HELLO! UPDATE!

Another week gone by! This week I will be working everyday. WOW! I am happy for the work and sad to be away so much from the family. But really its just the night hours so it's not to bad.


We are still waiting for our I600A approval form called the I171-H form and we don't expect it for some time here is the -mail word for word. (Note no hello or good-bye what a friendly person) "We process files in the order they are received. There are at least 8 files ahead of yours. Once your file is reached, it will be reviewed. Since we process a lot of other kinds of applications/petitions it maybe awhile before your file is reviewed. 90 days is a normal processing time." I just love working with people like that.

The second bit of news fresh in this morning is it is going to be another 2 weeks before we hear about the referral. The childrens HIV test was done with the "Alicia test" - this test is not the most accurate and diffently not the latest kind. Lisa has requested for the PCR test to be done and that takes 10 days. They are also waiting on a document from the orphange that they came from originally. Lisa will be traveling to India as of Monday so she will be away for 2 weeks. We will pray the referral will be on her desk when she gets back.

I am really thinking that this year is out for travel. I wasn't sure what to expect with all the voices around telling me you may travel before the end of the year; but I am starting to feel much more comfortable with those thoughts. If I do the math our referral will come around Thanksgiving time and that will then leave us with 5 weeks of the year, I can't see that happening nor do I think it is possible. Besides we could seriously use our tax returns for some $$$$$$ help. :@)

This is my update!

Feeling Blessed

The last couple of weeks or more I have had something on my mind. Each night that I work I am reminded of just how blessed we are that I acted upon my feelings. I went in and placed my application just in the nick of time. I didn't realize just how close that one was until later. It was the very next week after starting my job that a group of five was hired. All but one are on call. This two night a week guarantee came open on Friday before they started. I have been able to get my set two days and also a call or two extra. This is truly a blessing, and I am so grateful for it.

Well as many of you have realized we have not recieved our referral yet. We recieved some fun and exciting news but not a referral. We will keep waiting for that. Things have been going really well and I am also grateful for that.

We are still waiting for our INS 171-H. We hope for it this week.

My mind is crashing on me so I will hopefully write before long. It seems I have hit a dry spell in the "sharing my feelings" department. I have some tender feelings that I have thought of only drafting at this point not posting. Still thinking about that.

You don't want to know!

This week has been one that will pass with joy. I have had it with this week. Meds gone bad, a shot, two root canals, sudated, throwing-up, swollen face, missed perscribed medicine (could have been real ugly), found a false report of our credit (dealt with that), broke a glass, on antibiotics and my house needs to be put back together. Oh and no news yet! But there is always tomorrow, which is Friday.

It's real!
Even our Zim is jumping for Joy! What a goofy dog we have. He is really a good boy!

Our Dossier has finally left Washington DC and will be headed for Ethiopia on Friday. What great a feeling. We are hoping to hear something on our referral over next couple of weeks. There is a few things with medicals, and investigations and so forth to wrap up. I was actually told by next week but I thought it a good thing to add some extra time to that. It is easy to find your excitement quickly bubbling over the edge. I am actually thinking along the lines of the 1st of Nov. that will hopefully keep me settled.

Others shared with me some things to keep myself busy with but as luck would have it when you are dealing with a women who loves staying on top of things, you quickly find that those things are also already done.

I will be having my adoption yard sale in two weeks. We will have a neighborhood sale where everyone is raising money for some reason or another. I will also post pictures of some of my jewelry. I have decided to get rid of some pieces that are doing us no good and truly hold no meaning to me. Except to say there beautiful and full of diamonds. But so are my children.

Watch out for the precious stone auction!

All sales will go to the adoption.

Weekday Happiness

The weekends seem to creep by. It used to be that I loved the weekends, but now feelings have change. I am sure anyone who has adopted would understand, the weekends bring no news and no movement. So tomorrow comes with excitement for me, tomorrow brings five more days of possiblities. I love it.

