I AM SOOO OUT OF HERE

In a few hours I will be leaving. Hard to fathom but it is true. There are actually a few people (not to mention any names) that had the nerves to say to me I believe it when I see the kids on US soil. Hm, even though I have their birth certificates, Erin has re-assured me numerous times they are coming home to me, people are still feeling insecure about by babies arrival? Whatever.. I guess they are just looking at my whole adoption journey picture of 2.5 years. Surely I won't let that take my JOY away now.

The airport should be fine now, the weather looks good outside, snow is all gone. To say the least, I am soooo stressed out but sooo excited. Just writing this last post makes me shake and cry. I haven't felt this kind of excitement in a long time. I am not stressed with packing or anything, just to get to the airport and leave and make sure my plane really leaves and I am really up in the air and flying. I should get to Addis Tuesday morning and from what I understand I will have an embassy appointment the same day. Probably because people at the embassy want to go home early on the 31st.

I am scheduled to return on January 17 but it could easily be earlier. I just gave myself extra time, just in case.

Love you all so much who are following my blog and your alls support has meant the world to me over the months..

Just found these pictures - Awwwwhhh

I was browsing through our AAI snapfish directory and these two pics were taken by Merrily, our director. What's funny is that it was under the folder 2/2006. I thought my Amira didn't get to the orphanage until January of 2008. If that is the case, my little princess has been there longer than Biruk, almost 3 years. She just looks so delicate. I love that little girl so much and I am so thankful I found a picture of her that young. Now I am really curious to find out when each of them got there.

Leaving in 2 days

Hm, another girlie shirt for Biruk. Can't wait to put my clothes on him

Today I have the day off from work so I can do my last minute shopping for the trip. I am not sure how the emailing and blogging will work while I am in ET. I surely will try if I can. I am not bringing a laptop. Also Kevin said he would blog for me. Ha, we will see, he has never touched my blog, but I told him how important it was to me so my friends know that we are all okay over there.., we will see what happens.

I really, really can't believe this is for real now. I will come back home with 2 children, one on each hand. So awesome.

I am currently returning on Jan. 17. You can see my ticker to the right in case if you wonder. Of course I gave myself extra time for the childrens' visas but hopefully those visas come back earlier. If not that's fine too, I am prepared to stay longer or shorter as long as I have my kids.

Email from Cindy

I love getting emails about my kids. Today I received an email from my friend Cindy and she told me that Biruk is quiet popular and her little Zene really tried to find him to give him a sticker. She also told me that he helped out the nuns with the baby formula and that he is a helper.
She did tell me that Amira seemed sad but she told her her mommy would be there soon. I have now heard that from more than one person. I think she really, really needs me to love on her like crazy. I am the true mommy for what she needs right now. I love loving little girls.. Does that make sense?
It is kind of interesting though. Pretty much everyone has the same story about Biruk and his personality. But for Amira, the story is different. In the beginning I have heard she is sassy and talk her Amharic away. But lately everyone that has met my princess has said that she is meek and quiet and she just likes to be loved. Actually when my friend Joy went to visit her she almost walked away with her had Joy not put her back at the orphanage.
Hm, it really doesn't matter, I am just anxious to find out for myself what my kids are really like.

This Weather Here

My friend Kathy had this picture up today on snapfish so I cropped it because there were 2 other boys in the picture and I don't know where they are in the process. I love this picture. Of course, Kevin's first reaction was, ugh he is wearing a girly sweater but we know they wear whatever they can find. But really he is wearing a true girl sweater. I just am so in love with my little guy and can't wait to put my hands on him. I feel so amazingly blessed that God has put him aside just for our family but especially for Kevin. I also am amazed how protective he already is over his sister Amira.

Now to the weather. I really can't believe we still have power. We are now up to 6-8 inches but its freezing rain coming from the skies. I know this is all in God's timing when I get to Ethiopia. My forecast does not look really good for next Sunday and Monday. Please pray for my travels if you could please. I just cannot wait anymore to get to my precious children.

