Christmas Miracle

Grace 

You made our day, our Christmas, our year!!

December 23rd 2011 our world changed forever.

We saw your face!

I know I am your mom and I am biased but I think you are the most beautiful girl in the world!!

We love you so much!

Mom and Dad

11 Months of Waiting

Eleven months 

Seriously??

Looking forward to seeing your beautiful face!

Ten Months

Ten months and no closer

This months we found our beautiful daughter a counting toy that represents the pace of this adoption.

Grace 

I worry about you every day.  I hope to hold you soon!

Nine Months of Waiting

Nine Months of waiting for our beautiful daughter.  Honestly, I thought we would be closer but that is life.  As always we are on day closer!  This month we went with one book for Grace for every month.  

Dear Grace -- September 11th and Meskerem 1st

 Dear Grace,

This morning when I woke up it was the tenth anniversary of September 11th.  A day of remembrance for a day that will forever be imprinted in my head.  I will always remember and be thankful for the many brave heroes of that day and the heroes that continue to keep us safe.  

When you woke up this morning it was a day of celebration.  Melkam Addis Amet ( Happy New Year)!   It is a day of joy and new beginnings!!  I hope you could feel the positive energy!!  Even though you are not to solid food yet, I hope you could smell the injera and lamb prepared for this special day.  

Hopefully, next year we will be together.  We will celebrate many joyous events together.   I can not wait to see your smiling face.  We will also experience moments of sadness but we will be there to hold you and keep you safe.  

We love you so much.

Mommy and Daddy

Eight Months of Waiting!

Eight Months!!

I did not think I would make it this far!!

To say we are ready for this phone call is an understatement.

Let’s go phone ring – I need to see you MISS GRACE!!

WE love you GRACE

For our sweet Grace we celebrate with eight hats, some for snow and some for sun all cute.

Lucky Number Seven - We hope

Seven months of waiting is one day closer to Miss Grace!

Twelve months ago our world was wonderfully changed forever. On July 26^th 2010, Dan and I met Laura and Mekey. It was a great afternoon getting to know Laura and learn about their journey to meet Miss Mekey in Ethiopia. The minute Dan and I were in the car we said YES we are doing this. I could not even imagine how our lives would change. How I would have already been able to see Ethiopia (Thank you Kari Gibbson) and how I would work every day on becoming patient. Some days are tougher than others but I am working on it.

Some day hopefully soon our daughter will officially become Grace Bowen and being a Bowen she will have a love for shoes just like her Mommy and Daddy. Why not get her started early with SEVEN pairs of cute shoes!

Six Months

Hooray!! Six months

Many moons ago we looked ahead to six months (the end of the "normal"range for waiting referrals). It seemed so far away but here we are -- no phone call yet. No worries, we are getting good at waiting. Patience is a virtue. Grace you are so worth the wait.

For six months we have added to Grace's room with a SIX drawer dresser.

FIVE MONTHS

Can you believe we are at five months! We are in the window. I honestly think we might have to wait longer than six months but it will be worth it.

I hope Grace likes numbers as much as we do!

If she likes languages that would be wonderful too (This is Grace in Amharic.

Bowens and Ainsworths love a good holiday and love to have a GREAT outfit. So for five months I have picked out five holiday outfits for Grace. I think I am showing great restraint by only saving websites and not purchasing because we don't know what size she will be when.

I think everyday will be valentine's day when me meet Miss Grace. She will be so loved by her family, her friends and of course her Mommy and Daddy!

Four Months and a Wedding

Four months of waiting completed!

Dove says the average wait time is four to six months. I am not counting on anything this early but we are in the official range. We have had lots of positives this month. Ethiopia government is moving a long and referrals are still coming. The US government passed its budget so the Embassy stayed open. All good things!

For four months Dan and I took a four day baby moon to our favorite place Las Vegas! I am even more excited for our next trip together to Ethiopia!!

My only gamble of the whole trip was a big win. Exactly the amount we need for our visas on our trip to Ethiopia! The machine with African trees is just one more sign of awesome things to come!
Finally, 30 years ago while my mother was pregnant and waiting for me, she got up very early to watch Princess Diana get married.
Today, thanks to DVR I am waiting for you, Grace and I watched the wedding of Kate and William. Everything happens at the right time.

Grace, we love you and can not wait to meet you!!!!

Three Months of Waiting

Three Months Down

It certainly has been a crazy month in Ethiopian Adoption. Earlier this month Ethiopia’s MOWA (Ministry of Women’s Affairs) announced they were be downsizing from 50 cases a day to five cases a day. This was not exactly what we were hoping to hear but it we are going with it.

This is the latest release we have from Dove.

According to information provided to Dove's attorney at the March 16, 2011 Network meeting, the Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) plans to process the approximately eight hundred (800) files that they currently have in their offices. All families who were assigned a court date prior to March 10, 2011 are expected to be included in this group.

