tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87469065777044976422024-03-21T22:03:29.178-07:00Stepping Out of the BoatStepping Out of the Boat: Our adoption journey to EthiopiaTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-36405652925361476052012-08-29T14:12:00.001-07:002012-08-29T14:18:39.804-07:00 Wedded BLISS--- 26 Years Worth! :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>August 29th, 1986</i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4_FNy8KZ8h81KGOT09jT3VcOOeJri8nlLUtC6u0LyJ393F2tqgfeDMniHsAo-SiAQZ5-Pmc57YrHKdMixFDewv3S1Ze9qO7r6yfy4EVsa0YsnRnMj1czpktJrZvf8_YJr6HWG0_3yUYy/s1600/scan0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG4_FNy8KZ8h81KGOT09jT3VcOOeJri8nlLUtC6u0LyJ393F2tqgfeDMniHsAo-SiAQZ5-Pmc57YrHKdMixFDewv3S1Ze9qO7r6yfy4EVsa0YsnRnMj1czpktJrZvf8_YJr6HWG0_3yUYy/s320/scan0001.jpg" width="257" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">my Handsome Husband!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Yea! We are married!!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i> Yes, </i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>we were young!<br /> And<br />that makes us<br />not very old still! :)</i></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;"><i><span style="font-size: large;">To my </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">high school</span></span></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><i>sweetheart:</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">for </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">the last 26 years...</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: x-large;"><i><b>COMMITTED</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">to love, cherish, honor</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">each other</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">through</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">thick and thin</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<i>you have always been thin, I have been thick several times-physically speaking of course!)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">sickness and health</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">(<i>thankfully for the most part we have more health than sickness at this point :))</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Prosperity and Want</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(hmmm...I'm not sure if that line is right but we have had both)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Okay...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>I don't remember the rest of our vows but I do know this:</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>You have </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>ALWAYS</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: red;">loved </span></b>me</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(maybe not liked me at times :))</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>ALWAYS</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #274e13;">provided</span> for our family</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(and worked hard from the first years on going to school, working full time to take care of us)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>ALWAYS</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>been <span style="color: blue;">LOYAL</span> to me</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>and made our home full of boys </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>an active one!</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>YOU</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>have and continue</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>to</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>INVEST</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>your</b>self</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>in our first batch of boys</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>and</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>NOW</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>our 2nd batch of kiddos</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Not</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>many MEN</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>would want to start over and embrace</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>a life of diapers, homework, tears, sweat, fun,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>laughter, TEENAGE years</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>AGAIN</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>after surviving it once.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>You</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>have stretched my horizons with</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>mountain biking, tandem biking (although that about broke our marriage up! :), road biking,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>camping</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>hiking and all </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>this ADVENTUROUS </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>stuff that I wouldn't have attempted</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>with our boys without you. :)</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Thank you</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>for being <b><span style="color: blue;">long-suffering </span></b>with me:</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>When I cooked our first dinner of a whole chicken and </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>left in the bag of neck/gizzard/heart,</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(and I THOUGHT I knew how to cook!)</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>made spaghetti night after night</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>or tuna fish casserole :)</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>when I act with my heart and not my head</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(a balance of both is good :))</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>when I write checks b/c I don't want to use the credit card but don't check the balance</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>when I start a conversation with you and in the middle start a different conversation with you</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>when I put the mail all over</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>and countless other things...</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>For</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b><span style="color: purple;">believing</span></b> in me</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>and helping me set physical goals (see above on biking)</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>encouraging me as a </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>PERSON</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>and </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>LOVING me!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Marriage is about <b><span style="color: blue;">actions</span></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>not just <b><span style="color: purple;">feelings</span></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>and you have shown that over and over again!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><i></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>We compliment each</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>other and are proof</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>opposites attract! :) </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>(although we aren't opposites in our convictions and passions!)</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>My prayer is that</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>through you and I </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>others will see a marriage that is</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>not always</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>WEDDED BLISS :)</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>but that is</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Christ- centered</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Committed</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>and loving</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>but also</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>lots of FUN!</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i><b>I love you!</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Love,</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><i>Tracy </i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Our wedding Song:</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> You're the Meaning In My Life</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYkrMTingNQ">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYkrMTingNQ</a>
</div>
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Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-14951148829836002432012-08-17T22:29:00.000-07:002012-08-17T22:35:27.317-07:00Not Feelin' the LOVE!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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I tried to give Grace...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
honest</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but by the end of the "quick" run to </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wal-Mart</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with the 2 girls and baby I was irritated.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have thought about sharing this one aspect of adoption that has had me bothered at times</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
since Mother's Day</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and since </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tuesday at Wal-Mart about did me in I </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
decided it was time.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Trying to choose ketchup and mustard</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with the baby in the basket and the 2 girls</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
wandering around </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
an older women walked up and starting talking to the girls</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and baby..</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Oh, he's sooo cute... I bet he get's ALL the attention,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
well girls, one day he won't.. blah , blah blah.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was trying to keep on task and slightly ignore her hoping she would scurry along...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nope!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Well, where are you from?" (talking to the girls)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by now she has my full attention.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I replied, "WE are from xyz"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Her response, "No, I mean where are they ORIGINALLY from?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"They are from Ethiopia"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"Ohhhh...what are your names?"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 yr old says her name but of course the lady can't understand her.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I say, "Just say Anne" to our 4 yr old.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The lady says, " NO, Anne is TOO plain, your other name is GRAND!"</div>
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(I'm like WHAT the HECK lady! That's my name too!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And she is motioning with her arms outstretched making sweeping gestures all the while.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then she asks our 6 yr old what her name is...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
she tells her.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then the lady says, "This is your NEW family!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I interject and say "YES, this is our family... I'm your Mommy, right...etc. etc."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 yr old starts to talk to lady about her Daddy being in Texas and as lady is commenting on that I am <span style="text-align: left;">hurriedly </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
pushing the basket away from her around the corner. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Head to checkout in a hurry...here comes lady in the next checkout lane.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
She says, "OH THERE YOU ARE!" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
4 yr old is giggling and being very charming. </div>
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Baby is saying "thank you " for something and lady proceeds to make him repeat "thank you" saying</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"say it... say Thank You!" </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was like "that's just how he says it!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and rushed out the door from whacko lady.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had HAD IT!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yes, I know our family looks different-- people are very </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
curious</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but people can also be very insensitive.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(or maybe there social skills are lacking!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>I understand where people are coming from..</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>I was there</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b> before our family was all together</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>I was fascinated by trans -racial families</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>and wanted to know their stories </b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>BUT</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>I didn't ask personal questions of strangers</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>just like I wouldn't ask a family of all</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b>the same skin color personal questions</b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><b><br /></b></i></div>
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<b><i>I know I should respond with grace and even humor</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>because our family on display is a beautiful </i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>example of adoption</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>and </i></b></div>
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<b><i>God's LOVE for us, His children.</i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>So, in hindsight I should have just said,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>"thank you for your interest in our sweet family but</i></b></div>
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<b><i>I have to run." :)</i></b></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Honestly, I have struggled with how much attention our family</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(especially the girl's) get when we are out. Out of the</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ordinary attention...not natural attention :)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I KNEW to be prepared for this but it's been harder than I thought it would be.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just a few examples:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took our 6 yr old bio son and 8 yr old Ethiopian son to the school</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">district office to pick up some materials.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we got to the main gals office who is over the ESL programs I told her I had brought 2 helpers. I introduced her to our 8 yr old and she said, "OH, this is D who we have been talking about! So good to meet you!" and shook his hand. Then literally she just kept looking at him like she was looking at a museum piece. After it seemed like an eternity I said, "And this is my other helper, M!" </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Not feeling the LOVE in that situation for sure for that lady!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We went to Moab for Mother's Day with all 5 of our littles. You have to understand this was a big deal b/c it was the first time we went anywhere on an overnight trip. We stayed a few days but thankfully didn't tent camp! :) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyway, walking down the main street we were a site to see and got quite a few smiles and stares. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I walked into a pizza restaurant with the girls. Randall and boys were following behind.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We got up to the hostess and she immediately started gushing..."Oh my gosh, they are so cute!!" On and on....of course 4 yr old LOVED the attention . I wanted to say..."Please just give us a seat."</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After dinner I took girl's to bathroom...A woman came in and started commenting on 4 yr olds cute hair. I had to go too so I quickly went into the stall and told girl's to stand there and not move. Lady is still talking to girl's. I come out and she's still talking!! She then starts to comment on 6 yr olds cute hair and touches it. Then 4 yr old jumps in needing more attention and tells lady their ages, about her brother and her life :) I'm washing hands as fast as I can go to get out of there. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I will stop here b/c I realize you probably have the idea...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">yes, our children are cute...JUST like ALL children...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">it's hard b/c as we are working with them on attachment and</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">NOT seeking attention all the time</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">they are getting</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">IT </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">all the time from strangers</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and well-meaning friends alike.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It has a term-</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(can't remember what it is)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">but basically it's well meaning people showering not normal attention</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to black children /families </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to show them they are not racist.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(disclaimer- this is my definition not the right one :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I read in one of our adoption books,</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">that trans racial families would like to just go into the store</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">to buy a gallon of milk without all the fanfare! : )</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I feel just like that.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">What I would say to unsuspecting strangers </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">just treat us like any other family with children...</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">no </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>GUSHING!</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>just regular low key </b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>acknowledgment</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>and if you have a question about adoption that is </b></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>appropriate</b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>and it's not when I am choosing mustard and ketchup</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>please free to ask... :)</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>This is a term a therapist used who is working with a friend of mine who has a bio child with RAD... no gushing over her. It's not healthy for our kiddos :)</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I guess I won't talk about the hair touching and squeezing either at this moment.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>You get the picture! :)</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Thank you for "listening" to my heart...</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>in no way want to offend anyone</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>and I do need to work</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>on </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>giving</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>grace</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>because</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>God </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>knows </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>need it too! :)</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Just my Mama's heart at the moment </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>(or last few months!)</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiz1YOQhgK2_T052TH_Knfmm1x_iCykH6TFG0cDA_-7bEe_EUmdhz4Q1jZy8EytT32Y6-7MCX6kBSrOBzH53DrABPkDul8ZACopFy6SIbT-AwtKCwcgXSRIL5h-g3SBe8cJGdRtji6sJX/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheiz1YOQhgK2_T052TH_Knfmm1x_iCykH6TFG0cDA_-7bEe_EUmdhz4Q1jZy8EytT32Y6-7MCX6kBSrOBzH53DrABPkDul8ZACopFy6SIbT-AwtKCwcgXSRIL5h-g3SBe8cJGdRtji6sJX/s320/002.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN26IxzxbglvFK09DiPzMCInZagQ0vW0JnJaYlTUolrTosGnSGwi3CGbA3OEqdPYAYCGOcMurAt9GtyJ7y60YpjVhWEBaeYuHK1pc6cOhxUIsh774qLYOgoTG8xPlbu6J4oOqv6q30-kNN/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN26IxzxbglvFK09DiPzMCInZagQ0vW0JnJaYlTUolrTosGnSGwi3CGbA3OEqdPYAYCGOcMurAt9GtyJ7y60YpjVhWEBaeYuHK1pc6cOhxUIsh774qLYOgoTG8xPlbu6J4oOqv6q30-kNN/s320/023.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Big Brother Christopher-yes they all squish in this pool! :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWiihFPZ6IPNqQlzaWOS_iRL1gq57s4Gsk9t1GnH5Rqc7LhBhB4QkLkEEGEzUCstnXjeGqoSIGQRatSUfzZZ7EKdQzE6llEEXvrrtsfS7_l-AJpA7f0dUGMJQ-MBY5fhAVScvhT3g1wI5/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZWiihFPZ6IPNqQlzaWOS_iRL1gq57s4Gsk9t1GnH5Rqc7LhBhB4QkLkEEGEzUCstnXjeGqoSIGQRatSUfzZZ7EKdQzE6llEEXvrrtsfS7_l-AJpA7f0dUGMJQ-MBY5fhAVScvhT3g1wI5/s320/052.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 yrs old!</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Love, Tracy</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-56404246494505017382012-06-22T15:00:00.000-07:002012-06-22T15:00:13.069-07:00We haven't dropped off the planet! :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Life has been speeding by</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hit some SPEED BUMPS</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and long stretches</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of barren highway...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Whizzed effortlessly</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
