Well it's been some time since I put in the last post. I have been busier than I can imagine but that seems to be life.
Right now I am at the Drake Relays in Des Moines Iowa. On Thursday I had an exhibition competition and I wasn't very sure how things were going to turn out. As I prepared for the meet I had Asha on my mind. As the bar got higher and higher I thought more and more of her and what it will mean to me when I finally get to hold her in my arms. That was motivation enough to keep me focused on the jumping. Soon after I finished, I went over to my phone, looked at those big brown eyes and became lost in the excitement.
There is a funny thing that happens when you are adopting. You carry pictures of a child you have never met around with and you share them with everyone. You brag and say that's my little girl as if you have raised her from birth. It makes no difference that you have never met face to face. I can't tell you how many people I have showed pictures to. It's amazing! The mere thought of Asha brings me a joy that goes far beyond jumping over a bar, winning an Olympic Medal, or lots of money. I could go on and on but to put it simply....it's just pure joy when I think about her.
28 April 2007
26 April 2007
The Travel Date is FINALLY HERE!
Yep, I know.. I haven't written for weeks on end... but who's reading this stuff anyway, really? :)
The good news is that we got our travel email on Tuesday and need to be in Ethiopia by the weekend of May 11. We're leaving May 9 just to give ourselves a little extra time to rest up (that's me, especially) from jet lag, adjust..visit Asha at the orphanage and so forth. I bought our tickets today and we got a reservation at the Hilton Addis Ababa as well. Good News!!
The other big news is that we've been cast on a DIY Network pilot and will be filming in our house next week for three days while they remodel our living area. It seems crazy, but we'll be happy for the improvements before Asha comes home.
I can't wait to see what they do!
Well, that's about all for now. I'm running around a lot this week, trying to get as much done as I can before things get really crazy next week.
Kate
The good news is that we got our travel email on Tuesday and need to be in Ethiopia by the weekend of May 11. We're leaving May 9 just to give ourselves a little extra time to rest up (that's me, especially) from jet lag, adjust..visit Asha at the orphanage and so forth. I bought our tickets today and we got a reservation at the Hilton Addis Ababa as well. Good News!!
The other big news is that we've been cast on a DIY Network pilot and will be filming in our house next week for three days while they remodel our living area. It seems crazy, but we'll be happy for the improvements before Asha comes home.
I can't wait to see what they do!
Well, that's about all for now. I'm running around a lot this week, trying to get as much done as I can before things get really crazy next week.
Kate
13 April 2007
09 April 2007
Getting Ready for Asha
Today I made the trip to Home Depot and bought all the supplies I need to paint Asha's bedroom. We're going to paint it a very pretty, pale yellow. It's brown right now- not a very girly color! It's such a relief to be able to finally do such things- we know who she is, how old she is (give or take a year or so) and most of all, know she'll be coming home SOON! (Don't get too excited- we still don't have a travel date.) I also went to Old Navy today and found the cutest stuff! I bought several outfits but had buyer's remorse and have decided to return it all and wait until the big "gently used" sale coming up in a couple of weeks. Myself and two girls from church are going to this Lutheran Church in our neighborhood for a kids' clothing sale. I also hope to pick up some clothes to donate to the orphanage in Ethiopia while I'm there.
When we got those new pictures yesterday, they just took my breath away. I also began to feel a longing to scoop her up and give her a big hug. That little girl has already been through so much in her young life. I look at her photos and I can't look away!
Alright, well.. I need to put primer on the walls in her room. I'll post some pictures when we get the room together...
Until later!
When we got those new pictures yesterday, they just took my breath away. I also began to feel a longing to scoop her up and give her a big hug. That little girl has already been through so much in her young life. I look at her photos and I can't look away!
Alright, well.. I need to put primer on the walls in her room. I'll post some pictures when we get the room together...
Until later!
08 April 2007
We got a new Photo!!!
Well we got a new photo today!!! Hooray hooray. Kate got an email this morning from someone on the Yahoo group that just got back from Ethiopia. We waited impatiently for the photo to come. Kate tried to clean house and I pitched in as best I could. I was participating in what Kate refers to as "man cleaning". I'll let you imagine what that means.
After an hour or so of attemped distraction we had to just get our of the house. So we opted go for a walk and take Nikka out for some playtime. Just before we walked out the door we got out the door we checked the mail and there it was. Three pictures of our beautiful daughter. We both fought for just a minute of the view of the laptop screen. It was a great moment. Fantastic I tell you.
