tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60176252011-10-02T09:43:25.157-04:00Life After ElijahOur journey through the grief of two stillbirths, the joy of two healthy children, and the blessing of bringing an orphan HOME.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.comBlogger3621100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-10515384589346853092011-01-03T11:14:00.003-05:002011-01-05T09:02:26.940-05:00James is in Ethiopia!!!!!!!!!!!!Right now James is in Ethiopia picking up our son! Earlier this month we made the, very difficult, decision that it would be best for only one of us to travel on this trip. It is hard for me to not be there with him. I guess now I know how my mom felt on our last trip. I run in to check facebook about every 5 minutes!First thing this morning I pulled up msnbc.com Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-44663703139646573672010-12-08T11:48:00.001-05:002010-12-08T11:51:16.647-05:00 WE PASSED COURT TODAY!!!!!!!! PHINEAS BIZUNEH IS FINALLY OURS!!!!!Woo hoo!!!! He will be home somtime in January! Thanks for all of your support and your prayers!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-80074914516919283822010-11-01T07:00:00.000-04:002010-11-17T09:18:00.524-05:00En route to ETHIOPIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It has been a long, but GREAT day. After a wonderful four days in Rome, we flew out around 5.50pm last night. We were in the air most of the night, and landed in Cairo, Egypt around 2.30am. Cairo airport was intense, to say the least. Two separate times our passports were taken from us with no comment other than, "You Sit".So, to make the best of a bad situation,Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-57135567909068868772010-10-25T21:56:00.003-04:002010-10-25T22:24:31.530-04:00"Go Time" (ALMOST)So, in less than 48 hours James and I will be on a plane to Ethiopia (via Rome, Italy). There are about a million things I should be doing right now. But when there are lots of things I need to be doing, more often than not, I find "other" things to do. I hem curtains. I rake leaves. I watch a movie. I make new blog entries. :) I don't know what's wrong with me.More than Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-58142711418485681362010-10-18T22:27:00.002-04:002010-10-18T22:39:53.697-04:00It is October 18th again.Seven years ago I delivered my first born. A son. Elijah Mark.He never took a breath.I spent the entire day today thinking that it was October 17th, and that I needed to prepare for tomorrow (as it is notoriously a bad day). My mother called a little bit ago to ask how I had handled the day. "What do you mean?", I asked. "Today's the 17th". "Ummm, nooooo, today's the 18thKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-53972452567633492982010-10-08T21:36:00.002-04:002010-10-08T21:44:36.935-04:00WE HAVE A COURT DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BAAAHHH!!!After much waiting, anticipation and many tears- we finally have a court date- November 4th!The travel coordinator, Kristen, called me this morning while I was on a walk with the kiddos on the Kokosing Gap Trail. We were a half mile in when we got the call! Needless to say, I couldn't get outta there fast enough. There were a million people to Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-38801327823999925262010-10-08T10:15:00.003-04:002010-10-08T10:20:05.220-04:00Hey Mount Vernon peeps!!! WNZR is hosting the Veggie Tales movie, "It's a Meaningful Life" this Saturday at 6pm in the RR Hodges Chapel. The story features Steven Curtis Chapman's daughter, Stevie Joy, as the adopted daughter of the main character. WNZR has invited our family as guests! We will be sharing our adoption story and will have a table set up for you to order our Show Hope shirts.To seeKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-67097272501619089892010-10-04T15:58:00.002-04:002010-10-04T16:07:48.743-04:00Today the Ethiopian court issued it's first batch of court dates since re-opening on Sep 28th. As the second in line with a referral and waiting on a court date, I had fully expected to be a part of the first group. It wasn't to be.After many excited texts from my adoption buddies who had received their court date call today, I began to wonder why my phone wasn't ringing. Finally, around 2pm, I Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-18468999280936335142010-09-20T09:25:00.003-04:002010-09-20T09:34:30.144-04:00Hi all!!!!Courts open in 8 days! BAHHHH!!!! We are so excited and cannot WAIT to see our little guy's face and kiss his cheeks. As we near the end of this process, we are realizing we are about 8k short of being able to bring Phin home. At first I thought we were square and had met our need down to the PENNY! I had it all worked out on an excel spreadsheet and was dancing around the room when Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-28890004829012923772010-07-15T23:49:00.004-04:002010-07-15T23:56:51.180-04:00