Tagged by Chris

I have been tagged by Chris. This tagging game is easy. You need to go in your picture folder and take the 6th folder and the 6th picture and then post it and say what it is or what meaning it has. I am going to tag Andrea G., Leslie, Crystal, Amy, and Kelsey.

I only have five folders but this one below was my 6th picture. This is Anastasia. I had a relaxer/straightening perm done on her. She has Autism so she can get very obsessed with her her. When she was young she used to cut her hair all the time or just pull it out. Now she is 22 and she is finally letting her hair grow. It has been her wish all her life she just couldn't control it when she was younger. She wants to have the longest hair in the family and nobody can have longer hair than she does. She keeps saying "I want my hair to grow to the floor". So that is my story.

County is closed

Hm, I guess I wasn't joking last night about our weather. Today, Pierce County is closed! I have a 3 day weekend but today's work day will be taken out of my vacation time of course so obviously I have to return a day earlier as planned from my family leave with the children:(

Kevin went to the mountains with Danica to snowboard and I am home with the girls. We will have lots of fun right here baking, cleaning, and playing in the snow.

Winter Wonderland

Ha, some of you might think this little snow is funny because I know this isn't much snow for some of you. Kevin is from the East Coast and I am from Germany. We both used to get bitter cold, snowy, icy winters. We know what true winters can be like. Anyway, here in Washington State schools close, cars are crashing everywhere, it's just hilarious to us. Also I think our State really doesn't have the equipment for serious snow. We do get excited when it comes but it never lasts but a day or two. The kids here go crazy. Since we are a rainy State, the next day we are usually hit with power outages and stuff if the snow hit pretty good. Anyway, today was nice, we had black ice, it was freezing, it's still snowing so our County Executive just let us go home at 3pm. I drove home, started dinner and baked lots of cookies. I just love being home and taking care of my family. That is my favorite job. I only hope that this weather will go away soon because I am leaving next Sunday. Please pray for a safe departure from Washington State and the East Coast. Our airport is actually closed tonight because of the weather... Figure that.. The pictures below were just the beginning of the snow. We now have about 4 inches. I hope for no power outages tomorrow. I can handle the snow but I can't handle no heat. We are so blessed in this country with so many things, especially water that we take for granted every single day.

11 more days and counting!!!

Really need advice

Sorry I sound like a broken records; I know I have asked this question before. For those of you who have little kids like 3 and 4 year olds can you please help me? I have 2 different foot tracings of my kids. Amira is 8 and 9. Biruk look like a 9 and 10. Still waiting for one more tracing to come in the mail. I bought Amira a size 10 shoes. That is one size up. Does is sound right that at the age of 4 Amira could have a size 10? These shoes just look so big to me for her size. Could she just have a tiny body and huge feet? What size do they have? And what did you do when you picked up your kids?

Biruk will get a size 11, he is just a little bit bigger. Honestly I really don't want to buy crocs because I don't like crocs but that might be the only thing I could get away with to be fair to the sizes. I am just worried none of the shoes will fit.

Dreaming

Ever since both of the kids finally made court, I keep dreaming and dreaming about them. It's so sweet and precious. I love going to bed now. I really hardly ever dream. Before I had sleepless, restless nights when all these uncertainties were going on. Kevin keeps cracking up at me and he thinks his precious wife is finally coming back to life! 17 more days!

So little time, so much left to do

It's hard to do everything if you go to work all day and than there are only a few hours left in the day. Family time, baking cookies, cleaning, gift shopping and so on. I still haven't finished the kids room ($$) and I know they don't care but just the bare necessities aren't getting done. Amira still needs her mattress. Biruk's bed is all done, including the mattress. Now I am working on Amira's side piece by piece. I pray that it will be done before I leave here. I can't trust Kevin with the bedroom. I think I have a half suitcase left for myself so I gonna have to see what I can bring. I also still have to buy some comfort foods. I'll get it all figured out.

