We are settling into a groove here in the land of beauty and beautiful weather ;) How enjoyable it is to not only be spending my days with my little love BUT to be doing it while comfortably wearing my chacos? Ahhhhh......I am so not missing the season that I left behind! (Although I'm told KC is still unseasonably warm)
Megan has been marveling over the driving taking place here - just how close cars can come to one another and pedestrians. How even though it looks like mass chaos, it works. I'm amazed by the quality of our driver, Ephrim - there is no way on earth I could drive like he does, that is for sure!
I learned at our 1st transition home visit today that Little Miss LOVES to be upside down. So much so that after putting Little Miss upright after a good giggly flipping she immediately tucks her head down to try to get it to happen again - oh that girl! I've got to call the kids a few times from the transition home and they've even got to see her live through the viber app. Crazy the world we live in today - that I can be on the other side of the world and still communicate daily by phone, video and text to my family waiting at home. Praising the Lord for that!
We had lunch at the Lucy restaurant today (named after Lucy, the oldest skeletal remains ever found that are at the national museum next to the restaurant) and were surprised when the other adoptive family walked in, so they joined us - so fun.
Because I know I peaked your interest with our toilet saga yesterday, it is continuing :) We are proud to say that we are now truly a part of culture! Megan and I worked to jerry-rig a leak that we think was present before but was perhaps made worse by the "acid" use yesterday for the unclogging event. Let's just say we've made good use of a ziplock sandwich bag, old hand towel (that I am so grateful we brought) and an ordinary trash bag.......
This morning started early at 2am........(time change woes), but I was able to use that time to my advantage and call the hubs and the kiddos at a decent time w/o having to wake up to an alarm.
Megan recovered took it easy this morning, so I went alone to visit little miss. She is doing great! My favorite thing this morning was our game of ball. Me rolling the ball, her crawling after it and crawling back to me ball in hand and throwing herself in my lap. One time she even crawled up and pulled up to standing! Wowza, big girl. I am getting lots of smiles, giggles and cuddles. It.is.amazing!
Since I didn't want to make our driver come all the way back out to fetch me after the morning visit (since he was already bringing Megan back later) I headed with a fellow adoptive mom (who I've "known" online for almost 2 years and finally got to meet) back to the guest house she was staying at and had lunch and then tagged along with her and her mom to the top of Mt. Entono. Amazing view, history AND we literally had the Ethiopian version of Adam Sandler as our tour guide in the museum.......it took me a while to peg who he exactly reminded me of, but he was spot on speech and all (and my adoptive mom friend concurs!) The memory of this has kept me laughing all day long.
The afternoon visit with Little Miss was the same as the morning - this mama pouring out the love and that little one soaking it all up. The giggles people. Oh her giggles! I was able to take some donations with me of fun things for the kids at the transition home - one being a soccer ball. A game ensued this afternoon, which ended up being boys against girls. The other adoptive mom, HER mom, Megan & a 9ish yr old girl vs. three of the older boys. It was epic. These kiddos can PLAY. You know they are good when you can play off of curbs, over a hose and any other thing that happens to get it the way. I knew Megan was all in when she was heading the ball along with the rest of them. Plus it was oh so fun to witness the other adoptive mom's 11yr. old boy break out into Frozen's "Let it go" when his friend's soccer ball got stuck in a corner (a song he had just heard on his grandma's ipod just that afternoon) apparently that theme song is catchy for kids of ALL cultures - Ha! Little Miss was napping in my arms, so I was sidelined, but watching in absolute amazement!
When we got back to the home we are staying in, the adventures continued. Someone (I won't say who) clogged the toilet yesterday - but with no plunger available, there was nothing that we could do about it until tonight. When we asked Benji (the home's caretaker and friend) if this had ever happened before, he said no (how does that make a girl feel? ha!) but he quickly bought some things to take care of the problem. A plunger, of course AND a white substance (in which the best translated word for it was "acid") in a bag that was to help get rid of the clog when mixed with warm water. We begged him to let us do the job (since admitting the problem we were having was embarrassing enough) and Megan was on it. She only put in about a tablespoon of the white stuff with warm water before it started to bubble and smoke, she was near running for cover thinking the toilet was about to explode. We were just grateful that she didn't put in the amount that was suggested! So you all will be happy to know that it did become unclogged and things are now flowing much to our relief....... ;)
So hopeful to find out something about court soon. Still no word. Please keep praying for favor for us, wisdom and clarity as we are in country!
We are here and it has been an adventure already! On our 3 hour flight to D.C. we sat near a local celebrity, or at least someone who is well recognized - the gal who is the "face of Price Chopper", had a relaxing overnight layover at a hotel in D.C., checked in early for our 12+ hour flight and behind us in line was one of the people that started a ministry that I have been following (Out of the Ashes) which works in Korah AND who is from Missouri. My friend (Megan) and I will get to visit with them on Wednesday this week before the larger team comes in, to see what they do on the ground in Korah. How amazing is that? Then our flight was thankfully not filled to capacity- which meant this long legged gal had a little more space to stretch out - amazing). Although we arrived at 10pm (KC time) the time difference made it 7am here. Which means that our day had just begun and was begging to be filled, regardless of lack of sleep.