We See Pictures of Phin For the First Time!!!A couple of the admissions staff were gracious enough to stand to the side and record us while we looked at pictures of our son for the first time. A precious moment captured forever!!!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-83455397659982716362010-07-15T23:01:00.003-04:002010-07-15T23:05:50.765-04:00REFERRAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!It's official people! We have received our call. The short version is, Caitlin called around 4:19pm today with our referral. He is a beautiful, healthy 11 month old baby boy and we are OVERCOME with joy! I will try to post the whole crazy story of the day soon . . .We are praising God for his provision and looking at the pictures of our son every 30seconds! He's Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-4264968121548613772010-07-07T23:45:00.003-04:002010-07-08T00:07:16.354-04:00WE'RE NUMBER ONE!!!!Sorry- that's a little late in coming, but our internet has been somewhat spotty and often non-existent since late May. It feels like so much has happened in the last month and I've had no way to tell you all! The last time I posted we had been notified that we were "on deck" (meaning in the top ten to receive a referral). Not too long after that we moved up to third and we Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-1195665443126022572010-06-11T15:11:00.000-04:002010-06-11T15:12:02.449-04:00"If You Give a Mom a Muffin" (so cute and SO true)If you give a mom a muffin, She'll want a cup of coffee to go with it. She'll pour herself some. Her three-year-old will spill the coffee. She'll wipe it up. Wiping the floor, she'll find dirty socks. She'll remember she has to do laundry. When she puts the laundry in the washer, She'll trip over boots and bump into the freezer. Bumping into the Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-53746139776045161982010-05-17T15:19:00.001-04:002010-05-17T15:21:04.518-04:00We Are ON DECK PEOPLE!!!!! That means we are OFFICIALLY in the top ten and can start freaking out every single time the phone rings. Seriously people. Don't call me. I can't handle the stress! ;)For all the juicy details, you can read the official letter below:Dear James & Kelly, I’m sure that your family is increasingly anxious and excited to receive your much anticipated referral. This email Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-88834967407974280522010-04-21T09:23:00.000-04:002010-04-21T09:24:25.969-04:00Some New Ethiopia Program Updates!Dear James & Kelly,We are writing to inform you of several announcements made by the State Department regarding Ethiopia adoption. In conjunction with the previous announcement that re-instates the requirement for families, who submit paperwork after May 9th, to be present for court, the State Department announced the possible use of a special power of attorney Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-88551542908485780212010-04-13T09:18:00.003-04:002010-04-13T09:23:43.972-04:00" . . . AND we're back to TWO TRIPS!"Dear James & Kelly,We want to inform you that the change in the court policies recently put on hold will be re-instated beginning May 9th, 2010 by the Ethiopian Federal Court. This change requires both prospective adoptive parents, who submit paperwork to court for an official court date after May 9th, to appear at court in person to testify to their desire Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-53899657623461526272010-04-12T23:26:00.005-04:002010-04-13T00:28:37.650-04:00This entry is for all of you out there who, for a moment, have found respite here. Know that you are welcome and I am hopeful you will find, in these pages, a way to ease the burden you carry. For you who are grieving, struggling, doubting and trying to summon the courage to get out of bed tomorrow . . . I pray peace upon your hearts tonight. There really is so much beauty in the world. But thereKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-18947882795096265742010-03-26T14:16:00.003-04:002010-03-26T14:24:56.708-04:00ANOTHER Ethiopia ChangeWe received this email from our family coordinator yesterday:Dear James & Kelly,We are writing to inform you that a notice was posted by the Ethiopian Federal Court stating that the recent change in the court policies (put into place on March 10th) has been put on hold. The March 10th change required both prospective adoptive parents to appear in person at their court Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-44398793063624700382010-03-15T08:50:00.001-04:002010-03-15T08:52:01.722-04:00Coffee