We have been trying to learn the Amharic language. My home will soon become the classroom with little black and white tags everywhere. We have hung the alphabet on the wall and it just looks beautiful. I love what happens when you bring other cultures into a home. For me it makes it feel warmer. We actually started learning back a couple months ago but have taken a pit-stop while finshing other things in life. We jumped back in this weekend and it feels so nice. I fear I may be sorry if I don't try to learn as much as possible before we get the little one(s) home.

So here are a couple words to learn:

(I am sure I am spelling them wrong, but use it for the sound not the spelling)

Church - danye

Swimming - wanna

Peace - sugamee

There has been no news yet as to our Dossier and I am hoping to find out by tomorrow. I will call them in the morning. Once again I feel like it is in our court since it is a problem that I may have to fix.

Work has been going very well. I was able to pick up an extra day last week so how it works is any extra days worked above my regular schedule is savings toward child number two. At this point we are starting from the beginning. So we now have $45 dollars started. YEAH!!!! I have order cookie dough and will be having a bake sale the months of Nov. & Dec. we will be sending around order forms with 3 different cookies, candy & some different pies on them. I am going to have a last chance yard sale here really soon. I have some nice items that have been donated like a bike, video shelves, kennel for a dog, gas dryer that is only one year old, and even a possible set of very nice coffee & end tables. All of this will go into that fund account ("The Thomas Center Fund Account" - a Utah account with Wells Fargo)for the actual adoption fees of child number two. And if we get a referral for one than it will go to the expense of travel which is a whole other thing that we have not address at this time. I have prayed & fasted the Lord will provide. Somewhere and somehow I know our prayers will be answered. We are doing our part which is our very best and leaving the rest. Now I say this like it is a simple thing, it has not been. I have worried and fretted about this. I have lost sleep over it and to be honest caused myself to become sick over it. But each day I must re-focus and remember the Lord in all this and remember to many blessing and answers to prayers have been answered thus far. I know that with all my heart our family is doing exactly what we should be, and that is reassureing. Some how it will all work out;^)

Tell next time

Are things up or down....

We got word of a possible problem with our Dossier today. I am not sure if it is worth the explaining or not but lets see how well we do. One of the forms for your dossier is called your cover letter. It is what it sounds like, a cover letter to the whole set of papers that tells exactly what is in it. Well one of the forms we left out, because long story made short - it is not needed at this point but since it is listed it should either be in there or not listed as a document included. That makes sense to me, but we over look it since it is sent to us as a pre-made document. So it gets even better it is also NOT one of the other 92 pages; No, its one of two that are authenticated and it only costs $50 a page to expedite it.

We will know tomorrow if they will let it slide or not. (Lets all pray for the nice lady, I was told there is one in that office) If not we will have a $100 mistake and a loss of a few days. Not cool..

I can only hope we will get through without that.

I did get some great information today on a different note. I have decided that if the little baby is young enough I will try to induce laction and nurse. If the child is older but still on bottle I may still induce laction and use that in a bottle. Life seems to be so linked to this adoption. So you will have to follow me with this one.

We decide to adopt

We don't have enough $$$

Because we need the $$ we pray for this awesome job

We get the job - Yeaaaaah

Taundra gets nervous beacuse of health problems

Taundra seeks help from doctor

Taundra gets help from Reglan (medicine)

Taundra wants so much to nurse

We want to save on $$ (formula)

Taundra researches

Taundra finds out that the very drug that is helping her health problems

Is what I need to help with nursing

Baby & Mommy have a better chance

What a great link of events. I love that little things like this can cause me to ping off the walls so excited & happy.

It seems like each time I turn around there is some other wonderful thing the Lord is fixing, preparing, or making happen for our family. I am so grateful for this experience.

What are their names? What do they look like? Is Liya my girl?

I want to hold , hug, & kiss our little ones!!!!!!!!

Just a small taste of my brain.

ping-ping-ping-ping

Just a small note..........

