Pushing my Buttons

It's EASY to ♥ LOVE ♥ our daughter - even before we have met her or seen her!
It's EASY to be EXCITED to watch God's hand in ALL of this!
It's EASY to THINK of someone else calling me MOMMY.
It's EASY to IMAGINE what bringing her home is going to feel like.
It's EASY to THINK about her everyday.
It's EASY to WONDER about her...


It's going to be EASY to tuck her in bed, read her stories, fix her hair, smother her with kisses and hugs, help her learn to tie her shoes, learn her 1 2 3's and A B C's, paint her nails, wipe away her tears, cuddle, snuggle, laugh together, play together, sing to her, teach her all about JESUS, plan play dates for her....   ☺


 

It's HARD to wait to see her beautiful face and hold her in our arms...

It's HARD to IMAGINE what her life was like & the circumstances that led her to our FAMILY.

It's HARD to THINK of the person she would've called Mommy & how much she is going to MISS her.

It's HARD to grasp the CHANGES she'll be going through - New family, Country, Language, Food...

It's HARD to think about the other children that she shared a room with or slept next to - who still need someone to  ♥ LOVE ♥ them, a HOME, and a FAMILY.

It's going to be HARD to help her work through her feelings of LOSS...

  

Oh SURE the PANIC button has been pushed! :)

I am scared of the unknown.

I'm scared I won't know how to comfort her or bond with her.

I'm scared for change.

We are NOT adopting because we think it is going to be EASY. We are adopting because we were CALLED (I have to say, I was skeptical about this word and the meaning of it - but, I have come to understand it very well thanks to Proverbs 24:12 - God KNOWS what HE has put on OUR  ♥ HEARTS ♥ and HE is holding US responsible to ACT!) to and we are MORE THAN EXCITED to be parents again!! We have more ♥ LOVE ♥ in our ♥ HEARTS ♥ to share - and most important we HAVE the HOLY SPIRIT living in us, guiding us, nudging us, encouraging us, teaching us, advising us, TELLING US to make this decision - JUMP in whole ♥ heartedly!!  Yep, Ultimately, it was our choice - WE CHOSE to listen and ACT.  We are EXCITED to have one (or two) less orphans (OUR DAUGHTER(s) HOME...with THIS FOREVER AND EVER FAMILY! 

And... we are SUPER thankful for the....

GOD BUTTON! :)

I will continue to PUSH this one EVERYDAY for the REST of my LIFE... Because goodness knows I am DESPERATE for HIM - LOST without HIM!

Isaiah 41:10
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you. 

Philippians 2:12-13

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Tuesday Tidbits

 

Some SILLY Teeeeenieboppers! We ♥ LOVE ♥ the PHOTO Booths! :)

Thanks to LAUREN at LIVING BY FAITH - found a FUN, CHRISTIAN Site for the Chicka's to check out.. REALLY cool stuff to help teenagers face stuff in life HEAD on and CHRIST - CENTERED! - Thanks Lauren ♥

 SO cooool you can read magazines online now... right HERE!

Last weekend we watched our FIRST Orange and GREEN Game! :)  Kinzi did SOOOO Good as CATCHER!  The UMP even turned around and asked who her parents were so he could compliment her! WOWIE!!!! HOW COOOL is that!!!??? We were 2 PRETTY Darn happy parents! :) It was a FUN day - we are looking forward to a good season.

Got the first flat I've had in a loooooong time yesterday - I AM SO GLAD Erik was in the car to help me!!! It was dark, we were on a BUSY freeway and it was SCARY - What is the RULE with being on the side of the road - is it SAFER in the car or do you try to get away from the car... while you wait for help - or finish fixing the tire??

While We Wait Wednesday! (WWWW)

So... While We Wait...We are already looking forward to the UW Softball games - I made Kinz and Kara a FAN shirt. ...Just a little spray paint, sparkles, and a $2.50 shirt for Old Navy! :) 

GO DAWGS!

We hit a couple FAIRS - The Evergreen State Fair...

...and the Western Washington State Fair! :)

...and we are sporting some PRETTY AWESOME ADOPTION T- Shirts! LIKE THIS ONE...
I LOVE IT!! Thanks Galbreath Fam!  ...You can get one too, just visit the...


GALBREATH FAMILY JOURNEY BLOG

So... Our CRAZY Life keeps on Keepin on... But...

 There isn't a day that goes by where we don't think about the orphans in this world and our Ethiopian Adoption. EVERDAY I think about what it is going to be like after our family has grown... after we have brought home our daughter(s) from Ethiopia!! :)  While we wait we are filled with excitement and anticipation! From shopping to conversations in the car, what school they might go to, where they will sleep, what they will eat, 'sister'sitting opportunities, chats before we go to bed, thoughts in our head, and in all of our DAILY prayers... 

