the Moment...

It's about one hour before we leave for the airport. This past week I have been swayed by a mix of emotions. Literally their have been moments of just laying my head down on the kitchen counter and taking ten deep breaths, because the world is swaying a little bit. The closer we come to getting on that plane, the better I feel. This is the moment, isn't it? This is when time is suppose to stand still while I completely absorb all that is taking place. Of course, that isn't what happens at all. But this is still the moment, and we have pushed and pulled and fought for this moment and it will happen and it will change our lives forever. I sometimes have this bubble of panic that rise up and fill with all that I still need to conquer and all that is out of my control. And then when I feel like I couldn't take anymore it sort of floats away and 'pops'. Because when the time comes, there is no denying that what you have prepared to do you will have the strength to finish. At one hour till the start of our "amazing race"...I feel totally ready.

Please pray for us friends. Please pray for our little ones in Nebraska. Please pray that these next few days won't be too hard for little Selah. Please pray for our health and safety. Please pray that flights are made and luggage not get lost. I know many of you have been praying for us this entire time, we know because we can feel it. So much of this journey has been out of our control. It blows my mind still of how enjoyable this whole process has been and how quickly our time to get our baby has arrived. So many times I have said "who knew"? I have recently come to understand that "God knew", thank goodness.

Okay...time to hit the showers and then the road. Waiting families...we are so excited to meet your babies and your children. I know this time of waiting is so hard, we will be sure to answer all your questions as best we can.

We love you all,
Anne

Corduroy

Corduroy blinked. There was a chair and a chest of drawers, and alongside a girl-size bed stood a little bed just the right size for him. The room was small, nothing like that enormous palace in the department store.

"This must be home," he said. "I KNOW I've always wanted a home!"

Lisa sat down with Corduroy on her lap and began to sew a button on his overalls.

"I like you the way you are," she said, "but you'll be more comfortable with your shoulder strap fastened.

"You must be a friend," said Corduroy. "I've always wanted a friend."

"Me too!" said Lisa, and gave him a big hug.

"Corduroy" by Don Freeman

The Amazing Race

Ryan and I have always been big fans of the show "The Amazing Race". A couple of years ago we even talked about trying to go on the show. For our audition tape we were going to show a "day in the life" of a family of five. We would speed up the tape to make it look even more frantic. But the point of the segment would be how our lives are already extremely chaotic and busy and since we are capable of managing our daily life we should be more than ready for "The Amazing Race". I think most of you would agree that a couple of single girls in their mid twenties couldn't possibly have the survival skills of parents with three young children. I mean come on, if you can navigate through downtown traffic with one hand on the wheel and the other searching the van floor for a binki while singing "the wheels on the bus" and starting a video then you have skills! If you've ever breastfed in public or changed an explosive, up the back, poopy diaper on your lap then you can handle any challenge. Need I go on...we are pros people. BRING IT ON!
I know that after seven years of chasing toddlers I have eyes in the back of my head and my senses have been dulled enough to where there is no smell, no gooey grossness, no noise I can not out last. Everyday these past few weeks I have been giving myself a little pep talk. Okay Anne this is it, two more weeks. Two more weeks to Ethiopia. Two more weeks to Selah. Two more weeks to pack. Two more weeks to get the house in order. And now it is only one more week. I am nervous. Can I really do this? Can I really go to Africa? Am I ready for Africa? Am I ready for Ethiopia? So many unknowns. So much more to conquer. So much that is out of my control. One more week!!!!!

We are leaving around noon on Friday, November 27. We fly from Denver to Houston and from Houston to Dubai. We will spend one short night in Dubai and then leave in the morning for Ethiopia. Once there we will zoom to the orphanage and swoop little Selah into our arms. Then we will spend hours gazing into her big brown eyes and walking around in a daze not believing she is ours. Our only other obligation is our Embassy date on Wednesday. We wanted to meet our compassion kids, but have been told we can not due to the short notice of our travel. We have recently made contact with an amazing missionary family and hope to meet them for a meal sometime. Ryan is dying to see some of the country side, so that might be on the agenda. I'm not thrilled about that part. We had thought about visiting Selah's village, but were told it is about a two days drive away. So no on that too. We exit Ethiopia on Saturday afternoon. Fly back to Dubai for an even shorter stay and then fly all the way home on Sunday. We arrive home late in the evening on Sunday.

