We're Leaving TODAY to go get Josiah!!! We got into the hotel way later last night than planned (thanks to procrastination and nightime construction--seriously, three lanes down to one WITH stalled trucks???)
Elizabeth is so excited! My mom has been a LIFESAVER!!! She is part superwoman. We definitely would have been in trouble without her!
We appreciate your prayers!!! For safety, for Josiah, for Elizabeth, for our Embassy appointment on Tuesday!!!
Blessings,
The Babers
Friday, August 29, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
I want to GO!!!
Today, I received the BEST gift I could receive right now...pictures of my son! Thank you SO much, Beth!!! (And yes, it is definitely him...I wasn't totally sure until I saw one with his cute little grin, and then I had NO doubt :-))
Right now, the nerves and anxiety are melting away. I just want to go meet my son NOW!!! Not the best thing, but I really couldn't care less what my house looks like right now or what I have packed or where we'll be staying. I just want to go...
Tonight we have Elizabeth's pre-school open house. We registered her, but haven't heard anything all summer. So, I hope she's on the list! She'll end up probably missing the first two weeks anyway, though. And I don't have all the documents I need with me yet. I've just been kind of focused elsewhere. And right now...as you probably guessed...I just don't care. It'll all be figured out at some point.
Tomorrow we go up to pick up my mom. Wednesday we are probably going to be doing last minute shopping and packing everything. We'll be cleaning and doing laundry in-between. (Sorry Uncle Dan and Moms if the house is not as clean as it should be.) I am actually concerned about one thing with the shopping...I need to find good hair stuff for him. I wasn't so concerned before, as they had his hair cut pretty close. But now, my boy has got some hair! I think I'm going to be taking a picture into the supply shop and saying, HELP!
Right now, the nerves and anxiety are melting away. I just want to go meet my son NOW!!! Not the best thing, but I really couldn't care less what my house looks like right now or what I have packed or where we'll be staying. I just want to go...
Tonight we have Elizabeth's pre-school open house. We registered her, but haven't heard anything all summer. So, I hope she's on the list! She'll end up probably missing the first two weeks anyway, though. And I don't have all the documents I need with me yet. I've just been kind of focused elsewhere. And right now...as you probably guessed...I just don't care. It'll all be figured out at some point.
Tomorrow we go up to pick up my mom. Wednesday we are probably going to be doing last minute shopping and packing everything. We'll be cleaning and doing laundry in-between. (Sorry Uncle Dan and Moms if the house is not as clean as it should be.) I am actually concerned about one thing with the shopping...I need to find good hair stuff for him. I wasn't so concerned before, as they had his hair cut pretty close. But now, my boy has got some hair! I think I'm going to be taking a picture into the supply shop and saying, HELP!
Saturday, August 23, 2008
BIG Smile
I have a big smile on my face this evening. :-D Some of our friends through our agency's boards are currently in Ethiopia bringing home their daughter. (Please keep her in your prayers, as this is a difficult transition for a child.) They included this message about Josiah in their blog:
This time next week, we will be in Ethiopia--hopefully still sleeping our first night there. Josiah will not be in the hotel with us yet, but I'm hoping we will have met our sweet boy!
Demarie, your little Josiah is a peanut too! His eyes are just gorgeous! He was actually moved from Gelgela to the transition house today!! We saw him at Gelgela yesterday and then again today at the transition house... I got some really cute pictures of him for you too...!
This time next week, we will be in Ethiopia--hopefully still sleeping our first night there. Josiah will not be in the hotel with us yet, but I'm hoping we will have met our sweet boy!
Thursday, August 21, 2008
A Walk to Beautiful
Okay, so I haven't been working like I said I was going to....but there is a good reason! I had heard about THIS PBS Program a while ago, but never got around to watching it. One of the ladies on the BCS discussion boards reminded us about it tonight. I am so glad she did! Thank you, Vicki! (The whole program is available to watch online--you can even do one small piece at a time.)
I don't understand why things happen, but I am amazed at these beautiful women! Their faith and strength are gifts only God can give!