Here are a few things I've picked up lately... ☺

 

Went to Anthropologie - looking for a cute shirt and I bought a little lion and zebra for our Sweeties instead! :)

 

 OOOOH I LOVE little Dollies! These Corolle Baby dolls are soooo cute and snuggly! :)

A Barbie and Little Miss and Little Mr. videos!!
Got the whole SILLY series of the Mr. and Miss books. Erik and I picked them up in LONDON - Forever ago!  It was a personal mission to find those CRAZY books! ☺  My parents purchased these books for my sis and I when we lived in Austria - WE LOVED THEM!!!, I've read them to Madison and Kinz and NOW I am excited to read them ALL OVER again!! They're just FUN and colorful! ☺

And... Gotta have A Beautiful BOX of Bows!!! ♥  I'm almost sure this isn't going to be enough! ha ha! ☺ It's just a 'temporary' bow fix for now! It will be SO much FUN to put them on their sweet lil heads!

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 

Philippians 4:6-7

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” 

Matthew 6:27

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Jerimiah 29:11

♥ School Girls ♥

Okay... I officially feel like we are back into a routine of things.  School is back in session for both girls....  This year they are going two different places - So... that means LOTS of quality time in the car with them! :)  Kinz started a day before her big sis!  It is SO hard to believe that this is her last year in ELEMENTARY school! WOW! I think she will be ready for that LOCKER, 6 periods, 'out of the classroom' LUNCHES... and that BIG Girl feeling of JUNIOR High... next year! :)

 

This is her and her little buddy FURBEEEEE (Looks like he needs his bangs cut) :) ha ha!

I LOVE these pics of my Crazy lil Madison! ha ha! It's such a typical TEENAGER face ('like seriously Mommy, you have to take ANOTHER picture' ☺)- Texting on her way to school - to see who she will be walking "IN" with. :) This school is HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE! Over 1600 kids in one school! CRAZY! I am excited about the ADULT type choices she has made in her life! This is her first experience in a public school - totally her choice! We talked a lot about it during the Summer and she is excited about her decision.  I think she was ready to experience something different... and bigger.

...With Madison's choice to NOT attend a Christian school next year - I have explained to her what a HUGE contribution she has made to the ADOPTION of her little SISTER(s)! ♥

2 COOL CHICKAS!

LOVE These Girls! LOVE being a Mommy!

Sooooo looking forward to being a MOMMY to our daughter(s) in Ethiopia! 

♥ I LOVE THEM ALREADY ♥

Thirsty?

.

Soooo today Madison and I went to get her lunch at QFC before school.  She grabbed an Odwalla drink and this caught my eye... So, I bought it, I drank it (it was YUMMY ☺) and then I started researching it! ...Just because I was SO curious that you could buy a beverage and the Coca Cola Company would give 100% of the profits of the purchase of this drink go back to the Haitian Farmers and the Haitian Community - the Haitian PEOPLE! WOW! I think that's pretty COOL! Here is a little more information about it: HAITI HOPE MANGO LIME-AID. 
What do you think? If you were thirsty, would you buy it?

We met some REALLY AMAZING people in Kenya who serve in a ministry there called PLANTING FAITH

Planting Faith Ministries, Inc. works to spread the
good news of Jesus Christ in East Africa by helping
to raise the economic level of farmers from
subsistence to sustainability.

After purchasing this beverage - I couldn't help but think about this family... and the AMAZING things they are doing there to spread the Good News of JESUS CHRIST and to help the local Kenyan farmers/people learn to make a profit off of their land - and live on more than $1 a day!  We were so blessed to have this AMAZING family show us what they were doing.  ...We visited one of the passion fruit farms that many of the farmers were working hard on, we met WONDERFUL people, visited churches, an orphanage in Thika and had an even BIGGER appreciation for these Missionaries and... how God uses them EVERYDAY to make a difference in this world! ♥

 

...At the end of this trail there was a stream of sorts where HIPPOS were hanging out! 

Pretty scary place to farm!

 

This is a picture of Horace, Erik and Paul

 This was a tiny little room where about 10 people were hard at work
turning the fruit into juice to sell at the local hotels.

So... It seams like Coca Cola has GOOD intentions with their Mango-Lime Aid for HAITI! The only thing that would make it even better is if they could market JESUS CHRIST on each bottle of JUICE! ♥

...Oh and on a side note - not related to JUICE but...

BEAUTIFUL Bracelets and ADOPTION!!! 

Check out LOVIN' MUCH To see Alison's AWESOME Giveaway and help her BRING home her Sweetie from ETHIOPIA! ♥


John 4:14
But whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.

THANKFUL for a VERY, VERY BIG GOD!