We had an absolutely ridiculous snafu transportation when we arrived that is absolutely laughable to look back and see how it unfolded.......lets just say we didn't realize until we left the airport that we had gotten into the WRONG car. (disclaimer so no family members reading this freak out - we just had TOO many people to pick us up - we were never in danger ;) We got it all figured out and got where we needed to be - but as I've heard before, the best memories are made when mishaps happen - and this situation will be one that is remembered!
The home that we are blessed to be staying in has an amazing outdoor space and is tucked at the end of a road in a neighborhood. In the first few hours of being here I experienced more i country that I did the other two times combined. Benji (the caretaker of the home and much more!) took us walking to find somewhere who could change the configuration of my phone so that I could have data access (which then enables me to call home via viber app - therefore extremely inexpensive), then we needed to meet our driver (Ephrim) at a nearby hotel and instead of walking the distance, because we were running late, we hopped in the very back of a taxi van, that probably had 15 or 16 people crammed in like sardines. Obviously not a big deal for the locals - but it was an adventure for us!
We met up with Eprhrim at the entrance of the hotel and then we went off to our agencies transition home that Little Miss has been residing in this past year. It proved difficult to find, since it had moved locations since my last trip to Ethiopia, but after multiple calls to an agency person in country, it was found! The new transition home is INCREDIBLE compared to where they were before. Much more spacious outside areas for the older kids to play, more rooms (which means there are less kids per room), isolation rooms for when kids are sick (this is HUGE). All in all, so impressed.
I was able to see Little Miss as soon as I got there. Took her a little while to warm up but after about the first hour she started to act more smiley and relaxed. She gotten so big - and is now sporting 8 teeth, much to my surprise (because that is something hard to see in update pics), I got to see her cute little crawl.......oh love! I was able to call Jason & the kids while I was visiting yesterday afternoon (which was their morning) and was even able to video call! So they got to see little miss live - technology blows me away sometimes.
By the middle/end of our visit let's just say I was not feeling well. When you combine lack of sleep with higher elevation AND stomach confusion, not having eaten something substantial since the plane (eating gets confusing to me in a time change - for whatever reason) - Megan and my heads were throbbing, felt lightheaded and by the time I got in the van for the ride back to the home we are staying, totally thought I was going to throw up, even rode with a plastic bag in my hands......that's how bad it was. We both still felt horrible after we got back, but at least we were back! Megan did end up getting sick, but thankfully felt better after doing so. We were thankfully already getting in bed at 6:30pm as the electricity when out right at that same time.
Whew.
I'll do my best to update the blog when I can, but my access to the internet is only on my phone, so I can only post when I have internet access for my other device, so it won't be an everyday thing.
Please continue to pray for favor and that we receive a court date soon. As great as the new transition home is? I'm ready little miss to end her stretch of group care - and be with her family full time! Also continue to pray for my sweet kiddos at home. That time would go fast, that they would see this as an adventure themselves and would even thrive during this time.
So.....don't quite know how to say this, because somehow it feels sudden even after all this time, but I am leaving tomorrow. Yes. Tomorrow. This mama is D.O.N.E. waiting. No court date yet, hoping that it will be soon - but with a place provided to stay (something that only God could orchestrate) and a long-time friend willing to travel with me ahead of Jason, it all just came together.
I've been in crazy, hectic, scramble, list-making mode for a few days. It has been a whirlwind to say the least. I will try my best to keep the blog updated while in country, so stay tuned because hopefully VERY soon you will get to see Little Miss's entire sweet face :)
Please pray for my family as we will be separated longer than we've ever been during this time - especially pray for my kiddos left at home. We are incredibly blessed to have an AMAZING support system, but it will still be hard to have mom and dad gone. Please lift Jason and I up in prayer. Specifically for favor while in country, a quick court date, wisdom, discernment, health and our hearts as we try to be sensitive to what God is doing in country and how He wants us to be a part.
Little Miss's court date was this past Monday and although we haven't heard how things have gone.......we find ourselves THRILLED that we've heard absolutely nothing. It is the only time in the whole adoption process that I've been hopeful for no communication whatsoever from our agency. We found out the hard way on referral #1 that bad news is the only news that travels fast. As in, find out the results the same day, fast.
There was however, a moment on Monday when my heart almost wigged out. Our agency sent us an email late afternoon Monday......about something totally unrelated to court. Just seeing a correspondence from them with the knowledge (and experience) of what that would mean? Oh.my. Just so glad I didn't have an actual heart attack!
Assuming all went well......we are now just waiting to hear about OUR courtdate, the one that we get to attend! Let's just say there is a lot of preparation and lists going on in this household right now ;)
Little Miss's update week #46 came this week and showed that all is well. Little Miss is not only over the pneumonia, she also gained a huge amount weight (for her) AND her pic this week looked as though she was flirting with the person behind the camera. Ha! Adorbs. Lord be Praised!