I am so thankful for all of the families that have gone before and paved the way for us. I am thankful for my husband who I know is working his tail off right now to finish stuff at work and who I know will be my rock on this trip. I am so thankful for my parents who will be keeping our children while we are away. I am so thankful for my sister who is going to babysit my dog. My brother and sister-in-law who are watching our house and feeding the guinea pig. And gosh...seems like everyone I know has shown us some kindness or blessed us in some way. Thanks guys...I guess it's not all up to me after all.

Sifan Ryan Carson

Thousands of miles away a little baby girl with a newly shaved head exists and she has a brand new birth certificate that says her name is Sifan Ryan Carson and her parents are Ryan Christopher Carson and Anne Larkin Carson. She now has a birthday, September 30 (a belated party is simply going to have to happen once she gets home). Seeing that document this week was perhaps the best feeling I have had so far during this process. It's is just incredible that this is all happening. Let's see....oh yea....WWWWAAAAAAHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!

Redemption

Psalms 49:15
But God will redeem my life from the grave;
He will surely take me to Himself.
-Selah

I have waited so long to make this post. I already had it formed in my mind when I first started blogging almost a year ago. And now I have what can only be described as...what did another blogger call it??? Oh yeah blogstipation.

I think because this moment is so monumentally important and weighed down with so much significance, I don't think mere words can cover it. I think that's when most wise people say "well then don't say anything." I tried that and frankly I'm not one of those people. The words are in there bubbling around and I just needed the right frame of mind to express them. So I started with scripture, because I want to be clear that the events that transpired this past week were purely orchestrated by the loving power of the most High. And I love those times when joy overflows and the only way to properly express it is through scripture. If you have volume control and can tolerate my music I suggest you turn it up. I just want to take a moment to give thanks for what I will call an out right miracle (old testament style :).

This week, Monday October 19 we had our court date for baby Selah. On that day officially she would be ours. Let me just start by saying that day in and of itself is extremely significant and not just some random Monday. It is exactly one year ago, to the day, that Ryan and I went to the most awful and excruciating dr.'s appointment I think any parent can have. I had spent the weekend lying in bed attempting to save a pregnancy that was not save-able and on Monday morning we had the ultrasound that confirmed our baby was gone. If you have read any of my older posts you would know that from that day on God set to healing our hearts and for the past year He has been redeeming and redeeming that day with stunning clarity. It may well be that I have been searching for signs and wonders all my life. But I have to say, never before in my life have signs and wonders come searching for me. There are 365 days in a year, our day to officially have Selah join our family could have come on any other day. I'm sorry, but there isn't a person on this planet that can convince me that my Heavenly Father didn't already have this planned for me. That the minute I cried out for healing he didn't rush to cover my wounds. Satan tried to win back a few points by forcing our court date to be extended by one day...but sorry bubs this one goes to GOD. This day could have gone down in our history as "the day something bad happened in our family" now we'll call it "Miracle Monday".

Selah Sifen (Ethiopian Oromo word meaning: Me to you) Carson

our precious baby sister, welcome to our family.

Okay, A Little Sweat

So our case went to court and apparently some paperwork was missing. We are hoping that the issue will be resolved and we will have something to celebrate tomorrow. Keep posted, we will let you all know as soon as we find out. Thank you for your continued prayers. We know that despite each little challenge we face we will soon have our little Selah in our arms.

No Sweat!

