Friday, April 23, 2010
Lucy Melat. - we passed!!
Introducing Lucy Melat Kesler! She is officially a Kesler and our girl forever!
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Court Count Down- TWO! 2! ONLY TWO days!
Oh. My. Goodness.
I can't believe we are this close to our court date! We waited almost 14 weeks from referral to finding out what our court date was. 3 more til the actual date. It seems a little unreal that it has been 4 months since we first saw that sweet face. She has gained 4.6 lbs and grown 3.4 inches! She is creeping up on 9 months old. By american growth charts, she falls into 50-75% for height, and under 5% for weight and head circumferance. She's a bean pole. Which, will fit in nicely with my hubby and boys who are all off the charts for "average" height!
I am dying to get my hands on her, and share some of her milestones with her. I'm glad she doesn't yet crawl or have teeth, because I really want to be there for those big firsts.
We feel so blessed that a group of our friends have been praying and fasting on our behalf, praying for our court date and all the details that go with it. I am getting asked alot what exactly is happening, or what to pray for, specifically, so I'll give a recap here. I am pretty much begging the Lord to allow all the details to come together without a hitch, so we can get on a plane ASAP! I really REALLY want to be in Ethiopia for Mother's Day.
The process actually begins on Thursday in Ethiopia (roughly 12 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time)...so I'm guessing sometime tonight between 9pm and 5am tomorrow, our time, our file and baby girl’s file will be reviewed by MOWA (ministry of women's affairs) on Thursday. Please pray that they issue a positive opinion and recommendation for our adoption to the judge without any hang-ups. This must happen for the court on Friday to hear our case.
A representative from the orphanage in Gondar (the original orphanage Lucy was at) is required to be t the court appointment, and will be traveling and bringing Lucy's family member to the court appointment on Friday. Please pray for safe travel and that they are able to bring all necessary documentation that the court will need to complete the relinquishment process. (I am not exactly sure when they are traveling, I would imagine it to be between 9pm Weds our time and 9 am Thursday our time). My heart is kind of heavy for this family member today. I am praying that she has peace about her decision and somehow that she will know how much we already love her.
Please pray that the judge would have no delays to keep her from court that day (there is only ONE judge in all of Ethiopian Federal court who processes adoption cases-if she's not there, no cases are heard, from what I understand). Please pray that all the needed documentation would be there so we can have our case finalized and officially and legally be Lucy's parents!! (This will be happening between 9pm Thursday night and 5am Friday morning our time.)
Lastly, we are praying that we will be able to travel in the first group of May. It may be pushing it for us to squeak into that group, I have been praying that for awhile now. Lucy will be 9 months old on May 7th. We also just found an AMAZING deal on airfare that would only be around $2000 for both of us round trip! But, we would have to begin travel no later than May 6th to get the deal. We would love to be able to take advantage of that amazing fare.
So, that's where we're at. Waiting for one of the biggest decisions of our lives. Butterflies have officially set in. I'm trying to distract myself with projects so I don't just sit around feeling nervous and nauseated :) Instead I'm washing little pink and purple things, doing a little packing and organizing, and praying my face off.
Here's a few pics of yesterday's project....high chair makeover. Some friends of my brother and sister in laws, handed down this nice high chair to us. I was so happy to get a wooden high chair! I've been wanting one, but NOT wanting to spend big $$ on one. This one had been used with two sweet kiddos and needed a little TLC, which I was happy to give! A little black paint, distressing, and new zebra print cover for the pad, and Voila'! good as new and fit a for an Ethiopian princess!
BEFORE:
AFTER
I can't believe we are this close to our court date! We waited almost 14 weeks from referral to finding out what our court date was. 3 more til the actual date. It seems a little unreal that it has been 4 months since we first saw that sweet face. She has gained 4.6 lbs and grown 3.4 inches! She is creeping up on 9 months old. By american growth charts, she falls into 50-75% for height, and under 5% for weight and head circumferance. She's a bean pole. Which, will fit in nicely with my hubby and boys who are all off the charts for "average" height!
I am dying to get my hands on her, and share some of her milestones with her. I'm glad she doesn't yet crawl or have teeth, because I really want to be there for those big firsts.
We feel so blessed that a group of our friends have been praying and fasting on our behalf, praying for our court date and all the details that go with it. I am getting asked alot what exactly is happening, or what to pray for, specifically, so I'll give a recap here. I am pretty much begging the Lord to allow all the details to come together without a hitch, so we can get on a plane ASAP! I really REALLY want to be in Ethiopia for Mother's Day.
