Look how far we have come - 15 years

Well if you are very close to me, you know that I have always wanted to visit Charleston, SC. Well for many years that has been the standing joke in our house because I have asked and asked and for some reason we always end up vacationing somewhere else. This year for our 15 year anniversary, Chris planned a trip to Charleston with some friend of ours from Louisville. We had a great time even though we were there for a record breaking cold day - seriously it broke records. We did all of the traditional Charleston sights. Rainbow Row, Slave Market, a Carriage ride, Live Oak, the Battery, Boone Hall Plantation, and lots and lots of food. Our condo was on Isle of Palm which was beautiful but a bit chilly. However, we had a very good time and it was great to catch up with our friends. Greg and Teresa both ran in the mini in Charleston on Saturday and I gladly stood on the sideline and cheered them on.
While we were there, we had our friend take some pictures of us. This would be proof of 15 years of love and commitment :) This will be one trip that my waistline and I will not soon forget!

How long must we wait???

If you do not want the ugly truth about adoption, please stop reading!!! Waiting. Who would have guessed it to be so hard. We have a busy life with 2 great children. People have said that they figured that waiting would not be that difficult for us. I must admit, we do have a great life and our children keep us very entertained. I guess the part that is so hard for us is that our lives are on hold. We had this calling to add to our family and bring two children home and now we wait and wait. It never seems to leave your mind. You always think, will today be the day. 147 million orphans is the claim but it is not as easy to embrace them as you think. As days tick off of the calander, this process becomes very disheartening. You start stalking people in the blog world just to make sense of the wait. Hoping for any sign that your time might come soon. Holidays pass with you wishish that your new children could have been with you and shared in your joy as a family. Any news about Ethiopia and possible changes makes you want to literally throw up. How many fee changes, travel changes, program changes, wait time changes can we endure before we decide this might not be for us? In my heart I feel that we are doing the right thing but with so many people waiting, would these children be adopted even if we did not? Are we truely making a difference or do we just want to feel like we helped? These are the taunting questions that cross my mind. Have we lost it completely? What were we thinking? Then I go to sleep at night and dream about our children and everything seems to be ok. Will these dreams ever become reality. I hear people say that once you have your children that the wait just seems like nothing. I long for that day when I can look back and laugh at how crazy I have become. One foot in front of the other, day by day, minute by minute - We have to make it. I must see your sweet faces. Please Lord, do not let this wait be in vain! So for now we press on eagerly awaiting news, any news! I would settle for happy news for the people ahead of us on the list. Meg, please get a referral soon. Your 14 month wait makes me sad!

Thanks for listening, not all days in the process are happy! This is for Meg, this wait can just "suck it".

Yes we are still here and NO we do not have a referral

Happy 2011 to all my blog friends. Wow! 2010 seemed to fly by in many ways and creep along in the adoption world. All in all we had a amazing year. 2010 did not lack in the excitement area. Here is a run down of the short list for 2010:

Madie started 2nd Grade
Max started 1st Grade
Officially went on the waiting list for a sibling pair from Ethiopia
We hosted 2 foreign exchange students (Thailand and China)
Chris competed in an International Business Plan competition in San Francisco
Went to Destin, Florida for Spring Break
Zoeller Family trip to Smugglers Notch, Vermont

Chris only has 2 more classes left to complete his MBA.

We will continue to keep you posted with any adoption news that may transpire. We are headed to Charleston, SC soon so maybe since we are not sitting at home waiting it will happen. I won't hold my breath but it would be great!!!