We are so appreciative of all the prayers that have been and are being lifted up for our family and our sweet girl. Please continue to pray for favor for the end of our process and for wisdom. Also, be praying for our kiddos left at home when Jason & I head over to be with Little Miss. We plan to be away for a few weeks and know that, despite AMAZING grandparent/family/friend support, it will inevitably be hard on the kiddos having us gone that long. Pray for their little hearts, for LOTS of opportunities for communication while we are away and for time to go swiftly for them.
I know it is a Friday.....but I can't help myself - this is our adoption journey summed up in a song. Who knew it was even possible?
Can you believe it? We first saw Little Miss's picture 45 weeks ago....and in the last 45 weeks we have watched this little gal grow from a baby into a toddler. A super cute toddler at that! I can not adequately express in words how much we are looking forward to that (post referral) count ceasing and a new count (how long she's been home) beginning!!
Little Miss's updates from the agency this week showed that she is still fighting pneumonia, but thankfully also showed that despite being sick, she is continuing to gain weight, which is a HUGE praise :)
This coming week is a big week, as Little Miss's 1st court date will be taking place (the one we obviously don't travel for - as we are still currently in the USA ;). We would really appreciate your prayers - please be praying for Little Miss's healing, for favor and for continued peace! We don't anticipate finding out court results right away, but will post whenever we finally hear something.....
The Christmas/New Year's festivities have officially come to a close in the Calder home, as the children were dropped off at school hours ago.
The highlight that took the proverbial cake? Unveiling the surprise of our oldest child's new room on Christmas morning. We have been in the process of finishing our basement since last January (it is very time consuming to do awesome on a budget!) and have always dubbed the room that was to become our oldest room as the "storage room" - although it was finished out like the rest of the basement. To say the surprise was a shock to my eldest would be an understatement! However, this gift of space has been a gift to us all........and at the perfect time, right before we bring home another.
There were definitely moments of hard this Christmas, as we had all imagined Little Miss home by now, but the hard was tempered since we are experiencing forward movement IN our process, praise Jesus. It is also an added bonus in the waiting process when time moves fast - and with all the activity of the holiday, family and friends? It flew, and I have never been more excited then this New Years as we put 2014 in the books. I am bounding into 2015 - believing that good things are around the corner!
How are things with our little one? We did find out last week that she had another bout of pneumonia. Boo :( We haven't heard anything since, however no news is good news with our agency, so we assume all is well and are hopeful for a clean bill of health when we get updates this week. Little Miss has now crested 13lbs - which is incredible. After taking more than 4 months to put on one pound, little miss has put on 1 1/2lbs. in the last 2 months.....what a reason to rejoice! Our first court date (that we do not travel for) is next week so we are inching forward one baby step at a time. Typically families find out the "travel" court date a few weeks after this 1st court date. We are SO excited about experiencing the finale of this story which has been unfolding for so long!
As we get nearer to the end of our process things, with so much emotion on the line and Little Miss feeling like she is in arms reach, I have to fight the temptation to slip into worry. Over the last week there have been some timely words specifically about worry which have made the minute adjustments, bringing freedom once again. Today I had yet another encouraging word that I knew was for me. I was reading in Jesus Calling (a devotional), which I don't read everyday. In fact I haven't picked up this particular devo since June, as I was currently in another one. However, today I picked it up and flipped to today's date. Um - wow. So good. It was seriously one of those times when you find yourself reading something and you know it is no accident that is what you grabbed.
I decided to include it below, not because I want to be an over-sharer and I think people want to know the ins and outs of my day to day ;) but because it might be an encouragement to someone else. It might be something that someone reading this blog desperately needs to see. It might be a right now word for intended for YOU too. I have some friends in the adoption process along with me who are going through struggles. Friends who are in situations that make my heart just ache and I am not going to hold back anything that has encouraged me - that could also encourage others. As my mama always has said (or implied with her actions) if you have it to give? Do so. Every time.
So here you go folks, I'm just passing on the encouragement that the Lord gave me this morning.
Be encouraged.
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I AM ABLE to do far beyond all that you ask or imagine. Come to Me with positive expectations, knowing that there is no limit to what I can accomplish. Ask My Spirit to control your mind, so that you can think great thoughts of Me. Do not be discouraged by that fact that many of your prayers are yet unanswered. Time is a trainer, teaching you to wait upon Me, to trust Me in the dark. The more extreme the circumstances, the more likely you are to see My Power and Glory at work in the situation. Instead of letting difficulties draw you into worrying, try to view them as setting the scene for My glorious intervention. Keep your eyes and your mind wide open to all that I am doing in your life.
Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work in us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Romans 8:6
....the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.
Isaiah 40:30-31
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Revelation 5:7 -8
What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and not denied my name.
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Since it happens to be a Tuesday, and I love alliteration? I'm including a Tuesday's Tune ;) A new favorite of my oldest son, who keeps telling me to put it on the blog because it is so parallel to our adoption story. He is one intuitive 10 year old. It is quickly becoming favorite of mine. Worth the listen. Here you go son......
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