The Circus

We had fun at the circus today. We are going to try and do as many special things with Hannah in the next couple of weeks. She knows she is getting a big sister and things are never going to be the same...she will not be the only focus of our attention.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

We did receive new photos of Mahelet today from the Sapp family. Our daughters are very good friends and Mahelet was very sad that her friend was leaving but Holly was able to explain that we would be coming for her very soon and they could talk to each other on the phone. That made Mahelet feel better.

Our Daughter

We are very proud to introduce the newest member of the Rovang Family...enjoy

We have a Daughter

Until I get the problem fixed with my video just click on the link below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI3poH6qxgI

WE PASSED COURT and are proud to introduce the newest member of the Rovang family...enjoy!!!!

My Head is Spinning

I am going to blog early today since I am having oral surgery this afternoon and won't be in any condition to do it later. Also I need something to distract me since I can't eat or drink anything for the next 6 hours. (I'm actually editing this post and am back from the surgeon's office and will give details after the next paragraph).


So you may have noticed from my countdown clock things have changed once again with our court date. We were informed yesterday that there was a mix up in ET and our court date is actually Mar. 26th. and not the 31st. So by Thursday morning we will know if M***is officially our new daughter. Oh and if we pass court we will leave Apr. 11 to get her. That is what has my head spinning. We are so not ready. We have not even started to decorate her room. We will very busy in the couple of weeks. I do have her video ready to post on Thursday when we pass court (see how positive I am being).

So about this oral surgery that I have been trying to get accomplished for over 6 months now. I have had to reschedule 3 times now do to infection, the funeral of my MIL, travel out of the country. I actually went and thought wow this is finally the day I will get my implant. I was sitting in the chair reading through the consent form once again. I was reading about everything that could possibly happen...thinking wow do I really need a dental implant (LOL). Anyway the doctor finally came in and he asks if we have been doing anything exciting lately...traveling?? I told him we just got back from Jamaica and would be going to Ethiopia next month. This got his attention. Ethiopia...what for? To get our 11 yr. old daughter. He was like WOW!!! He asked why we chose to get an older child...I explained the situation and he was still like WOW. So once he got done with the chit chat (and he can chit chat...I'll share the history lesson he gave me in a bit) he had me take an Xray and was satisfied with how I had healed and was all ready to go when I thought I better ask if this was a good idea considering I would be traveling to a 3rd world country in a couple of weeks. That stopped him in his tracks...he knew we would be going to ET but I think he didn't listen to how soon. He said...are you OK with not doing this now. My answer was YES. He didn't want to take the risk that I would have some sort of infection or other problem while in ET. So once again I was off the hook because we would be out of the country. So I will have to reschedule once we are back from ET. Maybe th 4th time will be a charm. Now about the history lesson he delivered to me. He likes to read in the Winter and this past Winter he read at least 8 or 9 books about JuliusCaesar and GenghisKhan. He did impress me with his knowledge of these two historical figures but all I could think of after I heard Genghis Khan...was Bill&Ted'sExcellentAdventure (a must see mindless movie that is a fun lesson in history). OK gotta go because I am starving as I went 6 hours without anything to eat or drink (for nothing). Which by the way is very difficult with a 4 yr. old that want to snack every 10 minutes.

Blessings,
Bliss

Soggy Sunday

Hannah watching it rain. I told her it is sad we can't go out and play and she said "Yes we can all children love to jump in rain puddles" She had me there...but we still didn't go out.

Hannah and I just got done mixing up some banana bread so thought I would take the time while it bakes to blog. So as you can tell from the post title it is raining. We just can't get two nice days in a row around here. Yesterday was a beautiful day and we grilled out...yummy flank steak, grilled asparagus and fresh baby potatoes we had purchased 5 boxes of Girl Scout cookies earlier that day so we had some of them with ice cream for dessert. We had Ron's brother and dad over for dinner. It is still really strange that Hannah's grandma is absent at our family meals. She is really missed.



Yesterday we also purchased a bed and bedding for M*** who if we pass court we be joining our family in a little over a month. While we were at the furniture store I checked my phone for email messages and noticed I had one from Stephanie Hall titled pictures...they recently returned from ET with there precious little boy. They took photos of M*** for us and I received 9 wonderful photos and was able to show the sales lady who we were buying the bed for...she was touched and thanked us for sharing.


Hannah's cousin is 36 wks. along in her pregnancy and Hannah is so fascinated with the whole pregnant belly. After she saw a photo of her cousin's belly she quickly tucked her blanket in her top and said "mama I want to have a baby". YIKES child.





Well that is about all I have for now and I can tell from the yummy smell that our banana bread is ready to come out of the oven.



Blessings,

Bliss

Beautiful Day

So nice outside we needed to celebrate with some bubbles.
Hannah insisted on taking photos of me...she is turning into quite the photographer.

Wow we couldn't have asked for a better 1st day of Spring. It was so nice out. And my nesting continues. Today the family van was my target. If you know me you know I hate a dirty vehicle (get that from my dad) and my van was sooo dirty it was driving me a little nuts. I also hate car washes (cost to much and they don't do a good job). So I took advantage of the nice weather and washed my van and detailed the inside. It has been such a mess lately with the long cold Winter my vehicle was very neglected. It is now super clean....Yeah.


After I cleaned the van I started in on the garage. Huge eye soar there. I wish my hubby was nesting. I consider the garage his territory and it is a nightmare. I worked for a while and then Hannah insisted we go for a walk. It turned out to be a short walk as Hannah was stolen from me by the neighbor girl (actually Hannah's sitter). So Hannah is playing at there house for the next hour or so...she loves being over there.


As far as our adoption it sounds like even with the new changes with the consulate we will keep the same travel dates if we pass court...in 10 days. WOW to think we will have an 11 year old joining our family in a little over a month. So excited...and sooo anxious at the same time.

Blessings,
Bliss

Sad News In Ethiopia

Haregewoin Tefarra

I read a very powerful book while on vacation...I could not put it down. It is called "There Is No Me Without You" It is about the woman pictured above. I learned today that she has died. So you could say her Adoption with our heavenly Father is complete. I challenge everyone to read this book. I can guarantee once you read it the world will never look the same especially the way you think about AIDS. I posted the description below.

There Is No Me Without You is the story of Haregewoin Tefarra, a middle-aged Ethiopian woman of modest means whose home has become a refuge for hundreds of children orphaned by AIDS. It is a story as much about the power of the bond between children and parents as about the epidemic that every year leaves millions of children, mostly healthy themselves, without family.
Originally a middle-class woman with a happy family life, Haregewoin fell into a deep depression after the death of her recently married daughter. But then a priest brought her two children, AIDS orphans, with nowhere to go. Unexpectedly, the children thrived, and Haregewoin found herself drawn back into daily life. As word got out, an endless stream of children began to arrive at her door, delivered by dying parents and other relatives who begged for her help. Pushing the limits of her home and bank account, she took in more and more.
Today, Haregewoin runs a school, a daycare system, and a shelter for sick mothers. Without medication for her charges - some HIV-positive, some uninfected, and some infants trying to fight off the virus, but almost all of whom come to her terrified and malnourished - she forges on, caring for as many as she can handle. Increasingly, she also places them for adoption with families like that of journalist Melissa Fay Greene, who has two children adopted from Ethiopia. In Haregewoin Tefarra's story, Greene gives us an astonishing portrait of a woman fighting a continent-wide epidemic.

Blessings,

Bliss