Trip #1 Day 2

January 20th, 2011
   Our wake-up call rang at 3:00a.m.  We showered, grabbed our bags and jumped on the airport shuttle to the Indy airport.
   6:00a.m. Flight left for D.C.  We met the nicest guy in the row behind us on the plane.

Joel, a young man who had been homeschooled and lives south of Ft. Wayne.  He farms and is on the way to Uganda to help at an orphanage with their farming.  He will be there until April.  Lord, keep Joel safe and may you impact him greatly and shape him according to your will during this trip.
   Once in D.C. we met the SWEETEST two Ethiopian girls who were also heading to ET.

E and M are in high school and were themselves adopted about 6 years ago.  What a delight to meet them and hear some of their story.  They are returning to their homeland for the first time since their adoption for the wedding of their older brother.  We exchanged numbers and I look forward to hearing from them once they return.  They were so encouraging..really just amazing young women!!
  11:00a.m. Boarded Ethiopian Air Bus non-stop to Ethiopia!!

The plane is nice and clean.  Food ok.  I avoided the fish and chose chicken.  After a few bites of the spinach lettuce salad I decided to be safe and didn't eat anymore in case it was washed in ET.  Praying we don't get sick on this trip.
  Loving this gift the Stroud family gave us:

It is SO handy!!!  Thanks friends!!!

Journey to Abel and Feven Faith Trip #1 Day 1

January 19th, 2011
   School was cancelled today due to black ice.  It was a blessing as the morning was proving to be VERY tough on the kids and me with saying, "goodbye".  Drake was begging to allow him to stay home from school, but I couldn't let him because if he stayed home, he wouldn't be allowed to play in his basketball game that night.  So, when we discovered that school was cancelled (yes, I failed to turn on the t.v., thinking it looked fine outside) it felt like a gift from God.  "Almost Ready Angie" was far from ready and it was a gift to have extra time to pack, and I was glad the kids were around.
  Lyndsay came over and served me greatly by updating my i-pod with music and setting up Skype for us.  Thank you Lynds!!!
   At 4:30p.m. we were ready to leave.  Saying goodbye was very hard!  We have never gone away this far or for this long before.  The MANY prayers of our friends and family were and are an enormous comfort!
   On the way out of town we stopped by the Mortensens house to pick up a camera bag and money they have for Birtukan, an Ethiopian gal who had been a World Vision sponsor child...that is she survived because someone was willing to sponsor her. ( We have a World Vision and a Compassion International sponsor child and it is so cool to be able to meet a women who was an actual sponsor child and hear her story.  There are many legit sponsor programs out there and for about $30.00/month you can change/save the life of a child who otherwise would hardly stand a chance.  Most offer the ability to maintain correspondence through letter exchange).  She and her husband now serve the Lord by helping orphans to be placed in family like homes within Addis.  We have the privilege of meeting her on Friday.
   I need to do a better job of packing on trip #2.  I have too much in my carry - on.

Diamonds from Africa

We are back in Indiana!!  Not home yet.  Resting tonight and will be home tomorrow, but had to share that we received our gift of diamonds i.e. We Passed Court!!!  We are now the happy and proud parents of 5.  SO, introducing Abel and Feven Faith:

And more:

We are thrilled they are ours!!  They Are Precious!!!
So tired!!  Will update more tomorrow.
~Angie

We are heading out...

We are packed and heading to Indy.  One bag is already in the car.  We fly tomorrow!!!

Sweet treats waiting for our D's while we are gone :

Count down to meet our precious African babes:

Thank you so much sweet family and friends who are praying for us.  We know we don't take this journey alone and for that we are so GRATEFUL!!!
Lyndsay you were a MAJOR help and blessing to us today.  Thanks for your help!!!
We love you all dearly!!!!!
~Angie

This Time Next Week

This time next week, we will be in Ethiopia anxiously awaiting our trip to Mekelle to meet our son and daughter!!!  Words can't describe the excitement and emotion that is within me.
So, I am nick named "Almost Ready Angie" and, well, I am ALMOST ready...definitely not there yet.  Getting ready to run a bunch of errands so I'm a little bit closer.

Have to post a couple of pics:
Beautiful Morning Last Sunday

Our Christmas Break Visitor:

D's friend came to the front door one evening and when we opened it, in flew this female cardinal(I think).  She initially wouldn't leave the chain holding our foyer chandelier which is 20 some feet high.  Thankfully, she flew to D's room and we quickly followed to enclose her in the room and found her on D's Christmas Tree...So sweet!!  She then flew around visiting all sorts of places and sang for us too.  In D's bathroom, Drake carefully was able to wrap a towel around her and escort her outside where she happily flew off.