To be honest, I am really excited I am stuck in Ethiopia for almost 3 weeks. That will give a great time to really bond with my little ones. I am so looking forward to it, just them and me and no one else. I know I shouldn't think ahead of time but the thought of me only having them until February 16 all day and then I have to go back to work makes me wanna puke. Before I became a Believer, I had to be the tough career, just had to work. Now I want to stop working so badly but that is just impossible at the moment because Kevin is in college full time. Keep dreaming Andrea:) But I am so thankful that I can finally pick my kids up and that God will give me the time that I have to spent with them even though it will only be so many hours each day, really I am jealous of Kevin because he gets to have more time with them than I do. I hope Amira is not going to start acting like a boy being around him all day.

This is not intended to be a negative post, I am really grateful to be able to have a job and feed my family and I am so thankful that God is finally granting me my precious children in his own timing. I just wanted to voice how badly I want to be a stay at home mother. Kevin and I working on it. When he is done in 3.5 years we will just swtich places were I ought to be a long time ago.

Best Friends Forever

Zena, Amira, Eden

This is one of my favorite pictures. I have it enlarged at my house and at work. With the permission of the moms of Zena and Eden, I would like to introduce them. It's really funny, I don't know how you feel but when I got to chose from the AAI video, those three were my absolute favorites of all the girls. Erin can attest to that. Now I am friends with both of their moms and our kids are coming home very close together. Actually we were all supposed to travel together but Lisa and I didn't make court again in Oct so Cindy is on her way today to get her precious Zena. Yeahh Cindy! For some reason I just think those three are really good friends at the orphanage. I am not sure when Zena and Eden got there but they were there when Amira was there. They have been together at least a year. I get to travel with Lisa to pick up our kids together and am so looking forward to that. I also really want to travel with Melinda but I am hoping to catch up with her in Ethiopia. We share many of the same passions and I think have a lot in common.

I know there a little boy named N. at the orphanage that is always with my Biruk but I haven't figured out whoelse is really his good friend. I surely will ask SR. L when I get there.

Family tradition continues

Yeah, we got our fresh cut tree tonight. We don't like articial and never will. We like how the whole house smells like pine. Danica came home from college so she could help pick out the tree. She is so picky all the time; the two of us always end up fighting over which tree because no one else cares but us what the tree looks like. Ever since she was very small. We then all end up going to Starbucks afterwards for some hot chocolate. But it was so much fun. Well tonight may have been the last picture before we are a family of SEVEN. YEAHHH. Lets keep it growing. See why we need a boy in there?? Poor Kevin.

Danica, me, Anastasia behind me

22 Days and Counting

This was the first picture I ever received from a parent of the kids together. I never forget this day. Thank you Julie Armstrong! I don't think you realize how much joy you brought to my live that day.

I will leave for ET on Dec 28 and have my kids in my arms on Dec. 30. Wow. I just can't believe it. Okay so I am already stressed out because I have to get my Christmas tree (tonight, family tradition, fresh of course), decorate the house, buy a few presents for the kids, and have to pack. My head is spinning because I really can't think about Christmas right now (I am talking the dumb commercial Christmas) except for picking up my kids. I had already packed up the kids 2 months ago but as I was going through their suitcase last night and I noticed I had packed too much. I can only take 2 suitcases because I am traveling alone. So I have no clue what I am going to do. I also need to bring some toys and blankets because I understand it gets cold at night. After all I have to plan on being there for almost 3 weeks. I am stressing, I need to calm down or I am going to give myself a heart attache.

This weekend I need to concentrate on my family at home and get that all in order. I think once the house is all decorated and they are ready for Christmas then I can focus back on my trip. Oh and I have to bake cookies with my girls. It will all work out.

Yeahhhhh 22 more days!!!!

IT IS FINISHED!!!!!! HE IS MINE, MINE, MINE, MINE

With a humble heart and so overjoyed, I can't begin to describe, I "FINALLY" like to announce my amazing son Biruk Isaac Hill. He became my son on paper this morning, on December 5, 2008. It is hard to fathom that it is true at last and I am the proud momma of Biruk and Amira. How I have longed this moment. I am so thrilled to finally add a “boy” to our family. It was long, long overdue, especially for my husband Kevin. From what I understand is that my son is all boy and that is what we need in this house. Girls are overpowering this place.