Okay friends....this is it. Sometime Sunday night court will convene thousands of miles away and our daughters name is on the docket. At this time the only name she has is the one given to her by the people who found her. We will call her Selah, but she doesn't know that yet. Selah the little one year old and barely 13lb girl who loves to play, but can't yet crawl or speak. Selah who up until that day had been reliant upon the kindness of strangers to keep her alive. Selah whose great big beautiful eyes have seen a thousand unfamiliar faces. Selah who sleeps so peacefully, completely unaware of how dramatically her life is about to change. Because if all goes well in court that day she will no longer be just Selah. She will no longer be adrift in a sea of lost children. She will no longer need strangers to comfort her or plead her case. On that day she will become a Carson. A Carson of the Carson/Cleveland clan. And let me tell you, there is no better clan!! Even though she has yet to set foot on American soil, she already has a community of family and friends that will love and support her. She will have Grandmas and Grandpas and Aunts, Uncles, Great Aunts, Great Uncles, first second and third cousins, sisters and brothers...Mommy and Daddy. No they can never replace those she lost, but they will do everything they can to help her find her place in this world.

Am I nervous about Sunday night? Nervous is the wrong word. I am weak from anticipation. But I gotta say friends, He that has called you will be faithful. Never in my life have I found this as true as throughout this whole adoption process. It helps also to have sweet friends and family who are praying for you. He listens you know. So no, I guess I am not nervous when the God of the Universe is on your side passing through...anything...is no sweat.

(okay there's a little sweat, don't check my armpits.)

Then what you ask? THEN WE GO GET HER!!!!!

Seven

Can someone please tell me how this happens? How seven years pass so quickly. The twins are seven tomorrow. What can I say...they are spectacular! I simply can not believe they are mine. I couldn't believe it when the ultra-sound technician told me there were two babies on the screen, and I can't believe how special and wonderful those two babies are. They are growing into such beautiful little people. They are so filled with life and love. Aria is the kind of child you marvel at because she is so talented and beautiful. I sometimes just hold her and wonder how this sweet little "kitten" came into my life. She is everything a girl should be. She's very shy, but has a strong, sassy side that I love. She loves to make people laugh and is quite the comedian. Elijah is truly a young gentlemen. He has a heart of gold. He is so mild and gentle and kind. He is so handsome and very much the ladies man. He always thinks of others first and protects the feelings of those around him. He also has a wild party animal side that totally cracks me up.

I love you so much sweet babies. I know we have had our hard times. It wasn't always easy for this young mama to handle two little ones. I am so thankful for your loving and forgiving spirits. You astound and amaze me. I am the proudest Mom on the playground.

(so little :)

There was a snail named Herbert....

“Have patience, have patience. Don’t be in such a hurry. When you get impatient, you only start to worry. Remember, remember, that God is patient too. And think about the times when others have to wait for you.” Thank you Music Machine and Herbert the Snail for a life long lesson in patience. I'm so glad I had such a weird, sheltered childhood.

Perfect

Since I haven't been posting any news from the home front I thought I would just do a few pics of what's been going on here these last few months. I love these kiddos so much. They are a joy and are just absolutely perfect in my eyes. As I wait for time to pass until we can travel to bring home baby #4, I am reminded of how much mystery surrounded each one of these little guys entry into our family. How I anticipated each of their births and just couldn't wait to meet them. Each one was well worth the wait and I know that a few years from now I will have the same attitude about little Selah! My children rock my world and I could never imagine life without them. Here we have first lost teeth photos, first day of first grade photos, and some memories of a very short summer.

Small Enough

We received a "milestone" check-up on little Selah yesterday. I am happy to report that she is doing much better. She is still a very small little peanut. I am currently in the mix of getting the school year started with Aria and Elijah, putting Rowan back on a schedule of mealtimes and nap times as well as potty times, getting prepared to travel to Ethiopia which includes figuring out what and how much to pack and take, making sure we have all of our ducks in a row and attempting to prepare my household for another little person. This is where adopting gets a little more complicated than giving birth. But the wait for the end result feels the same...SLOW!

Selah turns one year this month. Missing your child's birthday is a strange feeling. I know she doesn't understand it, but one year was always a big deal to me. At one, my babies were on their way to being done with bottles and/or nursing. They were walking. They were eating baby food and baby snacks. They just weren't little babies anymore. It was toddler time. But then my babies were very active little monkeys and I don't think Selah's first few months of life have quite given her the chance to be like her older brothers and sisters. That makes me so sad. I wish I could show that in the pictures we have of her she has a little spark in her eye. She fights anyone who tries to take her bottle away and uses all her strength and spirit to demand it back. She wants to play and explore. She wants to snuggle and loves to be touched.