About 5 years ago Erik and I decided to leave the 'FAMILY' construction business and begin one of our own. ...DEFINITELY a step out in FAITH - THANKFUL for our AWESOME, GREAT, BIG GOD for helping us, every step of the way!!  It certainly hasn't been SUPER easy going from a Stay at Home Momma to a Stay at Home Momma who gets to do Paperwork and Accounting now! :)  ...Accounting was never my favorite in school... I feel like it stifles my creativity a little bit; and I definitely don't want to be creative with the accounting! Ha! :)  It has been a learning process for sure - from lots of ups and downs, a crazy economy, and loss of relationships from making this change...
BUT, one thing remains the same... 

GOD is watching OVER us with our business, our adoption... our LIVES!!  

Even when things don't run smoothly,
I am so THANKFUL for our VERY, VERY, VERY BIG GOD!

First and foremost. I am Thankful... 

 

John 3:16

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

I am thankful for what He is teaching me.

I am thankful of this Path of Adoption HE has led us on.

I am thankful that He continues to fund our adoption.

I am thankful for the Child(ren) He has chosen for our family.

I am thankful HE knows more than me.

I am thankful I am not doing this alone.

I am thankful that no matter what happens it is all for good.

I am thankful He has led us to a church that has a BIG focus and passion for Orphans and Widows!

I am thankful He has connected me with other Adopting families.

I am  THANKFUL for these things and SO, SO, SO much more! I am THANKFUL he forgives me for not always putting Him first...  and LOVES me anyway!

As I complain about doing our companies paperwork - I am reminded from scripture to KEEP WORKING HARD!  :) ♥  Thank you JESUS for giving me strength, wisdom and the courage to keep on going, even when I feel lost, confused and frustrated... I don't know what I would do without YOU!

1 Chronicles 16:34
♪ ♫ Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. ♪ ♫

 Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song.

 

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

He's got the WHOLE WORLD in his HANDS...

It is SO amazing to see how GOD works ALL things for GOOD!

I had never ever even heard of the word BLOG, what it meant or how you 'do' it!  Today, I have to say what a tremendous blessing it has been in my life... Following God's call to adopt, I was SO excited to be able to get on the World Wide Web and find out more about this AMAZING Adventure that our family was about ready to embark on... from families who were also adopting or who have adopted!  When I felt those TUGS at my heart to PRAY Hard and Research this 'IDEA' of adopting (at the ripe 'ol age of 41 ☺) I started "GOOGLING" questions about adopting - SERIOUSLY, I think it turned into "GOD-OOOGLING" - Because he kept pointing me in the right directions!  He kept putting people in my life that would encourage and inspire me!  I was SO excited when I stumbled upon this (Thanks KRISTI)...

 I know a lot of you have seen this video... I am SO glad it appeared when I "GOD-OOGLED", and I was able to watch it and feel the need to MOVE forward as FAST as God would let me!!! :)

...once our eyes are opened, we can't pretend we don't know what to do. God who weighs our hearts and keeps our souls, knows that we know, and holds us responsible to act..... Prov. 24:12 ♥

Now... after 'BLOGGING' (It's SOOOO cool to be able to use that word and know what it means - ha! ☺) I continue to be AMAZED who I meet!  For some reason - I think everyone should live in Tennessee ha! or somewhere far, far away....WORLDWIDE! What I have found in this "Adoption Blogging Community" is that I am now friends with neighbors, people who live just down the street, people who go to my church, other amazing people reaching out to support each other in this INCREDIBLE act of obedience. Adopting!!

He's got my brothers and my sisters in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

 Soooo... I just wanted to give a BIG SHOUT OUT there in the BLOG world and say...

...for reaching out, for being my friend, for supporting me, for your kind words, for opportunities to connect and form 'REAL LIFE' Friendships, for your prayers, for YOUR amazing BLOGS, for opening your heart and sharing things that you are passionate about, for the amazing amounts of opportunities to support each other!!! 

He's got everybody here in His hands,
He's got everybody there in His hands,
He's got everybody everywhere in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands.

September Numbers

 

Our # on the AGCI Waitlist for a little girl! ♥

 ♥ Our # on the AGCI Waitlist for SIBLINGS!

CREATIVE FUNDRAISING

I've never really seen anything like this before!  It's like this AMAZING raffle - where you get to purchase "Puzzle Pieces" from The Road Less Traveled: Erica's Blog - to help bring their baby home from Ethiopia.  This is how it works:

"In order to be entered in the IT's A FAMILY AFFAIR fund raiser you'll need tickets. These tickets are in the form of a puzzle piece that will help put our puzzle together and raise our referral fee necessary to say YES when we see our precious daughters face. Each piece is $10. For this giveaway ONLY we're doing 3 pieces for $25. (you can click on the puzzle piece on the left side of our blog to purchase your piece/pieces) Your name/family name/whatever you want will be permanently written on the back of your piece/pieces and we'll add them to our puzzle which will eventually be framed to hang in our home as a permanent reminder of the people who helped bring our little girl into her forever family.
Each piece purchased will also give you that many entries into the giveaway."

