Ana's 4 Year Pictures

We celebrated Ana's birthday on June 19th. A special day for our family for two reasons - 1) our little Ana turned 4 years old and we are thankful each and everyday that God chose our family for her to bless and 2) June 19th was my Dad's birthday. Dad has been gone now for 6 years and we miss him a bunch, but giving Ana his birthday has given us an opportunity to honor him & to celebrate his life through his Granddaughter. It was a very special day celebrating both of their lives!!
I will include pictures from Ana's party soon, but here are just a few of the beautiful pictures my friend Andrea took of Ana. Andrea has a passion for photography and I just know God is going to do BIG things with her gift! Thanks Andrea for capturing Ana's beauty both inside & out!!

Summer is here...I think

We spent last weekend at the lake with Grandma & Grandpa. It was windy as usual, so the temperature didn't feel very warm and certainly the water wasn't warm. But that didn't stop the kids from trying out the new lake toy!
Even Ana gave it a try. She loved it and every time we asked her if she wanted off she would say no. I finally had Kyle pull her off after about 20 minutes of playing and laying in the water. She was shivering like crazy, but still didn't want to get out.

Grandpa got the camp fire going that night & Ana got to experience her first smore! Her reaction was "icky" - I don't think she knew what the ooey gooey marshmallow was. Once I told her there was chocolate inside, she gave it a try. I think in the end she just ate the chocolate & fed the rest to the neighbors dog.















I'm sure there will be many more campfires before the summer is over!

Ana also got her first bike thanks to Grandma & Grandpa. She chose a pretty pink one of course! I can't believe how she rides that bike - her little legs just go, go, go!!


Tina had some exciting news last week - she lost her first tooth!! We knew it was loose, but I thought for sure she would just leave it be until it fell out on its own - she is a tad sensitive to pain. Instead she came out from the bathroom one morning and held out her tooth. She said that she kept wiggling it and gave it a pull and it came out. Don't mention Tina losing a tooth to Andy though - he hasn't lost any teeth yet!

Other than playing at the lake & losing teeth, we've been going to baseball practice, baseball games, & washing baseball uniforms. The boys are in heaven playing & the girls get fed lots of snacks during practices & ball games.

The Family Photos

I can't believe how fast the month of May is passing us by!! Matt & Andy have 8 days of school left - Tina only has 1 day of preschool left - Ana, Tina and I have 1 day of BSF left - all of the school-year activities are coming to an end. BUT VERY SOON all the summer activities begin!! Matt will start basketball camp in Kindred the last week in May - golf camp will start for both boys beginning of June - Vacation Bible School is also first part of June - swimming lessons for all the kids are in the middle of June for 2 weeks - and baseball starts any day now. Whew! I'm tired already!! Before we know it it will be August - and then Matt starts football - can you believe Matt is old enough for football??

It's hard to believe that it's been over a month since we returned home with Ana!! Ana has fit into her "little sister" role in our family with no problems! The boys adore her (most of the time) and she drives her older sister, Tina, crazy most of the time.

We accomplished the task of taking the "family photo" a few weeks ago. I don't think you peeps know how difficult it is to get 6 people (4 of them being children) to smile on que!! Matt actually had a pained look on his face in some of the pictures. I think I over-smiled for the lack of smiles from the rest of my family...lets just say I was sweating by the time our photo session was over!




Ana's English is coming along so remarkably!! She is talking all the time! And she even knows how and when to use her words appropriately - what a little sponge she is! We are sad that she is slowly forgetting her native language. We've tried to use the few words that we know, but she will correct us with the English word. For example I'll say, "Do you need to go shint?" And Ana will say, "No I need to pee Mom." But we have had her continue to say her meal-time prayer each day and I still get all teary eyed when she's done. So sweet!

We are very excited that our friends from Fargo will be bringing home their 2 children from Ethiopia in June!! They are adopting a 4 yr old girl and her 2 yr old brother!! We can't wait to meet them and I just know that Ana and Sarah will be best of friends!!