down the freeway</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at times</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
enjoying the </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
RIDE</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and we</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
are still ALIVE </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
WELL :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Home 8 months and have lots to share...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but will later when my </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
thoughts are clearer.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thanks to my BROTHER</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
here are some pictures of our kiddos!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://silverhillimages.com/blog/2012/06/dr-seuss-visits-my-family/">https://silverhillimages.com/blog/2012/06/dr-seuss-visits-my-family/</a>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
click on the Gallery Link in the article to see pics :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love, Tracy </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hip Hip Horray!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALBTyl2JGNQi1usaSmwfxJHxI7Yxdereo7ZKdL96OkY2xBubSHVyx7ewh1BfRcSS6kF_JHW_GZWVuhLOp3XDKsPt_uKUHY_Z4PIZQxtXMHFQWqmBcHARC38r3GmZ9LJLa1Vrc8s4UV3H4/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiALBTyl2JGNQi1usaSmwfxJHxI7Yxdereo7ZKdL96OkY2xBubSHVyx7ewh1BfRcSS6kF_JHW_GZWVuhLOp3XDKsPt_uKUHY_Z4PIZQxtXMHFQWqmBcHARC38r3GmZ9LJLa1Vrc8s4UV3H4/s320/020.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kindergarten graduation day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Summer Fun!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9clsJSqktNyC3kS02iMcx_WZN2WAOxd2qo55pZc92VUqKpH8R5BZNoRsXuLb_5mIi8wYy7bS3ZcDf1ipr0nCo-49-Lfxr3XHZHtD1-cn8ERavF1154Esv1PwuD4LJg3hNt2tbfcCYgsEQ/s1600/DSCN0697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9clsJSqktNyC3kS02iMcx_WZN2WAOxd2qo55pZc92VUqKpH8R5BZNoRsXuLb_5mIi8wYy7bS3ZcDf1ipr0nCo-49-Lfxr3XHZHtD1-cn8ERavF1154Esv1PwuD4LJg3hNt2tbfcCYgsEQ/s320/DSCN0697.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not sure about the sprinkler!</td></tr>
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</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-39111523880536872412012-03-24T22:47:00.000-07:002012-03-24T22:47:38.514-07:00My March Baby :) and almost 6 mo. home!!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdFr8vrooo8dr_wQr2vZqmeAA9s6uG1Y3aqj1aETUNRsxxRlT_sV4ZPu4nvRRI79eUvbbev_oRPFW1_sSgor7leXB_HLySnd1gAXzadesyVtXWc3ubN9iNaMB47dhKp4lfCMKOnDvWA1v/s1600/Image+(42).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVdFr8vrooo8dr_wQr2vZqmeAA9s6uG1Y3aqj1aETUNRsxxRlT_sV4ZPu4nvRRI79eUvbbev_oRPFW1_sSgor7leXB_HLySnd1gAXzadesyVtXWc3ubN9iNaMB47dhKp4lfCMKOnDvWA1v/s320/Image+(42).jpg" width="232" /></a></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Happy 19th Birthday</i></b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>to our sweet Nicholas!</i></b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><span style="color: blue;">Today</span> we celebrated the birth of our 4th son,</i></b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Nicholas.</i></b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>We thought he was the last of the bunch...</i></b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Enjoy a few pictures of our early years..</i></b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>Nick is the one with dark brown hair :)</i></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVkzN6TeUsGU4TALXbN1pkNwe5tmqnW_806CE4YmvfWCszGm9O4FVLQ7ce7s8k5yqNbSAYHN4_cAQv8mDbszkr5zfHjZUPj03ORLi9mJJwSmuT51aOmcSWRAHyhadDpDjN03aTE9ggR-O/s1600/Image+(52).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuVkzN6TeUsGU4TALXbN1pkNwe5tmqnW_806CE4YmvfWCszGm9O4FVLQ7ce7s8k5yqNbSAYHN4_cAQv8mDbszkr5zfHjZUPj03ORLi9mJJwSmuT51aOmcSWRAHyhadDpDjN03aTE9ggR-O/s320/Image+(52).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZ3nbOEecxawczaZwao6onFYkYv6J0sHfyPiMtATOyv1BsFhZrABDcr00BuLwb7taiLbGcJ_3XlKd0VarTN5y8BlB6HBvBlvmKt6tzQ-BDNUHCKovoyepKbCO2b3_aVxBIMSoVQG6_Vei/s1600/Image+(43).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTZ3nbOEecxawczaZwao6onFYkYv6J0sHfyPiMtATOyv1BsFhZrABDcr00BuLwb7taiLbGcJ_3XlKd0VarTN5y8BlB6HBvBlvmKt6tzQ-BDNUHCKovoyepKbCO2b3_aVxBIMSoVQG6_Vei/s320/Image+(43).jpg" width="232" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwiurpWQgf1zPKd1iDoMrTvrloONnt-vwouemZ4rraYcOcn0f_zRknhAEqKMe8kX6-zU60xidLXGjfSXNZ_H_wgLWnd2ufm2xEAgJkDvt1xXSvAWkTPMkGMhYFc_b6kg5MmJRB8LWvB9Y/s1600/Image+(65).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwwiurpWQgf1zPKd1iDoMrTvrloONnt-vwouemZ4rraYcOcn0f_zRknhAEqKMe8kX6-zU60xidLXGjfSXNZ_H_wgLWnd2ufm2xEAgJkDvt1xXSvAWkTPMkGMhYFc_b6kg5MmJRB8LWvB9Y/s320/Image+(65).jpg" width="223" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3u_uKze-1V4TZNl6vAfbzUoWPOoU-gvEVsOIQAeK5YFjQF5iGn1sllW_jXzfEs2gFGelYAuBWdC_OwB8FPjA2yc6dSlKVf7CnASYDnyaTIAJEhye7DPhY5yn6kMWFEna69B9pw7tLdGN/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ3u_uKze-1V4TZNl6vAfbzUoWPOoU-gvEVsOIQAeK5YFjQF5iGn1sllW_jXzfEs2gFGelYAuBWdC_OwB8FPjA2yc6dSlKVf7CnASYDnyaTIAJEhye7DPhY5yn6kMWFEna69B9pw7tLdGN/s320/041.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG1Thdt5w1ID24dq0hSYMnbUcYc5dsOBeCabnUYqKdPQPcPwNJfpt5rpH4r1YKR0mwhbJfng747SBvectPmtk_SFnZh5ZLkhKZtn9cRhJSG08HtF5MmeUaLrQd3zP8i41p1MW-dXbom8_/s1600/DSC_7691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwG1Thdt5w1ID24dq0hSYMnbUcYc5dsOBeCabnUYqKdPQPcPwNJfpt5rpH4r1YKR0mwhbJfng747SBvectPmtk_SFnZh5ZLkhKZtn9cRhJSG08HtF5MmeUaLrQd3zP8i41p1MW-dXbom8_/s320/DSC_7691.JPG" width="320" /></i></b></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: small;"><b><i>Christopher's wedding...<br />
<br />
Tonight he had 5 little brother's and sister's, 1 big brother,<br />
and 1 Pop-Pop and Grandma<br />
singing Happy Birthday to him with much </i></b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>excitemen</i></b></span>t!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are so thankful for Nick!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Time has been flying by! It's hard to believe we have been home over 5 months.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>At 6 mo. we have another post adoption report due to Ethiopia. We had one at 3 mo. with our social worker.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Ethiopia requires a 3, 6, 12 mo. report done by our social worker and then a yearly report done by us after that until the kids are 18!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Here are some funny happenings that have gone on....</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We were driving down the road and saw a little Toy Poodle running on the sidewalk.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>E. hollered out (because most talking is done in a very loud voice!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>"LOOK! There's a SHEEP!!"</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I couldn't help but laugh and explained that was a poodle :)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Another time I had taken all 5 kids to the park. (which goes to show how far we have come in 5 months!) Nick was with me but waiting in the van because we only had a few minutes before we were to meet Randall for dinner.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>All of a sudden T. say's, "PEE, I have to pee!!" I'm running to the bathrooms which of course are locked. He's having a </i></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: georgia, arial, verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">conniption</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> and I'm trying to figure out a private spot for him to pee. (there's a girl's soccer team practicing several yards away)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Frantically, I had him come by the side of the bathroom and told him to pee right there. He starts to pull down his pants and squat. I was like "No, stand up!" Pee!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>He's now in a panic saying, "Ca-ca!!!" (poo!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Now I'm in a panic! "Pull up your pants!!" "Everybody in the van!!" </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>By now the baby has wandered off and everyone is looking at me like I'm nuts.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>After gathering the other 4 sad kids we rush to the van and pile in.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I'm hollering at Nick to help buckle them all in and off we go to the 7-11 up the street. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We rush in and ask for the bathroom where T. sits for awhile and feels much better!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>There is a song T. learned listening to Randall's I-Pod in Ethiopia and all the way (and several weeks after we were home...finally weaned him off of it!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The words are" I feel so alive! For the very very first time! I feel like I could fly, fly, fly"</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Well, T was singing, " I peel so a lion, for the berry berry first time, I peel like I could fly, fly, fly!" I didn't even know what the words were till Randall told me and I just had to laugh!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I had thrown out some dead roses out the back door into the dirt. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Well the kids found them and replanted them in a pot :)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>They were convinced they were growing!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>They are so enthralled with the hyacinths and daffodils blooming...</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>"MOM, MOM, look! Flowers!!! Let me showm (that's how they say show)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>you!"</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The girls are very observant of women and what they wear. If I get a Kohl's ad or they see women scantily clad they ask me, "You Like?" I say, "No, that's not very good to dress that way...too short shorts, etc. etc."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Now they tell me "not good" only my 4 year pointed a gal out in TJ max who was dressed and commented right next to her all the while pointing at her.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>So we had a talk about not pointing or talking about people in front of them :)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We have had a few talks which the girl's initiated about our skin color...they are very big on what matches...clothes, plates at the table, colors, etc.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>So E. was saying, "Mom, S. matches you (our skin) and me no match."</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We talked about her skin being darker brown and Mommy's lighter brown.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>S. told me the other day my skin was yellow :)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>They have come so far since they first came home on behavior.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We would literally have meltdowns and wailing fits. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>They would physically shut down and refuse to move.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We know it was due to all the change, fear, grief etc.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Learning to use words has been a big focus and as they have learned more and more English it has been so much easier to communicate their needs.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Randall said the other day that </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>LIFE</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>was feeling more normal</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>our NEW normal is inching it's way in.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>(He said that after taking the boy's biking which</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>is a big part of our family.)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We feel like our family is melding together and we can sense when the kid's are a bit off </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>or regressing.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Thank you, as always, for the prayers and encouragement!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>It is amazing how God uses His people to lift up, encourage and support </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>one another!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>As a reminder to myself and all of you:</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;">So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">~ 1 Corinthians 15:58</span> </i><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br />
</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirprpEA1wnMvh7kDNqeZPOyxjKAD-5lpL9HRDL9T4P7H89I0kMwTpUCS6Qxrlzo1kUMBzDLSZqA3Pt8G8IzRk9qPmauaXQ540lQIwKc6doU3G_P5fqRVtnhJUwSXQW8LPM4t6NqsTJt5iu/s1600/feb.+and+march+2012+003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirprpEA1wnMvh7kDNqeZPOyxjKAD-5lpL9HRDL9T4P7H89I0kMwTpUCS6Qxrlzo1kUMBzDLSZqA3Pt8G8IzRk9qPmauaXQ540lQIwKc6doU3G_P5fqRVtnhJUwSXQW8LPM4t6NqsTJt5iu/s320/feb.+and+march+2012+003.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ2QRnRZB_PSUJRk8k9TvB2uELiW0gHAtyJOALe0wVguCW8_1ccmUWCmaoy_6KVPu4Dd5JW3DFJFFZmOQd-EVUErqj6y28i8mRIEUi-YtUxIDfMTehTSi2B9GmDepyJM7gJay3_0D1bwb/s1600/feb.+and+march+2012+013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHZ2QRnRZB_PSUJRk8k9TvB2uELiW0gHAtyJOALe0wVguCW8_1ccmUWCmaoy_6KVPu4Dd5JW3DFJFFZmOQd-EVUErqj6y28i8mRIEUi-YtUxIDfMTehTSi2B9GmDepyJM7gJay3_0D1bwb/s320/feb.+and+march+2012+013.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6ZR76w7gNvAUf_wOaFOCJvEKIvkosKB7re2nW5tReSAMYGBAmg-wwULHGqKI02N4_AIc3MnFU7eXuL4vmBreso_RIjvSlbiwfaqLrci9JZqNnDyNrH8rQnJCQc3VRmhzELeSOk0bGJyX/s1600/feb.+and+march+2012+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6ZR76w7gNvAUf_wOaFOCJvEKIvkosKB7re2nW5tReSAMYGBAmg-wwULHGqKI02N4_AIc3MnFU7eXuL4vmBreso_RIjvSlbiwfaqLrci9JZqNnDyNrH8rQnJCQc3VRmhzELeSOk0bGJyX/s320/feb.+and+march+2012+018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxQ_-TgagzMhuxUvdGy2U-KjYjzdCTVykScwy0Yb2Zqt4q912VcDgLcqzDG0Cf0qJTdXkZ_1CKbsFK_s8ktcAFziSUekgCrREw4OGzGD7-n3cDMj76D7niDetk7Oe2sM_0UyXuPR3J64x/s1600/feb.+and+march+2012+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxQ_-TgagzMhuxUvdGy2U-KjYjzdCTVykScwy0Yb2Zqt4q912VcDgLcqzDG0Cf0qJTdXkZ_1CKbsFK_s8ktcAFziSUekgCrREw4OGzGD7-n3cDMj76D7niDetk7Oe2sM_0UyXuPR3J64x/s320/feb.+and+march+2012+037.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brother's digging up Daddy's horse radish!<br />
Very proud of all the roots they dug up!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZyNtm7bokKOi0KDrlQkG_g-ZGXga8YlGPF-jNDtj9gyVPW2VHItgpG6GVrdBdoWT7Eb2Mv-IlfLzJebAu-NjHVph1IrmQcoEFuLvm3BATstgeqWbgjiQI24_5DOb0Sq6Fpnccn0-QVmv/s1600/feb.+and+march+2012+106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXZyNtm7bokKOi0KDrlQkG_g-ZGXga8YlGPF-jNDtj9gyVPW2VHItgpG6GVrdBdoWT7Eb2Mv-IlfLzJebAu-NjHVph1IrmQcoEFuLvm3BATstgeqWbgjiQI24_5DOb0Sq6Fpnccn0-QVmv/s320/feb.+and+march+2012+106.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke's 25th birthday!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmTRVkvDNZBST-qjCHckOcCuHBuPgZaoN2ECwuuZJWtOVoxLZJ_2sO5QhQXgI2S7_OEDMiZCdVNCjb4rxZHwIdL9iWQlMEcQiPC1vpI2nV7ElKG7fbBQKuG4xhHprCgnNSY33rLRsPDiu/s1600/feb.+and+march+2012+154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTmTRVkvDNZBST-qjCHckOcCuHBuPgZaoN2ECwuuZJWtOVoxLZJ_2sO5QhQXgI2S7_OEDMiZCdVNCjb4rxZHwIdL9iWQlMEcQiPC1vpI2nV7ElKG7fbBQKuG4xhHprCgnNSY33rLRsPDiu/s320/feb.+and+march+2012+154.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">beautiful baby</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0U5LEMzTD5IHj-0bN7MOljRVNYzaImRluXxFh6yEqLeMzRHXZD_k9eqAIva4In-eesFKi_oAW1iNzc5aAc6wyRAqYw2tJBm0FNj8EZy9H60ZEIul7HlU4YZr7ocbwUMaTfzEF5r-7rWH8/s1600/feb.+and+march+2012+200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0U5LEMzTD5IHj-0bN7MOljRVNYzaImRluXxFh6yEqLeMzRHXZD_k9eqAIva4In-eesFKi_oAW1iNzc5aAc6wyRAqYw2tJBm0FNj8EZy9H60ZEIul7HlU4YZr7ocbwUMaTfzEF5r-7rWH8/s320/feb.+and+march+2012+200.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">riding the pump track!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oThZ-y8aO0ImgBdvz0MjOdusPn4X6LP07jDhc_vRubxfV8wJpdWxdctS016xnmB7QNfkJRbViom1-5IjwPFE0EAWhel45ExIR_SEtTNISK2LQ3iK8KCSBUqpVoLzRbOyF4GVXkdLhjDs/s1600/feb.+and+march+2012+216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oThZ-y8aO0ImgBdvz0MjOdusPn4X6LP07jDhc_vRubxfV8wJpdWxdctS016xnmB7QNfkJRbViom1-5IjwPFE0EAWhel45ExIR_SEtTNISK2LQ3iK8KCSBUqpVoLzRbOyF4GVXkdLhjDs/s320/feb.+and+march+2012+216.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">biggest brother Luke at bike pump track</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegqTiurbQGF0p-mmcxL8Jh06vVj0SPv4Lobt9E5MXriQJHyu7lyZwVX5cZpav8L1yt1Aq0RX92iTfysQ4AgzlJ-sTXB1lVOvTSZdcy5el7y18aJ0ToVm56tb82KVKBb387IFkd4LUx26q/s1600/feb.+and+march+2012+219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgegqTiurbQGF0p-mmcxL8Jh06vVj0SPv4Lobt9E5MXriQJHyu7lyZwVX5cZpav8L1yt1Aq0RX92iTfysQ4AgzlJ-sTXB1lVOvTSZdcy5el7y18aJ0ToVm56tb82KVKBb387IFkd4LUx26q/s320/feb.+and+march+2012+219.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWGGBtdzopGa3Hwg6z9rEgt3OfCXZqHjkMjoKN6wDT-XfHt7n3r0JNyIKjjH3SbttGbVxai8SfN9Tqmy4ZqVqSQHBLS9H5If0WVA81ue1ek3ufR6DsknjVfu8dX-LFXb5UQXz-7gYd5O3/s1600/feb.+and+march+2012+257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWGGBtdzopGa3Hwg6z9rEgt3OfCXZqHjkMjoKN6wDT-XfHt7n3r0JNyIKjjH3SbttGbVxai8SfN9Tqmy4ZqVqSQHBLS9H5If0WVA81ue1ek3ufR6DsknjVfu8dX-LFXb5UQXz-7gYd5O3/s320/feb.+and+march+2012+257.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mommy coiled hair!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir5mpUSjrVC682TEot0zIoSQajVUSWxiwa-OYbeBMI1YtSS31ULI8cnBUf-4M3thjeArq_UR6FevjFm1cv9_btoAGmmaP7xQZg6ZUgO8W7kGHiHAjI1injAuMFpJ5mVNHvJXqZA-xAzzs/s1600/kids,+nick+19th+birthday+006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiir5mpUSjrVC682TEot0zIoSQajVUSWxiwa-OYbeBMI1YtSS31ULI8cnBUf-4M3thjeArq_UR6FevjFm1cv9_btoAGmmaP7xQZg6ZUgO8W7kGHiHAjI1injAuMFpJ5mVNHvJXqZA-xAzzs/s320/kids,+nick+19th+birthday+006.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 kids loving the sunshine!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCa9QWeqXGS-wrk9omu_fP0fQZz1ghUThm7ANIllxFA0NI2EZV9Be-YlvDyQykCvCh_kjAWEJumFh7cI5e1UlX0v2mjAVS6A3ZYRrs8t1nV3CAro6ZDK_vmGYrXTtcWEUDTsJhq3ola3x/s1600/kids,+nick+19th+birthday+011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaCa9QWeqXGS-wrk9omu_fP0fQZz1ghUThm7ANIllxFA0NI2EZV9Be-YlvDyQykCvCh_kjAWEJumFh7cI5e1UlX0v2mjAVS6A3ZYRrs8t1nV3CAro6ZDK_vmGYrXTtcWEUDTsJhq3ola3x/s320/kids,+nick+19th+birthday+011.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YVLR1lLdGq3hfk1P5s9iWokhO2-N9LKvXuib8r4GQprpu7-Xu_iJ2nMpJYJ5JZwNqI2vg8oNNOennJyaJNpsHEYuSvJs9IPZY6C00D1n019b36rsdgxO_bdpRIMLPZmsuHbNCFzxYdy-/s1600/kids,+nick+19th+birthday+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1YVLR1lLdGq3hfk1P5s9iWokhO2-N9LKvXuib8r4GQprpu7-Xu_iJ2nMpJYJ5JZwNqI2vg8oNNOennJyaJNpsHEYuSvJs9IPZY6C00D1n019b36rsdgxO_bdpRIMLPZmsuHbNCFzxYdy-/s320/kids,+nick+19th+birthday+024.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nick's 19th birthday!</td></tr>
