For Tessa and me

Take a look at this amazing bracelet!!! It is a silver charm bracelet with charms of Africa, Ethiopia-which also is the shape of an angels' wing and a circle charm which has been hand-stamped with Tessa's names. On one side of the circle charm is "Tesfanesh....you are hope" (Tessa's Ethiopian name) and the other side holds her name given to her from us, "Tessa Amarech". There will be a ceremony in Ethiopia for when we take full care of Tessa and she will receive this bracelet then. I will also be wearing my own matching bracelet (of course!). I love what charm bracelets represent and this one is especially special.

This bracelet was handmade by an Etsy Artist, Tracy Hanson. See all of her beautiful works inspired by her love and passion for adoption at

http://www.etsy.com/shop/JUNKPOSSE

Junkposse.blogspot.com

1 day....

1 day and we are on our way to Ethiopia!! It is surreal. This is really happening!? I have been in such a super-organization/nesting mode that I am looking forward to leaving that behind and being able to emotionally dive into this journey. Right now it feels difficult to fully connect because I am so distracted by everything here with the kids.

I am grateful for the long travel ahead, time alone with Andy and to be able to be fully present in this process. The flights will give us time to talk about all we have been through and the week ahead, which will undoubtedly be one week we will never forget. How often in our lives do we actually know we are meeting one of the most important people in our lives? Almost always, you meet someone who you will love and have no idea in that moment that God has brought you together for a reason, a purpose. We have the beautiful gift of meeting our daughter. Knowing that we already have love for her, will get to know her and her us, and will take a journey together for the rest of our lives. That is so beautiful, isn't it!?

Packing, organizing, nesting...ready to go!

I feel like I have been organizing and nesting for weeks....and I have. The house is as ready as it is going to get. It is quite a task to stay on top of things around here when I have 4 other people working against me. It is just life in all its messiness, but sometimes I wish it would just stay clean! There is this need to be as prepared to leave my boys as possible. Make everything as easy as possible for the babysitter. Of course, I know everything will be fine and acknowledge that I am doing all of this to make myself feel more at ease...everything doesn't HAVE to be in order. But won't it be nice to come home and not have the linen closet be a mess, the kitchen cabinets crumb-filled and disorganized? Yes it will! I have done as much as I can to be able to totally focus on Tessa and the boys when we get home.

Here are photos of the packing....phew! It is I am almost done with this organized mess. We are carrying 4 large suitcases stuffed full of our "stuff" and donations, each with a 50 pound max. That just isn't enough!! I am really minimizing what I will be bringing clothes wise. I always tend to overpack and now is the time to get a handle on that. As you can see, I am a big fan of the space saver vacuum packs....those things are awesome.

A HUGE thank you to all our friends for helping us fill these suitcases with donations: formula, diapers, clothing, children's books, and $$$ for the orphanage. How incredibly grateful we are to you for thinking of Tessa, the orphanage that has been caring for her and being apart of this journey to Ethiopia with us. My dear soul friend, Marcie, has also organized meals for us with these same friends! After we return we will have meals delivered to us every Monday and Thursday into May. I can hardly express how much I appreciate this gesture. Thank you dear friends.

1 day and we are off to meet our Sweet girl!

My godchild....

Sweet Max....my god son. How I love and adore this child! He is almost 1 year old now. Where did this past year go? I have such a bond to this child....who he is in the life of my soul friend, Marcie and in my own life. Never have I felt so strongly about another person bringing a child into the world as I did with Max. I just knew he was coming...I knew my friend was not done. And look, here he is all sparkly, sweet and wonderful! So, when this came to fruition it felt so right, like a true blessing. Sweet Max at almost 12 months old. What a beautiful baby boy....and I am his god-mother. I get that very special designation....it makes us family, it makes us connected to each other and you better believe that this god-mama will be watching over with lots of love for a lifetime. Happy first birthday Max!

Snow days...

Snow Days! It has been a snowy couple of days. The boys enjoyed a full day home yesterday and a late start to school today. Here are some fun photos (with my new camera all ready for travel!) of the boys playing!

We leave for Ethiopia in exactly 2 weeks!!!!

Being a big brother takes practice

Three year old Jack, is ready to take on being a BIG brother. He has long been known as baby Jack. But as he will assertively tell you when you call him Baby Jack, "I not a baby. Tessa is a baby. I a big boy!". There you have it. And here are the photos that tell the rest of that story. Jack too is preparing for Tessa. He is preparing to be a big brother. This includes snuggling "doll Tessa", giving rides on her blanket and in his favorite toy...the Tonka truck. Need I say more?!

Ethiopia here we come!!!!

YAHOOOOOOO!!! We are set to travel to Ethiopia on Feb 24th!!!! Arrive Feb 25....meet Tessa on Feb 26th (which is also my father's 60th birthday!), then have a week in Addis and then leave on March 4th, home on the 5th!

This all comes as such a surprise. With all the set backs, ups and downs, I really didn't think we would get to travel so early. Thank goodness! This is the best news possible! Tessa we are on our way in 22 days!!!