Smiley

Her Royal Cuteness with Daddy at the Holt Care Center.

Smiles, smiles and more smiles!

Kissable

Home!

We are home! Our sweet baby is a precious, adorable, snuggly, cheerful, kissable little bundle of cuteness! We just can't get enough of her, and she is such a fun and easy baby. She survived the grueling trip home with such grace. All 4 of the kids were so good, and we are so thankful to be home. 

Ethiopians are wonderful, kind, warm, hospitable people, and they made our stay in Ethiopia an amazing experience. The Holt Ethiopia staff and the Care Center nannies are doing wonderful work. The children are loved and cared for, and it was a blessing to spend time with all of them. 

Unfortunately I was never able to stay connected to the internet at the hotel to post updates during our stay. But, I will be back to share our adventures after the jet-lag fog clears a bit. For now, we are hunkering down here at home, shuffling through suitcases, and just enjoying being a family of 6. We are so thankful for all your prayers. Love to all!

Pictures to come shortly!

Stuck Already!

We are stuck at DFW still waiting for our delayed flight to Chicago. So far we been bumped down twice, and are now hoping to leave at noon. Chicago is having some awful weather, so everything there is delayed or cancelled. We have no idea if we will get there in time to make our connecting flight to Turkey.

We are all fine and still in good spirits. The kids have been troopers, although we are all tired already and it feels like we've been traveling all day, but we haven't even left the country yet. Good Lord willing we will be on that noon flight out and will make our connections and be heading toward Istanbul, then Addis Ababa.

Good thing we packed way too many snacks and toys and games for the long flight over the water ~ we are already using lots of it this morning.

Love to all~

Whew!

Our house has been a whirlwind of activity the past few days. We are smack in the middle of packing, and we've had to take various family members to the doctor 5, count them, FIVE times! We are normally a pretty hardy family, but we've all been sick the past few weeks and we just can't seem to shake it. I am so ready for everyone to be well! We now have a boatload of prescriptions that will hopefully see us through our trip. 

It looks like the weather in Chicago is rough, so that may put a kink in our schedule. God willing, we will get to Addis Ababa and get to meet Sweet Baby in just a few days. We are so excited. Middle son told me tonight that if his baby sister needs a piggyback ride, he'll be glad to give her one. He really knows how to warm his Mama's heart.

We have about half of our luggage allowance filled with great stuff to pass along to Holt's Care Center. So many friends brought us clothes and toys and vitamins and bandages and stickers and medicines, and we are thrilled to be able to deliver it. It's way more fun to pack all those goodies for the sweet kids than it is to pack our clothes!

We hope to be able to update the blog from Addis. Can't wait to show your our beautiful baby girly soon!

Happy Anniversary, Sweetheart!

Today is our 18th wedding anniversary. I love you more than ever, dear. 

To celebrate we went to the health department and got typhoid fever vaccinations for each other! No kidding. But with our trip looming, anything that gets us closer to bringing Sweet Baby home is the perfect present for me.

I am so thankful God sent me my incredible husband. He is the rock and the leader of our family. The kids and I are so blessed to have him. 

And the man knows how to make me laugh.  Even when I'm getting a shot. 

I Have No Idea...