$$$$

Yesterday was a over $2,000 day.

We went and got the rest of our shots. Which was a headache. We were scheduled for Monday, but when we went the lady no longer worked there and although the building still said "World Travel Clinic" they refused to offer any help. We only have about 2 weeks before we travel and need these shots! So we went home and started calling places. We found the one we went to yesterday in Troy and ended up paying over $1,000 for the shots!!! We are all set though and are thankful we found a place to do them.

I also went to the oral surgeon for the pain I have been feeling in my face and he said I have to have my wisdom teeth out! AND ON FRIDAY! I hope this is the cause of the pain, but I am a little freaked out to have it done before we leave. And without dental insurance it is costing $2,300!
My brother advised me to fly to Hungary where he got his out for $8. If I was not flying to Ethiopia I would consider it.
Please continue to pray for us. And please remember me in your prayers Friday when I get my wisdom teeth pulled.
thanks, Cindie

Blessing

My living room is filled with baby clothes, diapers, wipes, baby gear, and more baby stuff!!!
Sunday our wonderful Church family had a shower for Ramiah. We are once again overwhelmed by their generosity and support.

We had a baby bottle change drive and have received a little over $300 so far from that. And at the shower we were blessed with gifts of money that will help with travel expenses. And once again we will be having one last garage sale this Thursday.

We are anxiously waiting to get another picture or update on Ramiah. We should get her birth certificate/passport picture before we leave on the 14th!

Today, after much hassle, we will be getting the rest of our shots for traveling. I will be glad when that is all over.

Please keep me in your prayers as I have had pain on the left side of my face for awhile now. I go for a cat scan Thursday morning, and to the oral surgeon today. I just want the pain to go away so I don't have any problems flying!

Thanks so much to all of you. What an encouragement and blessing you have been to our family!
Cindie

Money, Money, Money

I thought I would update some on our funds in regards to the adoption.

First of all thank you to everyone that has given so generously to Ramiah and the life changing process that we are going through.

Some things that we have done and that are still going on:
I made about $400- at a garage sale a few weeks ago, and have many baby bottles out there that people are filling with their extra change. Our printer cartridge collection is still out there too.

I hope to have another garage sale before Hannah starts school and a good friend is having a Tastefully Simple party for me and giving us the proceeds from that.

As of August we have around $6,200 still to pay off on our Equity line of credit (thank goodness we have that) and that does not include the flight cost which is going to be around $3,300. We will find out when we get that bill this week.

Other costs that are still there:
Traveling South to meet Ramiah's birth family $350
Other Misc. Costs that are in country things, and general travel cost.

We are very hopeful and are very thankful for how God has been encouraging us with the whole money part of the process.

Where our baby sleeps

Nursery at the Care Center, where Ramiah is at.

It's all providential

We were reminded Friday night that things don't just happen by coincidence, that it is all providential by a girl named Mezeker.

Shannon took me to an Ethiopian restaurant Friday to get a taste of the country before we arrive. First I have to say everyone should try it, it was a great experience and very good food. Our waitress was filling in for her Aunt who owned the restaurant and I could not hesitate to tell her we are adopting from Ethiopia. She was very excited for us and began to tell us of her journeys there. She leads mission trips there with Enahpa Ethiopian North American Health Professionals Association. She has family still there and goes a few times a year. Well, after much conversation and learning so much about the country through her in our visit to the restaurant we found out she will be in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia the same time we are!!! Coincidental or providential? Not even a question. God is good.

We have exchanged email and she wants to come and visit us at the care center to see Ramiah. Very cool. Oh and to top it off her husband is a hip hop artist, which she gave us his CD and it is super cool. Visit his site to find out more about their ministry and the way God is moving in their lives. http://www.afroflow.com

Travel Dates!

WOO HOO! We bought tickets and are official to travel! If any one is curious here is our travel schedule.
We leave Detroit 6am September 14th and go to DC and then straight to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia! We arrive Saturday morning Ethiopia time at 8:14am (our time 4:15pm) so that means we will be traveling for 32 HOURS! Yikes.
Saturday I will be able to hold my little sweetie and tell her mommy and daddy finally arrived to bring her home.

We will be trying to meet with birth family 4-5 hours south on Sunday. Please pray that family will come, we would love to share with them the family that Ramiah is coming home to and how much our life is blessed through their amazing sacrifice.

We return to Detroit Saturday the 22nd around 2pm. Hannah is making a paper chain to count down the days until her sister comes home. We are all just so thrilled beyond words!

She is Growing!

July 10 when we received our referral for Ramiah she was 6.5lbs and 19.8 inches long at
6 1/2 weeks old!

As of August 1st she weighs 8lbs and is 20 inches long and is 9 weeks old!

We will be arriving in Ethiopia September 14th and our little Ramiah will be 15 weeks old. So almost 4 moths old! I wonder how big she will be then?

Officially Ours

Today on the other side of the world in an Ethiopian court our daughter was officially named as our baby!

We will be traveling September 14th (tentatively) to pick her up!!!

Praise GOD!!!

Here is our sweet Ramiah Denknesh

Thanks so much for all of the prayers! Soon she will be in our arms and home in her bed!

Please continue to pray for our travels to Ethiopia!

1 of the 73 waiting for their baby to come home

PROGRAM UPDATE

Ethiopia's Waiting Children (WIC): 12 Awaiting referral: 110 families Placements in 2007: 209 children to 167 families With Referral: 73 families (90 children, 24 of whom are WIC)

Emotions?

As for most of you, by the title you know it is me, Cindie who is writing. Through this whole adoption process one word that has describes it well for me is emotional. Not always bad emotions either. Many times it is good emotions.

My wonderful word picture would be this...
That my emotions are in this basket. Nothing fancy, just a basket that is always with me. Some days my basket all of a sudden just dumps! There is no warning of this and before I realize, I am crying over baby clothes I see in a store, I am laughing at the childlike excitement I have over knowing she will soon be home, or I am having so much anxiety over the responsibility of another little human in my care that I am popping tums every 5 minuets. And then some days they dump as I am feeling overwhelmed, defeated, and alone in it all.

Other days I am like a child skipping along on my merry way swinging my basket full of joy and excitement. I am hopeful and full of enthusiasm as I wait for our little bundle to be home.

Tonight I sit awake and my basket is full. It is full with every kind of emotion.

I got an email that Ramiah may be through court Thursday or Friday. So again I wait with my nerves wound tight and my anxiety sky high. Will we get a call Friday to tell us that Ramiah is officially our little girl? Will we find out when we will travel? My stomach is in knots to know we are that much closer to having her rest in our arms and to feel her little cheeks beneath our lips. Although my emotions are all over the place, I rest assure that my God stands firm.

Psalm 18:1 I love you, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.