MOWA anticipates completing the review of the approximately eight hundred (800) files in their offices within ten (10) to fifteen (15) days. Dove cautions families to expect delays and a possible revision to this timeline. While we are all hopeful for a quick resolution, an ethical review may take longer than anticipated. As a reminder, MOWA must complete the review of the file and issue the required letter to the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) prior to the courts granting custody of a child. Prospective parents who have been assigned a court date should still plan on traveling to Ethiopia to give their testimony on their assigned date.

After completion of the eight hundred (800) files, Ethiopian officials will determine what course of action to take; this may include increasing the number of files processed on a daily basis. For now, families who are adjourned (assigned a court date) on or after March 10, 2011, will likely be processed according to the new, five (5) file per day rule. As this new regulation may cause delays, we also believe that it could result in an even stronger, more ethical process.

We have also been told that a Code of Ethics is being implemented by the Network and several government agencies. On March 16, 2011 all adoption agencies working in Ethiopia approved this code and submitted their revisions to the Ethiopian government. This code will provide additional support to adoption agencies who are working to provide ethical services in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia remains open for adoptions. Dove is continuing to receive referrals for children and adoption files are continuing to be processed in Ethiopia. We do not know, nor can we predict the impact this will ultimately have on adoption cases. This requirement could result in a temporary delay for some files, a minimal delay in future adoptions or a more significant delay. As we continue to obtain information and wait for MOWA to processes current files, we ask that you join us in praying for Ethiopia, the adoption process and everyone involved.

Dan and I agree it may take much longer but our hearts and our child are still in Ethiopia. We are so appreciative of our family and friends that have showed us so much support and love. I can not express how much this has meant to Dan and I. The cards and calls have meant so much. I have saved them all for Miss Grace to read later.

Grace now has a homecoming blanket even if we don’t know when that will be. Terry surprised us by making Grace the most beautiful blanket I have ever seen!!!

Back to tradition – For Three Months my true love and I have decided on a THREE wheel stroller.

Finally, I was half reading and half watching on of our favorite shows How I met your Mother and a scene I have probably watched 100 times when I heard this.

Stella: You know I once talked my way out of a speeding ticket?

Ted: Really?

Stella: I was heading upstate with my parents, I was doing 90 on the country roads. I got pulled over. So this cop, gets out of his car, swaggers over and he says, 'Lady, I've been waiting for you all day.' And I said, 'Sorry Officer, I got here as fast as I could.'

Ted: For real?

Stella: No, it's just a joke. I know that you're tired of waiting. And you may have to wait a little while more but, she's on her way, Ted. And she's getting here as fast as she can.

Great words to live by – I tried to put the clip on the web but my tech skills are not there yet.Everyone is welcome to come watch my favorite episode with me anytime.

It has been a crazy month but just another chapter of our fun road to Grace.

Day 10

Last day in Ethiopia!! Today we went to another orphanage and I sincerely hope Grace gets to live here. It is beautiful, the nannies are amazing and fast and so comforting to so many children. Honestly, this is a mother dream for her child's orphanage. I spent my day in the infant room holding sweet beautiful children. I stayed in one corner so I could be holding one baby and playing with another. This baby was so sweet, he would track me with his eyes where ever I moved.

Love this sweet face
This baby was super tiny.
These boys are twins and when I would pick up one brother the other would cry so I finally ended up with both.

Day 9

Today we are back at Korah, and my sweet friends again. Busy day of painting with Solomon (Great man who was helping me paint) He would yell conjo for Beautiful after every wall. Then playing with little kids and then talking with older girls and I even got my hair did.

Braiding my head only took her 20 minutes.
Such a sweet face
Mary had given me her wellies to use then donate to someone. This beautiful woman had seen my shoes and asked me for them. Of course I said yes, I also ended up with what I would consider paint covered clothes but I asked her if she would like these as well and she could not stop thanking me. I will definitely be bring more wellies next time.
This is one of the boarding rooms for students. Hayden did a great job!

Day 7 & 8

Day 7

After a rough night with a migraine and not feeling so hot, I felt it would be better if I stayed home and rest instead of passing out at Korah. After a long nap, I emailed updates, played soccer with Hayden, went for ice cream with the street boys, and feeling much better had a dinner with the team.

Day 8

First Day at Korah for me, maybe because I had been prepared by others but I was almost ready for the devastation, the houses that we would call a bedroom. It it sad to see the children so needy for food they are pushing each other down to get into the room. The good news is because we are there with goats ($35USD) 200 people did not have to go to the dump for food this day. The smiles again just melt my heart. So sweet and so full of joy it makes you smile. This was my buddy for the day -- honestly I did not tell her to smile different in any of the pictures she is just my little doppelgangers.

Dinner was at a traditional Ethiopian restaurant. There were dancers and wonderful music. This was my first Ethiopian dinner. I really enjoyed it. I knew I was flying my freak flag when I got up on stage for a little bit and danced.