How amazing is it that out of all the little baby girls struggling for life in the slums of Ethiopia, this little one was given a chance. And how amazing is it that she was found in whatever condition she was in and managed to survive the journey from the brink of death to life. And that her little photo and name were matched with the Carson family, thousands of miles away. And that soon she will have a completely different future than could ever have been imagined for her by the ones who loved her, but could not keep her. So many times I hear people shake their fist at God and wonder why so many bad things happen on such a large scale here on this earth. But I wonder if they even compare to the millions of tiny miracles that no one sees. It would be a far greater question to ask why so many good things happen. Why should a little daughter of Africa be saved from the garbage heap? So many have been lost...why not one more?

I return again to the parable of the lost sheep...
"Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven. For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."

I love thinking about the angels who always see the face of God. It doesn't just say "the angels" it says "their angels". Perhaps Selah has her very own angel, who stands facing God. And even though she is so very small it is not His will that she should perish. How grateful I am to stand and fight for her too. I am so honored to be chosen. I can not wait to tell her about HE who sent us to take her home.

We are here! We are here! We are here!

One of my current favorite kid movies is "Horton Hears A Who". I just love it. I have "watched" it about 2,000 times as it is always in the car, so it gets played during long car rides and trips. It has struck me recently that the reason I always cry at the end is because it reminds me so much of our adoption journey. Here we were just living our life when we heard in the distance a very small yelp. Far away in Africa a nation of babies was crying for help. We thought...well that's silly we can't save them all...but a person's a person no matter how small. So maybe we can just save one...and we knew our journey had just begun. Okay, I didn't mean to rhyme there, but it is Dr. Seuss.
I just wish the whole world would listen to them cry "We are here! We are here! We are here!" and that all the kangaroos out there would stop all of their nay-saying and reasoning why and negativity and just encourage us "Horton's" to keep giving 100%, or the best that we can in whatever way we can. Sometimes there is no political agenda or socially responsible reason for adoption, sometimes you've just heard a Who.

Praise God!...and pass the ammunition..

Praise God! With everything that is in my being I have wanted to give God the glory He deserves for the amazing blessings He has given us and Sat. night we did just that. In the presence of friends and family we sang and praised and lifted His name high. I can think of no better way to honor Him! Along with that we were able to put together some funds that will go towards blessing Selah's orphanage with some much needed supplies. Thank you again to all who helped out that night, it was a lot of work, but in the end God got the glory which was our intention all along. The video of all those sweet babies with their forever families turned out amazing and I will work on getting you all copies of that.

I have to say thank you again to my sweet sisters and mother who drove all the way out from Nebraska to rescue and love on their overwhelmed sis. I will truly never forget seeing Laurel, Elaine and Momma walk into the church. With every step of this adoption journey God has moved in a mighty way to bring me comfort when I most needed it. You were His answer that day.

Sing it sister!

Ryan on the keys.

Bonnie, Diana, Me...

The Truman's with little Gracie...one less!

Another praise we have is our court date, it is Oct. 19. On that day Selah will officially become a Carson. On that day she will be our daughter. What happens after that is we get an embassy date. That will be the time when we actually travel to Ethiopia to get Selah, get her a visa, and bring her home. That will probably happen in mid to late November. Between now and that time there is still much to be done. And we continue to ask for prayers....

I'm not usually one to get all John Eldredge-y about things, but there can be little doubt in my mind that we have been facing some spiritual battles since we have accepted out referral for Selah. I think many of you will understand where I am coming from. Oh sure, we face battles everyday for many things...our children's hearts, our faithfulness and our devotion all the way down to our time and attention. But when we start to obey God, listen for His voice and live out loud for Him or when we give Him glory for something so obviously out of our control, such as an adoption...the evil one will not like it. And when he knows that one less child will perish on the streets of Ethiopia and that someday she will have a powerful testimony to share...he will not like it. And when he sees that lives are being changed on a global scale and Christians are becoming the hands and feet of Christ, as He asked us to do...he will not like it. I often fall prey to the many disguises and tricks of the evil one. I become complacent, lazy and I'm not keeping my guard up. But lately he seems to be moving out of the shadows to do out and out battle...and I do not like it. So it the spirit of John Eldredge and more importantly Ephesians 6:10-20 I am girding up my loins so to speak. We do not have to be afraid, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be ready. Beth Moore would be proud to hear me say..."GET THEE BEHIND ME, BUSTER!"

