A little time away was just what I needed.

So I have been away for awhile, but I have a really great excuse this time!

A couple of weeks ago, I was really having a tough time.  Work had been crazy  busy.  We were still waiting for our bedding so we can start our nursery (grrrr).  My to do list is not getting any shorter .With Brian being a youth minister, that puts him gone about 30 days during the summer, and I was missing him.  And not to mention the thought of Tate  not being here.  Needless to say, I was feeling anxious, overwhelmed, tired, and sad.

So we decided that it would be worth it to sacrifice some of the days I have been saving to go on the Sr. High mission trip with the youth.

I am so glad that I did.

We took about 45 people to an intercity church in St. Louis Missouri to put on a VBS, a basketball camp, and just serve the church and community. We cleaned, sweated, laughed, worshiped, cried, made new friends, and were blessed beyond belief.   It was so wonderful!  God was everywhere!  Here are a few pictures from the week.

 

It was so great to build new relationships and love on the kids of St. Louis. 

It was also so great to spend time with the youth group and just have fun!

So I am back!  Refreshed and ready to go!

Court Date!!!

Our caseworker called us today to let us know we have a court date!  What a surprise!  I really wasn't expecting to hear something until after rainy season!

Our first date with MOWA (ministry of women affairs) is scheduled for Sept. 30.  We are hoping they give our file a favorable opinion so that we can appear for our court date on Oct. 12.  If all goes well, looks like we will be in Ethiopia from the 10th-17th!!!!

I am so thankful!  It is so nice to have a time frame!  YAY!

Just what I needed!

I was really not looking forward to today. 
The weekend went by way too fast, and I new I had a full schedule in the office. Not to mention that I have really been missing Tate this past week.  If you have ever wondered if you could miss someone you have never really met, trust me.  You can.  So much it hurts.

 But first thing, I opened up my email to find that we got our first update on Tate! 

When I found "Tate" today, he was enjoying a deep sleep on a cold, rainy afternoon. I regularly wake up babies if I need to in order to visit with, but as they begin to reach the toddler age range, I use a bit more caution. You don’t want to wake a sleeping toddler! "Tate" defies this old bit of wisdom. I woke him today and all he did was smile. He even smiles and takes things in stride when woken from a good nap on an ideal napping afternoon! He’s got a really pleasant, gentle disposition and is such a delight to visit with!

I could not quit smiling reading this.  I seriously have read it about 30+ times today. I absolutely love hearing about his little personality!  It's like getting to experience a little piece of him.

And tt is so good to hear that at  least one person in this family will be happy when they first wake up!

Care package.

You know what makes us happy?

Knowing that baby Tate is getting a care package from us this week via Shannon!

And there is one coming again next week via Tamara!

Thanks guys! It means the world!