You Could Win This Frame

Click here to see details for winning a photo session with me and a framed print. FYI: It does involve donating $5 to my friend's adoption fund.

I was going to stop the entry tonight, but only one person has entered. Come on!

Seth's Play

He was playing with his dinosaurs when I heard him speak as the baby, "Daddy, I want to hold you a minute."

Happy New Year!

Our dossier is on its way to Ethiopia. Estimated delivery time is January 3rd. However, we are already in the system and are officially waiting for a referral! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!



I took these photos a few years ago, actually on July 4.

Prospective Timeline

A lot of people have asked what our timeline will look like. We can only speculate of course. Based on others who are using the same agency as us, this is our prospective timeline.

Our dossier COULD arrive in Ethiopia soon after the holidays.

If it does, we COULD receive a referral in May.

It is POSSIBLE that we will travel in July.

HOPEFULLY we'll have our baby home by fall.

Christmas Tree Thumprint Ornaments

I saw this post on Pinterest and read where it could be done with salt dough. Negative. While you can use a cookie cutter to cut out a tree from salt dough, it does not look near as good as the ceramic one shown. I had already decided to give the trees as gifts to grandparents. So I headed to Wal-Mart this morning (yep on Christmas Eve, yikes!) to find something to replace the salt dough creation.

I found Sculpey. It's as easy as clay (hey, I think I have a new saying) and doesn't require a kiln. We made a total of 10 ornaments (2 kids, 2 sets of grandparents, 2 great-grandmothers, plus 2 for our own tree).



We have done so many other activities and the kids even made a new friend today. But there's no way I'm taking the time to post all the photos I'd love to share. It's time for me to hit the sack with a book I won in a Dirty Santa game, "Redeeming Love." This will be the first novel I've "read" since 12th grade "Pride and Prejudice." Only this time I won't be using Cliff's Notes.

Raine Says

Thank you for tuning in to another episode of "Raine Says."

Raine: Can we go to a park today?
Me: No. It rained and everything will be wet.
Raine: What about tomorrow?
Me: I think it is going to rain all week.
Raine: It doesn't rain on Christmas.

Operation Christmas Child

I just received an email from Samaritan's Purse letting me know that our box went to Madagascar. I couldn't be happier... unless it had gone to Ethiopia!

Check out this video.