The process actually begins on Thursday in Ethiopia (roughly 12 hours ahead of Pacific Standard Time)...so I'm guessing sometime tonight between 9pm and 5am tomorrow, our time, our file and baby girl’s file will be reviewed by MOWA (ministry of women's affairs) on Thursday. Please pray that they issue a positive opinion and recommendation for our adoption to the judge without any hang-ups. This must happen for the court on Friday to hear our case.
A representative from the orphanage in Gondar (the original orphanage Lucy was at) is required to be t the court appointment, and will be traveling and bringing Lucy's family member to the court appointment on Friday. Please pray for safe travel and that they are able to bring all necessary documentation that the court will need to complete the relinquishment process. (I am not exactly sure when they are traveling, I would imagine it to be between 9pm Weds our time and 9 am Thursday our time). My heart is kind of heavy for this family member today. I am praying that she has peace about her decision and somehow that she will know how much we already love her.
Please pray that the judge would have no delays to keep her from court that day (there is only ONE judge in all of Ethiopian Federal court who processes adoption cases-if she's not there, no cases are heard, from what I understand). Please pray that all the needed documentation would be there so we can have our case finalized and officially and legally be Lucy's parents!! (This will be happening between 9pm Thursday night and 5am Friday morning our time.)
Lastly, we are praying that we will be able to travel in the first group of May. It may be pushing it for us to squeak into that group, I have been praying that for awhile now. Lucy will be 9 months old on May 7th. We also just found an AMAZING deal on airfare that would only be around $2000 for both of us round trip! But, we would have to begin travel no later than May 6th to get the deal. We would love to be able to take advantage of that amazing fare.
So, that's where we're at. Waiting for one of the biggest decisions of our lives. Butterflies have officially set in. I'm trying to distract myself with projects so I don't just sit around feeling nervous and nauseated :) Instead I'm washing little pink and purple things, doing a little packing and organizing, and praying my face off.
Here's a few pics of yesterday's project....high chair makeover. Some friends of my brother and sister in laws, handed down this nice high chair to us. I was so happy to get a wooden high chair! I've been wanting one, but NOT wanting to spend big $$ on one. This one had been used with two sweet kiddos and needed a little TLC, which I was happy to give! A little black paint, distressing, and new zebra print cover for the pad, and Voila'! good as new and fit a for an Ethiopian princess!
BEFORE:
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Counting Down to Court- 5 days!
In honor of the countdown, here's 5 pictures from the fun family shower for Lucy and I this weekend. I have the two BEST sister-in-laws who through a very nice party for us! I am so blessed to have such a wonderful support for this journey. And let's just say my mom, aka Grammy, is out of control, in a good way :) It will be good for her pocket book when this little lady is home to keep grammy's arms to busy to shop anymore :)
L-R Nana (matt's mom), Kate and Rachel (neice and sister in law #1), Gramma Jackie, Grammy Denise (my mom), Elena (Sister in law's sister), Christy (my best blogger buddy), Me, Aunt Cheryl, Stephanie (sister in law #2), Cousin Anna, Cousin Emily, Cousin Mandy (with baby cousin in her tummy)...we missed a few in the picture, Aunt Shari, Cousin Jessica and Kennedy, who had to leave before we snapped a pic :)
We were given wonderful, adorable gifts by all!
L-R Nana (matt's mom), Kate and Rachel (neice and sister in law #1), Gramma Jackie, Grammy Denise (my mom), Elena (Sister in law's sister), Christy (my best blogger buddy), Me, Aunt Cheryl, Stephanie (sister in law #2), Cousin Anna, Cousin Emily, Cousin Mandy (with baby cousin in her tummy)...we missed a few in the picture, Aunt Shari, Cousin Jessica and Kennedy, who had to leave before we snapped a pic :)
We were given wonderful, adorable gifts by all!
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Single Digits! Count Down-9 days til court!
It feels so odd to say we're finally in a single digit of DAYS to our court date! It's been a loong time coming. We are trying to prepare that it COULD go perfectly and we'd pass through on the first time, and trying to prepare our hearts for the reality that lots of times it doesn't go perfectly on the first court day :).
We are anxious and ready to bring home our sweet baby girl. I was told by a friend in Ethiopia this week, that our little missy was trying to get up on all 4's...I of course told her, "knock her down and tell her to wait for her mama!" I don't want to miss one thing, especially not a biggie like a first crawl! I would be ready to get on a plane at a moment's notice if they told us we could. It's been a long 4.5 months since we first saw that sweet little face. She has grown and changed so much. I try my best to celebrate her health and the fact she's doing so well physically in Gladney's care, but the mama in me wants to shout "STOP! Just WAIT for me to get there!"
