Submitted

We got an email from our amazing social worker Kristin today! We were submitted to the U.S. embassy this morning! We now wait 3-5 days (or a little longer) to see if they approve us or need more paperwork. Hopefully, they will approve us and then give us a travel date. We hear (not sure if it is true or not) that embassy dates are currently 3 weeks out. So, we shall see. I know one thing....Russ and I will be on the first flight out if they will just give us a date soon!! Can't believe we are one step closer.

Praising God for moving and working. His promises are true and we are clinging to that.

Please pray for all of the families that are still waiting. There are many that are still waiting to pass court...some that traveled before us and some that traveled after us. Others are waiting for referrals. These have become dear friends to us and the waiting and not knowing is hard. Also praying for people to be called to adopt from Ethiopia...adoption is not the final solution to orphans in Ethiopia but it is part of the solution for now.

Thanks for being in this with us.

Happy First Birthday Lucy Samrawit!

I must confess...I have been anxious about this day for a while. Knowing that she would not be home to celebrate her first birthday with us has been hard. But, we decided this week we wanted to celebrate and be able to show her JUST HOW SPECIAL she really is...not just to us but to many!

On Saturday, we were in Oxford, MS for a wedding. We were free all day so we ate lunch with friends before the wedding. After eating, The Ward's pull out the sweetest cake! Sawyer, their 2 1/2 year old daughter sings Happy Birthday to Lucy and then they give us the cutest painting and card!





Today we woke up to a new picture of Lucy. Our friend Carrie is in Ethiopia so she went to the guesthouse to sing happy birthday to Lucy and get a picture of her. Such a joy to wake up on her birthday and be able to see exactly what she looked like!!! I knew Carrie was supposed to be sending it so when my eyes popped open at 5:30 am (which they NEVER do), I immediately looked at my phone! Russ and I just laid in bed staring at the pictures. It was one of the best gifts we have ever been given :)




This afternoon we had a few close friends and family over to eat cake. Definitely not the way I had pictured today but it really was a great one! I can't say I didn't shed a few tears but I know we are so close to getting her home. Praise the Lord for that!!!





Blanket made by her Coco (my mom)




We are so thankful for the way people love us. We love that all of our friends and their children have prayed for Lucy for two years. We love that our families simply cannot wait to get her home. Today was truly a day of celebrating her birth.

Lucy, you are one loved little girl! We cannot wait until the day comes when we are together--the day God has had planned since the beginning of time. Happy First Birthday!! We love you so much!

Exciting news!

It has been almost two weeks since our daughter (for the past year in our hearts) LEGALLY became our daughter on paper. We are still awaiting an embassy date. Our agency has to submit our paperwork to the embassy and then the embassy will give us a date. I am praying to be submitted this week or next (REALLY HOPING THIS WEEK)! Once submitted the embassy has to review our case and give us a date. I have seen this happen within days. Praying that is the case for us!!! I would love to be on a plane within the next 2-3 weeks!!! We want to get our sweet girl home and let her have some one-on-one time with us before December.

Why December you ask??

Lucy is going to be a BIG SISTER!!! We are due in December and couldn't be more thrilled. We should hopefully find out if it's a boy or girl in the next few weeks!! We knew God was calling us to adopt our first child and are so excited about this being the next step for growing our family.

It is NEVER boring at the Polsgrove household!!! I will keep you updated on the progress of Lucy and Baby #2!!!

longing

We have been home almost a week....and we are missing our sweet girl! We will eventually blog about our time in Ethiopia....this week we have been battling jet-lag! Getting on the plane in Ethiopia without her was so hard. But, we know she is in good hands....hoping the day we go back to get her will be very soon.

Solid Rock

Life is crazy right now. I have a million questions swirling in my head as we prepare to leave for Ethiopia. We leave in a little over 2 weeks.....ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

As we thought about the fact that we would travel twice...once to attend court and once to attend our embassy date...we began to feel that we were to stay in country between the 2 dates. We sought wise counsel, prayed about it, talked to our employers, and the answer was an overwhelming YES that we should stay. Typically the stay would be around 3-6 weeks but there are some delays right now so it is unclear as to how long we will be there.

