first attempt at making a beanie

It is getting cold around here in the mountains, so I decided to try to make Analise a hat. Thank goodness for You-Tube! This was my first attempt, notice it is too small to cover her ears. I will have to try again. She is waving "Hello" to everyone!

a silly little video

I was about to feed her dinner and decided to tape a little of her being silly. Analise loves to laugh. When we first brought her home, she could not sit in the high chair at all, she would just slump over. She is coming along amazingly. Please excuse the singing. :-)

So much to say....

I have so much I want to say about our trip. So many memories that I never want to let go of. But, life with a baby keeps me from sitting in this computer chair. I will write my memories soon. For now, I am making new ones with my little one and my whole family together.

We're home!

This was the first moment our precious Analise Selam was placed in my arms. It could not have been any sweeter. I know that she knew me. I know that she felt my love, my hugs, my kisses. I know she heard my prayers, my songs to her. My kwanjo mimi. (my beautiful baby girl) God's perfect gift, my blessing. She has been forever growing in my heart, now she is forever in my arms. Praise God!

1 day left!

Tigger says, "1 day left until I get to (travel) to hug Analise!"

I can't believe it is finally here. I am busy with all of our final preparations. Unpacking the suitcase so I can pack it again, but better this time. :-) Cleaning the chicken coop and giving them the firm talk to remain quiet for the neighbors while we are gone. Getting a few inches cut off of my hair to make it easier to take care of when the baby comes. Visiting with Meagan and Brendan and wrapping 11 little individual gifts for them to open every morning while we are gone. (ssshhhh, they don't know)

Butterflies are starting to fly around in my tummy. Tomorrow Jaret and I leave to Phoenix to fly to Ethiopia where our baby girl is waiting for us. I still can't believe it no matter how many times I say it!

2 days and counting!!!!

Cutest little shoes! 2 days until we leave. We just found out that we won't get to see her until the next day after we arrive. I was pretty upset about that but then I realized that it will be almost 11:00 p.m. when we arrive. I don't want to wake her up and scare her first thing! I GUESS I can wait until then next morning at 9:00 a.m.

Can I be right....only 3 days left until we leave?

Today I made home-made baby food. I am starting her out with pureed carrots and also apples and pears. Never thought that I would be really excited about making baby food, but I am! I love it! Now I have to go pick up her socks and pack them back into her suitcase. :-)

4 more days...

Brendan made this number 4 out of Analise's toy links. I loved it! Today we are getting all of our papers in order to travel. This truly is one of the hardest things we have ever done. BUT... the most rewarding! Got to go get busy!

5 days left!

Analise says, "5 days till you come to get me!" Yipee!!!! I came home from praise band practice last night and Jaret had her crib together. I can't believe it is actually happening. We are coming to get you, Analise!

6 days to go...

Woke up this morning, made a big breakfast, got ready to go paintballing with family and friends, and now I get busy! Must wash baby clothes, stare at her picture, sterilize bottles, stare at her picture, make a list for the store, stare at her picture, go to the store, stare at her picture.......

7 Days to travel!

We just got the call today from Erin that said our paperwork will be finished for the Aug. 6th visa appointment. We are cleared for travel on July 31st! My head is spinning. So much to do! We have started the 7 day countdown today.

poems I wrote

I wrote these thoughts down in March while I was feeling quiet exhausted from the waiting and not hearing.

The days go by…

Tonight I am praying for you.

Can you hear my heart?

Today I am loving you.

Even though we’re far apart.

Tonight I will dream of you.

Are those your big, beautiful eyes?

Today my arms long to hold you.

Across the distance of the sky.

Tonight I will cry for you.

Will tomorrow be the day?

Today I will wait for you.

Lord, please have your way.

Tonight I am singing to you.

Does it bring you peace?

Today I will come for you,

My precious Analise!

“BE STILL AND KNOW..”

but, Lord, I love her so!

“DO NOT FEAR..”

but, Lord, I want to see her.

“TRUST IN ME…”

but, Lord, hear my plea.

“I AM YOUR REFUGE…”

but, Lord, this isn’t small, but huge.

“MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR ALL…”

but, Lord, she is so very small.

“COME, I WILL GIVE YOU REST.”

Yes, Lord, not my will, for You know best.

Our referral

I was thinking back today of the beautiful day that we got "our call". I thought I would write it down.

It was quite an amazing thing really, it was a Monday and Jaret was supposed to be at work. However, we had just been in Colorado over the weekend for Meagan's soccer tournament and got home so early that morning, he decided to take it off. It was around 11:30 in the afternoon and I was sitting on the front deck talking to my mom on the telephone. Jaret stuck his head out the door and calmly said, "Erin is on the phone, she would like to talk with both of us." I froze! I knew that this was "the call". I started screaming to my mom that I had to get off the phone! We went inside and put Erin on speaker phone. We homeschool our children, so I was able to call them both over, too. There we were, all four of us around the cell phone. Erin told us that today was going to be a great day for us. She told us that they would like to announce our 3 1/2 month old baby girl named "Selam". We sat there and bawled! Jaret told Meagan and Brendan that he had only cried like that two other times in his life! That was precious. The computer would not load the photos fast enough. It seemed like an eternity until her photo came up. Then.....there she was......the most beautiful little thing! So tiny, with the biggest eyes you have ever seen. I dreamed about those eyes for over a year. I even wrote a poem about them! I couldn't believe that it finally happened to us. It seems like a dream now. I will forever remember that day when Analise Selam was born to us! Our Lord is so amazing, praise HIM!

blankets

Here are a few of the blankets I have made for Analise. I just finished the big one for her crib. I am making spit-up blankets now. I can't wait to see her wrapped up in one of her blankets!

Jaret's hobby is photography

I guess if my husband wants to take pictures, I don't mind if he takes them of me! He is so talented. I can't wait until he takes some beautiful pictures in Ethiopia and of our new daughter. Here are a few that he took of me.

Father's Day golfing

We had a very nice Father's Day. Golfing is such fun, even if we stink!

7-16-09

Jaret and I took a group of 15 youth down to Phoenix, AZ to a wonderful Christian concert last night. Our favorite Christian hip-hop artists were playing. If you know anything about Christian hip-hop, than you probably know "Lecrae, Tedashi, Flame, Trip-lee, & Sho-Baraka". If you don't know about these artists, then look them up on i-tunes. Their music helped to change our lives. They have a wonderful God-honoring ministry. Their ministry is very urban based, so it is also much needed. Meagan got to go up on stage with Flame and dance! It was a dream for her. I loved to see my daughter dancing to Christian music, having the time of her life. Living your life for Christ can be a party here on earth, too!

O.k., so I guess I will try to put together a family blog to make the time go faster until we can travel to Ethiopia to bring our baby girl home. Bear with me as I try to put this together. I think some people's blogs are forms of art. :-)