FundraiserHey Coffee Lovers! In light of the new "Two Trip" requirement for Ethiopia adoptive families, we are looking into some fundraisers. If you love coffee, Just Love Coffee is a great org you can buy your coffee from and $5 of every bag sold goes directly towards our adoption. In addition, a percentage of the sales go to help our orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Check it out and Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-88070950605201226242010-03-10T13:25:00.002-05:002010-03-10T13:32:31.911-05:00Bad NewsI just finished reading an email from our adoption agency notifying of us of some "not so good" news.Apparently, the Ethiopian government has decided to REQUIRE both parents to appear at the court date that happens 4-6 wks after we receive our referral. We will be required to stay in country 5-7 days and then will return to the US. 10-12 weeks later, we will travel BACK to Ethiopia to Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-31498083822010880212010-03-05T13:52:00.003-05:002010-03-05T13:59:04.478-05:00The WaitHas it only been a couple of weeks??? Already it feels like forever. I've been trying to think of projects to occupy my time. I've considered working on Halloween costumes early. I've thought about making curtains for the living room. Maybe a new shower curtain. Or I could make doll clothes for Halle. But instead, I've opted for checking the AWAA blog every 15 minutes or so, just to see Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-50076012837103382022010-02-25T10:49:00.000-05:002010-02-25T10:50:12.659-05:00our dossier is in ADDIS ABABA, the capitol city of ETHIOPIA!!!! YIPEE!!!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-16186965223926014732010-02-24T15:10:00.000-05:002010-02-24T15:11:36.602-05:00Our Dossier is in Dubai, United Arab Emirates!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-38702147491336444502010-02-23T10:21:00.000-05:002010-02-23T10:22:19.816-05:00Our Dossier is in PARIS!(According to FedEx Tracking)Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-61460470695933359562010-02-19T15:01:00.003-05:002010-02-25T10:51:41.728-05:00WE ARE DTE TODAY!!!!!!!!!!! We are officially DTE (Dossier to Ethiopia) as of today, February 19th!!! Woo hoo!!!!! We got the email this morning (see below for the actual email). Needless to say, I squealed loudly and did a little dance around our bedroom. I can't believe it's actually come to this. After all the work and all the prayers, we've finally finished "our part". Now all we have to do Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-64043399876929757572010-02-13T22:35:00.002-05:002010-02-13T22:40:43.427-05:00Snow, Snow, Go AwaySo I guess the very week we finally submitted our dossier was the same very week Washington D.C. decided to have some record breaking weather. This past Friday, the day our dossier was supposed to make it's way to the US Embassy, Washington D.C. was under a blizzard warning.They told us along the way, to expect some "unexpected delays". I guess this is the first of those. I am Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-24821098878334013852010-02-08T11:24:00.010-05:002010-02-08T15:49:08.269-05:00DOSSIER SUBMITTED!So as of February 4th, we have OFFICIALLY submitted our dossier to America World Adoption Association! For those of you who are unfamiliar with the word "dossier" (I know I would have been prior to this process), a dossier is the collection of documents (we have been so diligently collecting and having notarized over the past 7 months) that is, after being reviewed, sent to Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-31190010968402181912010-02-04T16:01:00.002-05:002010-02-13T22:31:35.628-05:00Dossier Complete!We pause, dossier in hand, to take a picture with our ever helpul notary, Rochel. :) Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-69160215593050390862010-02-02T16:05:00.001-05:002010-02-13T22:35:05.274-05:00Certification We drove our completed dossier to the Morrow County Courthouse in Mount Gilead for our county certification. Then, we drove it to the Ohio Secretary of State in Columbus for our state certification. This was the last of the "paperchasing" steps in the process!!! Woo hoo!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-63754520747727136292010-01-29T10:19:00.001-05:002010-01-29T10:19:32.450-05:00A Great One Has PassedMy very favorite author in the world, is no more. J.D. Salinger died yesterday at the age of 91. He was the great master of such works as "Franny and Zooey", "Raise High the Roofbeams Carpenters, "Nine Stories", "Seymour: an Introduction", and most notably, "The Catcher in the Rye". Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection. Sign up now.