Off to clean now, while I pray and think and cry...
I don't understand why things happen, but I am amazed at these beautiful women! Their faith and strength are gifts only God can give!
Off to clean now, while I pray and think and cry...
Yea!
Our travel packet arrived from the travel agency today. Praise God! I'm glad to know NOW that we have eTickets, so even if we didn't get them, we would have been okay. :-p Everything looks good with our names and such. We might need to change the seat assignments, but hopefully that won't be too big of a deal. (I haven't been able to tell how the seat are actually arranged.) Still a couple of things we're waiting on.
David's brother Steven came over today to help us move some furniture. It was a BIG help! We're working, but still have a way to go until we're ready for a toddler in the house.
Elizabeth and David went to pick out paint for Josiah's room and for Elizabeth's room. I'll just say, I'm glad I already told Elizabeth we're only going to paint ONE wall in her room because WOW her paint is PINK! We'll see how the paint for Josiah's room turns out. We might need to end up doing some "special techniques" to make it a little lighter ;-). I'll post pics once we are done.
I've just resigned myself to the fact that I'm not going to sleep at night for a while. So I'm trying to be as productive as I can with my late nights. Maybe it'll all catch up with me on the plane, and I'll get some gooooood sleep. Okay...I'm off to clean!
David's brother Steven came over today to help us move some furniture. It was a BIG help! We're working, but still have a way to go until we're ready for a toddler in the house.
Elizabeth and David went to pick out paint for Josiah's room and for Elizabeth's room. I'll just say, I'm glad I already told Elizabeth we're only going to paint ONE wall in her room because WOW her paint is PINK! We'll see how the paint for Josiah's room turns out. We might need to end up doing some "special techniques" to make it a little lighter ;-). I'll post pics once we are done.
I've just resigned myself to the fact that I'm not going to sleep at night for a while. So I'm trying to be as productive as I can with my late nights. Maybe it'll all catch up with me on the plane, and I'll get some gooooood sleep. Okay...I'm off to clean!
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Good things
I feel like all I'm posting lately is my frustration, so I wanted to add some positive things.
Elizabeth has been as helpful as she can be. She took the initiative to go through her books this morning to give the "baby" books to Josiah. We had talked about this a couple weeks ago, but hadn't gotten to it yet. She has been excellent about cleaning up her room and her toys when we ask. She wiped down the refrigerator door when I was cleaning the kitchen. She took it upon herself to "clean" the bathroom for me, too!
Our social worker is AWESOME! I called her today to respond to a question, even though it probably could have been answered by email. I just needed to hear a friendly, helpful, understanding voice. And she was all that and more! She had me laughing and smiling when I needed it. She even called me with more information later when she could have just emailed me. We've told her several times we want to convince Grand Rapids that she needs to go with us. But she has her BIL's wedding, so I guess we're okay with that. ;-)
Hopefully M. is going to be able to take care of room reservations for us.
We thought we had a dog/house sitter lined up. Though that plan didn't work, it looks like another option is going to be a good fit.
Many friends have contacted us to let us know they are praying for us and thinking of us. Of course that always lifts our spirits, and reminds us that God is in control!
Elizabeth has been as helpful as she can be. She took the initiative to go through her books this morning to give the "baby" books to Josiah. We had talked about this a couple weeks ago, but hadn't gotten to it yet. She has been excellent about cleaning up her room and her toys when we ask. She wiped down the refrigerator door when I was cleaning the kitchen. She took it upon herself to "clean" the bathroom for me, too!
Our social worker is AWESOME! I called her today to respond to a question, even though it probably could have been answered by email. I just needed to hear a friendly, helpful, understanding voice. And she was all that and more! She had me laughing and smiling when I needed it. She even called me with more information later when she could have just emailed me. We've told her several times we want to convince Grand Rapids that she needs to go with us. But she has her BIL's wedding, so I guess we're okay with that. ;-)
Hopefully M. is going to be able to take care of room reservations for us.
We thought we had a dog/house sitter lined up. Though that plan didn't work, it looks like another option is going to be a good fit.