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</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Love, Tracy :)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
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</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-40939726985983029492012-01-29T11:04:00.000-08:002012-01-29T11:07:53.574-08:00Oatmeal in my pocket...Gum on my shoe!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Some <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;">DAYS, WEEKS,</span> seems like<span style="color: lime; font-size: large;"> MONTHS,</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">are like that....</div><div style="text-align: center;">I started out making our normal 10 cups of oatmeal</div><div style="text-align: center;">and as I was filling up a little bowl at the stove</div><div style="text-align: center;">it slipped out of my hands...</div><div style="text-align: center;">HOT oatmeal all down me and right into my hoodie pocket!</div><div style="text-align: center;">(the hoodie I was wearing happened to have GRUMPY from the Seven Dwarves on it..just fit my mood!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I was doing hair, brushing teeth and wiping bums in the kid's bathroom when my bare foot was sticking to the floor.</div><div style="text-align: center;">What on earth!! WHO IS SPITTING THEIR GUM ON THE FLOOR!!<br />
(I know the blog title says "shoe" but that sounded better than "foot" :))</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I haven't posted in soooo long for several reasons...</div><div style="text-align: center;">Life has been hard and I've been worn out physically and emotionally some days :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not hard 24/7</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are some beautiful, sweet, funny, precious, everything good moments and days </div><div style="text-align: center;">for sure!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Like the other day when</div><div style="text-align: center;">Boy comes down in sandals and I say...you need to put on tennis shoes...it's freezing outside!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>"But MOM, these are Jesus shoes!!!"</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Okay, how do you argue with that. He got to wear the sandals.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are hearing more and more stories of the children's lives back in<br />
Ethiopia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Heartbreaking at times for what they have seen and experienced.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Yet, they are so animated when they tell us and laugh at times remembering funny things.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">At bedtime I was talking with both boys..</div><div style="text-align: center;">Big boy was telling me about his Ethiopia Mom and how she is with Jesus.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I just try and listen and think</div><div style="text-align: center;">"What Lord, can I say to comfort him?"<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then our 6 yr old says, </div><div style="text-align: center;">"Mom, T is going to heaven b/c he asked Jesus into his heart!</div><div style="text-align: center;">"I told him what to do and said the words and he said them after me,</div><div style="text-align: center;">so he is going to be in heaven with me forever!"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wow! I was speechless and full of tears. </div><div style="text-align: center;">My 6 yr old is having conversations at night with his brother that are of the upmost importance</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I'm just trying to get everyone quiet and asleep!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I think I have been overwhelmed and have missed out on the right</div><div style="text-align: center;">perspective.<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I get in the middle of all the </div><div style="text-align: center;">"MOM, MOM!</div><div style="text-align: center;">and trying to attach to 4 children who were uprooted 3 months ago from the only </div><div style="text-align: center;">lives they have known,</div><div style="text-align: center;">and I forget</div><div style="text-align: center;">we are not alone in this...</div><div style="text-align: center;">even though adoption can be a lonely place when</div><div style="text-align: center;">other's can't understand</div><div style="text-align: center;">why you don't let your 4 year old </div><div style="text-align: center;">love on them and sit on their laps</div><div style="text-align: center;">or why</div><div style="text-align: center;">you can't leave the baby in the nursery at church till that baby is KNOWS </div><div style="text-align: center;">we won't ever leave them and we are coming back.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That we miss our friends and the fellowship</div><div style="text-align: center;">but for our children's sake to learn we are family</div><div style="text-align: center;">we have had to cocoon and not leave them with others.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">For the first time in over 3 months Randall and I went to </div><div style="text-align: center;">dinner together (at dinner time!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">for his work. It was the first time we were both gone from the kids at dinner and bedtime!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It FELT sooo good! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">My Mom and Nick watched the kids (yes, it takes 2 people!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I came across this quote a while back and it really encouraged me:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, and comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">President Theodore Roosevelt</span></b></i> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 20px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">We are in the arena of trying to blend a family and </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">not err</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">but </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">thankfully we </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">don't get our strength from ourselves...</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 20px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><strong style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+40:31&version=NIV" style="color: #b37162; text-decoration: none;">Isaiah 40:31</a></strong><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">wings</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">like</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span><b style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">eagles</b><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.</span> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">And at the end of the day</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">I am so grateful</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">whether I am worn out or not</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">that God has chosen us</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">for these 4 sweet children.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: -webkit-auto;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> When I see all 4 big kids intently digging the biggest hole</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ever in the garden<span style="color: magenta;"><b><i> TOGETHER</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I think this is part of what </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it's all about!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our bio 6 yr old is not by himself digging...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">they all have each other.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4V5WjspAnzwG6yqBnunLgh1qtLt9bsICBcq6NHDe7SOLpHC0FtWPkk0QBkCBf1XngFaWvakZC8cjDm-1EQVKT8OE5gUTlCZbx1SQjPkYj16q_Hl-H7byZOl8P4E6pqCHAs-yuYOkH2Wq/s1600/jan.+2012+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY4V5WjspAnzwG6yqBnunLgh1qtLt9bsICBcq6NHDe7SOLpHC0FtWPkk0QBkCBf1XngFaWvakZC8cjDm-1EQVKT8OE5gUTlCZbx1SQjPkYj16q_Hl-H7byZOl8P4E6pqCHAs-yuYOkH2Wq/s320/jan.+2012+120.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4 heads is better than 1 for digging!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ThBWhyphenhyphen8FfPYCyRCS3YUvV1EQv-RzkSydnnKEIb01r4m31gFKMThZH0j2D1ROvurZ0UoaTsJarGPMAvs0orwH-C5-YKNRGOYgwT6VzfVC9OZg877UaavTsFZ7zx1T5E2XKe3H6r3eIv4L/s1600/jan.+2012+145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ThBWhyphenhyphen8FfPYCyRCS3YUvV1EQv-RzkSydnnKEIb01r4m31gFKMThZH0j2D1ROvurZ0UoaTsJarGPMAvs0orwH-C5-YKNRGOYgwT6VzfVC9OZg877UaavTsFZ7zx1T5E2XKe3H6r3eIv4L/s320/jan.+2012+145.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">mmmm..peanut butter/jelly and bell pepper sandwich!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrJnVTnuwy9kYi0oprCT24Qwg1VHy6rRRjFzk6fUCK66kN864K7cKT16O2HzHOlQIJO3nY4FzCWrOAo5ztDiRzcN7saZOmflPpc5Om2ou9SJ9mKs7Y4lcSLoIVR9JkKCzZdxFY_9o1zBL/s1600/jan.+2012+015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRrJnVTnuwy9kYi0oprCT24Qwg1VHy6rRRjFzk6fUCK66kN864K7cKT16O2HzHOlQIJO3nY4FzCWrOAo5ztDiRzcN7saZOmflPpc5Om2ou9SJ9mKs7Y4lcSLoIVR9JkKCzZdxFY_9o1zBL/s320/jan.+2012+015.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Biggest brother with 2 little brothers :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX04jGUzyzlwF5KTJSl9D1atlfdyi_ObYv_6I1sydp8YO__5cymTO4e2GLbVi0vg6g89Yuw6lD5BPQAsj7tcQVL2M8rK_12LJ27WrhglLbk8A3VNFtSl3D2T-GjAlbRMzF_8Vngfyt4xIw/s1600/jan.+2012+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX04jGUzyzlwF5KTJSl9D1atlfdyi_ObYv_6I1sydp8YO__5cymTO4e2GLbVi0vg6g89Yuw6lD5BPQAsj7tcQVL2M8rK_12LJ27WrhglLbk8A3VNFtSl3D2T-GjAlbRMzF_8Vngfyt4xIw/s320/jan.+2012+026.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st day of school!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS1oGildnsQF1BQCxKLYcgaiAs9mNF1_w9XBuglwrfGWHK0yO1EZWnbGsZ2u4mBGqEYKEYGee5iaQvDrUYGUYKzQi5FUdxtzgAYmTsvHkXs4e6IQAH9Gr4LXCQoNW00gdS0bPVhmULtTu/s1600/jan.+2012+059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdS1oGildnsQF1BQCxKLYcgaiAs9mNF1_w9XBuglwrfGWHK0yO1EZWnbGsZ2u4mBGqEYKEYGee5iaQvDrUYGUYKzQi5FUdxtzgAYmTsvHkXs4e6IQAH9Gr4LXCQoNW00gdS0bPVhmULtTu/s320/jan.+2012+059.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSUMMA5c2ToqLYj5AtyF2khbQJr5O3F-L-wp2pVDqUwEx5NUFfPo2Jb8YQDDY64V4h-Ku0YNweLnnzR57VYNCsBAZHmHLCu3ZZQ0j15GHW7DGV9jVeYSUmBzuCNRbcFGXY2VMimCxIbvi/s1600/jan.+2012+119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQSUMMA5c2ToqLYj5AtyF2khbQJr5O3F-L-wp2pVDqUwEx5NUFfPo2Jb8YQDDY64V4h-Ku0YNweLnnzR57VYNCsBAZHmHLCu3ZZQ0j15GHW7DGV9jVeYSUmBzuCNRbcFGXY2VMimCxIbvi/s320/jan.+2012+119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wait! I think I see a worm!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuq5EQ6u1zuenATj_ca8fVkJjA4AEH7g9rMCLMK3K2di6K-yLQxi2W96RwHiddwHsGzeRHy9Yn4EdoOIRjfRcOsV-ylk3afJ5el0eRPqRBBSKIx5cTYVWdYTqiEpgrsahhpvtilHRlHTDk/s1600/jan.+2012+127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuq5EQ6u1zuenATj_ca8fVkJjA4AEH7g9rMCLMK3K2di6K-yLQxi2W96RwHiddwHsGzeRHy9Yn4EdoOIRjfRcOsV-ylk3afJ5el0eRPqRBBSKIx5cTYVWdYTqiEpgrsahhpvtilHRlHTDk/s320/jan.+2012+127.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kisses!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuGpo7kSgOta2kt7uuzyUjXzz8o9F5HjvjdgMh6s5C5l-8S9SEJQxIci6VAwA2-kJRS85YUupyiRh-u6hOM0c6yimxegA8Sv2fSsNsvo34WGJXkkfd-kXPMdy_LZBhAoBqdGesGHrqNRn/s1600/jan.+2012+137.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkuGpo7kSgOta2kt7uuzyUjXzz8o9F5HjvjdgMh6s5C5l-8S9SEJQxIci6VAwA2-kJRS85YUupyiRh-u6hOM0c6yimxegA8Sv2fSsNsvo34WGJXkkfd-kXPMdy_LZBhAoBqdGesGHrqNRn/s320/jan.+2012+137.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">jogging buddy! 1st time to use the jogging stroller again! <br />
Yahoo!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSsihFfzBykVKFj1QlMViKN_YdHV6TMwc864zOO578wU8Z5BteVRCr3755gciizXOmRT4kxfBIOc1y9LFjaes08wQ363PyunPxWYStt7PL7X5S2l5s0yxuvPWvwCf_g8-fpli7G2jjVNi/s1600/jan.+2012+143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSsihFfzBykVKFj1QlMViKN_YdHV6TMwc864zOO578wU8Z5BteVRCr3755gciizXOmRT4kxfBIOc1y9LFjaes08wQ363PyunPxWYStt7PL7X5S2l5s0yxuvPWvwCf_g8-fpli7G2jjVNi/s320/jan.+2012+143.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All 4 wanted to sit on same side of table<br />
<span style="color: magenta;">Together!</span></td></tr>
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</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Love, <i>Tracy</i></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-52686837788950506082011-12-26T16:22:00.000-08:002011-12-26T16:22:12.882-08:00JOY multiplied!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RC1MrXUVDmA/Tvjzo2lDuUI/AAAAAAAAATk/K_YSzQB4Mlw/s1600/Kids+042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RC1MrXUVDmA/Tvjzo2lDuUI/AAAAAAAAATk/K_YSzQB4Mlw/s320/Kids+042.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>JOY x 5 </i><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">little</span></i><i> ones and 4 <span style="font-size: large;">BIG</span> ones</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We are so thankful for all our </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>children.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I think I can say my heart was overflowing and tears threatened to come pouring out this Christmas</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>as we were exchanging gifts.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>One BIG son had wrapped up </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>his own i pod plus some fun stuff </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and given to his oldest brother.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>He gave another brother his small computer like an i pad plus accessories to go with it.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>He gave his Dad his personal binocular straps that Dad really liked plus a cool bag for archery stuff. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>They were thoughtful, personal, from the heart gifts.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>My Mom heart almost couldn't take it and as I looked around at the other big boys I saw they were as moved and touched as we were.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Our sweet 6 year old had wrapped up his special handmade blanket plus a box full of his cars for his Daddy as well. He gave his treasures too.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>In spite of all our failures ( I should speak for myself! My own failures as a Mom)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>God gives us hope and allows us to see the goodness and preciousness of each child He has created and made unique.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Sometimes as a Mom life gets overwhelming...</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>the day to day..</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>the dishes over and over again...</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>the laundry that will never end...</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>the endless whining (or so it seems :))</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>the nights of homework </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>the worrying ( I never thought I was a worrier but my oldest says I am)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and so onnnnnnnnnnnnnn..... </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and then I have to step back </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and look for </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and appreciate</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i> and savor </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>the moments of</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>JOY</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>VICTORY</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>sweet</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>smiles</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and I LOVE YOU's</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and all</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>that is</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>GOOD.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Not sure where all that just came from :) but on to how we have been doing and some of the </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>challenges we have faced since bringing home our 4.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Oct. 15th to now</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">1</span></b>. <b>12</b> samples of poo within 3 days delivered to children's hospital!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>2.</b></span> </i></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>giardia for everyone!</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">3</span></b>. Scabies anyone? You Bet!</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>All of us treated.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">4</span></b>. Blood work taken from all 4. Two sat and watched blood being drawn. 1 screamed till all our eardrums burst! Baby cried for a bit.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">5</span></b>. Banana peel next to trash can on floor next to toilet in bathroom. Hmmmm...</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">6</span></b>. Refusing to move, wailing/screaming/mad for all day fits.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>7.</b></span> Above happening for small things.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">8.</span></b> Whining as a means of communication.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>9. Learning to ask for things with words.</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">10</span></b>. Visit to dentist/screaming for 1 with eardrums once again bursting.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">11</span></b>. Everything given to them stuffed in their backpacks, tucked away in pillowcase.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">12.</span></b> Learning different personalities and how to best work with them.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>1 Tomboy girl who loves to do hair and help.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>1 Princess girl who loves to take care of her baby.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>1 sweet boy who loves to help, play ball and read the Bible storybook with Dad.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>(also trys to take Dad down in wrestling!)</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>1 Climbing baby who is into everything! He can shimmy up the stairs in 30 sec!</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Loves to laugh!</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>1 Precious boy who is learning how to share his LIFE with 4 new brothers/sisters.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span style="font-size: large;">13.</span></b> Getting used to stares when we are out as a family.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>14</b></span>. Getting used to comments such as:</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>3 Asian men came to look at our formal table:</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>him, "Lots of kids", me " Yes," Him, "Babysitting?"</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>me, "Nope, all ours!"</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>end of conversation.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Fireplace guy: all kids napping when he comes in, 1 by one they get up.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>At end when I am paying he says, "Day care?" I said, "Nope, they are all ours! 24/7!"</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>15.</b></span> Listening to singing in their language all together.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Listening to them speak to each other part English and part their own.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Life has been a whirl wind! Some days my brain can't think anymore such as the day I get a call from the school office:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bh1AICeWOzE/TvkPf8nfAwI/AAAAAAAAAVI/p9Kl4GXu4Ts/s1600/20111218_Autry-Christmas_0019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bh1AICeWOzE/TvkPf8nfAwI/AAAAAAAAAVI/p9Kl4GXu4Ts/s320/20111218_Autry-Christmas_0019.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"Mrs. Auty? Just wanted to let you know today was an early day out and M is sitting here in the office"</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Me: " Do we not have school tomorrow? Usually it's an early day out the day before it's a no school day."</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">Her : "Today is Friday!" (EVERY Friday is early out!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">I didn't even try to explain to her my life</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">And then another day we are driving after I picked up M from kindergarten:</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">M: "Mom, is there a reason we are driving and I am not buckled up?!!"</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">UGHHHHH!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;"><br />