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-84361846059015334582010-01-27T09:57:00.001-05:002010-01-27T09:57:24.160-05:00UpdateSo. It's been a while!!! Things have been all "a flutter" here as we rush around trying to get the last minute pieces of our dossier together. We are in the home stretch. We expect our passports to arrive any day now (which will, officially, make me feel like Jason Bourne)! In the meantime we are tying up the other loose ends so that when our passports arrive, we can move on to the "Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-16839635934222224082009-12-29T09:12:00.004-05:002009-12-29T09:22:32.488-05:00Spent the night in the ER with Judah. He hit his head at my in laws' house, and about a half an hour later started throwing up and acting sleepy. I freaked out. We rushed him to the closest ER (which involved high speeds on snow covered country roads) 30 minutes away.One CAT scan, and a few hrs later we were released. Everything came back fine on the scan. They said to keep an eye on him and we Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-58483409527373450422009-12-27T15:51:00.002-05:002009-12-27T16:07:00.004-05:00Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-90143021248688771682009-12-25T15:31:00.000-05:002009-12-25T15:32:29.393-05:00Not that we needed a reminder of how "off the chart amazing" our friends and family are, but . . . Kevin & Many Peterson knocked on my parent's door (in Dayton) this morning to present us with over $6300 in cash and checks, donated by you wonderful people, to help us bring Phineas home! It was a COMPLETE surprise! We ...were blown away, to say the least!There was laughter and a lot of tears. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-64458865456830612342009-12-07T22:37:00.001-05:002009-12-07T22:39:01.523-05:00Found out today that the major adoption grant we applied for denied us. Just so very discouraged right now.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-6366977595224668972009-11-22T23:45:00.003-05:002009-11-22T23:54:15.318-05:00FUNDRAISERFor those of you who may be looking for a unique Christmas gift idea, I will be crocheting/selling scarves this season. Below is the flyer I worked up. Shipping and handling will be additional. I will try and get images up soon. Once again, thanks for being you and for supporting us. We love you!Looking for a unique Christmas gift idea? Purchase a hand crocheted scarf and help bring anKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-16372533153281402682009-10-29T22:48:00.001-04:002009-10-29T22:50:14.397-04:00Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-89238191274673395342009-10-29T09:18:00.002-04:002009-10-29T09:24:31.476-04:00A benediction given by Brennan Manning on October 11th, 2000 in a chapel gathering on the campus of Mount Vernon Nazarene University (courtesy of TKeller):May all your expectations be frustrated.May all your plans be thwarted.May all your desires be withered into nothingness.That you may experience the powerlessness and poverty of a child and sing, dance and trust in the love of God who is FatherKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-75765075508321131072009-10-18T22:48:00.002-04:002009-10-18T22:56:56.370-04:00Happy birthday to my first born. Mommy and daddy still miss you.This year has been particularly hard. I suppose I should have been prepared for that, but I wasn't. I just can't believe I have buried two sons. It still feels like the twilight zone.I am so thankful for my two children. More than I could ever express. But I am plagued by visions of what my family should look like. I should have fourKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-69251621752944109442009-10-16T09:53:00.003-04:002009-10-16T10:02:53.174-04:00So, officially, October 15th is the worst day of the year for me. Six years ago, my life changed forever on that day. I can imagine that this coming May 9th will be equally as difficult, but I haven't had to "celebrate" that anniversary yet.I had my moments yesterday, but for the most part, I was ok. I was praying all day for some sort of "good news". Maybe our house would sell. Maybe a grant Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-506627677123644522009-09-28T09:28:00.002-04:002009-09-28T09:32:05.482-04:00THE LATEST AND GREATESTSo . . . our homestudy is in the final stage. There are a couple of miscellaneous documents that I need to mail in and we have one more face to face appointment with our social worker. Our social worker actually emailed me a copy of our "almost completed" homestudy. There are a couple blanks that need filled in, but other than that it's just about ready to go! I can't tell Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-45727916265899677492009-08-27T11:45:00.003-04:002009-09-29T07:57:19.451-04:00Hot Dates, Updates, Due Dates and MoreSo James and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary last week (Aug 21st). My mother in law tagged teamed with Brooke Robinson to give us a "hot date" night (kid free) in Columbus. Abounding thanks to both of you . . . it was amazing to get away for a bit. It's so hard to believe it's been 10 years. Some days, it seems every bit of that. Others? Well . . . Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-53746746025070477682009-08-02T22:07:00.001-04:002009-08-02T22:08:00.605-04:00I wanted to update you on our progress thus far. We, with your help, have managed to gather the initial $1800 payment for our homestudy!!! Isn't God good??!! So, we officially scheduled our Orientation Meeting with our social Worker for Thursday, August 14th. We are so excited to finally sit down, face to face, to talk about our adoption. It's really starting to feel REAL.As far as the process Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-83924027620942663422009-07-17T11:03:00.006-04:002009-07-17T22:26:31.310-04:00BAD NIGHTSo, for those of you who are new to this blog, it serves multiple purposes. First, it was a place to document our journey through pregnancy loss. Then, it became a place to celebrate the lives of Halle Ruth (who joined us in 2005) and Judah James William (who joined us in 2008). Now we find ourselves again treading the waters of pregnancy loss. In addition, we have begun the exciting Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-17618883501668892802009-07-16T18:17:00.006-04:002009-07-16T19:17:23.243-04:00WHY AFRICA??So I guess the next appropriate question to ask is, why Africa and, more specifically, why Ethiopia.For James, his first encounter with the overwhelming need in Africa came when he was a junior in high school. It was at that time that he came across the pulitzer prize winning photograph taken by Kevin Carter. The photograh is of a famine stricken toddler, crawling towards a United Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-71862169880669600922009-07-11T07:53:00.003-04:002009-07-11T08:28:07.035-04:00WHY ADOPTION??I thought it would be best, as we set out upon this adventure, to cover some of the basics. Some of you may be wondering why we have decided to adopt.For James, the passion to adopt began early in his life. As a young boy, he often begged his parents to adopt a little boy, thereby providing him with a brother. Then, as he grew up, this was just a funny story he and his parents likedKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-4533485756134145602009-06-19T10:40:00.001-04:002009-06-19T10:40:46.056-04:00REDIRECTEDAWAA has recommended we go with the Ethiopia program instead. The Rwanda program is new and they think we may have some problems. Not sure whether or not to see this as a closed door, or just God's intervention leading us to another program. Please pray with us. I just wasn't prepared to get my heart broken, again.Insert movie times and more without leaving Hotmail®. See how.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-48211882431506959212009-06-19T08:07:00.001-04:002009-06-19T08:07:42.305-04:00AWAAGot a message from the America World intake coordinator last night. She wants to talk to us about our application over the phone. Feeling a little sick to my stomach. Is it possible they will turn us down????Microsoft brings you a new way to search the web. Try Bing™ nowKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-19289140148064513802009-06-18T09:28:00.001-04:002009-06-18T09:30:18.682-04:00The waiting game . . .Our application has been into America World for well over a week now. We're still awaiting approval into the program. They've had some follow up questions to our app (just some clarifications) and I am hoping we will be approved soon. I am anxious to begin the "paper chase" and feel like I am actually accomplishing something!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-86855460356235460862009-06-09T00:08:00.003-04:002009-06-09T00:17:56.410-04:00It's official . . . today we submitted our application and fee to America World. We're adopting from Rwanda!!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-58512956263152969052009-05-22T15:54:00.000-04:002009-05-23T09:40:29.386-04:00James and I will be praying and fasting this week regarding the adoption of an orphan from Rwanda. We would appreciate anyone else who would like to join us in this journey as we prayerfully seek what the Lord would have of us. Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-48373294286239141352009-05-20T22:14:00.002-04:002009-05-20T22:20:02.594-04:00So it was, officially, a terrible day.First of all, they left me sitting in the waiting room for like 50 minutes. I finally went to the desk and said, "Look, I just had a stillbirth and I don't think I can handle the whole 'waiting room baby talk thing' any more so I am just gonna go." The secretary said she would check to see if I was next, which I was. So they move me back to a room where I Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-86716895405304217252009-05-20T08:54:00.001-04:002009-05-20T08:56:34.728-04:00Headed to the OB today for my one week-ish checkup. Interested to see if some of my bloodwork and the autopsy results are back. Also going to ask when I can start exercising. Think it would be good for my spirit to lose the baby weight as soon as possible. My wonderful husband was kind enough to purchase me a gym membership for Mother's Day (and yes, it was ASKED for)!!! True, unsolicited gym Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-47610400856806340482009-05-09T09:20:00.002-04:002009-05-09T09:26:46.762-04:00For those of you who don't know, we have delivered our second stillborn son.Jeremiah David Smith was silently born at 1:27am this morning, May 9. He weighed 13 ounces. We held him, we love him, and our hearts are breaking.Thank you for your prayers. We will post more as we are able.Blessings.James, Kelly, Halle and JudahKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-12494341908345614802009-02-26T22:10:00.000-05:002009-02-26T22:11:21.333-05:00 SNUGGLESKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-1148005338498299392009-02-26T22:09:00.000-05:002009-02-26T22:10:26.233-05:00 GOTTA LOVE THOSE CHEEKSKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-49076840471790590992008-12-30T22:59:00.001-05:002008-12-30T22:59:02.108-05:00Christmas 2008Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-60057388189591802032008-12-14T06:43:00.004-05:002008-12-14T06:51:11.262-05:00FROM JAMES' BLOG:Dance In The Rain MelissaIf you do not know Melissa Prater or are not aware of what is going on in her life right now follow the link: http://danceintherainmelissa.blogspot.com and read the most recent post, so the rest of my post makes sense.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------I admit that I am just plain mad right now.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-60818723447229176812008-11-07T09:30:00.022-05:002008-11-07T10:51:22.311-05:00Last week we took a road trip to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. James spoke at a youth retreat for our good friends The Millers. We spent one tourist day in New Orleans at the tail end of the trip. Here are some highlite pics from the week!ON THE ROAD:Hyper GirlAn overnight stop at Aunt Brenda's and Uncle Kenny's in AlabamaChillin Like a VillanWatching "Beauty and the Beast" on James' IPODWE'RE HERE!!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-47947145052381981732008-10-13T16:27:00.001-04:002008-10-13T16:27:53.809-04:00Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-28253600252710873402008-10-13T16:26:00.000-04:002008-10-13T16:27:13.419-04:00Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-26963967820734118492008-10-13T16:24:00.001-04:002008-10-13T16:26:28.450-04:00I found these fun pics from our last date, the day before Judah was born! We went to Steak and Shake and got yummy shakes and then went to the movies to see (my pic) "Maid of Honor"!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-26989873284990634322008-09-27T20:06:00.008-04:002008-09-27T20:38:07.738-04:00First of all . . . READERS BEWARE. This is going to be one whiny post. I'm posting this purely for posterity. My mother in law assures me that someday I will look back at all the circumstances of the last 3 months and just laugh hysterically. Time shall certainly tell. Anyway, seriously. Don't say I didn't warn you.All my friends back in Findlay say I am such a trooper, and that they never hear Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-14584056926061211732008-07-24T10:44:00.002-04:002008-12-08T19:14:59.264-05:00Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-61685683115724370032008-07-24T10:44:00.001-04:002008-12-08T19:14:59.448-05:00Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-62247023765457899312008-07-24T10:33:00.001-04:002008-12-08T19:14:59.561-05:00Judah Looking Up At Halle and DaddyKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-24751252561164190782008-07-24T10:32:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:14:59.762-05:00Big Sister Halle Is A FanKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-60434600417549068202008-07-24T10:31:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:14:59.865-05:00Judah James William SmithKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-55221379041546261012008-07-24T10:29:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:14:59.998-05:00Family PicKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-27132693405301676242008-07-24T10:26:00.002-04:002008-12-08T19:15:00.153-05:00Checking InKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-72813620921374639362008-07-24T10:26:00.001-04:002008-12-08T19:15:00.247-05:00Heading To The HospitalKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-17588434970914188442008-07-08T17:04:00.002-04:002008-12-08T19:15:00.371-05:00Judah James William SmithWe Have a BABY BOY!!! He was born at 4:39pm on Monday, 7-7-2008 in Bluffton, OH.He weighs 6lbs 6ozs.He is 19 inches long. He has dark brown hair a dimpled chin and really soft skin of course.Kelly is doing well, and so is daddy.Big sister Halle has enjoyed holding him and gave him his first birthday present last night. I know what you are thinking... why the Ohio State Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-16440152061956435372008-07-02T22:01:00.001-04:002008-12-08T19:15:00.559-05:00We finally did it! New carpet in the family room! Woo hoo! Just in time to sell it. :)Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-74940821564005323542008-06-30T23:01:00.002-04:002008-06-30T23:19:59.592-04:00CRAZINESSPure craziness around here. So we're moving to Mount Vernon. A couple weeks ago James accepted the position of Director of Admissions for Mount Vernon Nazarene University. His start date was today. Beginning next week, James will be in Mount Vernon three days a week, and then home the other four. We've been to Mount Vernon as a family a couple weekends in a row now and have seen a coupleKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-52591353847083158692008-06-09T10:38:00.002-04:002008-06-09T10:51:20.701-04:00HOW THE MIGHTY FALLSo I took quite a spill yesterday.For those of you who have been to my house, you know that we have sliding glass doors that lead out onto our back patio. However, there is about a 2 foot drop from the family room floor to the patio surface. Yesterday, (stupidly) I went to step out that door (holding in both hands a full pot of flowers I had just planted) and I bit it hardcore.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-84944850920538408702008-04-24T10:17:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:00.734-05:00 Profile Shot at 28 WeeksKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-54136506537770280042008-04-03T01:05:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:00.938-05:00Six Months Pregnant April 2008Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-71217833106843824362008-04-03T01:04:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:01.163-05:00Three Months Pregnant January 2008Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-46570483879611505472008-04-03T00:58:00.004-04:002008-12-08T19:15:01.378-05:00 So I bought this flat iron. I finally couldn't stand it anymore . . . all the wondering what is it like to have straight hair and all. And it's just as fun as I thought it would be. I bought a really nice one that works well, so it only takes me about a half an hour. Still, it won't be something I do every day, but it's nice to have options isn't it????? Girls are so silly.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-10637187117461799522008-03-08T11:16:00.002-05:002008-03-08T11:21:47.547-05:00It's official--- James' test results came back NEGATIVE!!! HOORAY!Thank you all for praying!!!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-6693025417240950872008-02-28T14:01:00.001-05:002008-02-28T14:05:53.980-05:00IT'S A BOY!!!!! We found out today that we are having a boy! James and I are so excited we can hardly stand it! Also, for those of you who are keeping up, westill haven't heard anything about James' bloodwork. Thanks for yourcontinued prayers!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-19100118709561994872008-02-13T11:24:00.001-05:002008-02-13T11:24:48.249-05:00My OBGYN’s office called today to say that my blood work came back. Apparently, I tested positive as a CARRIER of the Cystic Fibrosis gene. I guess all this means is that I am a carrier of the gene, not that I have CF. However, James needs to have the same blood work done, and if his result comes back positive, we will have a 1 in 4 chance of having a baby with CF. We are asking you to pray that Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-58336312099142447322008-02-11T16:54:00.000-05:002008-02-11T16:55:02.063-05:00"People who count their chickens before they are hatched, act very wisely, because chickens run about so absurdly that it is impossible to count them accurately. - Oscar Wilde"Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-40180276643885994652008-02-11T16:53:00.000-05:002008-02-11T16:54:09.124-05:00BABY UPDATE:We had an ultrasound this past Friday. All is well, but it was too soon to tell the sex of the baby. :-( We have another one scheduled for Feb 28!