Photos of Biruk Isaac Hill

I have tried to arrange the photos so that the one on the top is when he came to KM and you can see how he has matured over the months... When I pick up my Biruk, he has been at the orphanage for 1 year and 7 months. Today is Biruk's day. Later I will post the pics of Amira and Biruk together.

Above June 2007

Above Jan 2008 (pink sweater)

Above This was my referral photo. Awhhh. How can one deny this precious guy.

10/07

Happy Picture of Amira

After posting my sad picture of Amira, though I think that picture is just beautiful even though she looks sad, here is my precious girl when she was being loved for me by my friend Joy.

Awhhh, enjoy!

Blessed by Joy again

Lately lots of people have traveled to pick up their children so I have been pretty blessed to have gotten pics.

Last week, my friend Joy made a trip to Kidane (while picking up her sons and not with my agency) just to see my children. When she asked me in the very beginning if I would mind her visiting my kids I was thrilled beyond imagination that she would do that for me.

Well she saw them and she was also able to bless Kidane with wonderful donations and hopefully we get to talk on the phone soon about our kids but in the mean time, she wrote this:

***************
I will just tell you now that I will be totally truthful to you about your kids and the truth is that they are true gems. I loved them so much and it was so sweet how Biruk watched out for Hiwot. He is more bold and louder than she is. She is so quiet and will love to be cuddled. She just would back up and sit on my knee when I was bending down to visit with the kids or open the stickers. She pet Janae’s hair and hardly made a peep, but has such a sweet demeanor and smile. Biruk is more spunky, but didn’t seem naughty at all.
**************

There was other stuff I am not going to share just for the sake of orphanage and children but this was truly a blessing for me that my friend went to see them and love on them for me.

Can it get any worse?

So today my wonderful friend Crystal shared some pics when she was there just a few days ago and the kids look soooo sad. Like they want to say "when is it my turn". Honestly they look so sad. Especially my boy. I have to share this picture if he ever makes it... Well this is Amira by herself.

2 days before Thanksgiving 2 years ago (2006)

2 days before Thanksgiving 2 years ago, my Juan Antonio was one day away from being legally abandoned and free for me to adopt him. Unfortunately his mom came back to claim him just one day before his hearing. Mind you she hadn't seen him in nearly 4 years at the orphanage. Not once did she come to visit him. Obviously God wanted my boy with her not not my family. Today it stings badly to think about that and look at my continued failure at adoption. Hard to see all of my buddies that started out with me to ALL have their children home except for me. It's hard to believe today that my turn will come one day. I am sick and tired of waiting. Nothing for Thanksgiving, nothing for Christmas. I know that doesn't sound very graceful but that is just the truth and tonight I am bluntly honest of how I am feeling and after all I am very, very human just like we all are. I am at a point now where I am just holding my breath and see whatever happens if it happens or see what came down this time that it didn't happen. What was suppose to be an easy fix signature had to sit there for a month with no action. Going on 2 months wasted since the first court hearing on Oct 14. Granted Amira is mine but I can't pick her up anyway because I was told my kids have to be picked up together for reasons I am not in the mood for to get into anymore. I am just tired. I haven't even received Amira's birth certificate in the mail but I probably won't get that either because they are "processed together" even though they are not sibs.

I love you Juan Antonio, you are forever and ever and ever in my heart and one day I will see you in heaven.

Another picture of Amira (just came in)

Wow, what a smile. I think this is the first picture ever where she has such a big smile. I am so so blessed beyond my wildest dreams. Hopefully one day I can add B, but for now I had to crop my precious son out. My B looks so macho in this picture like with his chest out saying "yeah I am her big brother" I think the picture is to die for once I can add him in. Enjoy.