Questions that run through my head:

How long will we be in Ethiopia, will Russ have to come back before Lucy and I can, what if we don't have enough money to live in two places, what if the delay is LONG, what if the finalization of our adoption is delayed and we have to just visit Lucy at the foster home versus her staying with us, what about my job while I am gone, what are Russ and I going to do with a BABY with no help (aka..mom's to help), I hate to leave our dog for that long (YES, this has crossed my mind...who would have thought I would even think about a dog when I am going to get my child.....I don't even like dogs), what if something bad happens here while we are gone AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

So, now that you got a glimpse into my crazy head.....let me tell you what is keeping me sane.

The fact that I will see our little girl in exactly 3 weeks. God is providing me with a calm and peace. He keeps showing me that staying is the right decision...an adventure that I have always desired. Now that the time for it is here...I get scared but I know I would regret the decision if we chose to come home. Now is the time....everything has fallen into place. We are blessed with AMAZING employers who support our decision....amazing family and friends that are making this happen......we are fully able to go to Ethiopia with the sole purpose of LOVING on our daughter. What a privilege.

While nothing happening right now is bad....I do feel like we are experiencing the torrents of rain and wind that this verse talks about. And honestly, we want to give up. But we know we are anchored.

Matthew 7:24-27

"Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won't collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and ignores it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash."

Everything inside of me just wants to collapse...but I will not. I am holding on and going to enjoy this amazing journey without regret!

Saw this video this morning from Pete Wilson -pastor of Cross Point in Nashville.....

MORE: Series Launch Promo from Cross Point Church on Vimeo.

Love this quote from the video...."The opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity. "

And that is just what this journey is....the opportunity of a lifetime.

Melkam Gena!!!

Wishing my sweet baby girl a Merry Christmas! Today Ethiopia celebrates Christmas ! They use the Julian calendar which has them celebrating Christmas January 7th instead of December 25th!

Babe of My Heart has great info on Christmas in Ethiopia so click HERE to read more. We will be making Doro Wat (Ethiopian Stew) to eat today to celebrate:) Less than 3 weeks before we leave!!!!! Time is flying by!!!

More of Christmas

Christmas Time is Here

I have talked of my grandad passing away from cancer on here before. He had surgery in February to take the cancer out....unsure as to whether he would survive the surgery or not. Once he came out of surgery doing well....I let my mind go there. I pictured him with Lucy .....especially during Christmas since we thought she would be home by then.

Fast forward to Christmas....grandaddy not with us and Lucy not home yet. I thought I was prepared but apparently not. As I put the tree up after Thanksgiving....it was a sore sight. I would hang an ornament...then cry a little. Put some ribbon on the tree....cry a little. It hit me then that Christmas would be a little different this year.....that my heart would be missing two precious people. In some ways....reality hit that day. Russ suggested that I stop putting up Christmas decorations and just not decorate this year.

I...being just a tad stubborn....told him I could handle this...that Christmas was my favorite time of the year....and I just needed to grieve that day and then I would be better.

And I did. I grieved all day for the loss of my precious grandad and the loss of Lucy not being with us yet.

But also on that day I decided that I would have joy. Christmas celebrates our Savior's birth and I WOULD be joyful about that. His birth is the BEST news and this year I was going to celebrate HIM. It was that day that I felt God calling me to be still and be PRESENT with Him....to truly anticipate His birth.

During the Christmas Eve service at church....I thought about Mary like I never had before. Having a child...not knowing the circumstances.....all the unknowns yet an angel telling her not to be afraid....I had empathy for Mary......the way people must have talked about her...how she did the right thing no matter what others said....how scared she must have been....and most of all how she believed and had faith before she even knew what she was believing in.

Yes during this season we experienced some sad moments...moments where I just couldn't muster up the strength to be joyful. BUT this has been the most meaningful Christmas I have ever experienced. While the circumstances were not as I would have wanted them....the tenderness and faithfulness God lavished on us was simple amazing.

We decided early in the year we would stay home Christmas Eve. We thought Lucy would be here and we wanted to stay in our house as a family. Once we realized she wouldn't be here we decided that for the first time we would stay at our house Christmas Eve...just us. Russ and I cooked steaks, watched A Christmas Story, played Scrabble (which I won!!!), opened our gifts to each other and read from Luke. An amazing night.

