We're Getting Closer!!

My fun YG friends have created a list of where adoptive families are in the waiting process and the Blackwell's have made it to the top 10!!! That is so exciting!!! We could get a referral next month or maybe even tomorrow!!! I can't believe that I will finally get to see a picture of our baby, and to call our baby by name! Just to fill in those of you who aren't aware of what we have ahead of us, we will not be able to get our child until sometime in December (maybe a little earlier or later). The courts are closed until Oct 7, and we have to legally adopt our child before we travel. So even though we will be placed with a child sometime soon, we still have quite a bit of waiting to do.

T shirt update... Jamie ordered some new colors and I love them!! The gray shirt is a fitted shirt, but the rest are unisex and run true to size. THANK YOU so much to all of you that ordered them... it has been fun to see you wear them!!!

Night Out!!

It was so incredible to get together with some amazing individuals, who just happen to be adopting (have adopted) from Ethiopia too. It was so wonderful to meet Kassie and the Semlows, and to see the Gillmans, Gibsons, and Martins. I could have stayed there and talked all night!! You all are wonderful people!!!!

An Update is Due!!

My sister in law (miss you already, DeeDee) reminded me this weekend that my blog has not been updated since April, so I thought it might be a good idea to give a tiny update. Referrals are coming right along at America World. A family who had their paperwork turned in a couple weeks ahead of us just received a referral (YEA, Caldwells), so we are hoping for a referral in the next couple of months. Kim and Alisa have also informed me that we are within the top 10 to 15 of families waiting. Courts will close next week for a couple of months, so if we get a referral soon, we still would not travel for another two or three months. Really I am clueless as I do not know what kind of effect the court's closing have on the whole process. We are content on waiting for whatever comes our way. I have to admit that when I found out the Caldwells got their referral, I have started to increasingly get more and more jittery. Like at any minute I could get the phone call. I told Kevin that I feel like I have done a pretty good job of being patient and keeping my emotions under control. This is really not in my nature. I was the kid who unwrapped all of her Christmas presents and wrapped them all back up before the big day. I think that knowing myself that if I don't keep myself under control, that I will not be able to real myself back in. What a mess that would be!! BUT, when we do get that phone call, Lord have mercy on the poor soul that is nearest me, as I have a feeling I will cause serious hearing damage from all my screaming!!! God has really done some awesome things in our adoption process. About the time we finished with our dossier, we were tempted to switch agencies as other agencies were apparently giving out referrals at a much quicker rate. Kevin and I prayed about it, and felt very strongly to stay with AW. At the time we couldn't understand it because we wouldn't have been "out" very much money. We assumed we would have gotten a referral (with the new agency they were telling families it would be a 2-3 month wait for referrals) in the Spring and traveled in the summer. It seemed perfect for two teachers. If we stayed with AW, then we were sure we wouldn't get a referral until the Fall or after; hence, I would have to take a lot of unpaid maternity leave by staying with AW. Since we did not feel at peace with switching, we have stayed with AW. Recently we have heard that the other agency we were thinking of using has been under investigation for child trafficking, so we thank God for not letting us have peace!!! Also, my dear friend, Jamie Jo, took my hand drawn sketch of a t shirt design and took care of all the details in getting them printed. JJ is a director of a camp in Colorado, and has been selling the shirts there. Evidently they have been selling like MAD!!! Every time they get a new order, they sell out within a couple of days. Isn't that crazy? Even more crazy is that one of their campers is Jordin Sparks, and she liked the shirt and wanted to help out AnNi so much that she is going to wear it to the Nickolodeon Teen Choice Awards tonight. She is nominated for three awards, so our shirt is going to be on TV. The show will air on Monday on Fox. Isn't that completely RIDICULOUS?

Occupying Our Time

People are always asking what our status is in the adoption. I wish I had more to say, but I don't. This kind of waiting is very untangible for me. With Hally and Brady, I had doctor appointments, weeks to count, and many other milestones to encourage me that the their beginings were going to occur. This kind of pregnancy is almost like walking in a dark tunnel and trying to find the exit. You know there is an exit and a time when you'll get out of the tunnel, but you just don't know when it will be. Mentally, I keep telling myself that it is going to be a long walk and to just get used to walkin'. In doing that, I'm trying to find the joy of being in the tunnel, and so far I feel like I've been pretty succesful. I meet with an adoption group once a month that I just LOVE!! We all get along like old friends, and I look forward to knowing them more. Being around Jamie Jo, Gabby, and family has helped see what coming out of the tunnel looks like, and helps me to realize God's way or plan is so much better than mine. I have also been planning/designing a fund raiser t shirt and necklace that I will be displaying on my blog shortly. Jamie has also designed a shirt that I have displayed it to the right. Isn't it AWESOME?!!! It will be sold at AnNi Designs http://annifororphans.com/ by June. Proceeds from the shirt will be going to help fund our adoption. My future plans will be to complete our fund raisers and read books on adoption. Pray for us that we continue this whole journey with strength and a great attitude. We covet these dearly!!

I've been TAGGED by Alisa!!

Here are the rules: If you get tagged, you will need to write 10 fact s about yourself and then tag 5 other blogs to do the same. Here goes my 10...


1. I have moved 9 different times in my lifetime... My dad was in the Air Force.

2. The first time I saw Kevin, I knew I would marry him. I even told my parents, and they thought I was absolutely CRAZY!!! That was in 1992, and I was 18 years old; he was 21.

3. I am a Jesus FREAK!! He is the most amazing person I have ever met.

4. I absolutely adore my children.

5. I started off in college as an art student.

6. I love flea markets, purses, photography, i tunes, coffee in the morning, German Shepherds, chocolate, fixing up old things, going on dates with my husband, and t shirts.

7. I'm a Jane Austin junky.

8. I used to want to be in a rock band...

9. I love my church, James River. I love their passion for Christ and for the lost.

10. I love seeing a child do something they didn't think they were capable of doing.

You Know You Should Adopt If...

I stole this from Jana's blog... LOVE it!!

1. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.
2. You realize DNA has nothing to do with love and family.
3. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.
4. The fact that, if 7% of Christians adopted 1 child there would be no orphans in the world, is convicting to you.
5. You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.
6. It drives you crazy when people ask you about adopted child's "real" parents.
7. You have ever been "pregnant" with your adoptive child longer than it takes an elephant to give birth.(2 years!)
8. You had no idea how you would afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you He will provide.
9. You have ever taken an airplane ride half-way around the world with a child you just met.
10. You believe God's heart is for adoption.
11. You realize that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.
12. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!
13. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.
14. You shudder when people say your child is so lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed one to have him or her in your life.
Author Unknown

Green Doors

For those of you who don't know, the picture above is of the doors that lead to the transition home for children being adopted through AW. Kevin and I will will someday be walking through these doors to meet our child. What an exciting thought!! Thank you, Penelope, for letting me use your wonderful picture. I love reading their blog (Carpenter Family), and learn from their experiences. It gives me a glimpse of what is yet to come.