We're back!!!

AHHH! Ok, I'm feeling like a loser that I haven't posted anything yet, but my sis didn't have internet here most of the week we were gone (for updates) and we JUST got it back this afternoon. I've got a couple of minutes to post a few pics and hopefully will be back soon to do a day-by-day recap of our amazing trip.

And how we're doing in a nutshell - I'm crazy tired, but even more crazy amazed. God has absolutely blown me away. I wish I had a video camera going all day long - to capture his sweet little songs, his new-found love of cowboy boots (yes, we have a budding Ethiopian cowboy here) :), the way he kisses and hugs Miles out-of-the-blue, and how he greets his "Ababa" daddy when he walks in the door...it's a beautiful thing.

Getting on the plane to Ethiopia...

He's ours!!!

And, Yoni getting on the plane for the first time...little excited, ya think? :)

We're off!

AHHH!!!! I've been thinking about posting all week, but it's been so crazy around here! Life just keeps happening - we've had a great last couple of weeks, friends and family have rallied around us in amazing ways, and God's love and blessing have been pouring down. Thank you, thank you, thank you. You know who you are and when I get a chance in the next few weeks, I can't wait to share how you've all blessed us!

Well, we leave in about 30 hrs. That means I only have 30 hrs. left to wrap things up around here. It's definitely crunch time.

We leave at 9:28 am on Wed. morning 7/01 and return at 5:47 pm on Friday evening 7/10.

I think one or more of our family members will update the blog while we're gone. I know I always love to read the "in-country" updates, so hopefully riceandpeas won't disappoint! :)

And, again, we would love your prayers as we head off - for health, safety, and a million other little things. Especially for our kiddos - the ones here and the one there. My heart aches for all 5 right now - I just can't wait until I can cuddle up with all of them on the couch, smooshing me, while we read a book or watch a movie. It's the simple things, isn't it? :)

So, until then....

:)

13 Years

Today I've been thinking a lot about this

and this.

Our 10 yr. anniversay trip to British Columbia....where 3 years ago today I found this

in this.

And in two weeks I get to see more airplanes and mountains with this amazing man

Who loves me for me....the good, the bad, and the ugly (even my weird sense of humor - he just gets me.) :)

Happy 13th, babe. I love you.

Travel Confirmed!!!

We're heading out July 1st to meet up with the July 2nd travel group in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!

It's been crazy around here...someday soon I hope to post what's really been going on around our house. :) But suffice it to say...as the Swearingen girls so perfectly say it..."Life is good, and God is AWESOME!"

Right now I'm asking for specific prayers for health, safety, and peace for all of us - and a continued reliance upon God and His perfect timing.

Love to all of you!

Tentative Travel Date!!!!

July 2nd!!!!!

We're still waiting on word from the Embassy, and then we'll hopefully be able to change the "tentative" to a "confirmed" travel date!

Birth Certificate!

We just got Jonas' birth certificate!  It's so interesting...his legal name in Ethiopia has now been changed to "Yonas Ross (and then our last name)."  In Ethiopia children take their father's name as their last name.  So instead of Yonas Tagesse, he is legally Yonas Ross in Ethiopia!  :)  He looks like such a little man in his picture.  :)  Now we wait for final word from the Embassy concerning the results of his TB test.  After that, we'll hopefully get a travel date!  

Time to kick packing into high gear!!!  Woo-hoo!

I'm back!  We had a little "water-balloon-exploding-on-the-computer" incident about a week or so ago which totally slowed down my e-mailing/blogging capabilities.  I could check e-mail and blogs fine, but when I went to type, our "k" wouldn't work, so when I'd say, "well, I've started packing!" it looked like, "well, I've started pacing!"  ha ha  It drove me crazy.  And every time I typed a "t," my cursor would jump back two words and erase everything in between.  Ugh!!!  So, all I gotta say is I love the Mac store and I'm indebted to them for fixing our beloved computer in 2 hrs. as opposed to the 6-7 days they initially told us.  (I think they saw Ross' countenance fall so much they had great compassion on him and said, "Wait, just a sec, I think there's somebody in back who can fix it up today.")  Yeah!  :)

Really no news here yet.  Truth is, I guess I've been doing a little packing AND pacing.  :)  No travel date yet.  We were told on the 14th after we passed court that we'd most likely receive Jonas' birth certificate, embassy appt. in Ethiopia, and travel date in about 2 wks.  Last Thursday was the 2 wk. point but we haven't heard anything yet.  We're thinking we'll be traveling in about 3-4 wks, but of course that could change.  I'll post as soon as I know!