! Obviously I’m very excited. We’ve waited a long time for a little girl. I’m excited to have her home and show her the animals and brothers (sometimes I...

March 21, 2011
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Things we Bought in Addis Ababa.

Before we traveled, I read up about places to visit in Ethiopia. One was the Merkato, a giant market. Sounded like it was right up my alley, so when we were asked where we’d like to go, I did not hesitate to ask! Some of the Merkato was under a single roof. There were narrow places to walk, and on every side was a...

December 30, 2010
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Orphanages in Ethiopia.

The first day we arrived in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was gorgeous. Honestly, every day was gorgeous, 70 degree weather. Much better than the 30 degree weather we left in. We got out of the airport and our driver took us to the guest house run by the adoption agency. I was surprised that everything is behind fences and gates. Everything private or semi-private anyway....

December 29, 2010
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