The Guest House

"Perhaps the best thing about the future is that it comes just one day at a time."

Gotta love the turtles

Had to post for ya Tania and Lisa

The guest house

Jon,Tania,her mom and sister all waiting for the driver

The guest house was nice, we enjoyed the cooks, drivers,everyone that worked there. The surroundings were pretty, green, lush, turtles walking around. Of COURSE I took a picture with it, and then the 2 turtles "got frisky" everyone was taking pictures, SO I DID OF COURSE, and said I WOULD put on the BLOG, I don't think you thought I would Tania, BUT I DID HAHAHA

The flight and the beginning.. oh my

“Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.” ~ Erich Fromm

Jon on the planeOur room at the guest house


Stop in London



Leaving AZ, half asleep!

Our feet, Syria

Ok I have traveled a lot and all over the place but this trip had to be the longest and the most exhausting. We left Friday, got to Addis on Sunday at 3 am after going through the longest line in the world for our Visa, then the driver was not there to get us, so we had to call and wake him up. We couldn't figure out the phone system and a taxi driver let us use his phone, it was nice. Then we got picked up and headed to the guest house, we decided not to even sleep since we got in, unpacked, and then it was time that everyone was waking up for the day and we wanted to head to the orphanage as soon as possible.

I got to meet Tania and Lisa from the AA board, it was really neat to meet them in person and experience the adoption with them. We all got our girls at the same time, it was great, and going to the Embassy together. The time just flew by so fast, 1 day we were at the orphanage, the next at the embassy, then it was time for us to fly home, after our Visa got processed early for Aslynn. There was glitches in the paperwork, some bumps in the road, but in the end we got our baby.

We went to the doctor when we got home yesterday... she has a hernia, chicken pox, earache, a cold, and the list goes on.

I had to scrub her down at the guesthouse and home because she was dirty! They said they don't give them baths only wipe them down, SO I BROKE OUT THE BABY SOAP and gave Aslynn her first bath in the guesthouse sink! She was splashing and just loved it!

The orphanage was a shock, when I got Aslynn she has a plastic bag on over a cloth diaper, she was hot and has a huge rash under her neck. She is so calm, happy and just excited to be out of there. She took to Jon so great, they were attached and the whole flight home she slept,played and was the perfect baby.

Makenzie and Logan just love her, they give her love kisses and hugs and just want to play with her, we are trying to get on AZ time, so its a work in progress, but if we get baby #2 I don't think I will fly there. I am so burnt out on the flight, we had little layovers only about 1 hr was the longest, it was the flights that were so bad. The one leaving Addis to London stopped in Syria for pick up and refueling, OMG the whole plane smelled like B.O. the bathroom was stinkin, and then they locked it for half the flight, and Aslynn had diarrhea,people were throwing up, and they had no COOL air blowing. It was the worst flight in the world, besides having the security go through the plane, getting told Jihad was in Ethiopia, getting searched, frisked, taken out of the car at check points in Ethiopia for them to search US the CAR and driver. It was the strangest thing, and I guess US warning on high alert there.

Fast pace to and from places, our driver was wonderful, the guest house was nice the cooks and staff were a joy, we had a good time, but KNEW we were ready to head home the minute we unpacked.

I feel like there is so much to tell so as the day goes on, I will write and post and update...

Packing up and saying Goodbye

Map out your future - but do it in pencil.

The road ahead is as long as you make it.

Make it worth the trip. ~ Jon Bon Jovi

Friday morning we headed off after making sure everything was packed, the car was loaded and giving the kids loveys goodbye. It was hard to leave them, but the trip went by so fast, most the time was on the plane. I am so glad to be home, I need to post and update and tell all about the experience. WOW... we are home now, good to be home!

Time is UP, getting ready to walk out the door to leave

Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.

~Steve Jobs

Everyone knows how much I am into quotes,sayings, bible verses, I have books and books that I look up a saying or quote for my topic, if you have not noticed. :)I love this quote, it goes with a lot in my life right now, family, friends, this trip, it really hit home and so I post it on my blog with a clock. A clock that will represent the time I am gone from AZ until I return. :) Much love to you all that supported, lending a ear to listen and I had a blast filling and DHL them to Addis. I hope and KNOW we will be forever UNITED. See some of you in Africa SOON..

Today is the day, WE FLY...the day is here!

The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same.

Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.

~Don Williams Jr

It's 4am and I am up and ready to roll. I am nervous a little. I hate having to leave Kenzie and Logan behind, but I Know they are in good hands. AND I get to bring "cupcake" home.Logan keeps asking when I go get his brother? Kenzie gets a sissy? I had to smile with a huge grin, I guess if that is what God wants, then it will happen. We did submit our dossier for another child, we will the the outcome, if so I am guessing summer next year. Maybe a boy closer to Logan's age?

I feel like I am forgetting something, but what? I guess anything I forget I can buy there.I just hope my luggage makes it, I don't forget my camera, and the ride is smooth.

I already have a doctor appointment for Aslynn for when she gets home, I want her looked over and make sure she is not sick before being around the other kids.

My mind is a blank, because I know I am forgetting something, I guess as long as I have paperwork,diapers,wipes, etc i am good. My cell wont work, so we are bringing Jon's since his is a world edition. The only bummer is internet, my wireless Verizon wont work, on the computer or phone. They say its because they don't have a "contract" with Ethiopia. So I can text and get phone calls but on Jon's #. Biggest bummer is that I was wanting to take pictures and send to kids or post them here while I was over there, but Jon's phone has no camera. Maybe I will try and hit a internet cafe.