</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">I have been so grateful for all the meals we have received! They literally have been a lifesaver... the help with housecleaning, laundry washing, encouraging etc.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">Mom has come up and spent all day with me. She has worked with the kids on school and seen first hand LIFE here.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">She about summed it up when she talked with M's teacher.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">He had come home with a bag of stuff for me to help the teacher with here at home.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>There was NO way I could do that so Mom took it back up to school for me. She talked with M's teacher who said something to the effect of it still figuring things out over here. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Mom told her she was a retired teacher who knew what to do and it was even overwhelming for her! :)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We are learning our new normal :)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>and growing as a family.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I am so thankful for Randall who has taken all 5 kids out to give me a break!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>He loves to spend time with them and takes such good care of all of us!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The troops are up and on the loose so I better run!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ScRe3olJjKA/TvkM4YFrn_I/AAAAAAAAAU0/piqIU0x0hwQ/s1600/kids+173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ScRe3olJjKA/TvkM4YFrn_I/AAAAAAAAAU0/piqIU0x0hwQ/s320/kids+173.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PtlSqE2ynuU/TvkNHQMOhII/AAAAAAAAAU8/N4vCz_JsXh0/s1600/kids+157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PtlSqE2ynuU/TvkNHQMOhII/AAAAAAAAAU8/N4vCz_JsXh0/s320/kids+157.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xfiHUwB4MmQ/TvkKSZNvYtI/AAAAAAAAATw/6CVYsQaG1t4/s1600/Kids+037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xfiHUwB4MmQ/TvkKSZNvYtI/AAAAAAAAATw/6CVYsQaG1t4/s320/Kids+037.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLSxtYZtYYk/TvkKgs2MfFI/AAAAAAAAAT4/2eh3HqUyEwU/s1600/Kids+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xLSxtYZtYYk/TvkKgs2MfFI/AAAAAAAAAT4/2eh3HqUyEwU/s320/Kids+018.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udv9ZFQqyQM/TvkKrastoGI/AAAAAAAAAUA/NDsOmW9NUtQ/s1600/kids+024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-udv9ZFQqyQM/TvkKrastoGI/AAAAAAAAAUA/NDsOmW9NUtQ/s320/kids+024.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sgNoYVdEXI/TvkK2A-2kfI/AAAAAAAAAUI/RLN_EUkU6ac/s1600/kids+073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6sgNoYVdEXI/TvkK2A-2kfI/AAAAAAAAAUI/RLN_EUkU6ac/s320/kids+073.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cbnDZ3XlHto/TvkLLa59_XI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/pa3LnnDHA2g/s1600/kids+101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cbnDZ3XlHto/TvkLLa59_XI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/pa3LnnDHA2g/s320/kids+101.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bVp_vw5q3a8/TvkLW4VhsfI/AAAAAAAAAUY/FSV_zlE78zo/s1600/kids+082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bVp_vw5q3a8/TvkLW4VhsfI/AAAAAAAAAUY/FSV_zlE78zo/s320/kids+082.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJZkUqMxhg8/TvkLic2pUKI/AAAAAAAAAUg/_KYJ9nWmP6A/s1600/kids+092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JJZkUqMxhg8/TvkLic2pUKI/AAAAAAAAAUg/_KYJ9nWmP6A/s320/kids+092.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMlzkxBN9rw/TvkLtL7FbMI/AAAAAAAAAUo/dtgtSEyM9yU/s1600/kids+100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nMlzkxBN9rw/TvkLtL7FbMI/AAAAAAAAAUo/dtgtSEyM9yU/s320/kids+100.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Love, Tracy</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
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</i></span></div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-62517329900113042962011-11-30T22:09:00.000-08:002011-11-30T22:09:41.747-08:00HEAR YE! HEAR YEA!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td class="preheaderContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: white; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 13px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Announcing the Silver Hill Images Winter Gallery Show!</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="bodyContent" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #505050; font-family: Helvetica; line-height: 22px; text-align: left;" valign="top"><h1 style="color: #26abe2; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 30px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: tahoma, geneva, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Winter Gallery Show</span></span></span></h1><h2 style="color: #202020; font-family: Georgia; line-height: 15px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">December 2-4, 2011</span></h2><b>Opening 5:30pm Friday Dec. 2<br />
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Fri Dec. 2, 5:30-9pm<br />
Sat Dec. 3, 10am - 9pm<br />
Sun Dec. 4, 2pm - 6pm<br />
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<a href="http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=3380606ea7513dab9e969adca&id=d37096c311&eo#fbshare-campaign" rel="fblikebtn" style="color: #505050;" title="Like Silver Hill Winter Gallery Show Invitation on Facebook"><img alt="Like Silver Hill Winter Gallery Show Invitation on Facebook" border="0" height="20" src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/fb/like.gif" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" width="48" /></a> <a href="http://twitter.com/share?url=http%3A%2F%2Feepurl.com%2Fg-XjM&text=Silver+Hill+Winter+Gallery+Show+Invitation&count=none" style="color: #505050;" target="_blank"><img alt="share on Twitter" border="0" height="20" src="http://cdn-images.mailchimp.com/social_connect_tweet.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; height: auto; line-height: 15px; outline-color: initial; outline-style: none; outline-width: initial; text-decoration: none;" width="55" /></a><br />
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You are cordially invited to the winter gallery show by Silver Hill Images. The show will feature the fine art photography of Vince Wallace. Work will include both abstract and representational pieces from various locations around the world, including the iconic city of Havana, Cuba.<br />
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Vince received his degree in art from the University of North Texas College of Visual Arts and Design. He enjoys a wide variety of artistic styles and influences - Rococo to Romanticism to French Impressionism to American Realism.<br />
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In his creative expression, he is mostly drawn to movement, color, and light with an interest in panoramic scenes as well as the intimate details of the subject whether it be rural or urban, animate or inanimate, natural or man-made. He has fully embraced the digital photographic medium but merely as another tool in the creation of art.<br />
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All pieces at the show will be available for purchase.<br />
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Interested in helping out with the show behind the scenes? Click <a href="http://silverhillimages.com/blog/show-volunteer/" style="color: #505050;">HERE</a> for more information!<br />
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Franklin Creative Suite<br />
731 Columbia Avenue,Suite 200<br />
Franklin, TN 37064</b></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">IF </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">YOU are wondering what this has to do with our </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">ADOPTION journey</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">read on... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Vince is my brother and is an INCREDIBLY gifted artist/photographer!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">I would<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000;"><i><b> LOVE</b></i></span> for</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">him to meet his 4 new nieces and nephews for Christmas...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">so am helping in anyway I can to get the word out about his Gallery Art Show!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">So all you Tennessee people head over to the show!! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Don't feel left out if you don't live there! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">You can always order online :) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">(they make great Christmas gifts)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://silverhillimages.com/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">https://silverhillimages.com/</span></b></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love, Tracy :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pictures of kids coming soon...the joys of cutting down their first tree together!</div><div style="text-align: center;">PS I haven't forgotten about the struggles from previous post :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">PPS Sorry I can't get the invite sized right for the blog!! :(</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you go to his gallery online you can view all the photographs on the invite as well as all of his work!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</span></div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-33393031990124419002011-11-13T21:32:00.000-08:002011-11-13T21:32:27.719-08:00Apples in toilets, kids in sprinklers!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first hike!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLThS1QhAjHA0hpNpY3OFuH5jqusScpwbo-4oMFJPxHgMUBNrTeFkHfu8qJkO7mLeP79ivdhqD0s2LZRhyphenhyphenSZ5GVNReJdNzWTRj5huG4lsCeC6IVAWIOYcStd__znkKkFBWJqzbBQHPbnK/s1600/Need+Review+026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLThS1QhAjHA0hpNpY3OFuH5jqusScpwbo-4oMFJPxHgMUBNrTeFkHfu8qJkO7mLeP79ivdhqD0s2LZRhyphenhyphenSZ5GVNReJdNzWTRj5huG4lsCeC6IVAWIOYcStd__znkKkFBWJqzbBQHPbnK/s320/Need+Review+026.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">olive oil hair treatment-M just wanted plastic bag on his head :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st Sunday to go to church with Dad</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUydD8EkScnHqO4SHPtNeIAbkqvsLoj3rKByBpbWYG_ylWjb7RA25SsQ4HUdkATgvEogL6KFvZIlAlYcapOIN2eFsevWkMWBsEyWpWOkC0K9Jgu5iKfTcLb5NhmM_Bbzu2slaA11J35nM/s1600/Need+Review+073.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWUydD8EkScnHqO4SHPtNeIAbkqvsLoj3rKByBpbWYG_ylWjb7RA25SsQ4HUdkATgvEogL6KFvZIlAlYcapOIN2eFsevWkMWBsEyWpWOkC0K9Jgu5iKfTcLb5NhmM_Bbzu2slaA11J35nM/s320/Need+Review+073.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mini van completely full! Baby is on right facing back</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizCDnBHnC3tY3B8PopODViHg5tFZguTzJYlHMB6HzX5_1EOaoscX73UPAiQ9Q9Vgfup9nq8piDSPwM9tKaDUdRf9orOM-T1sYL6bEZzZKr4RaxNCLshv4j8QJ31F4Zt_Y7xeslebYcpUA/s1600/Need+Review+151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhizCDnBHnC3tY3B8PopODViHg5tFZguTzJYlHMB6HzX5_1EOaoscX73UPAiQ9Q9Vgfup9nq8piDSPwM9tKaDUdRf9orOM-T1sYL6bEZzZKr4RaxNCLshv4j8QJ31F4Zt_Y7xeslebYcpUA/s320/Need+Review+151.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They love doing dishes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhconDl6Ine1hWEPdlxwTfygRhnKu0i7Cw9cMU_Gm2aLTJUS4PZtnxZhDDOGjp_b3RSnR7dZfvLb0rk7lgAmqdH7MtEuIFWl5Z2-kJ4pLzlxdzrvzcexSY0FiuLud9zIdwZ_VTytRPlwT4c/s1600/Need+Review+221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhconDl6Ine1hWEPdlxwTfygRhnKu0i7Cw9cMU_Gm2aLTJUS4PZtnxZhDDOGjp_b3RSnR7dZfvLb0rk7lgAmqdH7MtEuIFWl5Z2-kJ4pLzlxdzrvzcexSY0FiuLud9zIdwZ_VTytRPlwT4c/s320/Need+Review+221.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to show you Luke's creative hand made halloween robot? head! </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZkNXjUBX8sJvgsjfqTiOzpu3cPdIOTGIm8FA6Na-uAeHw2FHU4JB-YGKyTj3FY8CKsIwZIAAjMmx1i_GcuaH24A5Wzp-pB5NxIj00jTwgVGjZGKfJRmSZhJuiA3swUr4tFU5OXmvGdQv/s1600/Need+Review+242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1ZkNXjUBX8sJvgsjfqTiOzpu3cPdIOTGIm8FA6Na-uAeHw2FHU4JB-YGKyTj3FY8CKsIwZIAAjMmx1i_GcuaH24A5Wzp-pB5NxIj00jTwgVGjZGKfJRmSZhJuiA3swUr4tFU5OXmvGdQv/s320/Need+Review+242.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">M's 6th birthday!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfUtQpayQm33ESor1UDftQmNwTKcURVFXZtj60McaMWM-_YYIm92ud1EbFtPCWvporyhbJiDFHPz8nmSkevzG-ujfOkBinuKfNK1Rjo1SQRcU3PQG2uHcPILuZiRBEww_gaWXVEqa9SYq/s1600/Need+Review+255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgfUtQpayQm33ESor1UDftQmNwTKcURVFXZtj60McaMWM-_YYIm92ud1EbFtPCWvporyhbJiDFHPz8nmSkevzG-ujfOkBinuKfNK1Rjo1SQRcU3PQG2uHcPILuZiRBEww_gaWXVEqa9SYq/s320/Need+Review+255.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">first dusting of snow!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih99OoiwLh0cjLG6fh6i9AqVwReVuTAwgIgI_nNuPbEx0YQVh81Pl23niXGnn8W8ANifkhR0O187kwPplPl-BdvvFrYj6NEZNf64BEhZgz6Qw_tVSnlyWq6LL5CI7Xz0qcEl7LQ4TkjVDs/s1600/Need+Review+257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih99OoiwLh0cjLG6fh6i9AqVwReVuTAwgIgI_nNuPbEx0YQVh81Pl23niXGnn8W8ANifkhR0O187kwPplPl-BdvvFrYj6NEZNf64BEhZgz6Qw_tVSnlyWq6LL5CI7Xz0qcEl7LQ4TkjVDs/s320/Need+Review+257.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My climber!!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHzasnNz-uEy1wiR4YxPm_iJvgXLgo-p4ZLE6SRK3pbYDszm_2pyPW4QvOA61nkfm53DTmUVI9mBOBav1c7y-VyXIOqrCdv9wT3zDZxdYfXQKkZ49EsQItPN9EcbYVfc02Vg9OFyXlro4/s1600/Need+Review+297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxHzasnNz-uEy1wiR4YxPm_iJvgXLgo-p4ZLE6SRK3pbYDszm_2pyPW4QvOA61nkfm53DTmUVI9mBOBav1c7y-VyXIOqrCdv9wT3zDZxdYfXQKkZ49EsQItPN9EcbYVfc02Vg9OFyXlro4/s320/Need+Review+297.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">1st BIG snow!!! They SCREAMED with excitement !</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">LIFE in the fast lane! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">(or at least the carpool lane!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It seems like we have been a family FOREVER </div><div style="text-align: center;">and then some days </div><div style="text-align: center;">just like we got home yesterday.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have had so much LAUGHTER</div><div style="text-align: center;">and some tears.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The Funny MOMENTS : )</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1. One of the girls was eating on an apple in the morning. I couldn't find it anywhere..looked in the trash and it wasn't there. Thought that was strange b/c I knew she didn't eat it all.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Little bit later took a girl to go to the bathroom. There sitting in the toilet plugging the hole was the whole apple! Of course we had to RUN upstairs b/c she had waited too long! Hollared at Randall that there was an apple in the toilet!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Before he could get to it a boy went poop on it. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Never did ask how he got it out!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Very funny to us until....</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">2. Next morning... take a girl to same bathroom...ANOTHER apple in the toilet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Not so funny this time! Thank goodness we have long barbeque pitchfork.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Everyone banned from apples! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">3. The kids LOVE water! While it was still warm I had a friend come bring us a meal. I was visiting with her and had the baby inside. The big kids were running in and out the back door playing outside.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She leaves I go outside wondering why I hear water running.</div><div style="text-align: center;">M has turned on the sprinkler and ALL the kids are running through it with their clothes on. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Our sweet neighbor is sitting on her side of our little 4 foot picket fence watching her little guy. He was even getting sprinkled the water was turned on so high. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I really DO watch the kids! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">4. Another afternoon we were outside with the kids. The sprinkler system was going off and the kids thought that was so fuuny. They were running through them, jumping over etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;">A little girl stepped on one of the sprinkler heads. At that moment the cycle changed and the head disappeared and the water stopped. 1 boy stood there and looked at where the sprinkler head vanished. He felt all around, very puzzled. Then he hollars at his sister b/c he thought she broke it. Then he starts hollaring at Randall, "DAAAD! WATER?? , DAAD WATER!!!!" </div><div style="text-align: center;">He was so loud and his mouth was literally almost has big as his face yelling, DAAAD!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We were laughing so hard!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5. The first big snow I was upstairs with the baby and M and the kids were downstairs in the kitchen. All of a sudden I hear screaming. I'm hollaring down what is going on..who is messing with who!</div><div style="text-align: center;">M informs me no one is hurting anyone. They are all looking out the back door screaming about the snow.</div><div style="text-align: center;">That was the day they built the HUGE snowman with Randall. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">6. They LOVE to ride bicycles. They will CAREEN down the sidewalk out of control (trying to teach the one who can really ride a bike to use the brakes) and then walk them up the hill back to the starting spot.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have had a few minor crashes (you can imagine with 4 kids on bikes/tricycles all on the same sidewalk!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">7. M and Randall set up cones to divide the sidewalk in half. One side up/ one side down. At the end by the neighbors driveway are cones to not go past. At the top are cones at the next driveway. While 3 kids are busy riding up and down and taking out a few cones 1 little girl is at the top of the sidewalk busily rearranging all the cones. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">8. They are learning English more each day. We do a lot of hand motions ! They can understand A LOT more than they can speak. One boy says "Oh my gosh!" all the time. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Baby says "Ca-Ca" which he came from Ethiopia saying! </div><div style="text-align: center;">We were outside playing and 1 little girl says to her Pop-Pop, "SIT DOWN, SIT DOWN!"</div><div style="text-align: center;">We all laughed! That was the first time she said that in English... she wanted him to sit down on the sidewalk so she could trace around him with sidewalk chalk. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">(you can tell what we say to her quite often!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">They all say/hollar, "MOOMM!! MOOOMMM!" all the time!!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I have never heard my name called so much in my life!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Teaching them to say in a normal voice, "Mom, may I please...."</div><div style="text-align: center;">or "Micah (insert various sibling's names), please stop...."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">9. We have sweet moments reading at night and then singing together.</div><div style="text-align: center;">R usually gets the boys ready, I get the girl's and baby ready. Put baby to bed while Randall reads to all of them. They LOVE M's children's Bible story book and he has already read all the way through and has started over. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Then they go to their own rooms and get in bed. Boys are usually out quick. Girls giggling and getting out of bed. Sometimes I lay with them and get my hair braided :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">10. They LOVE music! I hear " MOM! musica! Up!" Every time we are in the van they want the music up!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have listened a lot to the Ethiopian music until we say "okay, finished" M's turn to pick! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">They LOVE to dance and even Baby claps his hands and moves around!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">On another day I will post more and share a few struggles and what we are working through.</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's ALWAYS good to remember the GOOD and SWEET times to help get through </div><div style="text-align: center;">the </div><div style="text-align: center;">wailing and gnashing of teeth :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">(but that will be for another day!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Good night!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love, Tracy :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-58170429005232939782011-10-18T21:50:00.000-07:002011-10-18T21:52:03.022-07:00Please and Thank you :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFnDbOeHU7OxQ1yZ0H2y_DI8lLO5rieQumtTn4VW9392ZSwe6oStebXMhkErhpblKZgy5i6ve12b_L68w6hN-G5Tby7HbJj2j36GchWnGsN9y3nbuNlPD18NRJuGTwR2rvnWnXP0RT-5b/s1600/P1020179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLFnDbOeHU7OxQ1yZ0H2y_DI8lLO5rieQumtTn4VW9392ZSwe6oStebXMhkErhpblKZgy5i6ve12b_L68w6hN-G5Tby7HbJj2j36GchWnGsN9y3nbuNlPD18NRJuGTwR2rvnWnXP0RT-5b/s320/P1020179.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">First Days Home: A brief recap :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">1. Learning Please and Thank you :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">2. Hummus is like Shiro</div><div style="text-align: center;">3. All our kids like cold green beans</div><div style="text-align: center;">4. They love spinach lasagna, sausage potatoe cheese casserole </div><div style="text-align: center;">5. Can eat almost whole 9 x 13 pans of above items</div><div style="text-align: center;">6. Like to eat all day</div><div style="text-align: center;">7. Learning to stay in bed</div><div style="text-align: center;">8. Learning how to live again with baby permanently attached to hip</div><div style="text-align: center;">9. Teaching to spit in sink no on bathroom rug</div><div style="text-align: center;">10. Hands are not for hitting :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">11. Learning " I feel Alive" song and singing all the time</div><div style="text-align: center;">12. playing for hours on slide is great fun!</div><div style="text-align: center;">13. Watching them experience an elevator, escalator, hand dryer, water fountain, airplane etc. for first time</div><div style="text-align: center;">14. Seeing them say "I'm sorry" and " It's okay"</div><div style="text-align: center;">15. Thinking I have NEVER heard "Mom, Mom!!" so much in my life</div><div style="text-align: center;">16. Praying for sleep </div><div style="text-align: center;">17. Being totally overwhelmed and stressed on first 16 hour flight with screaming, flailing kids and thanking </div><div style="text-align: center;">God</div><div style="text-align: center;">for zonked out kids the whole 2nd 4 hr flight</div><div style="text-align: center;">18. Wondering if we were ever going to keep one little girl in bed and get any sleep</div><div style="text-align: center;">19. Thanking God for easier bedtimes every night</div><div style="text-align: center;">20. Randall hearing , "DAD! BICYCLE over and over"</div><div style="text-align: center;">21. Pushing such child on bicycle with soccer cleats on who doesn't know how to turn peddles yet.</div><div style="text-align: center;">22. Sore backs</div><div style="text-align: center;">23. Backpacks carried everywhere. </div><div style="text-align: center;">24. Watching transition of wearing shoes with pjs to no shoes with pjs</div><div style="text-align: center;">25. Girls changing clothes all the time!</div><div style="text-align: center;">26. Having the entry date into US Oct. 16th, my birthday, instead of Oct. 15th which is when we landed.</div><div style="text-align: center;">27. Debating driving around all day with everyone buckled into car... no escapees that way..</div><div style="text-align: center;">well except for the child taking her arms out of car seat harness.</div><div style="text-align: center;">28. Hearing, "Let's Go!! Mom, Dad" whenever we slowed down or sat at a stop light.</div><div style="text-align: center;">29. Seeing Micah and 2 big kids bond and giggle and play together outside.</div><div style="text-align: center;">30. Watch baby go to Daddy for first time.</div><div style="text-align: center;">I took off!</div><div style="text-align: center;">31. Thanking God for family and good friends who have prayed and stepped in the gap for us.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Well, I know there's more but I'm pooped. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Praying everyone sleeps all night tonite! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankful for a sweet husband who has spent so much time playing and taking care of the big kids while baby is stuck to my side :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankful for my son who has helped with kids and cleaned kitchen and toys every night.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankful for Mom who watched Micah all week while were gone along with all the cleaning etc :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">For friends who are bringing meals and came over and cleaned! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankful for Kelly who went to Ethiopia with us. We literally could not have done it without her.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thankful for all you praying...!!!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love, Tracy :)</div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-77907754439109275582011-10-13T13:25:00.000-07:002011-10-13T13:25:14.315-07:00a whirlwind overview :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfa1QKRhXw20G4Gt_EYc__v-8NyfxFC-Djcx-R5ulKT1jZnyxmj8jXNWKnrPG1HUEHlkKv8WwGfK46bQM4o0JQDTrx5op-YFiD7EfyLYh96dnL-86QX5k45zcdFR2MFB94Y0aHSh4S9zx/s1600/P1010997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfa1QKRhXw20G4Gt_EYc__v-8NyfxFC-Djcx-R5ulKT1jZnyxmj8jXNWKnrPG1HUEHlkKv8WwGfK46bQM4o0JQDTrx5op-YFiD7EfyLYh96dnL-86QX5k45zcdFR2MFB94Y0aHSh4S9zx/s320/P1010997.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Wow! It's hard to believe we have been here 3 full days! We are learning so much about each child and figuring out as we go. </div><div style="text-align: center;">My brain and body are so tired I'm only going to post a bit. Once we get home I may never be able to post again! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Some highlights of the first day:</div><div style="text-align: center;">Picking up the chldren at the transition home and saying good bye to the nannies and doctor.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We took pictures with the dr. who is from the same region as our children and she asked for us to send them to her. She thanked us for adopting them. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Climbing 3 flights of stairs to our room trying to keep ahold of 4 kids (who take off freely for wherever they please) :) Following one such children who ran into a room (not ours!). I ran after her holding baby on my hip and found her half laying at the end of the bed while a man laying in bed looked shocked at her. I quickly apologized and pulled her out of the room!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">There are hoses with nozzles next to the toilet to wash out the toilet. One boy shot the hose all over the toilet.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">That' a short of recap of first day...</div><div style="text-align: center;">We are constantly chasing, hugging, encouraging, figuring out language, loving on, saying Gobez (good job)</div><div style="text-align: center;">bacca (enough), coy, (wait), </div><div style="text-align: center;">The chef at the guest house after breakfast this morning said, "busy" shaking his head and smiling.</div><div style="text-align: center;">When we come through we definitely make waves.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Can't wait to come home! We miss our boys! Everyone her has been very gracious and accommodating.<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">PLEASEEEEE pray for us as we leave tomorrow night on a 16 hr flight. We have to be to be there 3 hrs early and our flight leaves at 10:15. Way best bedtime!! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Almost home and into a new normal. Please pray for the transition and the children's little hearts.</div><div style="text-align: center;">(seems like I am asking for a lot of prayer but we need it! :))</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love, Tracy</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-43749005533541956692011-10-10T21:14:00.000-07:002011-10-10T21:14:22.054-07:00Waking up to an Ethiopian sunrise!Good morning from Ethiopia!!<br />
In a few hours we will be heading over to the transition home to pick up our children.<br />
As we drive out those gates for the last time we will be ushered into a whole new life. I am trying to imagine the emotions and feelings they may have leaving everything they know behind. <br />
<br />
We had a crazy time getting here!! <br />
<br />
Red eye to New York on Friday night. Sitting at JFK airport for 3 hrs waiting to connect to washington dc. Randall constantly checking the sign which never posted our flight. Hearing boarding for people with infants. Then hearing our name called. Going up to the counter and telling us there was a weight problem, the plane was too heavy and we were bumped from the flight. Only took 35 passengers. 8 were bumped. She said she called our name before, we never heard it. No one ever lined up for general boarding. We said we had to get on flight. We only had an hour and 20 min. Catch our Ethiopian flight. Kelly, randalls sister was waiting in Washington to fly over with us. <br />
We were in panic mode.<br />
Earliest flight out was 7:25 that night, connect in Germany and then on to Ethiopia arriving that night. So we spent the day in the JFK airport and Kelly flew on to Ethiopia alone.<br />
We got on our flight that night and sat in line on the runway in line for an eternity. <br />
Pilot comes over pa and says we have mechanical issue with fuel pump. Going to try and fix it there. Sit tight.<br />
Little bit later we are heading back to gate to fix it there. I am praying praying praying.<br />
We stay on plane and pilot says best guess is 30 to 45 min. To fix. If it is longer he will let u,s off plane. <br />
We only have a 3 hr connection in Germany. <br />
A few min. Later it is fixed! Thank you God!!!<br />
We were an hour late to Germany. Made it through security only with slight delay of randalls computer. <br />
Nice airline..roomy seats..very friendly passenger next to Randall. Slept most o; the way!!<br />
<br />
Breezed through visa and customs line and picked up by Yonas!!! And Kelly!!! Yon as is our sweet friend with america world who takes great care of us. Coming back here is like we never left. Same room In guest house. Same rooster crowing. Same nightclub noise down the street.<br />
Yon as and guest house manager both asked how zach and nick were. We all formed life long bonds with the people here.<br />
<br />
I am smelling yummy pancakes and hearing the laughter of the family next door. Kelly met them yesterday and they are adopting a 6 and 8 hr old boys. Friends with our oldest son. There will be several children here in the guest house going home to their forever families! <br />
We are incredibly blessed,thankful,overwhelmed to be a part of this! <br />
<br />
Pray for all of us today. <br />
<br />
We love of of you!<br />
<br />
TracyTracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-14328883099220465262011-10-05T22:10:00.001-07:002011-10-05T22:10:19.793-07:00Embassy Date- WOO HOO! and Dear Family and Friends :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i>Can't believe it!</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Wednesday October 12 is our Embassy appointment!</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's seems surreal until I look around and see all I need to do and then</div><div style="text-align: center;">panic sets in! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The letter I am about to share to all our dear Family and Friends I didn't write but borrowed and tweaked a bit:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"></span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>Dear Friends and Family:</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Very soon, we’ll be bringing our 4 children home and starting the process of becoming a new and bigger family.</span></span><span style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">This is an exciting and scary time for all of us, especially for them.</span></span><span style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">In their short lives, our children have gone through more changes and life altering experiences than most adults could handle.</span></span><span style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">They have already experienced the loss of a birth mother and will soon experience the loss of familiar and comforting caretakers as well as the sights, smells, and language of their birth country. </span></span><span style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">Their world will turn upside down.</span></span><span style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> They</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"> will be disoriented and confused. </span></span><span style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;">They will struggle with feeling safe and secure and lack the ability to trust that we will meet their needs.</span></span><span style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"> </span></i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>The process of learning to trust that we are the two adults in his world who will always be there to care for them is called attachment. You know that building trust is hard, takes a lot of time and a lot of work. It gets easier over time, but things are going to be a little strange at first and we ask that you please understand and respect what’s happening. We are not closing you out, you are the most important people in our lives, but our children need to have boundaries in place to develop a strong, and healthy attachment to us.</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>Physical Boundaries</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>It will help us immensely if adults limit what is typically considered normal, physical contact with our children. This will (for a while) include things like holding, excessive hugging and kissing. Children from orphanages are prone to attach too easily to anyone and everyone. Unfortunately, this disrupts their ability to attach to us. Waving, blowing kisses or high fives are perfectly appropriate and welcomed! They should know that you are our trusted friends and family.</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>Caretaking</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>All four have gone from having a caring mother to relying on a stream of different adults to meet their needs. They have learned that they have to compete for the attention of every adult they seesto get basic things like food, clothing, blankets and comfort. Charming every available adult becomes a survival technique. While that might work in an orphanage, it’s dangerous in our world. It’s not safe for them to ask random strangers for a hug. In order for our 4 to learn healthy, appropriate boundaries with strangers,they have to begin by learning that we are the two people responsible for meeting their needs. For a while, we need to be the only ones to hand them food, give water, comfort them when they are hurt. If they ask you for something, please ask us. For a while, it will look like we’re spoiling them As they learns that we are their parents, it will become OK to treat them just like our other ones.</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>Discipline</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i>Because of their experiences, they might have learned that adults are scary and unreliable. A gentle scolding can feel like a ton of bricks to them. Discipline will be very tricky. Just as it is important for them to understand who their caretakers are, they need to learn that we (and not every adult they see) are their authority figures to be trusted not to hurt them and yet still hold them to a standard. </i></b></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;">Thank you for understanding and supporting us in this amazing, but challenging time! We’re sure you can’t wait to read more, so here are some links below on attachment in international adoption.</span></i></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><b><i>Randall and Tracy :)</i></b></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #6f3c1b; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21px;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b>p.s. - Some Resources</b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">An <a href="http://www.pactadopt.org/press/articles/attach-school.html" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">article</a> on attachment in school-age children. (<a href="http://www.pactadopt.org/press/articles/attach-school.html" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">http://www.pactadopt.org/press/articles/attach-school.html</a>)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A <a href="http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/parent_school_age/parent_school_age.pdf" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">pamphlet</a> courtesy of the Feds. Attachment is discussed on page 4. (<a href="http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/parent_school_age/parent_school_age.pdf" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">http://www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/parent_school_age/parent_school_age.pdf</a>)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A brief <a href="http://www.earlyinterventionsupport.com/parentingtips/adoption/healthyattachments.aspx" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">article</a> on attachment. (http://www.earlyinterventionsupport.com/parentingtips/adoption/healthyattachments.aspx)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A <a href="http://www.ahealthymind.org/ans/library/Adoption%20Gribble%2007.pdf" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">scholarly article</a>. (There are probably better ones, but we don’t have good access to those). (<a href="http://www.ahealthymind.org/ans/library/Adoption%20Gribble%2007.pdf" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">http://www.ahealthymind.org/ans/library/Adoption%20Gribble%2007.pdf</a>)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">An <a href="http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/adoptive_families/attachment_and_bonding/promoting_healthy_attachment.aspx" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">article</a> on attachment from Focus on the Family (focusing on the secular aspects at the beginning) (http://www.focusonthefamily.com/parenting/adoptive_families/attachment_and_bonding/promoting_healthy_attachment.aspx)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A <a href="http://benjaminandholly.blogspot.com/2009/04/attachment-analogy.html" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">blog post</a> on how it might feel to be a child in an international adoption. (http://benjaminandholly.blogspot.com/2009/04/attachment-analogy.html)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A <a href="http://adoption.families.com/blog/trust-and-attachment" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">blog post</a> on how undeveloped attachment looks in the real world. (http://adoption.families.com/blog/trust-and-attachment)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A <a href="http://www.suite101.com/content/attaching-to-adopted-school-age-kids-a60661" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">web article</a> on adopting school-age kids. (http://www.suite101.com/content/attaching-to-adopted-school-age-kids-a60661)</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">A <a href="http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=1090" style="color: #1a4e6f; text-decoration: none;">short blurb</a> on adopting older kids by noted author Karen Purvis. (http://www.adoptivefamilies.com/articles.php?aid=1090)</div><div><br />
