so, yeah.....there is some good news to share!

It's a big heart full of a lot of emotions around here.
---some quotes starting out with thoughts of adopting:

Kurt- "are you crazy, we already have six kids, .......and why another girl"

Ash- "I just think every Christian home, that can, should adopt"

Andria- "I can't take it serious ...until it's more real, so I am not disappointed if she doesn't really come."

Ed- "I need some time with this" ......"I need more time" ......."this feels very unknown"

Clint- "Mom, that's great, she is sooo cute, so dad's finally letting you adopt?"

My sister Joyce- "are you sure you won't find another one when you are over in China, I think you need two."

Alan (exchange student)- that's awesome, man! ....are you sure you are taking this seriously?

Kait- "mom, this is a big deal!"

Jenny- "Oh mom, I am just going to be quiet about this, I don't know what to think."

......this was a very small sampling of all the conversations over the last seven months..... I love the honesty and grace my family has shared over this time.

For myself, I am mostly tripping over prayer that seems to be hidden by bigger fears in front of it. But eventually I found more quiet time and soul searching. There wasn't a huge pull or slamming conviction which way to go. In the end, I imagined the faces of my grandkids, in an orphanage, I broke down and really bonded with the little girl, growing into an adolescent and simply couldn't leave her behind, no matter what. Ed has come in and out of conviction over time, it's just hard to move ahead on something so distant and not able to calulate. He is leaning on my gift of relationship/connecting heart with this one.

Mia hasn't even arrived, yet she definitely has changed me already. So the journey begins......
and here are some follow up quotes that might bring a smile:


Kurt: "I think I am open to this now, I think we may have a chance to reach her" (spiritually)- this was after an amazing retreat he attended.

Ash: "I think it might be really hard, but I still think we should do this work"
Andria: "I am really getting excited about Mia, I just had a feeling she would really be yours."

Clint: "So, when is she coming, what's new with Mia?"

Alan: "I see after ALL this months of paperwork and more paperwork, you are serious."

Kait: " I am excited to try and connect with her."

Jenny: "Mom, you have tried to support my dreams, I want to be there for yours"

Ed: "She is going to need a dad..... I can't imagine what she must be feeling, finding out someone wants her, finally." (when she received our pictures and a gift we sent.)

So, with no further details but a lot of joy sharing with all of you, ....

here is Mia, she just turned 12. We plan to travel to China the first of June to welcome our new daughter!


God bless, Annette

no, I didn't die ...... it's just been a long absence from the blogging world!

This is Avo's homecoming to Indiana and Luca's Birthday celebration!

This is what I found 2 weeks later after Luca left, I kept him for awhile when Jen and Luke were in Ethiopia, He loved this plant stand...... and I am guessing found a way to imitate it in is own unique way with some antique spools from my basement. It made me ask the question, if he is building a look alike from what he saw in my home and honestly, with his activity level , I wouldn't have thought it in him. How much more did he take away of my spirit in those day he spent with me? It was a sobering, funny and scarey thought. I miss you, Luca

I felt pretty much like these bears after the whoop-a-la was over for the two and a half week mark! I was hoping no one would notice my pasted on smile of overstimulation!

This is Kurt and our exchange student, Alan----- tough guys, ehhh

I thought I would shock everyone and come out of my blog "freeze"

because........ there are too many things to let slip by unnoticed.

I think I will start nice and easy again with a few pictures: - nice checking in again! -Annette

Hilton Head '09

I know..... it's been ages!!!!!! I couldn't get my video to download, dread..... I pouted for like a long time.

I just told Ed I was bored with editing more senior pictures and an hour later this massive load of rock was delivered to my driveway. 23,00 pounds to be exact! The wall must go up though. Our lot beside us sold, although I like the new neighbors I don't like sharing my tea breaks with them when I sit on my porch, I know, spoiled comes to mind.

Ed gave me a budget and I found a great sale! Garrison, the excellent chap that he is has finals this week and I vowed not to distract him, he loves projects and is working for me this summer.

Kurt flew the coup for his infamous IL, but he has helped a ton (pardon the pun) even without music the last couple of days!

So I fiddled with taking butterfly pictures (not very good ones) and then the dog who is my lone helper tonight. He doesn't look too bright in the picture.

I will keep you posted!!!! Annette

Time out for vacation!!!!!

Woops! I meant to splice out some of that racie song!!! I will try and post the right one:)
Here is Hilton Head. It's long, but I will shorten it later.

love you all,
mom

This is a little blurb on "Ed"

I will improvise the questionaire that I enjoyed on all your blogs: We will be married 30 years in April. It's time to salute the "us"!

This guy has to read everything, preferably while checking espn and snacking. He hasn't successfully sat through a show of any sort without getting restless and walking around.

We have very different approaches to life---- sometimes I see how this balances both of us out, sometimes it just wears us out. He is focused on future and past, while I drag him back to the present..... often.

Our shared pastime would have to be traveling---- anywhere. Ed doesn't like the newness of a country or town right away, three days in he starts to warm up to the culture. He has to figure out all their systems before leaving. I think it is viewed as a job, especially when he randomly interviews people. We are on Kait's senior trip to California in this picture!

This depicts Ed the best......... everything is pretty much in high intense gear. His shoes down to his tooth brush just get plum worn out fast. He is colorful and challenging to anyone's ordinary life. He loves the hard questions and delving into conflicts. He also easily changes direction if proven wrong and apologizes fast for any offense. This is a great attribute since he is direct and speaks his mind freely. I think we will live out ours days still understanding each other, but it's kept the journey interesting and since my biggest fear is being bored, I am really thankful for him!

~love you hon.

Annette

Luca is two!

Jekyll Island is just dreamy- but perhaps not always "kid friendly".

grandpa bonding time.

Eating at the "Top" in Gainsville.

Luca creating his own white sandy beach of sugar.

This is my story entry called "Luca Love"......

It all started with Luca not owning the right match box cars at the little play yard at Haile, evident by the real tears he was sporting when he had to give back the cars to the rightful owner and head home. Jenny was the tough love mom and looked at me like "get a life". I guess I have graduated to the soft grandma heart. Jen and Luke proceeded to take their jog workout while I babysat the sad Luca, now sadder because mom and dad just dissapeared out the front door. It was time to introduce myself as no ordinary grandma indeed!!! tada, I remembered we just bought a train table, complete with trains and tracks and bridges, you get the idea. We oohed and ahhed together as we cut open the package of boxes and plastic wrapped wonder of the train world. Yes, I was rating higher by the minute. Time for my shower break, I had just jogged before my Luca shift. Surely he would be content with all this new stuff, and honestly I didn't know I was suppose to throw the lock on the front door for Luca's easy exit plan. So my story ends in suds, and a frantic grandma wrapped in a towel, running out the door, calling Luca back in the condo from his successful bolt just at the right moment before my shampoo rinse. I must have been more commanding than a scary looking godzilla suds monster, because he did run back in with me.... and we did laugh about it....later. I am most thankful their front door bangs really loud. love you, Luca, your capable babysitter,

Grandma

a new couple coming...... as soon as I catch my breath

It's Brogan and Coty!