Please Come!

Ethiopia Night of Prayer and Worship

Saturday, August 22

6:30 - 8:30 pm

Light and Life Community Church

Lakewood, Colorado

(220 S. Yarrow St.)

Dear Friends and Family,

This coming Saturday we will be hosting a night of music and prayer followed by fellowship over Ethiopian coffee and dessert. Donations will benefit the Sele Enat orphanage as well as the Eden Project. If you are in the area and would like to come, please do! We would love to see as many of you as can make it. It would be so awesome to raise our voices up to God in prayer for Ethiopia and in praise for all his many blessings. Thank you so much for continuing to support and pray for us. We already owe so much gratitude to those who have helped us put this great night together. We can't wait to have God show up and bring him glory!

Love - Ryan and Anne Carson

Sele Enat Fundraiser, We Need Your Pics!

WOW! What an incredible couple of weeks this has been! I can't believe how busy this summer is. Summers are supposed to be full of down time, you know, lazy afternoons...HA! And we only have a few days left. AHHHH!!! A couple of weeks ago God sent a might-ily smite-ily of a hail storm that turned my sweet suburban neighborhood into a war zone. Since then we have been lost in a sea of debris and insurance claims. We have finally gotten control of the mess, but are just now getting a handle on the cost of repairs. One simply amazing thing that has come out of all this is that Ryan's 2004 Honda Civic was declared a "TOTAL LOSS" by our insurance company. First of all, I love that term. So many times I have declared the stuff in my life a "TOTAL LOSS" when really it was just minor damage and all I needed was a little TLC....Okay, well because his perfectly usable and fine car is totalled the insurance company will be sending us a nice little check to us for the value of the car. Not the total value mind you (oh no, they would never do that, unless you want them to take your car). BUT, probably just enough to finance our plane tickets to Ethiopia with one extra coming back. You have heard the saying "when God closes a door, He opens a window". Well, this time He smashed a few windows and opened the door. That's just how He rolls, folks.





Our next big thing coming up is our fundraiser for Selah's orphanage. Just so you know, she is actually no longer at the orphanage, but is now in the transition home.


Here is what we are doing:

Ethiopia

A Night of Prayer and Worship

Saturday, August 22

6:30 - 8:30 pm

Light and Life Community Church, Lakewood, Colorado

Please join us for a fun night of music, Ethiopian coffee and dessert

My very wonderful and talented husband, Ryan, will be sharing some of his piano compositions, and we are going to sing our lungs out in praise to the God Of The Universe!! It will be soooo good! But, I do need some help. I am putting together a couple of videos and would love to have some pics from families who have adopted. Some of you have already shared your beautiful photos with me and I so appreciate it. It think it is going to be very powerful. No names will be used, of course. Please let me know if you can help out. I understand that searching through your photos and emailing them to me can be time consuming. If you like I can simply use the photos you have already posted on your blog. I just need your permission first. If you prefer to email them, my address is: annabo_99@yahoo.com. I would be glad to send a copy of the finished product to you. The program I am using offers the videos for sale if you would like to purchase one.

And lastly an update on Selah. I recently received a short video of her (thank you again Hannah) and she is beyond beautiful. We have fallen totally in love with her big brown eyes and tiny little mouth. She truly is tiny. She looks to be about four to six months, but may be as old as eleven or twelve. Sadly our case in on hold indefinately. Courts will be closing on August 21 and reopening the first of Oct. We have not received our court date, which means we may not even get one until after courts reopen. What does this mean? We may not have our sweet girl in our arms until November or later. I am trying not to think about it too much. It is difficult to even say. Please continue to pray for her. She has been struggling to maintain the little bit of weight she has. We just need her to get a little stronger. Please also be praying that God will do a mighty miracle and we can go get her sooner than expected.