</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>If you have made it this far reading- Thank YOU! :) </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Our plan is to hunker down for a few/several ? weeks with no visitors or trips </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>to Wal-MART, Chuck-E-Cheese, Lagoon etc. :)</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We are really going to work on becoming a family unit.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We will be flexible (since we have never done this before :)) and base how and when we branch out on how the children are doing.</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Thank you for your understanding..this was hard to post b/c we don't want to offend anyone but need to do what is best to help these kiddos thrive! :)</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We know you are eager to meet them and we can't wait to introduce them to you!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>You will be a vital part of their lives as you ours now!</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Love, Tracy</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-47774521141136877362011-10-04T10:35:00.000-07:002011-10-04T10:35:13.540-07:00CLEARED for TRAVEL!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: x-large;">GOOD Morning!</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>We were cleared for TRAVEL to pick up our 4 children this morning!</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>YEA!!</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>We are looking for flights and will let you know more asap!</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Anyone want to buy a DONKEY??</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>No shipping charges!</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><img src="https://www10.corecommerce.com/~ordinaryhero/images/products/987.jpg" /></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Just go to <a href="http://www.ordinaryherostore.org/">ORDINARY HERO </a>store ! :)</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>See previous post for all details! :)</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Love, Tracy</i></b></div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-76164191838650568462011-10-03T12:35:00.000-07:002011-10-03T12:35:08.287-07:00Mr. and Mrs. Glad<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last Tuesday came and went...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The interview that was supposed to happen last Tuesday</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was actually scheduled for this Tuesday.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So the toilet is now out of the tub and back where it goes... :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I was walking/jogging this week (because I decided now that I have an extra week I better get back in shape before we bring the kids home!)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I passed a large stone marker in front a home</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">it said </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>GLAD</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and then their house number</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What an awesome name!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Definition of Glad:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 16px;"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">feeling</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">joy</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">pleasure;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">delighted;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default; font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; position: static;">pleased: </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Geneva, Arial, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 20px;"><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d3d3d;">This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">glad</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3d3d3d;"> in it. Psalm 118:24</span></i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Made me think.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On ANOTHER subject!! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are waiting till we get Embassy clearance to purchase 2 round trip and 4 (possibly 3 if baby can ride on our lap) one ways home from Ethiopia. As you can imagine that will cost an arm and leg :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have 3200 saved up so far (which should cover 2 round trips).</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.ordinaryherostore.org/cart.html">Ordinary Hero</a></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is having another GRANT contest!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">$500 </b>for first place winner!!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Plus we get 40% of all sales!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sooooo....</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I thought it would be worth it to mention to you!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many of you have given and we are so grateful! Beyond words grateful!!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Would love if you would pass it along to your friends, acquaintances, family etc!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.ordinaryherostore.org/cart.html">Ordinary Hero</a> has awesome stuff!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(just click on name or sidebar at right)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What I really like is you can donate a </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>DONKEY</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to families in Ethiopia </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">to help</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CARRY</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">their burdens.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img height="300" src="https://www10.corecommerce.com/~ordinaryhero/images/products/975.JPG" width="400" /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Please pass it along </i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>and</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>check the OH store out</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>Christmas is coming soon</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>and there are some gifts on there that will</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>literally change lives! :)</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i>(just select Tracy Autry in the drop down affiliate box when you check out)</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Love, </span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tracy</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-7245850037703887042011-09-20T09:57:00.000-07:002011-09-20T09:57:37.856-07:00One MORE WEEK??<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">I know I haven't posted in awhile...I'm sure you all have been </div><div style="text-align: center;">WONDERING</div><div style="text-align: center;"> what on earth is going on! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Until yesterday there was no news...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now the NEWS is...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the US Embassy wants to interview our birth father</div><div style="text-align: center;">next Tuesday.</div><div style="text-align: center;">After that we will hear if we are </div><div style="text-align: center;">CLEARED </div><div style="text-align: center;">for travel or they need something else.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Please pray for our birth father. He will have to travel a long distance once again and I can't imagine</div><div style="text-align: center;">how his heart must feel.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We sent more care packages with a gal who was visiting her daughter in Ethiopia.</div><div style="text-align: center;">She sent pics of our kids opening them and looking through the pictures I sent of them and us.</div><div style="text-align: center;">They already look older and bigger.</div><div style="text-align: center;">The baby is walking.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNsUvdvFaYb5knju4Y4L2XqBj0ya1UilwstccU0zZIiHN2zy33zD3kGpvaIj0uCf9wQ_8_0S6b1Y7puCaVm7TqUeBf6KXqI9iXooUGE4yM3h7cE1F4qqicuj2oKfylLwPjWhvRcQ0_zIZ/s1600/ipad_ethiopia_133%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnNsUvdvFaYb5knju4Y4L2XqBj0ya1UilwstccU0zZIiHN2zy33zD3kGpvaIj0uCf9wQ_8_0S6b1Y7puCaVm7TqUeBf6KXqI9iXooUGE4yM3h7cE1F4qqicuj2oKfylLwPjWhvRcQ0_zIZ/s320/ipad_ethiopia_133%255B1%255D" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking at a picture of him and I together! Yes, he is standing on the table!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI_fO8H5xhRi_sst_LyO0EZa0PxIm8q94dgzLlw95EzNFjbvhmMkIrVI5B4Nh8gim5jNgTq8ilOoIPKjl7XexTBvPZhS0jNc0eYKzaZHaiTzjTWcKSgKlxa1D1QCL2ZJmEEHdf9OJ7qKu/s1600/Autry_August_update_photo_1%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiI_fO8H5xhRi_sst_LyO0EZa0PxIm8q94dgzLlw95EzNFjbvhmMkIrVI5B4Nh8gim5jNgTq8ilOoIPKjl7XexTBvPZhS0jNc0eYKzaZHaiTzjTWcKSgKlxa1D1QCL2ZJmEEHdf9OJ7qKu/s1600/Autry_August_update_photo_1%255B1%255D" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These are our August update pictures: Taken in the schoolroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L2qNHJw1j9p5mhImKLAe6cpHw218Fmn9edWP3kXx34taxd8iXUbDZ10N9R_CNtmmGOmSw9CcEYoRNDLOHPx-PxdssbN0GkXSLBNjWEuwA69qz-7rf7ue8nN7HqGbqcv8YMxWR8cPptDj/s1600/Autry_August_update_photo_2%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5L2qNHJw1j9p5mhImKLAe6cpHw218Fmn9edWP3kXx34taxd8iXUbDZ10N9R_CNtmmGOmSw9CcEYoRNDLOHPx-PxdssbN0GkXSLBNjWEuwA69qz-7rf7ue8nN7HqGbqcv8YMxWR8cPptDj/s320/Autry_August_update_photo_2%255B1%255D" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80lUf-TuXEFPoR-13mcV-kH7A5inyjdi-Iv0evX9tjgmfYKEMxpvh2iG_KGLYSC-Dfib4w1tXBNBuyMhfNLpZEUjbUxawqG8ilPJ9uxAwT3y2uqBxAHMmjOdbD31cxkcdto2Vf3xzmHug/s1600/Autry_August_update_photo_3%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj80lUf-TuXEFPoR-13mcV-kH7A5inyjdi-Iv0evX9tjgmfYKEMxpvh2iG_KGLYSC-Dfib4w1tXBNBuyMhfNLpZEUjbUxawqG8ilPJ9uxAwT3y2uqBxAHMmjOdbD31cxkcdto2Vf3xzmHug/s320/Autry_August_update_photo_3%255B1%255D" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSTInGDCT8pXxF0XHm335dbnneks4UEJJfuEOJ_lzTPiUhrv9KZh1etuM6jMbMGvGcIdEQ3gUI_L8161Lt8q0w3WRUEeLSpj__tnlrtqbt9gtdVPJSC13bmbFv5V4Jd8BxHtOaPxC3IzQ/s1600/Autry_August_update_photo_5%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSTInGDCT8pXxF0XHm335dbnneks4UEJJfuEOJ_lzTPiUhrv9KZh1etuM6jMbMGvGcIdEQ3gUI_L8161Lt8q0w3WRUEeLSpj__tnlrtqbt9gtdVPJSC13bmbFv5V4Jd8BxHtOaPxC3IzQ/s320/Autry_August_update_photo_5%255B1%255D" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeQQla63879X7ETqe-0OtUtBT21iNxp6sleQ8QCRpBDmdoFpOlVYIK45qAhKbFl4lFYaowIDwnEVK1Et0lVORUmeO_2W8S62DJrkCjqg_rFzpejoKn-ZcO0jrBdJ3yqsH7c6XCjNNQ0Mu/s1600/Autry_August_update_photo_7%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAeQQla63879X7ETqe-0OtUtBT21iNxp6sleQ8QCRpBDmdoFpOlVYIK45qAhKbFl4lFYaowIDwnEVK1Et0lVORUmeO_2W8S62DJrkCjqg_rFzpejoKn-ZcO0jrBdJ3yqsH7c6XCjNNQ0Mu/s320/Autry_August_update_photo_7%255B1%255D" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPxVDwl05mu7VQQwCbeAlS00ay5nkRMwWfJNFFvqjmmNMuCGIvpeMNLaQagt_pB6fgOMiStC_TqDiUwRPrTjUA19Jn-PG94Sz9a9ZB6bkz8snEC46CgzQzIdA4N6iSQ6kg75_adXvUBr8/s1600/Autry_August_update_photo_8%255B1%255D" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPxVDwl05mu7VQQwCbeAlS00ay5nkRMwWfJNFFvqjmmNMuCGIvpeMNLaQagt_pB6fgOMiStC_TqDiUwRPrTjUA19Jn-PG94Sz9a9ZB6bkz8snEC46CgzQzIdA4N6iSQ6kg75_adXvUBr8/s320/Autry_August_update_photo_8%255B1%255D" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We learned the word </div><div style="text-align: center;">COY</div><div style="text-align: center;"> in Ethiopia </div><div style="text-align: center;">(that is not how you spell it!)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It means</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b><i>WAIT</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;"><b><i><br />
</i></b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I think the word ADOPTION is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 26px; line-height: 30px;"><i>synonymous </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i>with WAIT.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><i><b>Wait for the LORD;<br />
Be <sup class="xref" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: 0.5em; vertical-align: text-top;" value="(<a href="#cen-NASB-14300B" title="See cross-reference B">B</a>)"></sup>strong and let your heart take courage;<br />
Yes, wait for the LORD.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Psalm 27:14</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i>And it's okay because we KNOW God has HIS children in HIS hands and He can see the beginning from the end. </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i>HE knows when WE are READY and when our children in Ethiopia are ready.</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i>Besides we still have to get the toilet out of the tub and put it back where it belongs! :)</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i>While you are WAITING with us</i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i>here is an HONEST post from a gal we met in Ethiopia who was there with her husband picking up one of their children. She writes about LIFE </i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i>"</i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 30px;"><i>AFTER THE AIRPORT"</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 30px;"><i><a href="http://www.jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/09/06/after-the-airport">http://www.jenhatmaker.com/blog/2011/09/06/after-the-airport</a></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 30px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 30px;"><i>I am sure after you read it you will want to pray for us even more!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 30px;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 30px;"><i>Love,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 30px;"><i>Tracy</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 30px;"><i><br />
</i></span></span></div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-34375922315422316522011-09-07T19:36:00.000-07:002011-09-07T19:36:49.826-07:00Today!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">We were <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><b>SUBMITTED</b></i></span> today!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">The US Embassy will tell us within 10 business days whether or not we are cleared to travel or they need more paperwork.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I can't believe we are at this point in our adoption journey...</div><div style="text-align: center;">the final leg</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">WAITING</span></b></i> is a verb we have learned well..</div><div style="text-align: center;">well, I'm not sure I have done it well but I don't know that we have experienced it so much as we have</div><div style="text-align: center;">in the last year.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are a few more pictures while you are waiting along with us :)<br />
<br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVE4PjEoqJXZeoo0dlElf0zb3hAS1Ed53voDw2asWnFqGHdDE-P14gzWK3nC8ieX8upNJwMHYg9nHgadJt3JtRhsRao5clP2vTZGSSIbi55LdLrjw1dF71Xg4UUiC2GPTKlXS2Lzqi19J/s1600/009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRVE4PjEoqJXZeoo0dlElf0zb3hAS1Ed53voDw2asWnFqGHdDE-P14gzWK3nC8ieX8upNJwMHYg9nHgadJt3JtRhsRao5clP2vTZGSSIbi55LdLrjw1dF71Xg4UUiC2GPTKlXS2Lzqi19J/s320/009.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a picture we sent in our first photo album to our kids. Another adoption Mom told me to put the kid's pictures in with ours :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CzV8V6HbzKeb5jsRs9cHN3Ui2U9pmRPTSITj-L4-BLmgB1dmt5CVrzc8-4balZJWhPP1DKnWTxDavLZdVATVZeg7HRO-1mzsA0z8OtaRJv8r1XEHS021eB9xqdEGxzfRGuEcp_Un4G_P/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CzV8V6HbzKeb5jsRs9cHN3Ui2U9pmRPTSITj-L4-BLmgB1dmt5CVrzc8-4balZJWhPP1DKnWTxDavLZdVATVZeg7HRO-1mzsA0z8OtaRJv8r1XEHS021eB9xqdEGxzfRGuEcp_Un4G_P/s320/016.JPG" width="222" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsLib14tPHHctnyWb0FS7Swqgo158oR-wg5U33AmgVR7YmzgwReH56le5WKp4Rs0yzOdF7-mcJnczxG_ZPrLh6F1tepHwY6V-Q5hJcxyDaS7t51V5yC_eEbqz9UDyGp1pSsLqgBQjDTxU/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMsLib14tPHHctnyWb0FS7Swqgo158oR-wg5U33AmgVR7YmzgwReH56le5WKp4Rs0yzOdF7-mcJnczxG_ZPrLh6F1tepHwY6V-Q5hJcxyDaS7t51V5yC_eEbqz9UDyGp1pSsLqgBQjDTxU/s320/015.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs399b4EPc1NGuYUF6qpt1RimxOV_keOFryLnVFQ5QAF2GpWiLjqi0b9ONGSiny7jWrqRxs-d7sWzi4cq2o74muhxaEdCjmQEJeNfVLWK7JLEWEkRDClFH4HDroqc7LqP5Gj_cUO3_uDe1/s1600/019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs399b4EPc1NGuYUF6qpt1RimxOV_keOFryLnVFQ5QAF2GpWiLjqi0b9ONGSiny7jWrqRxs-d7sWzi4cq2o74muhxaEdCjmQEJeNfVLWK7JLEWEkRDClFH4HDroqc7LqP5Gj_cUO3_uDe1/s320/019.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq1nOCR1z1E5j-uZoN4hzBaV3dRZeTDvrWvfnVrWPUQwV4kuoZZxDHzoJk2woNL0QNNtb8GHyCkYRgc4m1vuJQf0uYxmWEcCWMMEgfONBxK7gjfAF0cKj73OOkOKswjK6z9ZcjPGtiouI/s1600/P1010520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTq1nOCR1z1E5j-uZoN4hzBaV3dRZeTDvrWvfnVrWPUQwV4kuoZZxDHzoJk2woNL0QNNtb8GHyCkYRgc4m1vuJQf0uYxmWEcCWMMEgfONBxK7gjfAF0cKj73OOkOKswjK6z9ZcjPGtiouI/s320/P1010520.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just a hot summer day with the cowboy cooling off his hat :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span id="goog_197230815"></span><span id="goog_197230816"></span></div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-85718407371353446682011-08-31T12:16:00.000-07:002011-08-31T12:16:25.215-07:00Still WAITING :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">Nope, not submitted today. </div><div style="text-align: center;">We are waiting on some test results and then hopefully NEXT week the children will all be submitted....</div><div style="text-align: center;">in the meantime: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Here are some more pictures! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzAW7g16TKGyjptPBExRakaFNOAU-lBmW7e_wg-aqDG_apJ-45XNZndqi9tUO3liRMgY1zwrUtPjXL-9Jqn0MP08MMtNlRG2cDA0VYIKs5rPZsS_KVC9gRidIBLioNMhw0RHw3griXo6A/s1600/286809_10150295124079573_546359572_7483523_619290_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRzAW7g16TKGyjptPBExRakaFNOAU-lBmW7e_wg-aqDG_apJ-45XNZndqi9tUO3liRMgY1zwrUtPjXL-9Jqn0MP08MMtNlRG2cDA0VYIKs5rPZsS_KVC9gRidIBLioNMhw0RHw3griXo6A/s320/286809_10150295124079573_546359572_7483523_619290_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Love, Tracy</div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-16940474206089532472011-08-25T12:19:00.000-07:002011-08-25T12:19:33.350-07:00My Coffee POT left last week<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><div style="text-align: center;">I was going to title this post <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #cc0000; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Life CHANGES & waiting</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #45818e; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span">but decided the coffee pot about summed it up :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Last Thursday we moved the baby of our 1st batch of kids into the dorms at the University of Utah</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><b>7 years ago we thought at this point we would be Empty Nesters.</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><b><br />