Emails from very special friends

Wow, so happy to have gotten these emails but how much longer must my heart bleed. All I can dream about is holding them forever and ever and ever and ever. Just embracing their hugs for the very first time, sitting on my knees and holding them until it turns dark outside. But in the mean time I am so thankful to these dear friends like Crystal and Marissa's husband who took the time to love on my kids. BTW, my husband loves Crystal's girls that she is picking up at this moment.

************** Thanks Marissa (John met my kids just Sunday)
My husband visited KM while we were sleeping last night and sent home these pictures. He said that Biruk and Hiwot are just the most beautiful and sweet little children. He just fell in love with them! He's got more photos and I'll get them to you when he gets home. I just thought I'd send these along because I know I loved it when I'd get pictures that were just a few hours old. :)
****************

************* Thanks Crystal (she met my kids Tuesday, just hours ago)
I got to meet your kids yesterday!! They are so sweet. The sister is much more kind then I was told!! Your little one loved my husband. They love his facial hair! They climb on him the whole time. I want to stick them in my suit case and take them home. They are so beautiful. B even spoke a little English. Love ya- Crystal
************

World Aids Day

Front of shirt (They sell them at the Gap in the store and on line)

back of shirt

World Aids day is December 1. It's pretty amazing how all these people come together all over the world for Aids. Click here to get to the site. This December marks 20 years.

Satan's Deadly Devices

Sorry, the pictures meant to be on the bottom. This is what I found when I experienced the peace of nature. This morning was a little foggy but yesterday was a beautiful day. Please scroll down the pics and read below.

As I decided to fast mainly for my friend on Thursday from Friday to Sunday, little did I know that I desperately needed to do it for myself also. My hubby helped by keeping the kids so I could be secluded and outside at nature where I needed to be.

Instead of acting meek when I got the news Friday morning about my son, I felt sorry for myself and became deflated in an instant. It hurt so badly I wanted to puke. It felt like my breath was sucked out of me. It wasn't just an easy fix but it was shocking more than anything.

Which brings me to my Title above. Little did I know how Satan can still get to me when it comes to "Adoption". I have learned since I have been a Christ Follower to fight that nasty little serpent pretty good and not let him enter my soul easily but on Friday satan put me in an emotional tailspin like I haven't experienced since I lost my son in Guatemala. He got a foothold of me. Once again I found myself Disappointed, Discouraged, Dejected and finally in Dispair. This is called the warfare of the evil one. Usually I fight with one of the four "D"'s but rarely all 4 together.

Nobody is in control. Not the agency, not the orphanage, nobody. The only one here in control is my GOD and obviously for reasons to glorify him, not me or anyone else in their pity, he will hand over Amira and "B" to me when it is His timing alone. I just have to get that in my fat head.

Granted, that doesn't mean that I am going to let the agency step all over me and just take advantage of me. In many ways this is still inexcuseable and doesn't make much sense. I am eventually going to get Amira if they wouldn't be able to find his dad and I am sure the agency will agree with me but I now know that I have to wait a little longer until God leads the way to let something glorious happen.

God left me with these verses to hold on to this weekend:

Is 26: 3-4 You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal

Rom 12:2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1 Peter 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, form and steadfast.

Sad News for Today

Have a seat and understand this craziness of my adoption THIS TIME AROUND.

I found out today that apparently my son has 2 living parents. I was told in the beginning that his parents are deceased. So when I found out there was not just one but two parents, I was pretty shocked. Not that he had parents but that I didn't know.

Someone at the orphanage is working on finding the dad so he can come to court and do his thing. I just hope they find him quickly. Apparently his mom already appeared at the first hearing so she doesn’t have to come back again. His mom re-married and that is probably why they need the dad's signature.

I just have no clue why this weird stuff is happening. All along as I thought before Hiwot wouldn’t make it it rather became an unfolding drama story with Biruk.

I desperately need your prayers that they may find his dad!!! Nothing else to report, just really badly in shock over 2 parents being alive suddenly and me thinking a signature was missing and being assured it was an easy fix.