We then went to bed and woke up to THIS!!!

Such a fun gift!!! A WHITE CHRISTMAS!!! Icing on the cake....my friends...icing on the cake.

"Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.”

Luke 1:78-79

30 days

30 days until we leave for Ethiopia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CANNOT believe it is this close. January 27th cannot get here fast enough. We are so excited about spending time with our daughter and getting to explore Ethiopia. My heart is beating fast as I write this. Reality is setting in....this is not a dream....we are actually going to SEE our daughter for the first time in 34 days and when we come home .....she will be with us!!!!!

AH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Random Fact Friday

So, it has been a while since I have posted Random Fact Friday. Just ran across this pic....while in Austin for the Together for Adoption conference we went to Zilker Park.

AND.....

Out of all the people sitting in the park....I got pooped on by a bird. Thought it was picture worthy :) Happy Friday!!!!

The Best Day Ever

Two sweet women were traveling to Ethiopia to go to court for their children.  I emailed them both and asked them to take pictures of our sweet baby girl.  I even sent a package for one of them to take to her.  They both emailed us LOTS of pictures of her and even VIDEO.  She had the hiccups in the video and oh. my. word.  it was the cutest thing I had ever seen.  I didn't know whether to laugh or cry as I watched.  This is real.  She is real.  God is more real than ever.

How crazy is that??? A picture of us is with her now!!!!
Thanks Renae and Brenda!!!!

Referral Day!!!

Here are a few pics from our referral day.  Some of the ones of us seeing her picture we can't post..since it shows her face :(

My mom and aunt (and brother's legs)...LOVE their faces!

My Dad and I

We didn't get to Russ' parents until 10:30 that night.  We actually woke them up to show them her sweet face.  This is Mrs. Birdie's surprised face :)

Again, we literally got them out of the bed!!

Russ skyped with his sister to see her reaction.  Such a sweet time.

We had the best time showing people her face in person.  It has been 3 weeks since we first saw her picture....CANNOT wait to get an update on her.  Gladney says you get one twice a month so it should be anyday.  Praying it will be TODAY!!  We are also still waiting for a court date....praying it would be soon as well ;)

Old Navy will forever be a part of my life.

 Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Strep Throat.  He came to visit and slightly overstayed his visit.  Because of his visit, I also had to meet Mrs. Steroid S. Hot.  Our time together lasted all week....and amazingly did not involve any sleep.

Tuesday I was home alone and SAD. I was not having fun with my company and just wanted a referral.  I began to think about Lucy and her future and our future with kids.  I felt the overwhelming need to go into her room (which is FULL of junk), get on my knees, and pray for our futures.  I prayed against my need to think I know what is best for her life....against the need to feel like I am in control... and that I would realize she is first and foremost God's child and I must trust her to Him.  It then hit me that if I believe that and pray for that for the future then I must believe He knows every day of her life...even if I don't what is going on with her now.  It is amazing how many times God has to teach me the same lessons.  I left her room with a sense of peace....thankful that God is all-knowing and I am not.

On Thursday, I decided to try and go to work for the day.  After a couple of hours my boss/great friend called in a panic.  She was overwhelmed and just needed to vent. They (as in her and her husband and their FIVE children) were leaving for Boston that afternoon and life was just overwhelming.  I listened and finally told her I was coming over to help.  After many attempts to try and get me not to, she finally agreed to let me come.

Such a God moment.  When I got to her house...we sat and talked about our China trip we went on two years ago, family, sin, God, life.  FOR. TWO. HOURS.  We prayed, cried, breathed.  Just what I needed.  After lunch we finally started working.  Around 3 pm she told me she was going to Wal-mart and Old Navy to get items for their trip.  I told her my energy was sinking (due to my unwanted guest...Mr. Strep Throat) and to let me go for her.  I called Russ on the way and told him I would be home in an hour or so.  

I wandered through Wal-mart....no shorts for her son so I ran to Old Navy.  No shorts.  I was walking through the store...ILL....TIRED....and my phone rang.  I was so disturbed...I mean...how dare someone call me on my phone.  I decided to see who it was.  817.......uh...uh.....this is it.

Me:  Hello??? 

Kristen: Hey Anna, This is Kristen....this is the call. 