Many friends have contacted us to let us know they are praying for us and thinking of us. Of course that always lifts our spirits, and reminds us that God is in control!
A Little Frustrated this morning...
I've been crying this morning and there is no real reason. I know it's mostly not big stuff, but with 10 days left until we go, I'm starting to stress a bit. And I've not been able to fall asleep for anything.
I was expecting to have our airline tickets in-hand last night. Well, I discovered this morning they were not sent out until yesterday...and they were sent priority mail, so we will not get them for 3-5 business days! This does not leave much time to make corrections if anything is wrong. Also, the price we were billed by the airline is about $50/ticket higher than we were quoted, which I understand the reason, but we were given no warning or invoice. I had to call and ask to get it.
We have not heard anything about hotel reservations. I asked the travel agent to make these for us a week ago. I understand that they email with the hotels in Addis, and this can take some time. But a week? I was trying to save our in-country rep the trouble of doing this for us, but if I don't hear something from the t.a. today (I emailed for the second time since our request), I'm just going to ask him to do it.
I'm going to hang the cat...
I've been snapping at poor Elizabeth all morning...
David is going to have to go find me some medication with a sleep aid because this not falling asleep until 3:30, 4, 4:30 a.m. is not helping anything!
On a positive note, we heard from the BCS family traveling at the same time we are!!! I'm excited to meet them!
I was expecting to have our airline tickets in-hand last night. Well, I discovered this morning they were not sent out until yesterday...and they were sent priority mail, so we will not get them for 3-5 business days! This does not leave much time to make corrections if anything is wrong. Also, the price we were billed by the airline is about $50/ticket higher than we were quoted, which I understand the reason, but we were given no warning or invoice. I had to call and ask to get it.
We have not heard anything about hotel reservations. I asked the travel agent to make these for us a week ago. I understand that they email with the hotels in Addis, and this can take some time. But a week? I was trying to save our in-country rep the trouble of doing this for us, but if I don't hear something from the t.a. today (I emailed for the second time since our request), I'm just going to ask him to do it.
I'm going to hang the cat...
I've been snapping at poor Elizabeth all morning...
David is going to have to go find me some medication with a sleep aid because this not falling asleep until 3:30, 4, 4:30 a.m. is not helping anything!
On a positive note, we heard from the BCS family traveling at the same time we are!!! I'm excited to meet them!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Ready or not?
I feel like there is nothing to do right now to get ready--other than clean and pack. And I'm not doing either of those very well. Yet my mind won't stop spinning with every little thing I SHOULD be doing.
I check BB all the time and blogs, but write nothing because I feel like I have nothing to contribute. (Yes! I'm going crazy waiting to hear something from our friends traveling right now. Even if they say nothing about Josiah, I still want to hear from them and know how things are going.)
I feel exhausted, and still cannot sleep. My sleep schedule is moving in the wrong direction. I think I'm about 12 hours off of what I will need to be in Ethiopia. Normally, it would only be 7 hours.
I want to go get my son now! Still I feel incredibly inadequate for the task before me.
Taking it to the Lord of All!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay...I'm way tired. Now I have old OLD school D.C. Talk running through my mind.
I check BB all the time and blogs, but write nothing because I feel like I have nothing to contribute. (Yes! I'm going crazy waiting to hear something from our friends traveling right now. Even if they say nothing about Josiah, I still want to hear from them and know how things are going.)
I feel exhausted, and still cannot sleep. My sleep schedule is moving in the wrong direction. I think I'm about 12 hours off of what I will need to be in Ethiopia. Normally, it would only be 7 hours.
I want to go get my son now! Still I feel incredibly inadequate for the task before me.
Taking it to the Lord of All!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay...I'm way tired. Now I have old OLD school D.C. Talk running through my mind.
Take it to the Lord.
Take Take Take
Who you take it to?
Take it to the Lord ya'll.
We gotta take it to the mighty Lord.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Sometimes I forget...
...that my joyful helper, excited big sister, normally gregarious daughter is still a little girl who needs reassurance from her mommy and daddy.