Thank you friends, we love you!

"This is the way, walk in it"

Your ears shall hear a word behind you,
saying, "This is the way, walk in it,"
Whenever you turn to the right hand
Or whenever you turn to the left.
Isaiah 30:21

I really love this bible verse. It seems to calm me and comfort me in almost any situation. I always envision myself at a fork in the road, I have my eyes closed and I am frantic. Then I hear a voice in my ear. I imagine this voice sounds a lot like my Dad. Not stern, not playful...just matter of fact. But, what I love the most about this verse is that the voice speaks, regardless. If you walk to the right or to the left. I think the point is that you are walking.

Our decision to adopt was about obedience. We believe that God's calling for us to do this was clear. God has been faithful. To list the many signs and wonders he has given us, to encourage us, would take all day.

Now that we are close to actually having little Selah home I feel myself becoming frantic. We have had reports that she s not feeling well and has lost some weight. Ethiopia is coming to the end of it's year and the rainy season is on its way, if not already there. During this time courts close. There have been rumors of the possibility of courts not closing this year, but no one knows for sure yet.

I just keep walking...and praying.

A Good Day

Hey Friends,
I feel like I have totally lost touch with my blog lately. I have to admit I occasionally get blog shy and think "what could I possibly have to say that anyone would want to hear?" Sometimes life gets too overwhelming I think. I get lost in the haze of day to day details and forget to slow down and find the significance of the journey we are on. This may come as a shock, but there can be long periods of time when it seems like it's all just too much. We have had so much going on lately. Ryan has switched law firms and next week he is going to trial for a case that is all his own, a client that is all his own. I have been attempting to get trained as a group instructor for my gym. I am excited to see if this might be a fun stay-at-home Mom job. But, it has been challenging and I am not at all sure I am cut out for it. And we are trying so hard to get in all of our parenting classes. Aria and Elijah are starting summer school next week. I feel so bad for them, having to cut their summer short a little bit. But they are needing some extra help I think. Especially 'Lij, poor guy, he struggles with reading. He has all the confidence in the world, but lacks the ability to vocalize very well. We actually had his eyes tested this week to make sure he is seeing correctly and his eyes are tracking like they should be. We did discover that he is having some trouble, but we aren't exactly sure what to do about it yet. We will be meeting with a vision therapist soon to figure out what to do next. If anyone has had any experience with this kind of thing, I would love to hear about it. Rowan has also had some tests done for allergies this last week. We need to find out if he is still allergic to eggs and why, occasionally his eyes swell shut. He has a very limited diet and a weak gag reflex. If you give the kid a bite of carrot and he doesn't like it, you better expect his entire dinner to come up when he gags it out. Yuck! The shock I guess is when I begin to think...can I do this? Can I mother another child?

And then you have a good day. A day like today. We went to Splash in Golden. It was awesome. There were no accidents or meltdowns. No one threw up. No one pooped in their swim diaper. No one got lost or swallowed so much water that they wouldn't get back in the pool. We took turns going down the slides and everyone loved it. The twins were able to swim with very little supervision and Rowan didn't run us all ragged. We had a great picnic and everyone ate everything I packed for them.

It's days like that that make me think ahhhh, yes, this is what it's all about. It does get better. It does get easier. It is worth it. It is rewarding. It is all I need in all the world. Happy husband, happy babies, happy Mommy.

Our Referral!!!

