We Are Home!!

We arrived home safely last night around 9:30! We are so blessed with our 2 new beautiful and wonderful daughters. Challenges? Yes, especially with communication and teaching new rules! But, we are sooo excited to be one big family! I will blog more later! Right now, Emma, Faven and Diborah need lots of attention! (It's 12:30 and I haven't even had the chance to get dressed!) Blessings to all!

Getting ready for take-off!

Well...we have a full day today preparing for our trip! We leave home tonight and begin our flight in the morning!!!
Please pray for safe travels for us. Also, pray for my children here. Just today, we had to take Nathan's boxer to the vet to have him put to sleep. It will be hard for this momma to leave her heartbroken children! )o:
I appreciate everyone who has supported us in this process and who continues to keep us in their thoughts and prayers!!

I hope that all of you have a very Merry Christmas and a happy new year!!

Kayla's growing up!

My baby girl turned 19 years old yesterday! What an amazing young woman she has grown up to be! Her grandma gave her this 'Angel' ornament--it describes her perfectly!

4 days until we fly!!!

JESUS and Santa Claus...

We go to church and we teach our children about God and His son Jesus. Our children know that Christmas is Jesus' birthday. But, we also talk about Santa Claus. Yes, Santa Claus brings presents on Jesus' birthday.

As we were walking into church on Sunday, my daughter, Emma--all of 3 years old--said, "This is my Bible and it talks about Jesus. I love Jesus. Jesus is going to tell Santa Claus to bring me toys for Christmas." At least she knows the proper chain of command.

I am going to enjoy every single aspect of this trip to Ethiopia to meet our daughters and bring them home--you will not hear me complain one single bit!! But, I am sure going to miss my ornery little sweetness!! Upon the wonderful advice of a friend, I have decided to fill a jar with kisses for every day I'll be gone. Each day Emma will get a kiss from mommy and when the kisses are gone, mommy will be home! I may do it for Nathan and Derek as well, just for fun! (o:

Making a list...

We have made soooo many lists in preparation for our trip. Christmas to-do lists, for-the-trip lists, in-our-absence lists, what-to-pack lists.....

We are slowly plugging away and marking things off of the lists. It is fun and exciting! I am beyond thrilled to finally be at this point in our adoption journey! We leave one week from tomorrow! What an amazing Christmas this will be--one to remember for a lifetime!

Christmas with Faven and Diborah!

Every year we get a family Christmas ornament--it has been fun to watch our ornaments grow!! It was exciting to be able to buy an ornament this year with Faven and Diborah on it!

It looks like we'll be in Ethiopia for Christmas!!! WOW!!

We plan on leaving on the 17th and spending a couple of days resting and sightseeing in Rome! Kayla turns 19 this month, so she is super excited about this brief detour--what a birthday present! I had to wait until I was 39 and decided to adopt to travel to another country!

Then, my favorite part, we will leave Rome and fly to meet our girls on the 21st! What a wonderful Christmas this will be!
It breaks my heart to be away from Nathan, Derek and Emma on Christmas day, but they will be well cared for by family that loves them very much! We're leaving them in good hands! Nathan will get to play Santa. He is looking forward to eating the cookies Emma will leave for Santa! (o:

WE PASSED!!!

**EDITED**

We passed court! Faven and Diborah officially have the last name of Simmons--forever!! Okay, until they get married, but you know what I mean!

I deleted the video from this post and put it at the top of the blog, so it will be available for me, I mean you, whenever you visit my blog! (o:

Thanks for all of the congratulations and words of encouragement!