didn't pass

so sad to have to say we didn't pass court today.
not everyone who was supposed to be there showed up.
so now we wait again.
wait for 3 MORE WEEKS.
our next court date is JUNE 16.
please keep us in your prayers and pray we pass court this time.

on a happier note,
today i got a much needed treat.
a video of my sweet girl laughing and smiling and let me tell you she's a doll!

let the countdown begin again!

# 1

with prayer anticipation we will lay our heads down to sleep tonite

while around the world in Ethiopia a judge will...

open our court documents,

confirm with her birth relatives,

and ultimately decide

if Bristol will become "officially" our daughter.

********** **********

please pray tonite before you go to bed

all paperwork is perfect, power is on, relative is there, and we PASS.

this is big stuff BUT we have an even BIGGER God!

2

as we say around here...

2 SLEEPS UNTIL BRISTOL'S COURT DATE.

AND UNTIL WE KNOW IF WE PASSED.

4 more days

4 MORE DAYS UNTIL BRISTOL'S ETHIOPIAN COURT DATE

COUNTDOWN

LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN...

5 DAYS UNTIL COURT.

5 DAYS UNTIL BRISTOL WILL PRAYERFULLY BE OURS. (per the Ethiopian government anyway)

5 DAYS UNTIL I CAN POST HER PICTURE FOR ALL TO SEE OUR BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTER.

please pray that we will pass court, that all the paperwork is correct and where it should be, that everyone who is supposed to be there is, that the electricity is on, that we pass with no glitches. please pray!

because adventure is our...

because adventure is our middle name...

because we are not afraid to pick up anything. check out the poised-for-a-pinch crab.

because riding the waves never disappoints.

because purchasing critters with pinchers and expecting these pets to not use said pinchers is a big, ugly joke.

less than 5 minutes after this pic- brax's hermit crab latched mercilessly onto the palm of his hand for, no joke, 60+ seconds where his blood curdling screams (as if a murder was occurring) caused his sister and brother to join in on the ear piercing racket.

needless to say brax is still not sure he even cares about said crab anymore.

funny how even as a kid i thought how cool it's be to have a hermit crab and how they promote those suckers so big at the beach ...and well, that they would need a hazardous to children warning.

nope, nary a word of safety.

guess we should have caught on to the crab word.

because their father -though deceiving in this pic- takes the big kids way far out. need i say...sharks?!

no really, the next day we actually saw a sand shark? swimming right along the shore. let me tell you had that thing swam close to me...flipped out is not even the word!

on a happier note...great thing about this pic is how you can see the calm seas. kinda felt like we were at the lake, not beach. not sure i like it this calm.

sweet thing loves to collect treasures and creatures. these happened to come to come from the trip in pic above of everyone being too far out on a raft and daddy snorkeling and diving. really cool and perfect sand dollars. thanks daddy!

court date given

14 days from today WEDNESDAY MAY 26, 2010 is our Ethiopian Court Date for Bristol!

well, actually it will happen while we sleep Tuesday nite into Wednesday morning of the 26th.

Folks, it's time to start pray, pray, praying.

Pray for all the paperwork to be correct, everyone who needs to be there will be there, no hiccups whatsoever, and that we pass the first time with no probs!

nervous but so excited!

hang on baby girl...we are coming!

what a treat

my incredibly awesome husband kept the kiddos for a few days while mimi and i headed for
rest, relaxation, sun and fun at the beach.


and wow...padre so graciously let us take the jeep:)

i have only once left the kiddos overnight with joe and well, it had been too long.

so...

i felt like my arm, my other arm, and one leg had been lost (hence the "i have 3 kids thing")

BUT i got used to it and loved having time to myself.

no mouths to feed (but my own), early risers, whines to hear, peeps to chase after

....you get my drift.

i did hang with some wonderful ladies (who happened to have their kiddos) for a yummy dinner one nite.

though fun was had w/out the kiddos and joe. i was ready when they showed up the end of the week. they love the beach like me,

and well...it just didn't seem fair to be there too long w/out them.i must say celebrating mother's day with my favorite people at my favorite place couldn't have been better


and what made it even more special was sharing it with mimi and padre.

driving

in 10 years from now i will be anxiously thinking about the big brother taking the little brother out for a drive.

i know that 10 years flies by.

so for now, i rejoice that this is the only driving these 2 can do. (shirtless, stinky, un-buckled in a broke down convertible that screams climb in me and play)

...and more crazy to think that in 10 years i'll have an 18 yr old, almost 16 yr old, 12.5 yr old, 10.5 yr old and i'm sure a couple more. wow!