T-24

We are just 24 hours away from lift off here in KY. My group is thrilled and we have been gathering the last minute things and stuffing them into luggage! My niece's Girl Scout troop made bracelets for all of the older children at Gladney's foster center and are sending boxes of Girl Scout Cookies! I am excited to take pictures of the kids reciveing the gifts! It was a very kind gesture and I am so proud of her troop! I also have to give a little shout out to Mekdes' three very excited cousins! They are parting with their mommy this week so that I may be privy to her child whispering abilities!

I am so excited that Ian is going. I am thrilled to have this time with my children, together. Some have questioned this decision oddly enough but at this point it is the right one for us.

This will be my last post until you see the long awaited picture of us all united at last.

Signing off...

Speechless

Last week is a blur. We got a new court date and passed court all in the same week. How does that happen? Now what you ask? We leave for Ethiopia in just 9 short days! I can't believe our travel is so soon. I have been packing and gathering things like a mad woman. So here are the plans. I am going to Ethiopia without Cortney. He is sitting this one out and staying here because of some health issues that came up after our last trip to Ethiopia. Nothing bad, just need him on his game when we return and not out of commission for a month like last time. Who is going in his place??? It is a lengthy list. Ian of course is going with me. We debated about this..it was short...I am taking him. I just cannot be without him for a week. Cortney feels the same way but I am persuasive and I won. He will be grumpy during the plane rides I am certain but a delight during the trip I am hoping :) My sister, Jamie, my best friend, Andrea, and none other than THE Amy Breedlove. Oh did I mention that we are sharing the guest house with Lara Byars and little Mercy too? It is going to be one giant sized slumber party at Ayat house!!!

Not much longer now and I will get to look at those beautiful brown eyes in person!!!

At Last

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

More to come later...

new look and a little hope

I hope the next post you see on this blog has my little girl's face as the first thing you see!!! And that could be as early as THURSDAY!)!*#!*_)#(!)*$



Fingers crossed...praying it's official on Thursday.

Helping out...(this was recycle trash so not too heavy--don't call social services just yet!!)

Happy Birthday Dustin!!!! PS. That isn't Dustin's hair in the background!

Ian and Sophia hanging out in their pajamas.

no dice

Court was rescheduled for March 10th. We are sad for us and upset for M*. We finally have power again after the horrible ice storm that hit a few days ago. Enjoy the pictures of the precious thing keeping my heart warm.

Yesterday as I unpacked her suitcase full of things I had packed I decided that we have to hand this burden over. I have to trust that God will be with her and help her to understand why we are taking so long. No more counting down and worrying with travel arrangements and planning when we will possibly travel. We have had her referral officially for 7 months and if you had told me we would still be waiting on court I would have laughed in your face. Guess the joke is on me.
Thank you to our dear friends Sean and Andrea who put us up last night, kept us warm, cozy, and very entertained on such a depressing night. Thanks for sharing your warm house!

Ian and Sophia waiting for a table
cuteness that happens while I'm at work

yummy snow (not the yellow kind that our dog makes!)

Just wanted to document for when Cortney wonders why he is sick?

not a yes but not a no

After getting an email today from Gladney around 1:45 stating that they could not make contact with our in country rep due to communication issues I ended up getting a phone call. Natalie called a bit after 2 to say they had made contact with Belay via email and he was able to send limited information. MOWA did not have an opinion ready for our case today however the judge saw our daughter and her uncle and completed her relinquishment. The judge asked that the Gladney reps come back to court tomorrow to decide how to proceed. So, our case is remaining open until tomorrow when the judge will decide whether to set another date or leave it open until MOWA issues the opinion.

We ask that you continue to pray for all of the families who have been affected by this. Pray for my sweet daughter, that God will give her peace and make time pass by quickly.

Hope

I guess all hope is not lost but it doesn't look promising for us today. Natalie told us yesterday that due to MOWA being closed for two days the opinion may not be issued for our case. It has all already happened so now I go to work and wait for Natalie to call and tell us what happens from here. If a miracle happened and they issued an opinion before court..we are through (unless something else holds us up). If not, our case may stay open and on the judges desk until the opinion is issued and then we are through. Or, we could have to wait for a new court date and do this all again in 1 to 1.5 months. I am saddened. I trust God's plan and I know that he has never left me or my sweet daughter in this whole process. I worry about her hopes and expectations. I did not know until yesterday that she will appear in court. Therefore she knows that court is happening and will subsequently wonder where the heck we are in the coming weeks/months. I know that she probably woke up excited and nervous and went to court where our case may not have even been heard. My heart is broken for her far more than for me.

We got an update yesterday. Kind of bittersweet I guess. She told us that she loves us very much and wants to know when we are coming. She said that she loves her brother and is so excited to meet him. She also hopes that we can find families for her friends.

I work 9-9 today so I will try to get some emails out when we get the news. Maybe my sister will put something on the blog for me. Take care and pray for my little girl.