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-68757547203085508892008-01-20T20:44:00.000-05:002008-12-08T19:15:01.542-05:00Lunch at Red Lobster with Great Grandpa and Grandma FigKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-60452266797219240212008-01-20T20:42:00.000-05:002008-12-08T19:15:01.712-05:00The company James works for flew all their employees and their spouses out to Las Vegas for their annual Christmas party early in December. Here's a picture of James and I standing in front of the Belagio fountains.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-44953316991540609212008-01-20T20:40:00.001-05:002008-12-08T19:15:02.041-05:00My GirlKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-52413931686802664842008-01-20T20:38:00.000-05:002008-12-08T19:15:02.144-05:00Okay. Can I just say, for the record, that I friggen LOVE the Gap between Halle's two front teeth!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-61435210666143517582008-01-20T10:06:00.000-05:002008-01-20T19:01:38.461-05:00So, this past Friday I officially had my first meltdown for this pregnancy.To set it up though . . .It turned out I had to cancel both of my January appointments. We had originally thought our new maternity insurance kicked in Jan 1. Much to our dismay, it isn't until Feb 1. So here we are, almost 15 weeks pregnant,kicking off our second trimester and I've yet to see a doctor. For those of you Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-17527578930439715282008-01-02T10:12:00.000-05:002008-12-08T19:15:02.333-05:00 WE'RE PREGNANT!!!!Believe it or not, I am about 12 weeks along. :-) On November 16th, I was late, so I took a test just as a precaution before ordering Provera to start my cycle for me. I was stunned when the test came up positive! I wasn't taking any type of medication (except for Metformin for insulin resistance). In fact, we were preparing ourselves for the next step in fertility treatments Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-73335045782748713252007-11-08T15:52:00.000-05:002008-12-08T19:15:02.478-05:00 Welcome Carter Scott!!! Born 11/6/07, weighing in at 7lbs 10oz. Congrats Ami and Brad!Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-30589742724547400812007-10-26T09:19:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:02.545-05:00A frozen hand serves perfectly as the trick on this year's edition of the Smith's annual Trick or Treat party.Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-49039765410711896042007-10-26T09:16:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:02.676-05:00A Hillbilly, A Graduate, and the Sweetest Little Bumble Bee I KnowKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-80881993656484114932007-10-21T09:52:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:02.860-05:00Holli and I goofing aroundKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-49859379313321343342007-10-21T09:51:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:02.990-05:00Headquarters Team at NYWC 2007 San DiegoKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-17407406733949696702007-10-21T09:47:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:03.214-05:00National Youth Workers Convention 2007: For those of you who don't know, we just returned from a week in San Diego where we volunteered at NYWC. It was awesome to work along our good friend Holli and to spend some qualtiy time with all of our California friends. Here's a pic of James and Holli working the Headquarters booth at the convention .Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-43460496338390828262007-10-15T09:45:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:03.347-05:00Me and HalleKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-7175283225125391742007-10-15T09:44:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:03.481-05:00James and HalleKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-29028391873750541352007-10-15T09:32:00.000-04:002008-12-08T19:15:03.685-05:00"Say Elijah . . . Mark . . . Smith"Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6017625.post-54454339315043392382007-10-14T20:56:00.000-04:002007-10-14T21:09:07.261-04:00Tomorrow marks the 4 year anniversary of the day they told us we had lost our son. He would be born 3 days later, on the 18th.Tomorrow I am going to be on a plane to San Diego with my husband and away from my daughter (who will be staying with her grandparents). It will be the first time we will not be able to be at his grave on his birthday. I am having a difficult time with that. I knew, of Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13389003293327860379noreply@blogger.com3