Well I thought I had better post and send the latest which is - Our Dossier is gone. It should be in Ethiopia by next week. Can you imagine one dossier was 94 pages of things and there had to be two orginals and two sets of copies all had to be notarized, and one set of copies for my own records. That make 5 sets in total, you do the math. HaHHHHHHH!!!! I think I have been feeling stressed out - wait I am stressed out. I so hope everything was done right.

I seem to have a problem filling my life with an enormous amount of to-do-things. I just cancelled one, so that feels alittle better. The Halloween Party! As much as I love parties, this girl just can't handle another thing on her plate.

I hope we will so hear back on the referral. I am pinging off the walls, check e-mail at least 6-7 times a day. Will there be a picture there, will she say call me, will I have the medical on Liya, is she a possiblity? Oh so many things run through my mind. People keep telling that if we have our referral by the end of the month we should travel before the end of the year, but I refuse to think about such an exciting thing. Well Tah-Tah for now.

Life can't get any better......

When each day goes by and you have one who is as wonderful as this one.

"Life can't get any better"

I truly love this man, after this picture was talken and I looked into the view finder my heart just melted. I remember many years ago when I saw him for the first time. I didn't want to fall in love, I wanted nothing to do with a man, but oh you know you are in trouble when he looks like this. He has caused me to fall in love with him all over again with this adoption. This is something I have wanted for so long - my whole life pretty much. My feelings are something I have tried to put into words and it has been hard. I think I have been able to catch at least a little of it in words. Through his own change of heart, he has opened a door in my life that I have stood by many times, knocking, hoping for, wishing for and praying to just turn the knob & let me in. I could never place in words my graditude for him giving me this opportunity to mother a child not of my womb but very much of my heart. One who had already been born there. At first I didn't reconize how I have been prepared for this through-out my life. Through those tender feelings, my heart has grown to love this child(ren) many years ago. And you just opened the door for me. Thank you Daddy.

I love you with all my heart !

My! My! How she has grown!

I thought I should write an update on how the adoption is going. The box now weights 13lbs 15ozs. I am so grateful that the weight is in this box and not in me. It has been so wonderful to be "pregnant" and still be human. My children still have a mommy, my sweetheart still has a wife, house cleaner, food maker and did I mention a wife. Oh yes I did!

Well today I got a call from our agency asking "where is your Dossier" they need it like now or want it like now. Which is wonderful to me, because that means something is happening. Should I venture to say a possible referral. No, couldn't be? Yes, could be?

Well as the call went on she said "we just got custody of two little baby yesterday and we need your Dossier". What? What? What? I think my heart must have been going crazy. My insides wanted to just say Oh my! Oh my! Oh my! Can I move any faster? What do I need to do? So as you can imagine I have had many times today were the excitement over took me and I wiggled, jiggled, screamed, smiled, laughed and just couldn't sit still. And off to kinko's I went I think when I finished it was 95 copies in all. Tomorrow brings another day of polishing touches like the State Capitol (Secretary of State), and Fed-Ex (off to the Embassy of Ethiopia by courier to make a quick stop at the US State Department then back to the Embassy, just to be placed in an envelope signed, sealed and delivered back to the Agency in just a whole 3 days. Amazing stuff! And can I ask again why does it take our I600-A which sits on one desk behind the wall where we delivered it for 3 months? Oh, I am sorry back to the story.

She did say at some point she felt very comfortable telling us we would have our referral by the end of the month (Oct.) Can you say WOW!!!!!

With all this said I want everyone to know that this does come without caution because as they say "It's not over tell the fat chicken sings" -That ones for the sexy cowboy.

His own Feelings!

I love when you catch them having their own tender feelings. (BB) has been thinking a lot about his new little sister that will hopefully be with us soon. Twice now in the last week he has drawn or colored some very cute pictures.

This is a picture of our family. From oldest to youngest, or tallest to shortest. He shared with us that this was his new family. I love it. Children are so accepting and don't see the need to think different of others just because their looks are different from themselves. He allready loves his little sister is what he tells me in this picture, she is part of our family.