We are pray pray praying that we can hop on a plane on May 5th to begin our final leg of the journey to meet our sweet thing!
We are anxious and ready to bring home our sweet baby girl. I was told by a friend in Ethiopia this week, that our little missy was trying to get up on all 4's...I of course told her, "knock her down and tell her to wait for her mama!" I don't want to miss one thing, especially not a biggie like a first crawl! I would be ready to get on a plane at a moment's notice if they told us we could. It's been a long 4.5 months since we first saw that sweet little face. She has grown and changed so much. I try my best to celebrate her health and the fact she's doing so well physically in Gladney's care, but the mama in me wants to shout "STOP! Just WAIT for me to get there!"
We are pray pray praying that we can hop on a plane on May 5th to begin our final leg of the journey to meet our sweet thing!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Lull
It sort of feels like I dont' have anything new to blog about these days. We are happily waiting for our court date in 13 days! We are anxious, and calm, at the same time if that's possible! We are so ready to hop on a plane, but we are at peace with God's perfect timing. The weeks leading up to finding out what our court date is feel like the hardest wait yet. It was such a roller coaster for a bit there! We are thankful to finally know we are moving forward. I can't believe we are creeping up on 4 months since our referral! Our girl is growing and developing fast, and I can't help but feel some sadness about missing her new milestones.
We were blessed with new photos and 2 new videos of her this weekend! We learned that she can blow a mean razzberry and she eats/spits out oatmeal very well :) I have been wondering about solid foods, so that was really nice to see. We also learned that she is spending some time on the floor working on her strength...and she's trying to get up on all 4's. I told a friend in Ethiopia to quickly knock her down before she tries to crawl, I want to be there for that one!
We have two local familes who are in various stages of the process with Gladney's Ethiopia program. One who is SO close to getting on the wait list...and another in the paperchase stage. Catching up on both journeys has reminded me how far we really have come and all that the Lord has taught us. This journey has been one to meet our daughter, but God has given US so much. We have been blessed beyond measure, and our hearts have changed in some big ways.
A friend was asking me a bit about our daughters story, and through sharing a bit of it, again it's hit me, how much she has lost in her short 8 months. This friend asked why she was being relinquished. Now, there are some people who ask these questions with no hesitation or idea of appropriate questions. And there are those who ask with a spirit of genuine sensitivity and caring. This was the latter. I really don't mind those...when I shared a bit of her story that we know, what her family has gone through and why they can't keep her...she was taken aback. The words "to save her life" are in our paperwork. We just don't often see or experience this kind of poverty in our country. If a parent is totally in poverty, yet wishes to raise their own child, there ARE resources to help you do so. Systems to help you. It's just different in Ethiopia. It really is a whole different thing than we experience here in the US of A. (No offense to anyone here in the US, or who's adopted a child in the US...I am a big fan of that too!)
Well, this is starting to ramble on so I'll stop :) Goodnight!
We were blessed with new photos and 2 new videos of her this weekend! We learned that she can blow a mean razzberry and she eats/spits out oatmeal very well :) I have been wondering about solid foods, so that was really nice to see. We also learned that she is spending some time on the floor working on her strength...and she's trying to get up on all 4's. I told a friend in Ethiopia to quickly knock her down before she tries to crawl, I want to be there for that one!
We have two local familes who are in various stages of the process with Gladney's Ethiopia program. One who is SO close to getting on the wait list...and another in the paperchase stage. Catching up on both journeys has reminded me how far we really have come and all that the Lord has taught us. This journey has been one to meet our daughter, but God has given US so much. We have been blessed beyond measure, and our hearts have changed in some big ways.
A friend was asking me a bit about our daughters story, and through sharing a bit of it, again it's hit me, how much she has lost in her short 8 months. This friend asked why she was being relinquished. Now, there are some people who ask these questions with no hesitation or idea of appropriate questions. And there are those who ask with a spirit of genuine sensitivity and caring. This was the latter. I really don't mind those...when I shared a bit of her story that we know, what her family has gone through and why they can't keep her...she was taken aback. The words "to save her life" are in our paperwork. We just don't often see or experience this kind of poverty in our country. If a parent is totally in poverty, yet wishes to raise their own child, there ARE resources to help you do so. Systems to help you. It's just different in Ethiopia. It really is a whole different thing than we experience here in the US of A. (No offense to anyone here in the US, or who's adopted a child in the US...I am a big fan of that too!)
Well, this is starting to ramble on so I'll stop :) Goodnight!
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Thursday, April 1, 2010
sweetness
This family was so much fun and adorable to shoot on one of our beautiful sunny days last week! Two beautiful and happy boys who are loved to peices...These are a few of my faves:
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