It is more apparent each passing day how much we desire to get on that plane and just go meet our little girl. Kate and I have so much joy and love in our hearts for our precious daughter. Well, that's enough for now. Until next time.
After an hour or so of attemped distraction we had to just get our of the house. So we opted go for a walk and take Nikka out for some playtime. Just before we walked out the door we got out the door we checked the mail and there it was. Three pictures of our beautiful daughter. We both fought for just a minute of the view of the laptop screen. It was a great moment. Fantastic I tell you.
It is more apparent each passing day how much we desire to get on that plane and just go meet our little girl. Kate and I have so much joy and love in our hearts for our precious daughter. Well, that's enough for now. Until next time.
06 April 2007
Shopping for Toddler: Mindful Consumerism
Well I just finished my first shopping experience. Kate and I went off to Target to see what we may need to bring our little girl home. We got ourselves a scanner gun and made our way through the maze of consumerism and did our best to avoid the normal trappings. It was fairly easy at first as the practical side of me said she needs shirts, dresses, pants, and shoes. She also will need things like sippy cups, toothbrush, socks; oh yeah a car seat too.
As we made our way through the aisles it dawned on us that she would need some toys and things to play with. Thanks to the good folks in marketing we were directed to the age appropriate toys in the back of the stores. Toys for this and toys for that. Learning toys, fun toys, computer toys and talking toys. Toys toys toys toys. Toys are everywhere. I was struck by the masses of technology toys that exist in today's marketplace. I am sure that the toys are good, helpful and amusing. I know that nothing existed like a cellphone toy or laptop toy or just about anything else out there in the marketplace when I was a kid. I had Tonka Trucks, star wars figures, a few matchbox cars and other things as well but nothing close to today's standard. Some of those toys that were around then are are still around but in "upgraded" versions. I digress.
So what what am I getting at? You'll have to stay with me for a minute so I can explain myself. I recently heard Donald Miller of "Blue Like Jazz" in an interview with Relevant Magazine speak of someone that wanted to bring toys to a mission and the mission asked them not to. The reason, because toys often bring about greed and fighting among other things with the kids. Miller also mentions a person in Scotland that didn't want to bring their friends back to the US before their kids are beyond a certain age because they would like to shield them from the mass consumerism of our present culture. They wanted the kids to really value the relationship with their siblings and friends more than any "thing" that they could want or have.
What I am getting at is that all of the toys that were considered the best, the high end ones, were all "learning" toys. All toys that allowed your child to interact with a machine or game that would teach them something. Maybe I will show my ignorance here but I thought that interacting was to be done by children and parents or children and friends. Don't get me wrong here I am not saying that they are all bad. I am sure they are good things in many if not most of the toys out there. It's just that I worry that it creates an environment that is too easy for me as a parent to ignore my child in the name of amusement and learning.
In wrapping up I would say is that my hope is that I will navigate the course well be mindful of my time and money as a parent. I would prefer to think that I would value that time so much with my child that would want to be there, side by side watching, learning and interacting with her. The idea of reading to Asha makes me nearly melt right now. Maybe I'm nuts, maybe it's just the years of waiting to be a parent makes me ultra sensitive to gift and privilege of having a child. I just don't know, I just thought I would get some thoughts out.
As we made our way through the aisles it dawned on us that she would need some toys and things to play with. Thanks to the good folks in marketing we were directed to the age appropriate toys in the back of the stores. Toys for this and toys for that. Learning toys, fun toys, computer toys and talking toys. Toys toys toys toys. Toys are everywhere. I was struck by the masses of technology toys that exist in today's marketplace. I am sure that the toys are good, helpful and amusing. I know that nothing existed like a cellphone toy or laptop toy or just about anything else out there in the marketplace when I was a kid. I had Tonka Trucks, star wars figures, a few matchbox cars and other things as well but nothing close to today's standard. Some of those toys that were around then are are still around but in "upgraded" versions. I digress.
So what what am I getting at? You'll have to stay with me for a minute so I can explain myself. I recently heard Donald Miller of "Blue Like Jazz" in an interview with Relevant Magazine speak of someone that wanted to bring toys to a mission and the mission asked them not to. The reason, because toys often bring about greed and fighting among other things with the kids. Miller also mentions a person in Scotland that didn't want to bring their friends back to the US before their kids are beyond a certain age because they would like to shield them from the mass consumerism of our present culture. They wanted the kids to really value the relationship with their siblings and friends more than any "thing" that they could want or have.