This was his second one he brought home, I love the choice of colors. He is growing up. It seems like yesturday he was struggling to stay inside the lines, no problems with that anymore. He is a great older child, he has been such a great example for (lg), he is now coping (BB) with asking to be excussed from the table. It is so cute.

African Children's Choir

I wanted to post about a wonderful opportunity. A must see.

Here is an excerpt from their web site.

"The African Children's Choir™ is an ambassador for all children in Africa who have become orphans because of the AIDS pandemic. They are their voice to the rest of the world.

The African Children's Choir™ is comprised of children ages seven to eleven. Many of the children in the Choir, have lost one or both parents to poverty or disease.

The African Children's Choir™ performs throughout the world bringing hope and joy to everyone they meet while shining the spotlight on the plight of children in Africa.

Your financial gifts to the African Children's Choir™ help support the ongoing delivery of Choir programs thereby allowing new Choirs to tour each year and past Choir members to enter into our care and education programs."

I know that our family and extended family has many who love and care about education. Many who they themselves have taught or do currently teach. I have heard from many about the music and show. They have said it was wonderful and they were glad they went. We will be going to one locally here next year. This also gives us an opportunity to extend our blessings to those who have so little.

The story behind there own lives is the story behind many children who come from Ethiopia. They too have suffered from the ravage of HIV/AIDS, diseases, drought, hunger and many other problems. It is from these hard lives that our family will have the opportunity to grow. It is a sad reality, but it is very real for them.

If you have the time & resources to go to one of there shows or even host one, please do so. You can only leave with your feeling richer for the joy you will find in giving something to someone who so much needs our help.

First, Second, Third, & Forth

First - (lg) has been such a sweet little boy for about a week now, maybe even more. I thought I was the only one noticing it but daddy also said something about it today. I hope it lasts, the "two's" have few and far between uneventful days.

Second - I have gotten through my first week at work. And have caught up on some much needed sleep. The first day was very scary. I ran all day on auto-pilot. I worked 4 days last week. We will see what this week brings. Each day is dollars more towards our kids:@)

Third - I have to share with you that I am getting stir-crazy, I find myself pacing thinking that I am suppost to be doing something. Yes, I know I need to be patient and many have waited so much longer to be just at the point at which we are. But just like any "normal" person you just want to see your little ones, hug them, and hold them. Let alone know their names.

Forth - I am planning a Halloween Party. And it's going to be big! Everyone's invited. If I could scare those teens (only 4 of them) last year, imagine the fun I will have this year, with a house full of family and friends:0)

One more milestone

I feel like we have reached another milestone in our adoption. Each step brings us closer to the day we have them in our arms. So tonight I feel so excited, why? all I am doing is more fingerprints for the INS! I After this approval is given our Dossier goes to Ethiopia. It's the first page in a new chapter.

Tomorrow is my craziest day, I need not go through the schedule it will start at 6:00am and end somwhere around 1:30am the next day. That will not be the norm, just tomorrow.

I found out today that our homestudy was also approved/finalized on my Birthday, just one more awesome thing that happened on that day.

Hair raising schedule!

This is how I feel and look when the phone rings, when I look around the house, & when I think of all the things waiting on me to finish, fix, do, pick-up, or get.

Daddy has asked me to only volunteer for "bringing doughnuts" but no I couldn't just bring "doughnuts". That is me, the one who loves to do what I call "the fun stuff". The stuff that takes hours upon hours to complete. And Daddy is not alone in his feelings. My personal secretary often protests. She will conveniently leave on a break in the middle of a sentance or even spelling a word, she will take vacations sometimes for days, but I learned to let everyone know that if it's not on my calendar its not safe. I think she has begun to think that she is close to retirement, the bad thing is she has many more years of this highly involved boss. I can only hope she will hang in there.

But there is always a light at the end, two more weeks of class for me and we are done, these first few weeks of PTO stuff is crazy but once organized it should just be one thing at a time, work will become a schedule and so you see the giant mess of things start to become smoothed just like the top of a wedding cake; it takes alot of time at first but it quickly falls into place.