My friend Lisa had a very similar problem with a parent being alive suddenly.
Would you please also pray for her? She had her third hearing but now her file is missing by MOWA so she too needs a miracle.

Thanks for checking my blog but especially to those special people that leave comments.

No Court News

I have heard nothing yet. I have sat obsessively in front of the computer for almost 2 hours with 2 pots of coffee. I have to go to work now. I am hoping to hear something today but I cannot update this blog until I come home from work tonight.

Thanks for all your prayers.

Court today

For those of you who are anxiously waiting with me, Biruk's case was not heard today. Judge ran out of time. It will be heard tomorrow.

Just wanted to let you know.

Fresh off the Printer - Amira Hiwot Hill

Happy 20th Birthday Danica

My precious baby girl turned 20 today. Where did the time go?

Danica is my precious baby girl that I love so deeply I couldn’t imagine life without. She inherited both of Kevin and my personalities which makes her very unique. She is a total people’s person and gets along with everyone, doesn’t give a care what people think about her (Kevin) and she also is very headstrong and feisty (me).

She just has brought so much joy to Kevin’s and my life. When she was younger up till about 15 she was a true momma’s girl and after she got her license she has this amazing bond with her daddy pretty much telling him everything. I think that she doesn’t tell me that much anymore because I have my Christian values especially about marriage and purity. I think they also get along so well because they have such a passion for fast exotic cars and motorcycles! Yeap that would be my daughter.

She doesn’t have a care in the world what people think about her and bless her for that. How many women can say that about themselves? She doesn’t wear make up and wears sweats to her classes at college. That is why I LOVE THE FIRST PICTURE BELOW. That is my true Danica the way she looks always. Just herself.

She has NEVER (I am not joking) giving me any trouble where I would lose sleep over. I could go on and on but this young lady is really, really special to me. I am so very proud of her.

If you click on my labels to the right by Danica you can see more pics of her.

The pics below were just taken in Ocotber. I love the very first one because its the real Danica. No make up, nothing. Her friend at college took the first set of pics and I think she did a great job. For some reason they went to a grave yard. I don't know why. So that is why I didn't publish the other ones.

Danica's Pics

Danica's 4th Birthday

Graduation 2007

Graduation 2007

PRO LIFE

Sometimes (I really should more often) visit Courtney's blog at Storing up Treasures in Heaven here (please click on that read and watch the video) and right there with my dear friend Carolyn, she has got to be one of the boldest ladies out there. I just love, love, love both of these women. So many times, Courtney reads my mind (I am sure many other women agree) and speaks boldly about the TRUTH. Thank God I have already voted but I wished I had this post a little earlier just to prove where I am coming from. I am not too good at researching or get into political debates about all of this.

I will not be deceived by this future president. I don't care what other people think but I am a Christian and I am backing up the bible 100% when it comes to abortion, gay issues and other issues. Just not acceptable. Yes, we are "not" supposed to stand in front of abortion clinics and throw up signs that say "I hate you, or you murderer", or stand in front of churches when gay people get married; we are commanded to love ALL PEOPLE. I WILL JUST NOT SUPPORT ANY OF THIS. Just like it says in the bible things must be fulfilled for Jesus' return and I am sure that this presidential craziness is one of the things that needs to be fulfilled.

Wow and I just found this on Amy's blog. I am glad Amy's blog is not private at the moment so people have a chance to read this incredible woman's blog. She comes up with even different issues of "WHAT ARE WE COMPLAINING ABOUT". I love when people are just backing things up so greatly which I don't have the tools to do at the moment.

AMEN TO PRO LIFE FROM THE MOMENT THE BABY IS CONCEIVED. Oh one more thing Obama had the nerves to say in this video is that "I have 2 daughters and if they make a mistake I don't want them to be punished". Wow, like it is a punishment to have a baby. My view on this is that if you wanna be out there having sex at the tender age of 14, you better pay the price!

You say You are a Christian?