</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Prov. 16:9</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My baby, coffee pot and babysitter left. The coffee pot because I had bought it for him and ours broke so we were using his : ) </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Because he is only about 40 min. away I told him I could come and check on him everyday.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He said that was okay as long as I brought Apple Pie.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And no... I am not a Helicopter Mom :)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7dzdnaRk4WwDC6sYY1CjgLB0PK-GvYYUvDk6w7SaIwHrbg3PFbv4qoRPUId9I-bZLpZc_rCqmlgRfvyxJSwWBAAKNz4FJ9R35YiyhaVZrnB5IBwDKskfizg1HkwV1BeuGkagYWsSoedf/s1600/P1010815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA7dzdnaRk4WwDC6sYY1CjgLB0PK-GvYYUvDk6w7SaIwHrbg3PFbv4qoRPUId9I-bZLpZc_rCqmlgRfvyxJSwWBAAKNz4FJ9R35YiyhaVZrnB5IBwDKskfizg1HkwV1BeuGkagYWsSoedf/s320/P1010815.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>That is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">1st Life Change.</span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i><b>2nd Life Change:</b></i></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The SURPRISE BLESSING baby 12 years later is starting kindergarten.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7 years ago we had no idea a precious blonde hair blue-eyed boy of ours would be starting school.</span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLL8C55JiSGbMXKqPJvuiqrY1Pnk9xTneL78sgIKGrrbiY5JIL5Srka_NJ_qzN9hCMHsi9AYx1BjlWPf_EMIo_62mVafgAgaAp5etO6dBN1bhyL0cA4KpLP3BYXXsA0ECLdG8oaNW17Wa/s1600/P1010812.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLL8C55JiSGbMXKqPJvuiqrY1Pnk9xTneL78sgIKGrrbiY5JIL5Srka_NJ_qzN9hCMHsi9AYx1BjlWPf_EMIo_62mVafgAgaAp5etO6dBN1bhyL0cA4KpLP3BYXXsA0ECLdG8oaNW17Wa/s320/P1010812.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">cotton candy face </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We are sure thankful we are not Empty Nesters!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><b>3rd life change:</b></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>I know you know this one :)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>God has increased our family by 4!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We are waiting to be submitted to the US Embassy. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We thought we might be submitted last Wednesday...nope..</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>thought it would be this Wednesday...nope...</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>hopefully next Wednesday?</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Our agency is gathering court decrees, birth certificates and other paperwork on our children. They can only submit that on Wednesday's. After it is submitted the Embassy has 10 days to tell us if we are cleared for travel or they need more information.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Our best guess is we will bring them home mid Sept. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>As we know though we have learned to not keep to a timeline :)</i></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireAutvdtm68BIeBGS4Vbuzr4h7lScthISpmfnMv0efOQLbiGYZ1kNkIK94K0sGeYl5M2-HHYpDONVfwqX5SwTFEykjgSJPzRWLdsk1sMmusOJtqA8s9wiC4pDExH-8elK-VASywJAMj3F/s1600/IMAG0796.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireAutvdtm68BIeBGS4Vbuzr4h7lScthISpmfnMv0efOQLbiGYZ1kNkIK94K0sGeYl5M2-HHYpDONVfwqX5SwTFEykjgSJPzRWLdsk1sMmusOJtqA8s9wiC4pDExH-8elK-VASywJAMj3F/s320/IMAG0796.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfAanL7Dc36qr7MkzzEjZyGWmwH2ni_Qcd97ikl7ss8piYxm-_IEIl4dEWRanYlGy8YKHPwhLsgCq5KwkYT0R7XygQ9mIRTB9ftJOGqnMu0vBnMsMvr5R7eVHbmm3NI_Jbm4aZyyBOn5I/s1600/307935_2384481538401_1441640519_32760172_2911472_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQfAanL7Dc36qr7MkzzEjZyGWmwH2ni_Qcd97ikl7ss8piYxm-_IEIl4dEWRanYlGy8YKHPwhLsgCq5KwkYT0R7XygQ9mIRTB9ftJOGqnMu0vBnMsMvr5R7eVHbmm3NI_Jbm4aZyyBOn5I/s320/307935_2384481538401_1441640519_32760172_2911472_n.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
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</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Soooo.. while we wait we are preparing-</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>painting, cleaning out rooms, trying to finish all the Attachment books,</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>clean out 25 yrs of file cabinets..just joking, continuing to raise funds for our 2nd trip to pick up the kids (yep, 5 airplane tickets on way home- Baby can sit on our lap!)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We have so much to be thankful for and some day I will write what some of those specifics are along our journey.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>love, Tracy</i></span></div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-47720133426850474932011-08-05T13:28:00.000-07:002011-08-05T13:28:26.303-07:00Introducing our newest family members!! :)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH56YB9GY5BKnojcgNE4cuJ_gg0iGhcZFQuHhoQSguqvQgSQXeH5pW2bd5yixBkMZynoZaEZbIoAn70hxolXjj1_84n_3c3o3gDXkJXZswbT-8T8jfJlDTfMKvWZrq03MjZ7PmEoAWIhj/s1600/DSC_0482.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpH56YB9GY5BKnojcgNE4cuJ_gg0iGhcZFQuHhoQSguqvQgSQXeH5pW2bd5yixBkMZynoZaEZbIoAn70hxolXjj1_84n_3c3o3gDXkJXZswbT-8T8jfJlDTfMKvWZrq03MjZ7PmEoAWIhj/s320/DSC_0482.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tsegaye Autry (Eribka in background)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjmyJ-p5gKfptPkZSOCEGtahUU6YlPTE3Xodum75Q2gnvKmr0AHpTO4HsWNlT5_MLobqbM2AlcX4XxAvSMvLfZg9T5KrYReOWhloQe-yLYy_uWVYuWYx3BRZ9alDbmqRUdfGeUbuLtJKS/s1600/DSC_0036_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVjmyJ-p5gKfptPkZSOCEGtahUU6YlPTE3Xodum75Q2gnvKmr0AHpTO4HsWNlT5_MLobqbM2AlcX4XxAvSMvLfZg9T5KrYReOWhloQe-yLYy_uWVYuWYx3BRZ9alDbmqRUdfGeUbuLtJKS/s320/DSC_0036_01.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eribka Autry</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNouz0x1zrJSkBHfVbSnjwxEFVmwqT2hSwMdpPNS0ATYqHEMWCTbVZbs4Mw1olXfcsdjcuOyNP2teSfNg-5HognTGINooNcpRmNi4twl6PxE7HiAzYqU7OBaJI9cggwpChtntWKvzuh49U/s1600/DSC_0044_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNouz0x1zrJSkBHfVbSnjwxEFVmwqT2hSwMdpPNS0ATYqHEMWCTbVZbs4Mw1olXfcsdjcuOyNP2teSfNg-5HognTGINooNcpRmNi4twl6PxE7HiAzYqU7OBaJI9cggwpChtntWKvzuh49U/s320/DSC_0044_01.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sintayehu Autry</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKRL6fKj4Fkpmqlm80cgylxIpRtokMw2hNgrm810G1laVE3pDP1nqKXj7dP8XqAC_z4it5QqTfK8r0nF7z0_E-j3oedK-UcTybE9VqM_ptHRZCJybPwRbu58v6pYFRrSsKvy5fPMvVgQ4/s1600/DSC_0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKRL6fKj4Fkpmqlm80cgylxIpRtokMw2hNgrm810G1laVE3pDP1nqKXj7dP8XqAC_z4it5QqTfK8r0nF7z0_E-j3oedK-UcTybE9VqM_ptHRZCJybPwRbu58v6pYFRrSsKvy5fPMvVgQ4/s320/DSC_0195.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mikniyat Autry</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ53uy8M3CtW8xIHja96BAXECFpl3SaZtLlSdjOC4727LodLendzFv02r6V9LtdwiGlm3cDdTSVxcxHsRPjCz6qZXteV3os6OQpZ6ygHKKLbXAShKd4_8DqyX2Oc1wLdFJgcP9Nc1VY33w/s1600/DSC_0210_01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ53uy8M3CtW8xIHja96BAXECFpl3SaZtLlSdjOC4727LodLendzFv02r6V9LtdwiGlm3cDdTSVxcxHsRPjCz6qZXteV3os6OQpZ6ygHKKLbXAShKd4_8DqyX2Oc1wLdFJgcP9Nc1VY33w/s320/DSC_0210_01.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The boys were exhausted by the end of play time! :)</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGuZBoBf1yJO0nHAIHnTu7nLxkmVSMz3Y9PjHCjmwRplR4uEa9RgYO9Kvrly1oy61JXMDAX9VQamco2bd5LlQEvKWLf1Euy-QLGaQ8_Bk2P9wmhAYxuBtEl7_EyoPocrTs3wbv9RdDnIu/s1600/DSC_0513.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJGuZBoBf1yJO0nHAIHnTu7nLxkmVSMz3Y9PjHCjmwRplR4uEa9RgYO9Kvrly1oy61JXMDAX9VQamco2bd5LlQEvKWLf1Euy-QLGaQ8_Bk2P9wmhAYxuBtEl7_EyoPocrTs3wbv9RdDnIu/s320/DSC_0513.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7XZke9xJbmDJ7fXtCxyZuULJWmorjnxNxh8n_ChIm9WQR_gpmeY3KxwxEm-62FD5IqmfEh9fc8BUjZI8VNB6BrZYgSOU1ymsoZ6BOZDMnPBZx_WSlnhFfDPJZyYNZTaGjoDfErgdqAmR/s1600/DSC_0469.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI7XZke9xJbmDJ7fXtCxyZuULJWmorjnxNxh8n_ChIm9WQR_gpmeY3KxwxEm-62FD5IqmfEh9fc8BUjZI8VNB6BrZYgSOU1ymsoZ6BOZDMnPBZx_WSlnhFfDPJZyYNZTaGjoDfErgdqAmR/s320/DSC_0469.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">We PASSED court today! Our MOWYCA letter was written on the last day before rainy season!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We were totally surprised!</div><div style="text-align: center;">We do know that God's timing is always best</div><div style="text-align: center;">and are so excited we are able to bring the children home sooner than later.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have sooooo much to do to get ready and once 2 boys head out to college we will start rearranging rooms!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you thank you thank you </div><div style="text-align: center;">for standing with us this far and please continue to pray for us and the kids!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tracy </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-46876265703482833372011-08-01T14:59:00.000-07:002011-08-01T14:59:54.281-07:00Home again- home again!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipChFvWxs39BO85M_oV3l9H5Yew7kvStNt9PgbwDwf87xgkbSE4rek1Fs_iL5obnpE0vNGO6d9f3QEWjgzRufdpGvLN5N9Q368NP5Bh8kGEt7grPBQfbQB2DU0TLkJmGcGYz_1zG-sN9Ke/s1600/DSC_0004_2+-+Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipChFvWxs39BO85M_oV3l9H5Yew7kvStNt9PgbwDwf87xgkbSE4rek1Fs_iL5obnpE0vNGO6d9f3QEWjgzRufdpGvLN5N9Q368NP5Bh8kGEt7grPBQfbQB2DU0TLkJmGcGYz_1zG-sN9Ke/s320/DSC_0004_2+-+Copy.jpg" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View outside our guesthouse-notice stick scaffolding with man on top!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yonas and Dawit (our America World guide and driver-they were great!!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9lupc-SPcLeOp9-TSiIwEX9aIIT5dnjmicewgchz0UakKhdgbEh0b3dtFZx39h2uyY5HcMlHidOusAmBMGze6w0UyJHdpi0zXHudnXDuarUoRH3hJuJiXu0MOvvSPd7OgL7Tdds2k69F/s1600/DSC_0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq9lupc-SPcLeOp9-TSiIwEX9aIIT5dnjmicewgchz0UakKhdgbEh0b3dtFZx39h2uyY5HcMlHidOusAmBMGze6w0UyJHdpi0zXHudnXDuarUoRH3hJuJiXu0MOvvSPd7OgL7Tdds2k69F/s320/DSC_0001.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our guest house where we lived for 10 days!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lfG4UdYBzEjw7PsMj3D-B5MPRvb9Dy-k-RANwiifGxGAXygxS1smTwCfbwVTAjr6hJC7OW8i8TDLYNHURQgmvyFK8RXLYFJV_YPpu5fKj2vDmfk_S0aAJgVVxquwNOwq00f2szXKBPyw/s1600/DSC_0004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2lfG4UdYBzEjw7PsMj3D-B5MPRvb9Dy-k-RANwiifGxGAXygxS1smTwCfbwVTAjr6hJC7OW8i8TDLYNHURQgmvyFK8RXLYFJV_YPpu5fKj2vDmfk_S0aAJgVVxquwNOwq00f2szXKBPyw/s320/DSC_0004.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">view outside our guest house- we were on 3 rd floor</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84VhrJEAOz_UxUNjTo4-oGQQCJVWMqdINQ350iywzd-AL51OBEw8vrQIcSunvvowZ5Wzdyv17fxW1NX0Qn2tC9xh55OXHsUOXLd58r6PJIrXMUxsrFrUOx_4TNZDKXjmzimrn2oY1-QYv/s1600/DSC_0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi84VhrJEAOz_UxUNjTo4-oGQQCJVWMqdINQ350iywzd-AL51OBEw8vrQIcSunvvowZ5Wzdyv17fxW1NX0Qn2tC9xh55OXHsUOXLd58r6PJIrXMUxsrFrUOx_4TNZDKXjmzimrn2oY1-QYv/s320/DSC_0011.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a van like we drove everywhere in</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9DQeR5qCX1RlFWfxRZvvxpZVUvpnGdoYFUgNI7xQUdVHSLIBrbn2bjZ29idONqQglGXRy_gGNoj5js8AtFMY_sxG-ydK9Ie13OTnwpfEXufRkC-mfxSQxh-UNixj5hzwACDrMuo42eMB/s1600/DSC_0011_01+-+Copy.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge9DQeR5qCX1RlFWfxRZvvxpZVUvpnGdoYFUgNI7xQUdVHSLIBrbn2bjZ29idONqQglGXRy_gGNoj5js8AtFMY_sxG-ydK9Ie13OTnwpfEXufRkC-mfxSQxh-UNixj5hzwACDrMuo42eMB/s320/DSC_0011_01+-+Copy.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">former palace-now Ethiopian museum on University campus</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17MYiHxhLrBNsNu267ewVWUeKQl7cRgs221p0sej0EBReEZu4HWx-2tXkec8glkbfVwtLPQ9-lcAeJaBwG6JnnzIEDGJZ4qzvj1pad_MeBrcJeA0QtbtAJ8SBkEmYOzeGtlsNcQ5c7LKY/s1600/DSC_0022_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi17MYiHxhLrBNsNu267ewVWUeKQl7cRgs221p0sej0EBReEZu4HWx-2tXkec8glkbfVwtLPQ9-lcAeJaBwG6JnnzIEDGJZ4qzvj1pad_MeBrcJeA0QtbtAJ8SBkEmYOzeGtlsNcQ5c7LKY/s320/DSC_0022_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">country side on way to Sodo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PWpaKL0OGedKbTD3DXjDN0LWov9_3oCDVpHvMFPj6_vQ1uEQDW4oAnuTH7drscQByQv9LS1Ao-16yCk_v7njeqsx3IPx-1WnGZUkbgBSaaGEpR82fBEp3xMvBYZOZTZ2yN3hKscEkK4q/s1600/DSC_0024_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PWpaKL0OGedKbTD3DXjDN0LWov9_3oCDVpHvMFPj6_vQ1uEQDW4oAnuTH7drscQByQv9LS1Ao-16yCk_v7njeqsx3IPx-1WnGZUkbgBSaaGEpR82fBEp3xMvBYZOZTZ2yN3hKscEkK4q/s320/DSC_0024_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gV1DB-Pg-oourgKh_8nkMIGXHzTrEPMPpsITRAVjOQ8a0xboalgxxgsDqGKOmq-RuE7GRhbqsktSVmqUUBmXhYKdOb-5bMWNqoyPqhQaPMovss3xvaegA1Sh6lMlU1IiGcmKh-ESU9JB/s1600/DSC_0079.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1gV1DB-Pg-oourgKh_8nkMIGXHzTrEPMPpsITRAVjOQ8a0xboalgxxgsDqGKOmq-RuE7GRhbqsktSVmqUUBmXhYKdOb-5bMWNqoyPqhQaPMovss3xvaegA1Sh6lMlU1IiGcmKh-ESU9JB/s320/DSC_0079.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every place had high walls and gates</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJ4mUxXv4nwSsRoLX1X4W8fjmQkLEqFKCLUvsWxgrOvzNnMkbji7gz98dmHfZKRadFatZMSDCW7RhxRpwooSG8B54LaXb3OkllehWhCzUNGom_z9LW940i6lLMN3rHIl4sJcj29EKBDFU/s1600/DSC_0078_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNJ4mUxXv4nwSsRoLX1X4W8fjmQkLEqFKCLUvsWxgrOvzNnMkbji7gz98dmHfZKRadFatZMSDCW7RhxRpwooSG8B54LaXb3OkllehWhCzUNGom_z9LW940i6lLMN3rHIl4sJcj29EKBDFU/s320/DSC_0078_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNe5bvxjUKTHePt4J7aHuGWKGGAXbTkyqVRqGDoQdfbNbE6gQt7tDiA4pPbIpc6oOQ0TXgtP77uuZg66642i6aXG5eqOHTTUgb8YUTBhz2-gSJ8ETM22qSxDz8_OINFUK3Gsfo_OK16Wf/s1600/DSC_0063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNe5bvxjUKTHePt4J7aHuGWKGGAXbTkyqVRqGDoQdfbNbE6gQt7tDiA4pPbIpc6oOQ0TXgtP77uuZg66642i6aXG5eqOHTTUgb8YUTBhz2-gSJ8ETM22qSxDz8_OINFUK3Gsfo_OK16Wf/s320/DSC_0063.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqM3BP_8hEKpiE4FWBhEdNh7X76zyIFuEJGlcErW9Aevq2GmhPIH0kSHN0rHukd91zoRMrhvPiaLthgHFnjj3KCZ5Fl1qRG9TvwpAs3-0qaTuLzlm9udfunAFoKeIRcEQSPZG_f1Yvm47p/s1600/DSC_0064_3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqM3BP_8hEKpiE4FWBhEdNh7X76zyIFuEJGlcErW9Aevq2GmhPIH0kSHN0rHukd91zoRMrhvPiaLthgHFnjj3KCZ5Fl1qRG9TvwpAs3-0qaTuLzlm9udfunAFoKeIRcEQSPZG_f1Yvm47p/s320/DSC_0064_3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All on way to Sodo - south of Addis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuQZ9VNDhhBdzja4098W2HtYKbAzNqrAlnRE65y3w7JyYD_-_g8rOAha-sSwxW8mZN9w6T3W6Vdfz7w1Qi0OAx4z7CklfbUREN-OWPrf_figatGHArNJS6XcmzFCaQ43PASonjDpwoe57/s1600/DSC_0068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmuQZ9VNDhhBdzja4098W2HtYKbAzNqrAlnRE65y3w7JyYD_-_g8rOAha-sSwxW8mZN9w6T3W6Vdfz7w1Qi0OAx4z7CklfbUREN-OWPrf_figatGHArNJS6XcmzFCaQ43PASonjDpwoe57/s320/DSC_0068.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No traffic lights :) People, cars, goats everywhere!</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbG7IHCnYfFQXwwxvR8GffFXj8lyWhiDkU4wwYogCb8um99TLFzLJN2GPjRGXpElJTTuIqoXW2g1pSoJflA8f_FR6NAlNMVVSiyjKE2Nl7ZpeE3R4ov5P74tZ6AJSW5yaagLmmhdk1-UY/s1600/DSC_0068_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHbG7IHCnYfFQXwwxvR8GffFXj8lyWhiDkU4wwYogCb8um99TLFzLJN2GPjRGXpElJTTuIqoXW2g1pSoJflA8f_FR6NAlNMVVSiyjKE2Nl7ZpeE3R4ov5P74tZ6AJSW5yaagLmmhdk1-UY/s320/DSC_0068_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyqknF-3kJQ5mo1PqQhIIohpM-eeOTuhSkeSEfBVLTQX9i1mOU77_Mp0w6pRdp-AWhWhoUEhFWar1nvjvWzbwcHSBCfTa5UjWVkDr48udTN2IYUsti98exTPOBH80wxP7leH_qoA_WVSv/s1600/DSC_0070.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyqknF-3kJQ5mo1PqQhIIohpM-eeOTuhSkeSEfBVLTQX9i1mOU77_Mp0w6pRdp-AWhWhoUEhFWar1nvjvWzbwcHSBCfTa5UjWVkDr48udTN2IYUsti98exTPOBH80wxP7leH_qoA_WVSv/s320/DSC_0070.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a store- notice veggies on porch</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyM8vu-vRitijjAgmOuVVxgRj6hbXJIWsl2yrbWIUG4bKf1__L71aMKeRQt5E-VUw6FEY1R70sz2flIkchuLIM8EAwr7EMQPFYzNJqQBIB8BzePgECLbW9_-nIU8mwxdPQLtTWhS0qMnO/s1600/DSC_0209+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSyM8vu-vRitijjAgmOuVVxgRj6hbXJIWsl2yrbWIUG4bKf1__L71aMKeRQt5E-VUw6FEY1R70sz2flIkchuLIM8EAwr7EMQPFYzNJqQBIB8BzePgECLbW9_-nIU8mwxdPQLtTWhS0qMnO/s320/DSC_0209+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXo26exWQ3fcU2XyCB1N3Wa93DWDdzeY05AkJ_hEW1jH8oYv30gCkwah7xS-QkvqLDI1VzVYuIi-ZcsMWludODQgmPedNM_71tDqfv6fyW7yl7B-AdnXfY31eWr7Lm8u2B2Mh1fYFS7n7/s1600/DSC_0197+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjXo26exWQ3fcU2XyCB1N3Wa93DWDdzeY05AkJ_hEW1jH8oYv30gCkwah7xS-QkvqLDI1VzVYuIi-ZcsMWludODQgmPedNM_71tDqfv6fyW7yl7B-AdnXfY31eWr7Lm8u2B2Mh1fYFS7n7/s320/DSC_0197+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always people walking in the roads-</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kky-P3yQ9e0ZfRb8l9WFQu6G_AsLyTl9i6gXcL1b3m4l2LdE15Q1_x0gT4I0UfrhkBfcGoi3ebv7XwwZvqNz8s4XR9sHyAtbZ2376oqcfGkehMwBxyaqhVv6aU1YgvDJpL-3BbZS0lkn/s1600/DSC_0205+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8kky-P3yQ9e0ZfRb8l9WFQu6G_AsLyTl9i6gXcL1b3m4l2LdE15Q1_x0gT4I0UfrhkBfcGoi3ebv7XwwZvqNz8s4XR9sHyAtbZ2376oqcfGkehMwBxyaqhVv6aU1YgvDJpL-3BbZS0lkn/s320/DSC_0205+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">goats walking in roads too :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-IEFreNbFcBOE0O8q8SMBG_hyCuCcj0DooEPV9CR50Pv9JzfKy-XoY95u5253jO-_jn6qb5ILn-zhWsu0sl7NPKz0Z5_78UasuGrkwxyM_CRb_XJJQwDKYTyaxTI8CRllpKmLwyd5bsk/s1600/DSC_0378_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-IEFreNbFcBOE0O8q8SMBG_hyCuCcj0DooEPV9CR50Pv9JzfKy-XoY95u5253jO-_jn6qb5ILn-zhWsu0sl7NPKz0Z5_78UasuGrkwxyM_CRb_XJJQwDKYTyaxTI8CRllpKmLwyd5bsk/s320/DSC_0378_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a town we stopped in for breakfast on way back to Addis</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgT2hLDcE1fEbSsEVHLUcwXcJEEYA_tsiYGXvxLcArwG-xGbMNUfHpblSMSqPZPAiNizYA88-D7U6e1uArZhDHQN20XdaTzeSublT9Tdniow6ygiQl6OQ2xgzq_gMZumCQAQmylmNtScV/s1600/DSC_0345+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgT2hLDcE1fEbSsEVHLUcwXcJEEYA_tsiYGXvxLcArwG-xGbMNUfHpblSMSqPZPAiNizYA88-D7U6e1uArZhDHQN20XdaTzeSublT9Tdniow6ygiQl6OQ2xgzq_gMZumCQAQmylmNtScV/s320/DSC_0345+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_9_GEh5FpRA9wHSCtQvPeB5eYLAgUFFtA6_FJV1188aqX98ETfYrt8ZjZqLAtNwLVPRVNKVkquaDiYEzot-PvVlWlkVG5JYyFudG1hz2OJTfUrBlddqdo1Ica0tM4ee6n16SHURslzoD/s1600/DSC_0355+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_9_GEh5FpRA9wHSCtQvPeB5eYLAgUFFtA6_FJV1188aqX98ETfYrt8ZjZqLAtNwLVPRVNKVkquaDiYEzot-PvVlWlkVG5JYyFudG1hz2OJTfUrBlddqdo1Ica0tM4ee6n16SHURslzoD/s320/DSC_0355+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went in this hut! The family was very gracious to allow us in-</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf9ZAp5LL9GUPxhgXfAOjDBTejhiVKkdMQhUSux5fRD2EBEvKPrvMKXanAPb_sX_I19ziEfYpnewu1Yf8ewkzkf4r7BH8H06A3321cDZ7xGPCH3khQzfLl2_Rj44May5za2pT30B9cSle/s1600/DSC_0358_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdf9ZAp5LL9GUPxhgXfAOjDBTejhiVKkdMQhUSux5fRD2EBEvKPrvMKXanAPb_sX_I19ziEfYpnewu1Yf8ewkzkf4r7BH8H06A3321cDZ7xGPCH3khQzfLl2_Rj44May5za2pT30B9cSle/s320/DSC_0358_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Randall ducking in-</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwF1n1yQcvHcsbpF_WY5NYyQU75dicYAA-y-kUl2q3M0xJqPsPwjApQhn8D0BLw4igI6esctlMSaOrwOjkzHcfq7FmEcaGhQOjYHvxSZwZHtSdbVM4Ty6a4DUGMkAwsBiwAuxDj4hugQLu/s1600/DSC_0364+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwF1n1yQcvHcsbpF_WY5NYyQU75dicYAA-y-kUl2q3M0xJqPsPwjApQhn8D0BLw4igI6esctlMSaOrwOjkzHcfq7FmEcaGhQOjYHvxSZwZHtSdbVM4Ty6a4DUGMkAwsBiwAuxDj4hugQLu/s320/DSC_0364+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdo2fP0G1nQ-h12B0T324BWIzeoVaue4Xn1NNF0IsRWNCC850NQwdt0BwnDSLBCmz09uViXpSgPRJfcdY1zMCnw15kAeuFCB7sO_K_JHDs91K4Qsni7sqM1IUyXxr9UDyVHOlCw48_qvN/s1600/DSC_0366+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwdo2fP0G1nQ-h12B0T324BWIzeoVaue4Xn1NNF0IsRWNCC850NQwdt0BwnDSLBCmz09uViXpSgPRJfcdY1zMCnw15kAeuFCB7sO_K_JHDs91K4Qsni7sqM1IUyXxr9UDyVHOlCw48_qvN/s320/DSC_0366+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">funny little taxis-3 wheels - fit 3 or 4 people--looked like to me out of Star Wars!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleZvhsnCFsc3qQ45VGHrWQG9ONnwnKuGxGrjVANFJ8cmDlZSAiaxPDmWqb73CY8D1DAriBs9HBDKi-OZUCSqtobYQDEPw2z7mW5baqMHpj7mVv-hPfRqyphEL0ug5iJvNP6pH_jPLJj5E/s1600/DSC_0327+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhleZvhsnCFsc3qQ45VGHrWQG9ONnwnKuGxGrjVANFJ8cmDlZSAiaxPDmWqb73CY8D1DAriBs9HBDKi-OZUCSqtobYQDEPw2z7mW5baqMHpj7mVv-hPfRqyphEL0ug5iJvNP6pH_jPLJj5E/s320/DSC_0327+2.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">coffee tree behind Randall</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm-m0bApyRL9NJnpHqP4J2zY5TCX2wQuutScljjtv2vcZ7ILDJwQcNfo9uD8nRoZmpkuRv7VPVL5BLXbkx0BX20XZs8V5a5owBFxS1BSovy972lNChyT2MqePNrgthHqNC8sCBCGbkBiL/s1600/DSC_0218+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBm-m0bApyRL9NJnpHqP4J2zY5TCX2wQuutScljjtv2vcZ7ILDJwQcNfo9uD8nRoZmpkuRv7VPVL5BLXbkx0BX20XZs8V5a5owBFxS1BSovy972lNChyT2MqePNrgthHqNC8sCBCGbkBiL/s320/DSC_0218+2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethiopian girls</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwXRKLg8ZJzDwbVlUD0wc8hWDx6esmlPoWarieQ3jCpW4gHy-iGfBj4qGJMcLpcApfVpsa0IHK1AxDFMavv5lpbRJvQv9zBacwgz-S7FRKQF5dwmesYFQ0O0ad2EDfc429XgQeYxqAqul/s1600/DSC_0246_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjwXRKLg8ZJzDwbVlUD0wc8hWDx6esmlPoWarieQ3jCpW4gHy-iGfBj4qGJMcLpcApfVpsa0IHK1AxDFMavv5lpbRJvQv9zBacwgz-S7FRKQF5dwmesYFQ0O0ad2EDfc429XgQeYxqAqul/s320/DSC_0246_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DSk_9Q8FhyphenhyphenOK9bsN9vPGYab3vDukIXaZsjwQR6u8X-jJxJhiLQChyphenhyphenJAJh8kRsMcBvw2DBhxylR1a4ty4slTgG9JwLmcLAtnU-UREgykVPN2ZIvIVR6ZBoz9BBvyHvF-d4t1liOX0C0qt/s1600/DSC_0292_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4DSk_9Q8FhyphenhyphenOK9bsN9vPGYab3vDukIXaZsjwQR6u8X-jJxJhiLQChyphenhyphenJAJh8kRsMcBvw2DBhxylR1a4ty4slTgG9JwLmcLAtnU-UREgykVPN2ZIvIVR6ZBoz9BBvyHvF-d4t1liOX0C0qt/s320/DSC_0292_2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ping pong along side of road- 3 or 4 tables set up. Zach, Nick and I played.<br />