Birthday Girl

Today was my day and what a great birthday it has been. I received Happy Birthday's from so many of you. Some in the form of songs, cards, messages, and popsicles. Thank you.

Gifts received are:

Book -"There Is No Me Without You" by Melissa Faye Greene- One women's odyyssey to rescue Africa's children. It is from a women who owns and operates an orphange in Addis Ababa, and has shown to be controversal. I have heard many comments on both sides of the fence but have found that I want to still read it. Due to the true picture it paints of what it is like for the children and the orphange but mostly the kids. I am sure I will share some thoughts & excerpts from it in later posts.

Book light - not just any old book light this one is a sheet that lays over the page and lights only the page you are reading it is so nice. I can't wait to use it, I bought re-chargeable batteries. My hope is to read while in bed next to my sweetheart.

Stereo for my car - thanks to my very active (lg) I have no music in the car. He decided it was a piggy bank and shorted out the whole thing. So I have been driving around for some time now without any music. I thought I could last and I have been doing pretty good but man I miss the tunes. Not to mention other things are starting to short out so I need to get that stereo out of there. Yikkes!

$30 - With this I want to buy some more music (CD's)

Popsicles - I love popsicles!

???? - And the last gift of the day was from my Heavenly Father at about 8:30 pm I got the phone call. I have been hired to clean the Temple. I am so happy about this. What a great gift as I was saying in one of my earlier posts this is a true blessing for everyone. Isn't the Lord kind. I have kept faith, and hope then turned it over to him. I meet with them on Thrusday have my orientation next Tuesday & Wednesday and off we go. This will be such a great way to end each day. Daddy is not so sure, but I told him it his chance to do things his way for bedtime. Like getting to bed by 9:00pm each night and starting at 8:30pm. The night owl will be gone. I am telling you sleep is over rated. I am sure I will want an occasional nap, but to me it seems to waste precious time.

As you can tell it has been yet another wonderful day. Thank you to everybody I had a great birthday. The pictures above are not from today but they are great pics of me doing something I love chating and laughing.

What time is it?

This is a question I have begun to ask myself. Is it because I am just curious or is it a way for me to be that much more in tune with my children? I have placed a clock on this blog because often I find my self wondering something about them. Where are they, what are they doing, is someone holding them or playing with them, do they have food, are they warm, is someone there to say I love you? I soon came to relize that I would go to another blog just to know what time it was there. It made me feel a little closer to them, is it dark outside or light, are they sleeping or awake, is it almost dinner time (hopefully), are they playing just where might they be? It is my way of knowing a small part of their life, it is my way of loving them daily and even from moment to moment.

Singing, Clapping & Eternal Friends

Well the evening went as expected. GREAT! I love the Practice Song(s). They only do one, and I have found myself wishing they did more. The song this month was "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands". After the song was over we were givin the thumbs down and had to sing again. The chorister warns you before you start that if there isn't enough signing , clapping, and joy we must sing the song again. So we did, and I am so glad we did. I could go on forever about how great the music is at Genesis, but if you have ever sat in a Baptist meeting where they sang then you know what I am talking about. The true love of signing to the Lord comes out, and it is impossible to not feel it.

The Relief Society Presidenecy spoke (they were just given this new assignment) and what a great group of ladies. As I listened to them speak & share their testimony I was touched. They are a great example of Daughters & Mothers in Zion. As I sat and listened one of them really touched & struck me strongly. I was filled with a filling of love for her, and as she stood there I knew she was someone special to me. She is absolutely beautiful, her cheeks were high and pronounced, she smiled a smile that was heavenly, her eyes are almond shaped & spoke words of kindness and wisdom, she is danity in her features, and her hair said she was fun and lively. I think what hit me the most though was how there was something she could teach me about African mothers. (This has been something that has been on mind mind lately and will have to be talked about in another post). I love when the spirit prompts you in these ways. So I took the opportunity to meet her and share with her some of these tender feelings I had felt. The only thing I can hope for is that I didn't cause her think "what a crazy lady". :@)

One of the things she shared with me is that she does hair & teaches classes on how to do hair. That will be of great worth to me, even with my experiences many years ago.

