Welcome Home Mongo

Ok, I may be the worst blogger EVER!!!  I can't believe how long it's been since I've blogged.

This month makes our countdown officially 4 months on the Ethiopia waiting list.  At times it seems like it hasgone fast, and at many other times it seems like time is standing still!!  We can't wait for our child to come home. I had a friend ask me if we thought our child will be home for Christmas next year...Oh my, I hope so!!!  I don't know how much longer I can wait.  :)  Matt and I have started collecting books and toys and such.  But plan to start getting some bigger purchase items after the holidays.

For Christmas, Baby Fuller received "I'll Love You Forever" from his/her Fuller grandparents with a super sweet note waiting for him or her when they come home.  Grandma Fuller also does a lot of beautiful embroidery work.  Both Kaden and Cooper have a blanket with their names embroidered on it from them.  Well, Baby Fuller received the same blanket for Christmas and once we know who our child is, Grandma will get their blanket embroidered so it's ready for them to come home too.  I can't wait!

We made a super quick trip home this weekend for Christmas.  We spent Saturday with my family, but unfortunately my brother was sick and unable to make it.  However my Grandparents, who I haven't seen in a long time were able to make the trip to spend Christmas with us.  It was so great to see them and catch up.  We spent the day cooking, playing games, and staying up way too late playing pitch.  We went to church for Christmas Eve service and I was able to catch up with lots of friends~SO FUN!!  For Christmas this year, my family decided not to exchange gifts.  Instead we pooled our money and we're all going to the Cotton Bowl in January!!  We can't wait.  We'll get to spend 3 days together and hopefully get to see some more family while we're in Dallas.  And of course, we'll be cheering really loudly for the cats so look for us on TV!!

We spent Sunday with the Fullers.  Christmas is definitely fun for us adults, but I have to say that my favorite part is watching my nephews rip through their presents!!  Their present highlights for Christmas were play drills, which actually work from grandma and grandpa and their gift from their aunt and uncle~of course.  We found them what looks like a miniature motorcycle.  The boys definitely will need to work on their balance a little, but they had the hang of them by the end of the day.  Again, Matt and I were so spoiled for Christmas, but we love it.  :)  A favorite included Matt's cleaned, restuffed, and revitalized Mongo from his mom.  Mongo is a white monkey and was one of Matt's favorite stuffed animals growing up.  Well, at some point it became a favorite buddy to the Fuller's dog, Casey.  Unfortunately Casey passed away a few years ago, but Kim wanted to give Mongo back to his original owner.  I think a highlight for the Fuller Christmas was watching Matt unwrap his beloved Mongo!  When we got home I asked Matt where he wanted to put Mongo.  So Mongo is now waiting in Baby's room anxiously awaiting the arrival of our new family member.  Seriously though, I wouldn't be surprised if Mongo makes the trip to Ethiopia with us.  Welcome back to the family, Mongo :)      

Ok, so I promise that I will TRY to be a better blogger but no guarantees!  Just know that we are constantly praying for our sweet child and in awe to know that they are probably already alive and in an orphanage right now.  What a wild thought!!  Jesus, please be protecting our family in this moment even though they are half a world away.  My prayer is that we will meet soon, but trusting in God's timing.  I have a feeling that 2012 is going to be the best year yet :)  Love you friends

Preparing for Baby :)

Matt and I have spent a lot of time on the road lately and it seems that the conversation often leads to baby.  There is a lot to think about!!!  One of the most fun topics is baby names.  We're pretty sure we've decided on a girl name, but we are struggling more trying to agree on a boy's name.  I happen to think that the meaning of a person's name is just as important as liking the name itself.  However, I am struggling because some of the names that are at the top of our list come up as "origin not known" when researched.  I may have to get over this meaning stuff OR we may have to keep searching!!!  At least it's a fun time spender :)

We've also started talking about all the stuff we'll need.  I would love to be able to go ahead and start looking for furniture and some of those bigger purchases, but we don't know how old our child will be when they come home yet.  So that makes shopping a little bit harder.  For those of you who know me though...that fact hasn't completely stopped me from shopping ;)  Shocking, I know!!!

I do have aspirations to make our baby's bedding--we'll see what happens.  I did pick up my first project the other day.  It is more of a patched blanket.  I can't wait to start on it!  If this project goes well, then I'll move on to the bedding project.    

Fall is Coming

Wow, it's been awhile!! Where did the summer go??!! We have been busy. Most recently, we went on vacation to Arches, Bryce Canyon, and Zion National Parks. This was an extra special vacation because my brother was able to go with us. Our vacations almost always end up being physically intense and this one was no different. In total we hiked almost 60 miles, gaining at least 5,000 feet in elevation, and some of the hiking was in a river. Hard work, but oh so much fun!!! There's something very renewing about being able to get outside and see some beautiful country. We were all physically exhausted by the end but ready to go back to the real world with a renewed sense of mind.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was hiking the Zion Narrows. Hiking the Narrows was definitely on my Bucket List~now I can check that off. Basically, you hike up river in Zion Canyon. When you start out, the canyon is wider and you can find dry land to walk on. But soon, the canyon narrows forcing you to fight the currents to get upstream. In most places you and walking in about a couple feet of water, but there are places where you have to swim!!! It was SO much fun! A little intimidating though to look up as the canyon narrows and know that there is no way out except to keep going. We guess that we only spent about 6 miles in the canyon, but you can start from the top of the canyon and work all the way down~about 18 miles. Maybe next time! 