Ana is home!!

After much prompting, I guess it's time I sit down and update our blog. As many of you know, the week we were to leave for Ethiopia the Red River began to rise and flood many nearby homes and neighborhoods. Our city of Oxbow was one of those who was forced to fight the flood waters. Early in the week we were thinking that the water would not reach our house as we are almost 2 blocks away and at a higher elevation. But by Wednesday morning we were proven wrong - we watched the water move into our streets and up into our yard. At this point leaving for Ethiopia was NOT what was occupying our minds!! We put a few calls out and family and friends came to help us tighten up our drain plugs and move all of our belongings out of our basement. Many thanks to all who helped!!


The kids and I left the house Wednesday night as the water in the street was rising and it wouldn't be long and we'd be trapped. So my father-in-law packed his bag and came to stay at the house with Kyle, while the kids and I went to stay at the lake with Grandma. I'm sure I'm going to owe him a few meals to make up for staying in a house surrounded by water with no use of a toilet. Thanks Grandpa! Friday, March 27th was the day we were to leave for Ethiopia. I kissed the kids goodbye and left them safe and sound at the lake with Grandma. Kyle's brother, Toby, came for the weekend to take Kyle's place at the house so we could leave. It was tough leaving with all the flooding happening, but we could rest easier knowing that Tom and Toby were watching our house. I had to park my car along Hwy 81 and call Kyle to let him know I was there. Then he had to walk down the street wearing his chest waders.


We left Fargo at 6pm on Friday, March 27th. We flew from Fargo to Chicago to Istanbul, Turkey to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We arrive in Addis at 3:30am Sunday, March 29th. We stayed at an old villa which has been converted into a guest house. It is owned by a wonderful woman named Jerusalem who made us feel right at home.



We tried to get some sleep once we arrived at the guest house that early morning, but the Orthodox Church and the Muslim Church broadcast their services over load speaker AT THE SAME TIME and it was difficult to ignore. Then once the services stopped the neighborhood dogs decided it was too quiet and that they should all bark! And I'm not talking about 1 or 2 dogs - it was like 101 Dalmations and I'm not kidding!! Once we were up and showered, I gave Emily a call (Emily is an American gal who is doing some missionary work at the transition house owned by our agency) and made arrangements for her and Ana's nanny, Hiwot to bring Ana to our guest house. They arrived just before lunch and I think we both fell in love with Ana all over again!! I couldn't believe she was standing in front of me - it was very surreal!!



Ana was very comfortable with us right from the start!! Emily and Hiwot had done a wonderful job of preparing her for our arrivale. We had fun watching her and listening to her and holding her and just FINALLY being with her!! We were able to ask Emily and Hiwot questions about her personality, her routine, and her likes and dislikes. They also taught us a few keys words in Amharic - like pee and poop! And over the next couple of days we quickly picked up words like gum, chocolate, and pop. We also discovered that Ana is a clothes hound!! She was so excited to look through her suitcase full of clothes!! Below are just a few pictures of her in her new wardrobe...



We had a wonderful time in Ethiopia! We were able to do some sight-seeing about 1 1/2 hours north of Addis and it was beautiful!! We took in some sights within Addis as well - the museum, some beautiful old churches, some yummy restaurants, and playing with the children who lived next door to our guest house. The Ethiopian people are wonderful!!