Didn't realize we were supposed to pay to play--oops! :)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTn8_spdi94tblsZzLQ5GP2mjYoKzuH1gsasv22V1ENzqXaEVTNRK-hm8odqvZFvLMXsetdEtveuWslVpC-bZlwlYALvEbLVMK5HM9px11HvogRdxICMP2YptgjzZfKm8IzMLRIHA9NMOX/s1600/DSC_0303+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTn8_spdi94tblsZzLQ5GP2mjYoKzuH1gsasv22V1ENzqXaEVTNRK-hm8odqvZFvLMXsetdEtveuWslVpC-bZlwlYALvEbLVMK5HM9px11HvogRdxICMP2YptgjzZfKm8IzMLRIHA9NMOX/s320/DSC_0303+2.JPG" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">road along street in Sodo-big drainage ditch- our hotel was along here as well as ping pong</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;">The BIG Question: </div><div style="text-align: center;">Did we pass court?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Nope!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We were missing our MOWCYA letters</div><div style="text-align: center;">which the Ministry of Women Children and Youth Affairs (like our social services here)</div><div style="text-align: center;">must write a recommendation for each family.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We expected this so it wasn't too big of a surprise but was hoping they would be there!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Our time with the kids was amazing and exhausting! :) They greeted us on the first day with big hugs and kisses. Can't wait to share pictures with you when we pass court! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Even though we don't speak the same language we communicated quite well! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Soccer was played everyday! Stickers, coloring, running around, painting nails and toes, etc.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We were SO thankful to have Zach and Nick with us!! With one of us always holding the baby that left 1 person basically for each kid.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Ethiopia is a beautiful country! I will post more later but wanted to just say </div><div style="text-align: center;">THANK YOU to all of you praying for us and our children.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We have lots of stories to tell and precious memories.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Please continue to pray we pass court soon. Court closes Aug. 7th (for 2 months) and if we don't receive letters by then we are looking at around mid-Nov. to bring the kids home.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We wouldn't have been able to come this far without each of you...</div><div style="text-align: center;">More to come!! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IBPVWpr0p4rP_CKJo5dRQaSUdtwDLaWhJNrtHtdBla9uZxjpaSY7A722q-iCPeLzNmQDqapMygT3P27EpBcZiWwbGzghmYuP39TrrZuEIxt-T31dMgWeypovuVWVa318aMYjK7_wZaQb/s1600/DSC_0336+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6IBPVWpr0p4rP_CKJo5dRQaSUdtwDLaWhJNrtHtdBla9uZxjpaSY7A722q-iCPeLzNmQDqapMygT3P27EpBcZiWwbGzghmYuP39TrrZuEIxt-T31dMgWeypovuVWVa318aMYjK7_wZaQb/s320/DSC_0336+2.JPG" width="214" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-26187605436920455302011-07-14T01:33:00.000-07:002011-07-14T01:33:57.001-07:00WHIRLWIND and 2 hr to go :)<div style="text-align: center;">Good MORNING (it's 2:23 am) Friends!</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am POOPED but ready to go I think...my brain is a tad fuzzy!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">This week has been a blur...</div><div style="text-align: center;">MONDAY and TUESDAY college orientation with Nick</div><div style="text-align: center;">very informative</div><div style="text-align: center;">very enlightening</div><div style="text-align: center;">very different from Christian schools... I finally realized the Orientation leaders weren't going to pray before or after their talks</div><div style="text-align: center;">enjoyed meeting new Mom's </div><div style="text-align: center;">can't believe Nick is registered for college</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have 4 suitcases stuffed with donations (oops just remembered I need to duct tape one of them!)</div><div style="text-align: center;">and 4 suitcases of our stuff plus all carry ons</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have a bag food of goodies for my little guy</div><div style="text-align: center;">this will be the longest time we have ever been away from him</div><div style="text-align: center;">he is sad</div><div style="text-align: center;">and excited he gets to be with Grandma and Pop-Pop</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pray for Grandma who is playing with him!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I am having a multitude of emotions and know they will be magnified when we get to Ethiopia and love on our children</div><div style="text-align: center;">and see</div><div style="text-align: center;">what we have never seen before</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Pray we will be a LIGHT</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-64903407368675075112011-07-06T11:18:00.000-07:002011-07-06T11:30:01.358-07:00Marshmallows-Typhoid Pills & Garage Sales!<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Last Friday</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> 5 of us went to the International Travel Clinic for a consultation and shots :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As we sat waiting in the lobby a Grandma and Grandpa were there with their around 4 yr old grandaughter who was sacked out on the chairs. I gathered they had been there awhile just from listening to them talk with a nurse. After a moment the Grandma pulled a half eaten bag of marshmallows from her bag and handed one to the Grandpa. Some whispering and looking our direction went on and then Grandma offered Micah a marshmallow :) He declined :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">They were so kind to offer and I thought how funny that here we are sitting in a Travel Clinic being offered a marshmallow! </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We have decided that Zach and Nick will be going with us to Ethiopia next week. Because of the importance of this trip we want them to experience our children's culture and history as well as be with the kids for this first meeting. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Two hours later we came out of the clinic learning about all the possible parasites,virus', what they do and symptoms. Very eye-opening...Nick made the comment that he wants to stay in the US of A after hearing all that! Ha! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Hep A, Hep B, Tetanus, Typoid Pills, and a prescription for Malaria pills and an antibiotic.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We decided not to get the Yellow Fever shot.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">PHEW!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">GARAGE SALE</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">this Saturday July 9th!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>(starting to think I was a little nuts planning this right before we leave)</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i>Hoping to raise GOBS of mula to help for the Embassy trip when we bring our 4 children home!</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">We will have a <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">snow blower</span></i> (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">winter will be here before we know it!)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">, </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Cannondale Tandem Bike (</span>great for a pre-marital exercise in who is in control!),</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">furniture, weight equipment, clothes, stroller, Little Tyke kitchen, wedding dress, plus all kinds of other TREASURES!</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">If you have anything you would like to donate give me a call! :)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-large;">COME ONE COME ALL! :)</span></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-1965250541375408242011-06-28T19:41:00.000-07:002011-06-28T19:41:45.584-07:00Blessings for orphanages and transition home :)<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px;"></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><b><i>We are able to take donations for orphanages and the transition home our children are in...if you would like to give please let me know. We need to have everything by July 11th to get it all packed and sorted.</i></b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>This is a list from our agency of the needs!</i></b></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></u></i></b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 18px;">Here are the donations we are seeking:</span></span></u></i></b></div><div class="" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">1. Iron drops</span></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">2. A+D diaper ointment, diaper rash and all purpose skincare formula</span></span></div><div class="" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">3. Diapers (for up to 30 pounds)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">4. </span></span><b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Unscented </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">baby wipes</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">5. Powder Formula with DHA/RHA</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">6. Enfamil and Similac </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">lactose free</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> formula</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> * other </span></span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">lactose free </span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">formulas </span></span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">with identical nutritional value</span></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> also accepted, including: </span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> a. Kirkland brand from Costco</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> b. Target's generic formula</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> c. Parent's Choice formula from Wal-Mart </span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"></span></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Soy based or other special formulas are also acceptable as long as they are the </span></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">above-mentioned brands</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">7. Children's clothing (new or slightly used); both genders; 0-8 yrs old. Needs include day clothes (especially pants), p</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">ajamas, underwear, and shoes...girls clothes (18-24 mos) is now covered!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">8. Bath towels for children</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">9. Toys to stimulate babies such as colorful objects, rattles, etc, that are appropriate for babies up to 2 years</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">10. Children's DVDs, especially educational or spiritually based movies</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">11. Children's devotional books and books with spiritual and character building focus</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">12. Devotional books for older children</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">13. Hair shavers (3 needed)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">14. Hand sanitizer</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">15. SCRUBS - nannies wear scrubs while working (sizes small and medium)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: left;"><b><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">Medications/Medical Donation Needs</span></span></u></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">16. Multi-vitamins</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> a. Tri-vi-sol (0-6 months)</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> b. Poly-vi-sol (6 months - 2 years)</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> c. Chewable multi-vitamin (2-9 years)</span></span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> d. Adult mulitvitamin (9 years plus)</span></span></span></b></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22px;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">17. Tylenol (acetaminophen)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> a. Infants</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> b. Children</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"> c. Suppository</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">18. Baby nose saline spray</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">19. Neosporin</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">20. Syringes for giving medicine</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">21. Plastic and Latex disposable gloves</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">22. Mouth and nose masks</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">23. Benadryl liquid/elixir</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">24. Permetherin for scabies</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">25. Lice kits</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;">26. Toothbrushes, toothpastes, dental floss</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Century Gothic'; font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">*</span></span><i>PLEASE check the expiration date on all donation items as expired items will be discarded upon receipt and cannot be used.</i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i> </i> </span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div></span>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-39259524997527312902011-06-28T19:31:00.000-07:002011-06-28T19:31:18.918-07:00Tickets Booked<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>-heading to</i></span> Ethiopia on July 14th! Hard to believe we are going to be meeting our</div><div style="text-align: center;">kids for the very first time in a little over 2 weeks! After much thought we have decided to take Zach and Nick with us. We are excited that they will get to experience where our children have come from and start to form relationships with them while we are there.</div><div style="text-align: center;">As you can imagine we are in the midst of preparation, getting shots, figuring out what to take, plans for Micah, meals for Luke and Micah, etc. etc... :)</div><div style="text-align: center;">Plus we are having a <i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: lime; font-size: large;">GINORMOUS</span></b></i> garage sale on July 9th! I know that's probably going to put me over the edge since we leave the 14th but need to raise some mula for our 2nd trip to ET which will be when we bring the</div><div style="text-align: center;">kids home.</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you have any "TREASURE" you would like to donate to our sale please let me know! I will be glad to pick it up (or send a boy to pick it up!:))</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjREI2o_MadxPUuglaeoeXA6drzijjPFKNi83WhgLI69Quyta3kCQcQlHkE8CwpyNq65u4PmqcpUvnZMZh9KcMHS_EuqGsJ622qHkI1GD7b_MOSQpesnn53P3MlS1w96itJx375VuV-j0/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjREI2o_MadxPUuglaeoeXA6drzijjPFKNi83WhgLI69Quyta3kCQcQlHkE8CwpyNq65u4PmqcpUvnZMZh9KcMHS_EuqGsJ622qHkI1GD7b_MOSQpesnn53P3MlS1w96itJx375VuV-j0/s320/024.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Thank you for being excited alongside us!! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">PS</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>You can order anytime from <a href="http://www.ordinaryherostore.org/">Ordinary Hero</a> and we receive 40%.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>They do have awesome stuff! :)</i></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8746906577704497642.post-40371084164421377952011-06-20T21:06:00.000-07:002011-06-20T21:06:19.574-07:00Ethiopia HERE WE COME! :)<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: magenta;">YES!</span> </span></b>We have a court DATE of July 22nd!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">We got the call today... I was having lunch with my Dad for Father's Day at a barbeque restaurant and had my phone sitting on the table on vibrate. I noticed it buzzing around on the table with the 703 area code. By the time I grabbed it there was no one there. I ran out the door (b/c it was too loud) telling my Dad I thought it was our agency...poor Dad, left him eating his ribs by himself! :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">I called back the number and told the gal on the other line someone just called me from there..she asked who and I said I didn't know... (I guess I could listen to the voice mail!) but I was hoping it was Kristen!</div><div style="text-align: center;">Sure enough it was Kristen calling to say we had a court date!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Everything seems like it is in fast forward motion as we will be figuring out flights in the next day or so.</div><div style="text-align: center;">We haven't gotten our shots yet so have to call the international travel clinic tomorrow..etc. etc.. :)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Now is an <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">AWESOME</span></i></b> time to pass the word along about the OH $500 grant we could win plus 40% of all sales goes directly towards our adoption travel costs! </div><div style="text-align: center;">It's only until Tuesday @ midnight! (TN time)</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Just go to the <b><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.ordinaryherostore.org/">Ordinary Hero Store</a></span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><i>and select Tracy Autry from the affiliate drop down bar when you check out.</i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img height="135" src="https://www10.corecommerce.com/~ordinaryhero/images/categories/777.jpg" width="200" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://www10.corecommerce.com/~ordinaryhero/images/categories/527.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="https://www10.corecommerce.com/~ordinaryhero/images/products/856.jpg" /> <img src="https://www10.corecommerce.com/~ordinaryhero/images/products/865.jpg" /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>We covet your prayers.</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div>Tracyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16461809523009405537noreply@blogger.com0