CHECK OUT THIS GIVEAWAY!!! HOLY SMOKES!!! HOW AMAZING IS THAT!! And that is just the tangible part of it all... To know that you were able to help in a small way to bring an orphan home is a GIFT all in itself!!!

1 Timothy 6: 17-19

“Command those who are rich in this present world … to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”

Luke 6:38

 “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” 

Romans 12:13

 “Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.” 

Thanks ERICA for this AWESOME opportunity to be a part of something REALLY BIG!
The adoption of your baby girl! 

Oh...and.... I just received my PLUM T-Shirt in the mail from  THE ROAD LESS TRAVELED! I LOVE IT! ♥ Love the back too, "Where you live should NOT determine IF you live!" ♥

F - D - L

Had a SUPER 3-day weekend! One of our HIGHLIGHTS was opening the mailbox to find our FDL!!!

NOTICE OF FAVORABLE DETERMINATION CONCERNING APPLICATIONS FOR ADVANCE PROCESSING OF ORPHAN PETITION

Seeing these words... "It has been determined that you are able to furnish proper care to an orphan(s) as defined in Section 101(B)(1)(F) of the Immigration and Nationaly Act......." were WORDS to our EARS!!! ☺

PRAISE GOD!

CAR CONVERSATIONS....

For about ELEVEN years I have driven my GIRLIES to school!  Whether it was 5 miles away to eventually 25+ miles away... There is ALWAYS so much time in the car before school and after school! I LOVE IT! I totally look forward to that time together.

Our commute takes about 20 minutes to drop off Madison and about 45 minutes to drop of Kinzi! Phew! I know...Lots of CAR TIME!  But..... I look at it as such a FUN opportunity to 'Hold the GIRLS Captive' :) for lots of GREAT conversations!! ♥

As the girls have gotten older the conversations are changing... With Madison it went a little like this today:

Me: "Who are you texting?"
M: "Ooooooooh Ida!" :)

Me: "Madison, that dress is a liiiiiiiiiiittle short."

M: "Oooooooooh... it's FINE Mommy."

Me: "Omiggoooooooodness look at this welcome to school!"

M: "It's the SPIRIT Committee"

Me: "That is soooooooooo cool! You should be a member of the Spirit Committee."

M: "Oh, No Thank you."

Me: HONK HONK HONK Hoooooooonk

M: "Mommy, you are soooooo embarrassing! "

Me: "ha ha ha! :)"

Me: "Have a GREAT day, I LOVE YOU!"

M: "LOVE YOU!"

After we drop Madison off... Kinz climbs to the front seat to sit with me and since we have a little time to kill we head off to STARBUCKS.  The line was sooooooooooooooooo long today! I think I was looking at my phone for a sec and hadn't moved 2 feet forward... and the lady behind me started HONKING! ha ha!

Kinz and I's conversation...
Me: "Omigoooodness, that lady obviously NEEDS her morning coffee!"
K: "Yaaaa REALLY!" :)
Kinz and I get our Starbucks coffeeeeee...
K: "Mommy, How do you spell Macchiato?"
Me: "Hmmm. MACCHIATO - M-A-C-H...."
K: "NOPE."
Me: "Um. MACCHIATO - M-A-K..."
K: "Noooooooooo."

Wellllll I finally spelled it RIGHT!  Buttttt.... after saying, "MACCHIATO, over and over both of us felt like we were speaking a little Japanese! :)  So, I taught her the song...

We were singing it more like this, ♫ ♪ "Domo Arigato Mr. MACCHIATO!" ♪♫

ha ha ha ha!!! :) ...already looking forward to picking them up... hearing about their day, and ENJOYING a 3-day weekend with them!!!

HAVE A HAPPY LABOR DAY WEEKEND!!! :)

Elijah is HOME AT LAST! :)

WOWIE! What an AMAZING GOTCHYA Video from Amy @ Filled with PRAISE! SO excited for SWEET Elijah and his AWESOME family! ♥ Soooooooo Heart-warming, ENCOURAGING and INSPIRING! Thanks SO much for sharing your INCREDIBLE Adoption Journey Amy - I PRAY it will touch many HEARTS and place a PASSION and drive from our Heavenly Father to take ACTION of their own and see another ORPHAN brought HOME!!! ♥



 Our Journey to Elijah Mihretu - Ethiopia Adoption from Amy @ Filled With Praise on Vimeo.