So as you can tell it was a wonderful experience and it was so nice to have Nancy & Jon there with me.

And today went by.......

Once again it is the first Sunday of the month, so that means we will be going to the Genesis Group. Fun Stuff. We are also having Nancy over for dinner and she will be going with us to Genesis. I hope the practice song is as great as last months. "This Little Light of Mine". It was truely one of the highlights.

Jump Started and Off We Go

I am back in the swing of things. By the end of the last night I had the bathroom cleaned and mopped, the kitchen back in business and mopped with even a dinner made and ready by 3:30, the house vacumed, the dog room clean, wiped down, new bedding in their kennels, and even the long awaited fridge move from the garage into its new home. Oh, and did I mention the boys room was also cleaned up, and a few loads of laundry done and the entire front yard was free of weeds. Man the things you can do when you have your body back.

The crazy thing is the ship needs waxed and cleaned everyday without break. I think my sister has the idea. She cleans tip-top shape in the morning and off they go never to return until the evening hours and whamie you have a house that stayed clean all day. My problem is I don't have the money she does to keep up with all that fun while out and food to keep smiles on their faces. But it sure sounds good.

I have been so excited lately finding myself thinking is this real, am I really going to be mommy to someone I have always wanted to be mommy to. I then find myself say "yes this is real and you will soon be able to love, hold, kiss, and teach the beautiful things of life to". It is so amazing that you can find yourself loving this child(ren) who you know nothing about, and have so many natural feelings of parenting for. I have thought about their mother many times and the love & respect I have for her, and the hard choice that she had to make. I think about the day when I get to meet her for the first time (in this life or the next) and what I will say to her or what I will do when I see her. I can only imagine wrapping my arms around her and saying thank you, and telling her that they are still part of her life. As a mommy who has lost a child & not by choice. I could not imagine that not being a very tender moment and that you would still have that longing in your heart for that child. What I mean when I say "by choice" for them it could simple mean not having the means to care for a child(ren), and at that point having no option but to simply love that child more than you love yourself and placing them with an agency; or knowing that she was sick and would not make it much longer. As Blaine has said many times "not one of these little ones have come to this point without tragedy happening in their life first". This is so true and I simply hope and pray that we will be able to add a ray of sunshine & lots of love to their lives as they have ours.

Germs those mean, heartless guys.

I can't believe how much power is packed in little germs. I have been very sick for the last two days. How is it that every joint, muscle & bone can ache. How is it that you have no ability to move about, when just a day or so ago you went hundred miles an hour. Your eyes are about to pop or burn, and nothing you take will stop the trobbing inside your head. Meanwhile trying to still be mommy! It is not fare, I really believe there should be a mommy pill or better yet we should all be blessed with the power of twinkling our noses. But here is the good news I feel like I can actually move about without great strength. I still have the yuckie cough that has made my throat raw and leaves behind the taste of blood as I cough. It is kinda interesting because that is one of my pregnancy problems (causing my throat to bleed from the throwing-up). I know "to much info". The great part is that this will stop as soon as my cough tones down. Last night I had to go to school this way, it was sooooo not fun. In this class I am also team teaching so I would have to say that so far it was the class I taught the most in and had to run examples for the students. I'am thinking I had no clue what I was doing it is all kinda blurry, hopefully I didn't seem that way while teaching. To end here is a picture of me for the last couple of days. Yuck.

One last thing the house what is up with all the mess that happens while you are out of order, just not fare. We need magic noses to twinkle.

While picking Zim up from the groomers Daddy got into an accident on the freeway. They are doing just fine, but the poor drivers back door is pretty crushed leaving the gutts showing in some areas. The car next to him slammed on his brakes to stop and lost control and came into his lane. Thank goodness he is fine and is not hurt.

We have our appointment with the INS office Sept. 12th to file our I600-A.

All is well, we are having Cornbeef & Cabbage for dinner. Yummy