I am so sorry, I have been neglecting this blog. I have so many pictures to post of recent family trips and fun times, but first things first! Monday morning as I was loading the kids into the car to head to my weekly ritual of torture a.k.a kickboxing class. I received a call on my cell phone from our coordinator. She asked if it was a good time to talk...I said, "um, yes." We were still #4 on the waitlist, so I couldn't imagine what she was needing to talk to us about. Then she said those magic words I thought I might never hear..."we have a referral for you." I said, "oh". Then I don't remember too much of what happened next. I totally wasn't prepared. She told me that a 10 month old baby girl had been placed at the orphanage a few weeks ago, but because she was so small she had been hospitalized for about a week and was just recently available for a referral. And then she said she was sending me the email with her picture and information. After we hung up I called my husband, but while trying to get the words out of my mouth as to what had just happened three police officers started banging on my front door. I thought I was going crazy! I then remembered that about 20 minutes earlier my dear, sweet and very naughty three year old had found the alarm panic button and pushed it. I thought I had turned the alarm off on time, but apparently if you push the panic button the police come no matter what. I then had to tell the officers at my door that I wasn't panicked (although I really was and was just hoping they wouldn't notice). They hesitantly decided I wasn't in any danger and then left. I then called Ryan back and we shared the moment of meeting our newest daughter via email while on cell phones (welcome to the age of technology). It all happened so fast! Yet there she was, a little person with great big eyes and a beautiful mouth. I was still confused as to why she had come to us so soon and it took us about a day to have the information sink in. But then it didn't matter any more.

I'm not sure if it is okay for me to post her Ethiopian name on our blog, but she will have a new name that I firmly believe God placed in our minds not more than a few weeks ago so we would be ready for this. Selah...(say-lah). It is a very old word that can be found most commonly in the book of Psalms. The exact meaning of the word is debatable, but the general consensus is that it means to pause and reflect. It might have been used in the Psalms as a musical term (which is perfect for us, our daughter Aria's name is Italian for melody or song) meaning to rest.

Beyond her age and her name there isn't too much more information available to us right now. We can not post pictures until she is legally ours. We did receive a few more photos of her from a couple that had just arrived home from Ethiopia. I am so grateful to them. It is a strange place to be indeed to be given such an amazing gift, but still be so far from having it be real, really real.

Oh my dear Selah, Mommy and Daddy are on their way. Rowan promises to be a good big brother and share all his toys. He keeps asking if "Sailor" is here yet. Aria is dying to have a little sister and can't wait to share her room with you. Elijah is the best big brother you could ask for, he will protect you from Rowan. It breaks my heart to think of all that you have been through already. I pray that God sends you sweet dreams of us. We never dreamed we'd be blessed with a little girl as perfect as you.

A little sneak peak!

Rowan Gabriel Carson is THREE!

Rowan...
Rowan, Rowan, Rowan...No one's name is said more frequently in my house than his. Usually NO! ROWAN GABRIEL CARSON! I SAID NO ROWAN!!! OH ROWAN NO> NO>NO!!! ROWAN PLEASE!! STOP THAT... followed by expletives.
He's challenging, but sooooo much fun. He says silly things and is always looking for the next thing to conquer. He's a man's man and loves his daddy and Papa's so much. He is a bruiser, but can also be very gentle and sweet. Especially to babies. He loves babies!! All I can say is watch out world...ROWAN IS THREE!! Just so there's no confusion...he's actually three tomorrow, June 20!

Newsboys - Orphan Lyrics

Maybe I push when I meant to be still
Maybe I take it all too personal
Jesus, how to reconcile
The joyful noise
The ancient land
The tug from some invisible hand
The dying mother weaving bulrushes
Along the Nile

Float her basket over the sea
Here on a barren shore
We'll be waiting for
A tailwind to carry her orphan's cry
Don't you worry child
I wrote a lullaby

I try to settle, but I just pass through
A rain dog, a gypsy
A wandering Jew
All those homes where not ours
Then i slept one night in Abraham's field
And dreamt there was no moon
The night he died
Counting stars
Selah

Float her basket over the sea
Here on a barren shore
We'll be waiting for
A tailwind to carry an orphan's cry
Don't you worry child
I wrote a lullaby

Building you a home
Building you a home
Building you a home
We're Building you a home
Selah

So float her basket over the sea
Here on a barren shore
We'll be waiting for
A tailwind to carry an orphan's cry
Don't you worry child
I wrote a lullaby

Float her basket over the sea
Here on a barren shore
We'll be waiting for
A tailwind to bring us your sweet cry
Don't you worry child
I gonna sing you a lullaby

Eden Reforestation Project

Katrina, the Tsunami, the Dust Bowl and how they relate from Chronicle Project on Vimeo.