This message below was in my inbox today and I needed to read that and I am sure many other ladies feel the same at times. My pastor talks about this behavior often how we can't be like the world and just constantly complaining about the bad times. We want to be where other people look at us and "want what we have". For myself, these last two weeks have been so hard and it reminded me that I need to quit being so sad and show joy like the happy Andrea that everyone knows because the Lord is #1 in my life above and beyond anything else and I am not showing him that right now. BTW, that would be my husband. He smiles and is joyful ALL the time.

PSALM 126:3
“You say you’re a Christian? Please let your face know!” I laughed when I read this on a church sign while driving home from the grocery store. Although meant to be humorous, the saying packs a powerful message for us. Does our joy in the Lord, show on our faces? When unbelievers are around us, do they want what we have? Can they see our joy? Do we have thankful and grateful attitudes, or do we whine and complain about everything?
I used to be a chronic complainer. I often found myself joining in when my friends and family complained about everything from the weather to the high cost of prices at the grocery store. I realized that studying God’s Word that ungratefulness has no part in a Christian’s life. It’s hard to be joyful while complaining about things. Likewise, I am learning that it’s hard to complain while praising the Lord and being joyful!We have so much to be thankful and joyful about! Regardless of our circumstances, the fact that we are saved by grace alone should be enough to fill us with joy. Add to that all of God’s great promises and His blessings and provision for us. He has done great things for us and we should be filled with joy, simple because we belong to Him!

My Zambia Pals

Tonight my utmost love and happiness goes out to Joy for passing her court date the first time on two unrelated children. Joy who stood by me endlessly from going to Zambia to Liberia to Ethiopia has been nothing but the sweetest treasure God could have ever put in my life. We stood by each other like soldiers from last July when we set up for a wild goose chase to adopt our children from Zambia. Yes Joy, you are quiet the soldier, bringing home 2 little ones and giving birth in January to your little precious boy.... You are a treasure in my life.

And Crystal there is you my friend. here You held out the longest hanging on to Zambia and look at you now... You get to travel to ET very soon getting your two special girls. Your unsurpassed faithfulness that God will provide has blown me out of the water many times.

And last but not least Chris who I found back again through Joy's blog. I think Chris was "the ringleader" and not wasting her time on holding on to the Zambia program knowing they would play a bunch of games with us. So she jumped into the Ethiopia program giving us all hope to finally bring a child home. Chris your ever beautiful chunky little Ava that I want to bite every time I look at her picture, you have no idea how much joy your baby pictures have brought to me these last 2 months especially these last 3 weeks. Words cannot describe. You too have been a great support.

So Zambia pals, hopefully by Christmas, just hopefully, we can ALL celebrate of having our Ethipian babies home once and for all. You guys have no idea how much each of you mean to me.

My Princess (A Love Letter from the King)

You are a radiant beauty of art-hand carved by Me. I have given you beautiful lips to speak words of life, beautiful eyes to see Me in everything, beautiful hands to help those in need, and a beautiful face to reflect My love to the world. I will work wonders that will radiate true beauty from within. And when my work is completed, your character will show off My craftsmanship, and your beauty marks will be remembered by all that were loved by you.

Love, Your King

Amira's chosen Birthday is August 26

(Mother Teresa)

Court Date - The News I expected all Along

My husband likes to say I jinx myself but unfortunately, I don't believe in jinxing. This is what happens when two children not related go to court. One makes it, the other one doesn't. There is just a little twist in the story for the fact that I expected my little boy to pass and not my girl but it was vice versa. Her precious mom actually showed for court. Bless her heart, the woman I cannot wait to meet when I go to ET.

The sad thing is that there was a dang signature missing on my boy's papers. And the court has the nerves not to re-schedule his court date till November 13? There was nothing complicated with B's case.

I have been at this since 2006 and I am just sick and tired of waiting. That is the moral of the story. I want my kids to come home, now.

Those who sow in Tears will reap with Songs of Joy Ps. 126.5

May I introduce to you!!!!!!

AMIRA HIWOT HILL

It's not fair for my little princess not to get the spotlight today. So herrrrre she is. More pictures of her when I feel better. Love you my little precious girl.

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July 08