The night/early morning that we left Addis was bitter sweet. I was so excited to be going home to see Matt, Andy, and Tina and to introduce Ana to everyone, but it was also very sad that we were leaving and taking Ana from everything she knows and is used to. Ana did very well on the airplane - she didn't like the seat belt, but that was just a matter of take off and landing. She was was entertained by the movies, toys I had brought, and the snacks I had packed. But she did eventually hit a wall - she fell asleep about 30 minutes outside of Chicago and she slept through our landing in Chicago - all the way through customs - through immigration - through the entire 4 hour layover - and through the entire flight from Chicago to Fargo. And guess who forgot to pack an umbrella stroller?? Needless to say, Kyle and I were exhausted after carrying her through the airport!!
When we landed at the airport in Fargo, we were greeted by Grandma Carole, Auntie Karleen, Grandma and Grandpa Freier, Matt, Andy, and Tina, and my friend Dawn. They had signs welcoming Ana home and they also gave her a teddy bear - very sweet. She took to them right away! Ana is adjusting well and is melting the hearts of everyone she meets!

Well, that's all for now. More to come...

Rain, Rain Go Away

So I'm thinking that flood preparation was NOT on my list of things to do this week! We THINK our house will not be affected by the river, but have taken precautions to ensure we remain high and dry.

I've gotten all the donations packed!! With all the infant & toddler clothing, shoes, cloth diapers, disposable diapers, bottles, nipples, receiving blankets, & the beautiful blankets my church lady friends made - we were able to fill 4 - 50 lb bags!!! We will be traveling with 3 of the bags and my friend and her husband will take the other bag when they travel to Ethiopia in May to bring home their children. Thank you Beret!! And a HUGE THANKS to all of YOU who have such giving spirits!! The children will benefit greatly!!

I've got most everything that I need and that Ana will need in a suitcase as well. And of course as I said earlier, Kyle will throw in his 5 things and we'll be off!!

We fly out of Fargo Friday evening. We will fly from Fargo to Chicago - Chicago to Istanbul - Istanbul to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I believe Kyle told me the Chicago/Istanbul flight is 11 hours and the Istanbul/Addis flight is 4 or 5 hours. We arrive in Addis at 3:30am on Sunday, March 29th. We will try to rest for a few hours and get cleaned up and then Ana will be brought to our guest house. We'll be able to visit with Ana's nanny Hiwot and learn her schedule and ask any other questions we have.

Monday is a free day. Tuesday we have our embassy appointment in the afternoon. Wednesday is free as well and Thursday we will receive her Visa. We fly out of Addis at 1am Friday, April 3rd. We will get back to Fargo at 10:13pm that night. Grandma Melinda & the kids will pick us up at the airport. Can't wait to see how the kids & Ana react to eachother!!

So our trip will be fast & furious! I plan to enjoy every moment in Ethiopia and pray Ana bonds well with us. Can't even imagine what she is going to be thinking. I just hope she feels our love for her immediately and that it is not too difficult for her to see her nanny leave her with us.

I will post again once we get home! Can't wait for you all to meet her!!

10 Days & Counting

Well, I can't tell if I'm making any progress or not. Ana's room is FULL of donations of clothing, diapers, bottles, etc. from our wonderful friends!! The children from the orphanage are going to benefit greatly!! I am waiting until Monday to start packing it all up, to see if any other donations come in. I've got Ana's bag packed!! I think I'll work on getting my stuff together tomorrow. Kyle's on his own!! But you know those men - he'll pack his 5 things and call it good!

I just know this week and next are going to fly by! And I KNOW that next Friday I'm going to be a basket-case, running around like a crazy woman!! Crazier I should say huh?

More later...

Ready, Set, Go!

We are making plans to leave Fargo the evening of March 27th to head to a far away place called Addis Ababa, Ethiopia!! We are so ready to have Ana home with us, but I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed with planning and packing and stressing that I'm going to forget something important. Like a document we need for our embassy appointment or something that will cause us problems in bringing Ana home. But I have two wonderful friends that have traveled recently to bring their beautiful children home and they are emailing me lists and giving advice. So greatful!!
I picked up the last of our meds that we either need to take ahead of time or have along for those "just in case" instances - like the diarrhea medication. Oh boy, like I don't have enough to worry about!!
We will be home April 3rd - my birthday!! And I couldn't ask for a better birthday gift!! This years birthday is going to be very memorable that's for sure!!