What I am getting at is that all of the toys that were considered the best, the high end ones, were all "learning" toys. All toys that allowed your child to interact with a machine or game that would teach them something. Maybe I will show my ignorance here but I thought that interacting was to be done by children and parents or children and friends. Don't get me wrong here I am not saying that they are all bad. I am sure they are good things in many if not most of the toys out there. It's just that I worry that it creates an environment that is too easy for me as a parent to ignore my child in the name of amusement and learning.
In wrapping up I would say is that my hope is that I will navigate the course well be mindful of my time and money as a parent. I would prefer to think that I would value that time so much with my child that would want to be there, side by side watching, learning and interacting with her. The idea of reading to Asha makes me nearly melt right now. Maybe I'm nuts, maybe it's just the years of waiting to be a parent makes me ultra sensitive to gift and privilege of having a child. I just don't know, I just thought I would get some thoughts out.
I've been too lax
I've been too quiet here on the blog- it's not for lack of things to write about, rather the opposite. Waiting for the travel call is so hard. I know my daughter is half a world away from me and yet I cannot do anything to speed the process. I've been working for the past 3 weeks, which has been a great distraction. Last week I really started to get the nesting instinct, though... I'm ready to paint her room, get her furniture together and get ready for our baby girl to come home. I know Matt feels the same way. I'm watching the Yahoo Group daily to see if more families are getting their travel dates and then trying to estimate when it is that we can expect OUR travel call. It's hard to tell, but we probably have 4-5 more weeks to wait.. ARGH!!!
Tonight we went to Target to add items to our registry. Matt mentioned in line that this will be our last Easter without bunny rabbits! WOW! That's so cool! :)
We also found out that one of the social workers from our agency (Wide Horizons For Children) visited with Wubnesh (Asha) in Ethiopia this week! She said she was a little shy at first since she'd just woken up from a nap but had a sweet smile and good eye contact. She also said she'll be sending us more photos (with more hair!) on Tuesday. We can't wait!
I guess that's all for now. I'm sure I will write again soon. I'm pretty tired though and won't do my feelings justice.
Kate
Tonight we went to Target to add items to our registry. Matt mentioned in line that this will be our last Easter without bunny rabbits! WOW! That's so cool! :)
We also found out that one of the social workers from our agency (Wide Horizons For Children) visited with Wubnesh (Asha) in Ethiopia this week! She said she was a little shy at first since she'd just woken up from a nap but had a sweet smile and good eye contact. She also said she'll be sending us more photos (with more hair!) on Tuesday. We can't wait!
I guess that's all for now. I'm sure I will write again soon. I'm pretty tired though and won't do my feelings justice.
Kate
04 April 2007
Just Waiting
Well it's been a few more days and I keep thinking over and over again about how much I can't wait to meet my daughter. I think of the first look, the first hug, the first step toward my travel to meet her. Kate and I both want to leave right now and go to Ethiopia. We are at that point where nothing seems to matter other than Asha.
I don't think you can be fully prepared on your first adoption for the aftershock of knowing who your child is and then not being able to immediately go meet them. You're in standby mode until you the the long awaited travel call. The end result is a joyful stress. You are stuck in the limbo of hurry up and wait and you don't know whether to scream for joy or for frustration. Yes I know I may sound as thought I am complaining but i'm really not. I'm just impatient! I guess I'll only know for sure if it gets any better the second time around after Kate and I bring home a sister for Asha....trust me we are already thinking about it!
Well I hope to have another picture up soon. Some others have traveled to Ethiopia recently and promised to take some pictures for us. We're hoping that they come soon!!! Thats the news for now. Until next time.
I don't think you can be fully prepared on your first adoption for the aftershock of knowing who your child is and then not being able to immediately go meet them. You're in standby mode until you the the long awaited travel call. The end result is a joyful stress. You are stuck in the limbo of hurry up and wait and you don't know whether to scream for joy or for frustration. Yes I know I may sound as thought I am complaining but i'm really not. I'm just impatient! I guess I'll only know for sure if it gets any better the second time around after Kate and I bring home a sister for Asha....trust me we are already thinking about it!
Well I hope to have another picture up soon. Some others have traveled to Ethiopia recently and promised to take some pictures for us. We're hoping that they come soon!!! Thats the news for now. Until next time.
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