Me:  (screaming in Old Navy)  Oh my goodness....I didn't think you were ever going to call me.

I stood there for a moment....stunned...then thought about the fact that I didn't get my friend's son's shorts.  Maybe I should go to Kohl's....wait ....what am I thinking.....I need to go home NOW and see my BABY!!  I dropped the other items off at her house and told her I was running home to see my baby. 

I called Russ...told him I didn't feel well and would be home in a minute.  He said I sounded weird...I told him nothing was wrong. 

My heart was pounding and I think I had to remind myself to breathe a few times on the way home.  I drove in silence...no radio...just my thoughts (and the squeaking sounds from our old car that is on it's last leg...or tire if you will).  

I pulled up...ran to the door...completely trying to act normal...Russ met me at the door.  I could tell he was worried but I knew he had no idea.  I told him we had gotten the call!

We set the computer up and called Kristen.  She didn't answer the first time but answered the second time.  Good thing because I was calling every minute until she answered. 

When her picture came up and she told us her age...we were stunned.  I had no idea she would be so little....so tiny....so beautiful.  I looked over and Russ was weeping...which was just as beautiful a site as her.  We didn't speak for minutes...we were quite literally speechless.  After hearing her story...God was suddenly bigger and grander than I realized.  I felt like I had just gotten a glimpse of Him and his character....I suddenly knew Him better.  

He put her on our heart 3 years ago....and on the day we got the call...she was 3 days from being 3 months old.  She is perfect and has the most beautiful eyes you have ever seen.

What an amazing end to the week.  For 8 months I wanted the call.  While nothing spectacular happened during this past week....the timing of the call was perfect.  Russ and I had been depressed, sad.   Our prayers had turned to begging....but this past week..we both realized that and consciously spent time trying to come to a point where we wanted God's timing not ours.  By Thursday we weren't desperate...well, maybe a little....but we were ready.  What a wonderful day!!!  Thursday night and Friday were spent driving around North Mississippi showing her off to our friends and family. 

Absolutely amazing experience. We love her so much.

ugh!!!!!!!

WARNING:  Honest post coming from the heart.  You have been warned :)

WE ARE READY FOR OUR REFERRAL :)  The past two weeks have been hard.  I am extremely emotional....not sleeping...and just plain ready to see my daughter's face.  I am trying to be content because in my crazy mind I feel like we won't get the referral until I am content in waiting BUT I am not there today.  You know the feeling when you have gone on vacation and it has been wonderful....but then you wake up on the last day and know you have the long drive home.  And that ride takes for.....e....ver.......That is how I feel today. Ready. Tired.  Emotional. Ready to be done with the waiting.

Praying tomorrow will be the day.  Praying she is home by Christmas.  That has been my dream all along...that we would not spend Christmas 2010 without her.

I wish I had some encouraging words....and tomorrow I am sure I will...but tonight I just don't.  I have been trying to go to sleep for a couple of hours...no such luck.

Also, my glasses are at my in-laws and I had already taken my contacts out SO if you see any typos....just know that it is because I am blind as a bat.

Sidenote:  I love my husband.  We were sitting on the couch tonight and he tells me that he wants to build Lucy a treehouse or a teepee.  I think Teepee won. Why does my infant daughter need a teepee you ask. I have no idea.  But, I love that my husband...her daddy....wants to build her one.

A Birthday Queen and cookies

We had a celebration for my Meme's 85th birthday!! Blair made these cute cookies for the occasion!  And they were oh so good.....

You should really order her cookies (and I promise I am not saying that just because she is giving Lucy half her proceeds....they really are that good ) :)

 She can literally make a cookie for any occasion you have.

This was the birthday girl...how sassy is she??? So cute in her crown and boa. She had a wonderful 85th birthday....and just so you know...you can find her on facebook. She is the facebook QUEEN!!! :)

CELEBRATING:

Bill (Anna's Dad), Terry (Russ' Dad)

These are two amazing men.  Both Russ and I have fathers that provided and loved for us growing up....and still do!!!  These men would do anything for us.....and I know that they will do the same for LUCY.  She will be one SPOILED little girl with these two around.  