THE DAY IS HERE, TODAY I am just overjoyed with the feelings rushing through me right now. All this hard work leads to this day, today. I wish we were getting our son too, I wish the paperwork would have pushed through by now, all is God's hands and timing. Maybe Spring? Who knows, I am ready, I am ready whenever I get the call :) I am dying to see a referral picture of our son. I requested up to the age of 2 hoping closer to 2 so Logan has a buddy to play with :) We will see what lies ahead.

I will try and post while I am there if not, you will hear from me when I get back.
Best Wishes to all the waiting mommies out there, the ones that have returned and given me so much advice, and all the girls on the boards. Without the support, my head would be rolling down the street. Now when I come back, I can start answering other questions and help out people through the process. It's a lot of work, I don't think people know it unless they have done it. Emotionally, I just want to get on that plane NOW, I don't know how I can do this again to get baby #2, maybe escort or make the trip with a friend so the kids are home with 1 of us.

We will see what is in store, on blabbing on... try and write from Addis Ababa or airports along the way.

SOON I will have miss Aslynn in my arms forever...

4 Days and counting..

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you;

he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6 Well its Monday, and that means that we leave Friday for Africa to get Aslynn. So many thoughts and emotions run through Jon and I. We are so excited and overwhelmed at the same time. We have been waiting for this moment for such a long time, and its finally here, hard to believe until I step onto the plane.

I think it will be hard to leave the kids too, but I know that it will be pretty quick as we will be on the plane for the most of the time. We leave AZ Friday, and get in Addis on Sunday at 1am. And then we leave Addis Wednesday morning and get home Thursday morning at 12am AZ time. Quick go there, turn around trip fly back, I did not want to leave home long and stay in Africa too long.

I am also interested to meet some of the ladies from the AA board that I have become close friends with, it will be nice to see you guys face to face and get pictures of the kiddos together, as they will be forever bonded.

Gosh, so many feeling right now, I cant even type them out, I guess to sum it all up, LIFE in general has just CHANGED this past month. My eyes have become open even more to my surroundings with friends, family, and what is most important. I know what to keep my eye on and keep my direction towards, what is under this roof is what matters the most, bringing Aslynn home and hopefully soon another to complete this family will be a joy in our eyes. God has given us so many blessings over the years to be thankful for, and we are very blessed and thankful for the gifts and the people that God has brought into our lives. We live and learn from our mistakes and our trials and errors, we take pride in our accomplishments and achievements, but we also must look into what really matters and that is what makes us smile, hold each other at night and just know that we are together as ONE and that is what matters the most!

I thank God nightly for giving me "another" day with Jon, the kids, and this world. I value each moment I have with them, and for the rest of my life as I continue to be the best Mom I possibly can be. I strive to be the best wife,mother,friend,and family member. This journey to Aslynn has been such a long bumpy road, looking back at all the paperwork, the tears, the emotions, the friends, the comments, the people I have met along the way, it has been such a marvelous and emotional roller coaster, only one that has walked in these shoes would know what I am speaking of. Blessings to all that adopt, all that are mothers, all that long to be mothers, that all care for others, may you find comfort in knowing that you make a difference daily in someones life.

New picture from the Agency

"She Loves to stick her tongue out, in all the pictures I am blessed to see, I see this tongue, it's too cute! I want to see it laugh and smile and grown up with us as a family." ~Leah

Just got a new picture from our agency of Aslynn, she has grown, and looks healthy. I cant wait to get on that LONG flight Friday, NOW I must pack and get life in order here, before I head there, ohhhh the day in the life of!

Baby Girl Pictures

A photograph is usually looked at - seldom looked into. ~Ansel Adams

A board friend Andrea had her husband take pictures of Aslynn for me while he was at the orphanage this past week. Thank you again for these pictures of Aslynn with the nanny, she looks so good and healthy since our first photo, we are on the countdown now! Blessings

(Makenzie has already nicknamed Aslynn "cupcake")

Schnepf Farm On a Saturday Afternoon

MORE COWBELL

A long drive out to Queen Creek, but the drive was worth the great time we had a Schnepf's Farm with Nina and the kids (Scott we missed you, workaholic). We enjoyed a train ride, feeding the deers, carousal, a tour around the farm, petting zoo, hay bike race, and the kids play area. PLUS I had to grab a few homemade cookies hee hee

Reign Down U.S.A

Our prayers should be for blessings in general, for God knows best

what is good for us.

~Socrates

Friday night my sister, Dad and I volunteered for Reign Down USA. Its a great organization.

http://www.reigndownusa.com and it was nice to pass out food for those in need, gift card to the grocery store, and have them leave with prayer. It's a wonderful feeling if you can touch just 1 person out of millions, who knows, maybe 1 prayer Friday night helped a lost heart or a ached soul? AND YES YES I MADE THE BLING SHIRTS FOR THE 3 OF US, I KNOW BE SHOCKED, IT WAS FUN,THERE WAS SAYINGS ON THE BACK TOO. THEY TURNED OUT GREAT, AND TO GET MY DAD TO WEAR "BLING" HEY...I AM GOOD!

Sushi and Baby Shopping

The moment a child is born,the mother is also born.She never existed before.The woman existed, but the mother, never.A mother is something absolutely new.~Rajneesh

Nina and I had to hit hobby lobby, swing by for a bite of sushi, and then onto the major project... BABY SHOPPING.

Reality has HIT and in 5 days I go pick up my sweet Aslynn. I had to make a run for babies r us and get a few things. I decided not to have a baby shower. 3rd child, near Christmas, so much is going on, I thought it would be easier just to let everyone enjoy the holidays, and I would grab Nina and get the baby stuff! And YES the 2 people that checked us out LOVED US taking pictures, and got a kick out of it. HA HA ONLY LEAH AND NINA!