Something Beautiful!

I wish I could post some of the sweet faces of the babies that have become members of the families working with our agency. It almost seems surreal sometimes until names and faces come together and the faces are so, so amazingly precious. I am so thrilled to just be a humble bystander and watch these miracles take place. As a side note, we are now #5 on the wait list. We have believed from the beginning that our baby would be coming to us around Christmas time and if all goes well, that may just come to pass. Courts in Ethiopia are closed in the months of August and September due to the rainy season and that throws everything back a little.

We have so much to be thankful for, but continue to ask for many, many prayers!

Summer

Despite the rather cold and rainy weather we have had this summer, we have managed to have some fun. Some of it was very cold fun, but still pretty fun.

(this pic is a representation of all the times Ryan has put our lives in danger by aggressively commenting on the beauty of the mountains we are driving
through and not keeping his eyes on the road)

_____________________________________________________________

BATTLE!

List movement

This is just a quick adoption update. We moved up to #7 on the wait list this week. We are getting closer!

Found

I was blessed this last weekend with the opportunity to wait at the airport with family and friends for the arrival of Mat and Stacey Truman who were coming home from Ethiopia with their daughter Gracie Ayantu. It was a tremendous moment. This group of twenty or more excited folks drew the attention of everyone at the airport. While waiting I overheard several passing travelers wonder aloud who this Gracie was. Some even made a point of stopping and waiting with us to see. I was reminded of the parable of the lost sheep. Obviously, you can see what a perfect treasure she is. She is beautiful and so sweet. She is funny and amazingly patient and well behaved. She is special and one-of-a-kind. But she had been abandoned, lost, left behind and could have perished had she not been delivered into the hands of an orphanage. Where she was lovingly taken care of, but was one of many, alone really, with no certain future. Until she was adopted by this loving family and now she has been found. A family who was looking for their daughter. They didn't know where she was or how they were going to find her, but were searching, searching nonetheless. And this is the part where she is brought back home to her flock, her family. And they all partied and cried and rejoiced at her return.
Hello little sheep, welcome home!

Monumentally BAD Idea

TREE SWING!

The test of true fatherhood is whether or not a man can come up with one or two monumentally bad ideas that inevitably land their child in the ER. This is Ryan's MBI #1,002.

Resident BIRD

This is our new $30.00 hanging plant. I have to have a hanging plant on my front porch every summer, I just do. However, it is usually only a matter of time before the hanging plant becomes my annual summer burden. I can count on forgetting to water it and watching it slowly and painfully die. I have deep regrets every summer for the utter waste of money. This year I vowed (once again) not to neglect my hanging plant, but was shocked to discover one Saturday morning that my good intentions may be foiled once again. This time by a beautiful nest built by a very talented red finch. She toiled all day on this nest. Some would think, how lucky, a bird building a nest so close to your house is special. I rather think not. Last year a robin built her nest on our electrical box. We thought WOW how cool. That is until we had to witness two sets of robin babies die in various disastrous ways. I'm not sure if even one of the six survived. Bird babies have a very rough life. SO I was not sad to discover that resident bird finch decided that this nest was built WAY to close to the resident humans, and she abandoned it. Now I can resume watering my $30 plant and I don't have to witness the cruelty of nature.
I'm such a human.

T-Ball!

Elijah is playing t-ball this spring. So far he has really been enjoying it and I think he even has a little talent for it. He is a great hitter and is able to field the ball pretty well too. Sadly it has been freezing these last couple of weeks and that has impacted his game quite a bit. I have really been impressed with the program too. He is getting some great instruction. It's also been great for getting us out of the house on Saturday morning. I love sitting in the sun with Ryan and Aria and Rowan and just enjoying being with my family.

Elijah the little SLUGGER!

He even got to play catcher

Go 'Lij!

HURRAY FOR BASEBALL GUM, BIG LEAGUE CHEW!