Russ, Happy Father's Day to you.  While Lucy is not with us yet....she is already a part of us.  You will be an amazing Dad.  You love me so well so it will only be natural for you to love her well.  I cannot wait to see the two of you together.  I have dreamed of that image a million times...and I am getting closer to actually seeing it :) Thank you for making life more fun.

REMEMBERING:

Tom Cornelius "Pop" (Anna's grandfather)

Tom Burchfield "Granddaddy" (Anna's Grandfather)

"The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother..." 

- Theodore Hesburgh

These two did that well.  They loved my grandmother's well.  I miss them both so much.  It still hurts to see my grandmother's missing them but am so thankful for their example. Both of their marriages taught me so much about what I wanted in a marriage.  They exhibited friendship, love, and servanthood...which Russ and I strive to keep in the forefront of our marriage.

Happy Father's Day.

The night Russ and I decided to adopt from Ethiopia ....I was up late searching blogs...pretty much freaking out.  We knew it would be a girl and we would name her Lucy.  That night was the night I came across Lucy Lane's blog.  God used her video to confirm that we had made the right choice. 

I had the amazing opportunity to meet Lucy Lane (and Kristy) and am so thankful for the insight she gave.

Well, now Lucy Lane has been home for 1 year and they have the cutest video to celebrate her first year.  Check out the end of the video where they have pictures of all the families that decided to adopt because of her video and story.  We are honored to be one of those families!!!! 

Lucy Lane Gotcha Day - One Year Later from kristi johnson on Vimeo.

I cannot wait to have our video of our Lucy's first year home!!! 

Whew.

The past two weeks have been amazing....but very full!  I got the great experience of going to Nicaragua to visit my new friends Rick and Mary Ervin.  I will post more about that trip later.  I was in town for a couple of days ....in which I got to celebrate my birthday.  Russ decorated the back porch with beautiful white lights....so sweet!  Lastly, I went to the beach with my mom's family (plus my mother-in-law).  What a great time...experiencing God's creation...with people that I love.  Here are my last two weeks in pictures:

Active Volcano in Nicaragua

Market in Granada (the oldest city in Nicaragua)

Our back porch for my birthday :)

Gulf Shores, AL 

My mom and my Granny (Sure wish my granddaddy was in this picture)

My sweet Mother-in-law Birdie

Me telling Russ to point to the place where Lucy will hopefully be sitting next year....you can tell from his expression what a GREAT idea he thought that was:)  Oh, I wish she were here with us already!

Month 4

Today marks Month 4 that we have been on the waiting list!!!  They say the estimates for a referral are 5 1/2 months to 9 1/2 months so we are getting there!  We simply cannot wait to get that call and see a picture of our precious baby girl!!  We are still trying to rest in the fact that God has had this planned since the beginning of time so He knows what is best.

Mother's Day

First I want to say that I have the best mom, mother-in-law, mamaw, Granny, and Meme in the world.  I treasure them and they have all shaped me to become who I am today.

Mother's Day was a tough day.  I didn't think it would be...honestly didn't think too much about it. I woke up to a card from Russ.  Do you remember the song "Stacy's mom has got it going on" ???  Well, the front of my card said "Lucy's mom has got it going on."  MADE MY DAY!  I love my husband.

Next I went to my cousin Lauren's son Cason's dedication.  The last time I was in that church was at my grandfather's funeral.  Also, Cason was my grandfather's prized possession so it was so hard to experience that day without him. The entire time I thought about Lucy.  Was she born yet, if she was...was she okay...when would we get to meet her.....  I felt like I had this huge secret.  A few people made mention that I really was a mother but most of the people I met that day had no clue.  No clue that I think, dream, crave my child that is across the world.  She is so real to us.  We talk of her everyday. 

While most days I am sure that God's plan was correct (as if I know better??) about my grandfather passing.  But then I just miss him....which leads me to thinking about my last conversation with him....which was about Lucy.  I then mourn all over again the fact that they did not get to meet here on this Earth.

And then God does His thing and gives me hope and peace just when I am at the end of my rope.  This time I had myself a good little cry and then praised Him for this journey called life.

oh, and just one more thing.  There are ways to be a mother other than birthing a child.  My mom and aunt are mothers to many of their students, my aunt practically raised us, etc. Thank you to all the women out there that play a role as a mother.  You have no idea the impact you are making on someone's life.