March Update

It's officially spring in Michigan...and there is a fresh layer of snow on the ground. This, after nearly a week of 50's and 60's and coatless weather. How is this fair? Oh yeah, life isn't fair, as Logan AND Leah reminded me this morning in the bathroom (as they poured a bucket full of water on the edge of the marble tub). *sigh*

You all deserve an update...and I need to get some things off my shoulders! Shoo!

So, Gotcha Day was a huge success! Logan is beginning to really connect with her Birth Country, which is so very exciting to me! She loves the fact that she has a day to celebrate Guatemala. She doesn't understand WHY exactly, but we keep talking about this!!!! She keeps relating it to her birthday, which in reality, it is a form of a birthday...a birth of a FAMILY! So, maybe she's on to something!!!

So, after Gotcha Day...life has went on! We've been waiting INTENTLY for the phone to ring from our Adoption Agency to hear on a referral!!!! But nothing! Yes, we are still #1 on the wait list for a little girl 12-18 months of age. And as far as we know, we are still #5 for an infant 0-12 months of age. And who knows on the twin list, either #1 or #2...twins are rare...but we've heard that story before!!! :) One big announcement that we did hear from Ethiopia's government was that they may require adoptive families to make another trip to Ethiopia for court, which happens soon after the referral. This mandate is in response to many adoptive families "abandoning" their already adopted children in Ethiopia after the court process is completed. Who would ever?!?!?! UGH! So, in response to this tragedy, the government has said parents must come to the country and see the child, state in front of the Court that they will take this child as their own. The problem that I have with this is that we are then asked to return the child to the orphanage and return to the States. NOT ME!! We visited the girls in Guatemala for a week, then returned to MI for 5 1/2 months and waited for the paperwork to be finished. This mommy will never again leave her child in another country. Josh and I have decided, if approved by the authorities, that I will stay in Ethiopia with the baby while the paperwork is approved and Josh can return to the States. A huge deal, but the emotional bonding that we lose by leaving this child could be devastating. I won't do it again!

On a happier note...my niece was in the West Michigan Youth Ballet production of Cinderella yesterday. She was sooooooo beautiful and it was a great day!

We also celebrated her mom's, Shannon's, birthday! But to top off the two events, there was a raffle drawing for all of the little girls who came to the ballet. Each little girl got a ticket with a number on it. At the end, they drew two tickets, each to come up on stage to get crowned by the prince as well as by either Cinderella or the Fairy Godmother. Well, by george, Logan's ticket number was called! And by golly, she walked up in front of the entire hall of patrons to be crowned "princess of the day" by the Fairy Godmother! She was a ham...totally cut out for the part! Waving to the crowd...elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, wrist!!!!!!

We now move on into Spring, hoping to enjoy more and more of those coatless days and fewer of these white snowy days! But we are certainly finding joy in being a family of four, while this still lasts!!!

Gotcha Ya, L and L!!!

It's that WONDERFUL time of year again... the time that we celebrate our Forever Family status!!! The time of year that we celebrate the girls' Gotcha Days!!! The girls have now been home for 4 years!!!

In honor of this AWESOME event, I put together a short montage to help me remember the amazing times we've had together, particularly all those years ago in Guatemala!

We'll be having a few people over on Saturday to celebrate the dates...I'll be sure to post more later. But in the meantime, enjoy the montage...don't shed any tears!

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

#1

We're NUMBER 1!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS...we are number one on the wait list for a little girl 12-18 months old. We are thrilled. We said we would accept a little girl 0-18 months and they break it down 0-12 months and 12-18 months...well, we haven't moved on the 0-12 month list but we're numeral uno on the 12-18 month listing...HOLY COW!!!

This means it could be any day now for a referral or it could be several more weeks or even months...naturally I'm hoping for any day!!!!

Say a prayer!

Atlanta Came...Atlanta Went...

Yep, we went! I got the job! Hired on the spot! Went through an hour and a half interview, met the director, principal, assistant principal,
teacher, kids, interpreters...any one else?!?!?! Ummmmm, I'm sure I did! Nevertheless, I was asked to take the position and they would like me start ASAP.

Josh and I talked...and we talked...and I talked...and he talked...and we talked...and I listened...

I'm not taking the job in Atlanta. Just didn't feel right. What didn't feel right? It was that gut feel, most of all! There were other things...but most of all it was that gut telling both of us it just isn't right.

Don't get me wrong, flowers blooming, berries on trees and birds singing in February ROCKS! The weather is attractive. The 14 lane highways...not so much! Here is a small picture diary of our long weekend there... (you might notice we had quite an issue with the "Peachthree" streets...OMG!)

***Donations Wanted***

If any of you have been following our Ethiopian Adoption timeline, you have noticed that we are getting closer to getting a referral!!! We started at twenty-something on the wait list and we are now 9th...things are progressing through our agency rather quickly. The wait time has went smoothly...we were told weeks to months to a year...so we have been waiting for 5 months thus far for a referral of "Baby Ella" (we think that will be her name) and we believe we are getting close!! So, we are starting to make some plans for travelling to Ethiopia.

One of these plans is to take a slew of donations to the areas' orphanages. We have asked our agency for a list of recommended items to bring in order to help the children the most. The most needed item for the youngest, most vulnerable kiddos is formula. The brand that is used in most orphanages is called Similac NeoSure. There is a formula shortage in Ethiopia, thus by us bringing this we could make a huge nutritional impact on these children. Additionally, in order to care for the children in the areas' orphanages they could use disposable diapers, medicines, lotions, new clothing & shoes. Basically anything that is practical for the care of infants and children. Could you...would you...do you want to donate any of these items to the orphanages in Ethiopia? Would you prefer to give a monetary donation (due to additional shipping costs) in order to go toward any of these items specifically? I will be sure to purchase whatever you would like to see be delivered to the children of Ethiopia...or I will donate the monies to the orphanage directly.

The other thing that we would like to collect for donations are FUN items for the older kiddos of the orphanages. Things that bring a light to their lives and to their day!!! We'd like to create goodie bags for as many children as we can...like those little bags kids get at birthday parties with a few pieces of candy, some little toys, stickers, etc. So, if you have any interest in making a purchase from Oriental Trading Company or have another source...AWESOME! Or if you would like to donate a sheet of stickers...we'll take it!!! If you have leftover bags from a birthday party last year...we'll take them!!!!!! If you have some wrapped candy for the kids, send it my way! If you'd like to give a monetary donation for this project, please let me know and I will be sure to designate your monies toward this end of the donation collection.

Call Me!!! Mail It!!!! Email Me!!!!!!

Thank you for your material donations, your monetary donations, as well as your prayers for all of the children who are in need of forever families...not only in Ethiopia! Please feel free to contact me via email if you need our home address in order to drop off any donations or to mail anything. If you are in the mid-Michigan area, I'm also more than willing to arrange to pick items up from you! My email is jklandl@comcast.net.

We are thrilled to be able to add to our family, but we know that when we travel to Ethiopia we will want to bring ALL of the children home. Giving a little something to them to bring a smile to their faces and a a bit of joy to their day just may make it better for us all! We will surely bring you all pictures of joy and pure happiness that you just may help to bring to the children!