We went to our first K-State football game yesterday, so I guess that means fall is officially in the air!! We LOVE football season. Not only because we're diehard fans, but also because it means we get lots of family time in. It's so much easier to say goodbye when you know you'll see them all again in a couple of weeks. This weekend we got to see Matt's sister and her family. I had not seen my nephew Cooper for several months and boy is he growing!! I can't believe how much bigger he is, but the most fun thing is to see his personality coming out and to hear him talk. Not always can I make out the words yet, but he knows what he's saying!

It's so fun to think that a year from now *hopefully* we'll be able to share all of this with our own child. I can't wait to go on vacations as a family of four (Jack included, of course). I can't wait to initiate our child as a little Wildcat and take them to their first K-State football games. I can't wait to see them play with their cousins and get loved on by grandparents and aunts and uncles. 

Thank you for continuing to pray for us as we prepare to meet our child.  In the past, we've been so focused on getting paperwork around and doing all the work we have had to do to get the process going that I we haven't been able to worry a lot about how we are actually going to parent when our child is home!!  I know we will figure this out together, but boy can that thought be intimidating.   Thank goodness God has placed lots of good examples of parents around us to watch and learn from.   

Blessings and Hugs, megan 

Officially on the Waiting List!

It's official...we are now on the waiting list!!  It would have been a little sooner, but I missed the state certification requirement on two of our dossier documents.  So, I had to wait for Holt to send them back to us and then send them in to the state for certification.  Luckily that did not take very long.  So right now, our paperwork is on it's way to Ethiopia where they will review it and then match us with a child.  Unfortunately, they are saying that matching us with a child will most likely be 9-12 months from now and we could travel as soon as 2 weeks after we are matched.  But God is in control of our future and the time it will take until we meet our child.  Right now, we are anxiously waiting and I am praying for patience and a calm heart.  And I have to tell you, I am getting tired of waiting!!!  ;)  But again, God is in control and His plan is perfect for us.  I just have to keep telling myself that.  This is another big step closer to finally being able to hold our child!!!   

Oh Happy Day...Our Paperwork is Done!!

Well, we didn't have to wait very long for our official letter from Immigration, we got it yesterday!!!!  We are both so excited and a little in shock that it came so fast :)  We went out to celebrate the completion of this BIG step towards our adoption.  At this point, minus two photos that we can get at Walgreens today, we are ready to send our dossier to Holt who then reads over it and forwards everything to Ethiopia.  Awwwww, what a big sigh of relief to have the paperwork done!!  At this time, Holt is still saying that it will be about 9-12 months until our baby comes home, so we are definitely still going to need your prayers for patience, to keep us busy, and for our baby's safety over the next coming months.  I know this wait is going to be hard, but we have to get to this point to move closer to meeting our baby. 

With our official letter

Celebrating at Blue Agave

Last night at supper, Matt and I were talking over our adoption journey and how surreal it is to be at this point.  After we had tried for a year unsuccessfully and then learned that we couldn't have our own children, I never thought we'd get here.  I didn't think I/we had the emotional ability to get to this spot.  I am telling you that I never expected to be appreciative of everything we've gone through...but I am :)  I am so thankful for the journey God has put us on and for the little child waiting in Ethiopia for us!  I am so thankful for the characteristics God is carving in me to be the best mom I can be.  It's amazing to think that God ordained this and that Matt and I are apart of something far bigger than just us.  Baby we love you and we are now a step closer to getting to hold you in our arms!!  Hugs and kisses from mom and dad!!

We've Been Fingerprinted

We had our appointment with Immigration Tuesday morning (July 19th) for fingerprinting.  We were in and out in no time!!  Hopefully we'll hear from they with the final go ahead in a week or two, but we have no idea how long our wait will be.  The pictures above are of Matt and I with our stamped paperwork from Immigration.

Busy, Busy

So a few friends -I won't name names- have gotten on me for not posting lately :).   I do apologize, we have been busy.  I'll do my best to try and summarize the last month.
First off, we have an appointment with Immigration on Tuesday the 19th.  We'll get our fingerprints done that day and then we'll wait for them to give us the official go ahead.  Matt and I plan to make a day of it and finish up the last letter we need as well as get everything notarized.  That way we'll be ready to send off our dossier as soon as we receive the okay from immigration.

For Memorial weekend we headed to Table Rock Lake with my family.  We had so much fun!!  The lake was flooded so we weren't able to ski or play on the water, but we did get on the lake to snoop around and also got plenty of float time.  We also all went to a Lynard Skynard and ZZ Top concert.  It was a blast and the people watching was awesome ;)  Let's just say a lot of older folks living out their glory days!!  Too funny!  Table Rock is a home away from home for us.  I spent many summers on this lake growing up and can't wait for my children to do the same.

Matt and I decided to try our green thumbs at a garden this year.  We've had a lot of fun checking it every day and seeing what we have growing.  Who would have ever thought I'd enjoy spending hours in a garden.  Next year we like to at least double it.

We spent a weekend in KC with my brother and Matt's family.  We took in two Cubs/Royals games and spent a lot of time by the pool.  I could do that every weekend!!

Fourth of July is often spent at home with our neighbors.  We are so blessed by our neighbors and the friendships that have formed there.  The neighbor kids put on quite a firework show for us and for now, we just get to sit back and enjoy it.  I'm sure our time for buying the fireworks will come when our kids get older.

Lots more trips and fun things coming up on the calendar for us.  Our goal is to keep ourselves busy and knock a few items off our bucket list before our baby comes home.  So there's the run down.  I hope this gets me out of the dog house with some of you ;)  Thanks for thinking of us and offering your encouragement.  I think we both are surprised at the peace we feel and the patience we have (at least most of the time).  This is definitely not by our power.

megan