Preparing for Turtle Races!

Look at all the fun! You may or may not know that we live in the Turtle Race capital of the world! Well, Tyler and Evan are going to be working the races this year and to do this, they need to collect 50 turtles for the racers. We, well Matt and the boys, built a home for them in a small pond in our yard and went looking for turtles. They found ten right away! Hopefully they don't get out of the amazing home they built. I'm sure they won't with supervisor Connor in charge. (Someday we will have to either get him some waders that fit or stretch him taller!!) We are all very excited to have some beautiful spring weather!

Happy May!

Well, I am sitting here checking the adoption forum (AGAIN!) to see if there have been any referrals today. Unfortunately, no:( There are many assumptions being made at this point. It appears that any referrals made after June 1 will not go through court in Ethiopia until after the courts close over the summer, not to open again until around September. Some assume that there will be a large number of referrals in May which will include everyone who has been waiting through the end of August 2007 - which would include us! We certainly hope those people are correct!! Others wonder if there will be as few referrals as there were in April (which was very few).

Okay, on another topic...I have been reading the book "There is No Me Without You." What an amazing book. There is so much that I did not know about the AIDS epidemic, for example, Ethiopia did not have ANY medicine to treat AIDS until 2005! In that same year, 11% of all children in Ethiopia were orphans. I also learned that they are now thinking that the biggest reason for the spread of AIDS in Africa is not due to promiscuous sex but due to the fact that when large vaccinations are set up in Africa, typically they do not go with enough syringes. The syringes are reused after a cursory sterilization - not enough to prevent the spread of AIDS. It is a book that is both very informative and an extremely entertaining story about a woman who takes in dozens of orphans! Definately one I would recommend.

On a personal note, isn't it amazing how we have no idea from one moment to the next what God has in store for us!! Ten years ago, I would have imagined that I would be a partner in a law firm right now, living comfortably with my children in full time school. Here I am, unemployed, homeschooling our four children, adopting a child from another country, and with a heart that is breaking for things that are happening in another part of the world! I love life - it is certainly never boring!!!

Let it SNOW!!??

Wow, I can't believe how much snow just dumped on us! Must have been 8 - 10 inches!! Apparently, I took down my snowmen too early. Wednesday I was in short sleeves and capris, yesterday I had my winter boots, coat, scarf and gloves on. Minnesota is truly unique!! One thing about Minnesota, though, is that the people are really tough. Had this happened anywhere else, everything would have been closed for days. Here, people were out and about before the plows even went through!

I do love Minnesota. We might complain, but we sure are resilient!

More Hoops!

After two sets of fingerprints and two sets of doctors approval letters (each), two sets of letters of recommendations from three friends, countless questions regarding our temperment, passed transgressions, marriage relationship, family relationship, discipline styles, anger issues, emotional issues, etc., etc., etc. - we thought we were finally done with all of our paperwork. Yesterday, however, we received a letter that we have to return yet another set of fingerprints. Apparently our first set are now null and void because, I believe, there is a new agency in charge of adoption background checks. Augh!!! On the one hand, I don't have any problem doing this because I love that they are very careful to prevent anyone for adopting for the wrong reason. The other part of me thinks of all of the people getting pregnant and having babies when they can't even take care of themselves - yet, our legal system will not do anything to help these poor children being raised in terrible situations because of the parents right to determine what is best for their child (a heated topic so, enough said). At this point, I am going to focus on my initial reaction and focus on our ultimate goal. I can't wait to bring our baby girl home!! Hopefully this new background check will not slow down the process (patience has never been a big part of my personality).

Life is full of ups and downs

As we await the referral for our new baby girl, I have to say that this is a very difficult time for me and my family. I can't believe it has been almost a year since my dad passed away. For those of you who do not know, my dad fought prostate cancer for about 6 years and went Home to the Lord on May 5, 2007. It was about this time last year that he made a very rapid decline and we spent the last days of his life relishing every minute with him and trying to keep him as comfortable as possible. In previous years, my dad would be patiently watching the lake melt and waiting for the fabulous fishing opener which he always celebrated with his best friend, Ron. This was one of his favorite times of the year and I have been thinking of him often. I wish there was an up-side to this post but I'm afraid it is merely a vent. Many say that time eases the pain but I'm afraid that at this point, time is only making me miss him more! I am posting some photos of him so that all can see what a kind man he was and know how much he meant to his family - especially his adoring grandsons! I pray that he knows how much we love and miss him and that he will be watching when we welcome his first granddaughter.

Time flies, and yet...

I cannot believe that it is already the middle of March. As of today, there are only 12 people on "the list" ahead of us awaiting a referral for a baby girl! We have been told to expect our referral in late April or early May. Sometimes it seems like the time is flying and I get excited, scared, REALLY excited, and a little panicked due to all the work we have yet to do. Other times I am so ready for our baby to come home to us and it feels like it will never happen! Until it does, we are keeping very busy - Matt continuing to get his business going and working very hard - I am working on my bags for World Vision sponsors, working on Daffodil Days for the American Cancer Society, and teaching the boys - our boys are ALWAYS busy! What an exciting life we lead. We are definately learning that it is important to try not to plan too far in advance because who can predict what the future holds?