Poor Elizabeth has been dealing with a messy, chaotic house with no place to really play, as well as a crabby mommy who is short on sleep and patience. It's no wonder she had a meltdown today. She screamed at the top of her lungs that she did not like cleaning up her toys and she was not going to do it. (Thankfully, she actually was putting her toys away during all this ranting.) Normally, in the state I'm in, this would have sent me over the edge. But God gave me an extra dose of patience and understanding during this time, and I was able to hear some of the fear she's having through the rants.
When she was finished, I just pulled her in my lap for a while and let her settle down. Then we were able to talk. I asked her if she is scared about going to Ethiopia. (This was deduced from some of her rantings.) She said that she is afraid of going to a place far away and not knowing any of the kids...that she won't know their names. I reminded her that we'll be right with her the whole time, and that she can ask the kids' names. I told her that we will make sure we learn some important words in these next few weeks so that we can communicate with the kids.
This brings up a struggle I've been having. I absolutely want to be honest and real with her about things we will face. I try to gently explain things to her ahead of time so that she will be prepared when she goes through it, all the while assuring her of how everything will be okay. (For example, we told her that in going to Ethiopia, we will mostly hear other languages, see people who may dress or look different than we are used to, and try food that is new. And that's fine! It'll be fun to try new things, and God makes all people unique.)
But it seems sometimes me doing that makes her fearful or worried before she even gets to an experience. How do I balance the need for preparation with causing her to over think things and worry?
Poor Elizabeth has been dealing with a messy, chaotic house with no place to really play, as well as a crabby mommy who is short on sleep and patience. It's no wonder she had a meltdown today. She screamed at the top of her lungs that she did not like cleaning up her toys and she was not going to do it. (Thankfully, she actually was putting her toys away during all this ranting.) Normally, in the state I'm in, this would have sent me over the edge. But God gave me an extra dose of patience and understanding during this time, and I was able to hear some of the fear she's having through the rants.
When she was finished, I just pulled her in my lap for a while and let her settle down. Then we were able to talk. I asked her if she is scared about going to Ethiopia. (This was deduced from some of her rantings.) She said that she is afraid of going to a place far away and not knowing any of the kids...that she won't know their names. I reminded her that we'll be right with her the whole time, and that she can ask the kids' names. I told her that we will make sure we learn some important words in these next few weeks so that we can communicate with the kids.
This brings up a struggle I've been having. I absolutely want to be honest and real with her about things we will face. I try to gently explain things to her ahead of time so that she will be prepared when she goes through it, all the while assuring her of how everything will be okay. (For example, we told her that in going to Ethiopia, we will mostly hear other languages, see people who may dress or look different than we are used to, and try food that is new. And that's fine! It'll be fun to try new things, and God makes all people unique.)
But it seems sometimes me doing that makes her fearful or worried before she even gets to an experience. How do I balance the need for preparation with causing her to over think things and worry?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Plans are Made!
We have travel plans finalized!
We'll be flying on Ethiopian Airlines, which is very nice because we won't have to get off the plane at all. We'll just have a refueling stop in Rome.
Leaving Dulles Airport on Friday, August 29th
Return to Dulles on Monday the 8th at 7:55 A.M. (oops had wrong date)
We're planning to stay at the Millenium hotel in Addis.
Sorry, friends...I know this doesn't make a group welcome at the airport very possible. School will have started by then...and it's just really early on a weekday ;-)
Now that I can relax about our plans, I guess I need to get back to cleaning out Josiah's room--and the rest of the house.
We'll be flying on Ethiopian Airlines, which is very nice because we won't have to get off the plane at all. We'll just have a refueling stop in Rome.
Leaving Dulles Airport on Friday, August 29th
Return to Dulles on Monday the 8th at 7:55 A.M. (oops had wrong date)
We're planning to stay at the Millenium hotel in Addis.
Sorry, friends...I know this doesn't make a group welcome at the airport very possible. School will have started by then...and it's just really early on a weekday ;-)
Now that I can relax about our plans, I guess I need to get back to cleaning out Josiah's room--and the rest of the house.
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