Big Brother John

As many of you know, we have a seasonal camper in Elkhart Lake, WI that we go to every weekend during the summer. Throughout the past 3 years, we have grown to become really good friends with our neighbors, the Greene's. Scott has learned a lot from John, about cars and racing and Mr. fix-it things, as well as a lot about life. John has become known as Big Brother John to us. We also get to spend a lot of time with Jenny(John and Linda's daughter) going to Bingo and hanging out at the campground. Today we had a visit with the Greene's who were on their way home to IL and stopped in to say hi. They brought with them many gifts, THANK YOU SO MUCH. Included in these items were the most thoughtful gifts for Micah. John's mom hand-made Micah several winter hats, even in Green Bay Packer colors! She also made him 2 blankets, that are so warm and cozy. One was especially touching (pictured above), the blanket has words that truly describe what a gift he is and how blessed we are. It could not have been any more perfect! The Greene's then treated us to a buffet dinner...YUMMY! Thank you so much John, Linda, Jenny and Grandma Greene. We are truly blessed to have you in our lives. See you soon!!~Melissa

Next week at this time...

On Friday we had a very unexpected call from Agitu, our agency director. She said that she feels we should not have to wait until January 8th to bring Micah home and there is no reason that we can not have him home for Christmas. She left for Ethiopia on Saturday and will be contacting us as soon as she can verify the exact date, but she is thinking that she can get us into the Embassy for our appointment on the 11th of December! That would mean that next week at this time, we could be on a plane to Ethiopia on the way to meet our son and bring him home! So this weekend we have been running around trying to tie up loose ends and arrange transportation to the airport for next weekend (thanks Andy and Amy!), call the doggy sitters and make sure the new dates would work for them, get together our travel supplies (thanks Josh and Kara!) and make sure we are ready to go and to bring Micah home! Busy...busy. I will post again when we know for sure our dates! Have a blessed day! ~Melissa

We have a Travel Date!

We found out today that Micah's Embassy appointment will be on January 8, 2009! It is a little later than we had hoped, but one thing we have learned is this is not about what we planned. Scott said something funny today that really fit "if you ever want to make God laugh you should make a plan yourself!" Anyhow, one cool thing is that we will be in Ethiopia when they celebrate their Christmas on January 7th. We are hoping to attend church while we are there, so it will be a perfect time of year. We will leave from Appleton, WI on January 4th and will return home on the 13th. Lots to do before we leave, but since I am retiring as of December 5th I guess I will have some time! ~Melissa

The Big Plan

This has been such a wonderful week. As I sit here today, still not able to totally take in the fact that we are parents, I think of all this year has brought us. We had the heartache of a failed adoption, the scariness of starting on another international adoption journey and now the joy of becoming parents to a beautiful, incredible baby boy. I was thinking of all the blessings God has given us and how when we are willing to give everything over to Him and accept His plan, the things that He makes happen are incredible. I feel strongly that everything that we have gone through in the past 2.5 years has not been in vain, but instead part of a bigger plan, God's plan. And when I started to realize and accept that I needed to let God be in control, everything started to come together. I have come to realize that when we first began this journey, I may have been being selfish about it and trying to make it MY plan, but when doors kept closing it was then that I started to go to God in prayer and look for the answer that he was giving me. I began to realize I was not the one in control and I needed to realize that God would place the right child in our life at the right time and now he has. I know that Micah was meant to be a part of our family and we make a promise to God to bring Micah up in a way that is pleasing to God!~Melissa

WE ARE PARENTS

I was at work and got the best call ever from Angela at BFAS and she informed me that we were approved in court today. Apparently we had thought it was the 20th, but it was actually the 19th. We are on cloud nine!! We do not have his adoption decree yet, so she said not to post his picture, but we can tell you that our son's name is Micah Abreham and he is the most beautiful baby in the world! We will travel in December to bring him home. We will get our official travel date sometime next week. Thank you to everyone for your prayers and support throughout this entire journey! We are so blessed!!! Praise God for this gift! ~Melissa

Two

2 days till court!!!
I can not believe there are only 2 days left until court. Whenever I think about it I nearly cry. I can not believe that our dream could come true in 2 short days...that we could become parents to an amazing baby boy. Thank you to everyone for all you have done to support us through this entire process. Please pray that the courts find in our favor on Thursday! ~Melissa

Shower (and I don't mean snow!)

Yesterday I was blessed to be able to spend the afternoon with my mom and some Great friends. They had thrown a baby shower for us and we all had a wonderful time. My neighbor (and FRIEND) Sarah planned some games and we had tons of food. We also got a lot of very thoughtful gifts that I know will come in very handy. We are so very blessed to have such wonderful people in our lives. My mother in law was not able to make it, but did buy the cake. It was the most wonderful cake ever(see picture above) and brought a tear to some peoples eyes. It had the American Flag and an Ethiopian flag and then had a banner that read: However one becomes a Mother is a miracle of God! The cake was made my Tamara's in Oshkosh and I HIGHLY recommend contacting her if you ever have a cake need. She is amazing!! Thank you to everyone who came and celebrated with us...4 more days till court! Below are some more pictures from my wonderful day! ~Melissa

Caring Co-workers

I work with some wonderful people, sneaky but wonderful. This afternoon I was in a meeting when my boss came and said that she needed me in the other pod right away. She said it with kind of an stern tone and a million thoughts rushed through my mind...had I taught one of the new guys something I shouldn't have, was I caught browsing the Internet, did I forget to punch out for lunch...all these thoughts and keep in mind this is only about a 20 foot walk! I got into the other pod and there stood about 7 of my co-workers with a pile of presents for "M". Needless to say I was a crying mess when I left the pod. I can not imagine what I will be like when I get to hold my son in my arms for the first time. I am already head over heels in love with him and we have never even met. Well, thank you to everyone for the thoughtful gifts. I will really miss working with such wonderful people when I retire in a few short weeks!~Melissa

7 Days...let the countdown begin!

Well, 7 days from now is when an Ethiopian court will be presented with our case and God willing we will become parents to an incredible baby boy. We have been getting things all set up for him and think we are finally ready. Please pray that everything goes well and that the court finds in our favor! 7 days...WOW! ~Melissa

Please Pray

There was a school that collapsed in Haiti today and there are up to 700 children and teachers trapped inside. Please pray for these children and their families. ~Melissa
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/11/07/haiti.school.collapse/index.html

CHANGE

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It’s the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It’s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled – Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It’s the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
It’s been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America. " -Barack Obama

This election was not about being black or white, it was about being American. I look forward to raising our son in a country that has progressed to a nation where he can be judged on his character, and not on the color of his skin. God Bless America!!! ~Melissa

DON'T FORGET