tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56297372009-10-12T21:06:09.324-07:00I dream of big cities. I live in the country.bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.comBlogger266125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-23081120228523787472009-09-23T20:24:00.001-07:002009-09-23T20:33:19.925-07:00

Leah is a mama's girl. She often chooses to hang out when me when we are in groups with other kids. These two photos show a fun progression of her affection and her goofy humor. She makes me laugh everyday.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-14790526468570102782009-09-17T06:37:00.000-07:002009-09-17T07:07:30.674-07:00

Chad was laid off in April. From May until August he did various side jobs for our church, including remodeling a building for a new thrift store in Fayetteville. Our church offered him a job as a manager at this store. A couple of weeks ago he decided to accept the offer and we are now employed again! I immediately became excited about start the adoption process again. We were on hold the entire

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-18214923039848661752009-09-12T12:55:00.000-07:002009-09-12T12:57:27.361-07:00

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-64673919653259017802009-06-27T09:35:00.000-07:002009-06-27T09:48:07.508-07:00

This was our fourth year to have swim lessons. Even still, the week wore me out! Swim lessons are a lot of work. I like the sun. I like the water. I like being with my kids. I like leaving the house. Put it all together, and you get one tired mama and two tired kids. Maybe its the long list of things to remember... swim diapers, sunblock, water, snacks, towels, changes of clothes, regular diapers

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-63995174268975936022009-06-26T17:29:00.000-07:002009-06-26T17:44:25.393-07:00

My brother, Chris, graduated from John Brown University last month. It was a happy day. He studied Construction Management (same as Chad) and worked hard to put himself through school. He amazed me by the small amounts of sleep he tortured himself with. I stayed up into the wee hours of the morning a lot my freshman year, but after that I got at least six hours a night most of the time. Not Chris

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-12802775995561700182009-06-19T14:27:00.000-07:002009-06-19T14:40:29.578-07:00

One good thing about being unemployed is that we have a lot of free time. Last month we spent ten days in Illinois with Chad's family. During the trip we visited Grandpa Randy and Grandma Cindy twice. They live on a farm that has been in Chad's family for several generations. Chad and Chelsea spent many summer weeks here during their childhood. Daily trips to Dairy Queen are tradition around

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-9042968768238024282009-06-08T19:20:00.001-07:002009-06-10T21:03:28.293-07:00

It's always difficult to know how to start a post after not writing for awhile. The update on us is lengthy, but I don't have much energy for blogging right now. I haven't even done much emailing lately, which is crazy for me. Chad was laid off in April. His work is in residential construction and the small company he worked for did not have one contract. He had worked there for one year and one

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-73428605495273966552009-04-29T12:13:00.000-07:002009-04-29T12:16:52.963-07:00

Today marks 6 weeks of being on the wait list. It's still flying by. I think about our little babe nonstop. He is already part of our family even though we haven't met him yet. Chad and I pray for him often. If we're matched with a baby older than 12 months we could get a referral as soon as July. If he is little bitty it could be closer to October/November. Either way is really fine with us;

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-64331935503594038162009-04-04T21:24:00.000-07:002009-04-04T21:30:40.978-07:00

Every other week Chad and I help teach Mel's class at church. Today I cut out shapes of food items for tomorrow's craft. The lesson is about God's provision during famine, so we are going to glue food items to paper plates. One food item is ice cream cones. Leah liked them so I gave her one to play with. She instantly started licking the paper and saying "Mmmmm."

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-81379477343279572482009-04-01T19:14:00.001-07:002009-04-01T19:24:32.936-07:00

We've been on the wait list for two weeks now. If the weeks fly by this quickly, we'll have our referral in no time. I assume time will begin to crawl when we near the end of summer. I already think of our boy all of the time. Sometimes the thoughts of him make me smile or laugh. Other times I tear up instantly. I wonder about his circumstances and pray for him. He may or may not be born. Either

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-17516281059845042682009-03-30T12:37:00.000-07:002009-03-30T12:44:35.825-07:00

Last Friday at our weekly playgroup we celebrated Gillian's 2nd birthday. Gilly's mom, Kristin, is the queen of birthday fun. She did a m&m theme for the party. The kids were sent home with a bag o goodies including these amazingly huge m&m cookies on a stick. Melody asked to eat her cookie 1000 times that day. I repeatedly said, "No, you can have it tomorrow...." The next morning she ran from

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-41619334451111675402009-03-20T15:45:00.000-07:002009-03-20T15:54:58.901-07:00

We are officially on The Gladney Wait List for a baby boy! We were put on the list on March 18. The average wait for a referral right now is 6.5 months. This means we might get matched to a baby around October 1. (We won't travel for another few months after that.)I woke up on Thursday morning with great peace in my heart. I laid awake for a hour, soaking in thoughts of the adoption. I am in awe

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-61168115333437348442009-03-12T23:40:00.001-07:002009-03-13T00:00:04.536-07:00

Yesterday I received a book in our mailbox. (It has been a good mail week... first our CIS Approval and then a book!) A few days ago I ordered this book. It is written by Josh and Amy Bottomly who are famous in the Ethiopian Blog Adoption World. Late last night, when the house was finally quiet, I curled up in the leather chair by the fire and began reading From Ashes To Africa. Every 15 pages or

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-8053830478704759292009-03-11T19:38:00.001-07:002009-03-11T19:43:58.842-07:00

Tonight I was standing at the stove heating up soup for dinner. Mel was at the nearby table coloring. Out of nowhere she said, "I'm just a looser."I nonchalantly replied, "Why do you say that?" Worried mommy-thoughts swirled in my head. Mel said, "Because I loose things."

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-90525878515796892332009-03-10T16:04:00.000-07:002009-03-10T16:06:19.947-07:00

Today we received our CIS Approval (Citizenship and Immigration Services)! This marks the end of our adoption paperwork process, one of the biggest undertakings of my life so far.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-45722100035678601432009-03-10T14:22:00.001-07:002009-03-10T14:23:29.638-07:00

Today Melody and Leah were playing in the other room. I heard Mel ask Leah to get something for her. Mel explained where it was, "Leah, it's by the pink thing.... right there.... no not that.... in the middle.... do you see it?" They went on and on like that for about five minutes! Mel never got frustrated. Then they started this:Leah: "Dat?" (that)Mel: "No."Leah: "Dat?"Mel: "No."Leah: "Dat?"Mel

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-55294686188492775672009-03-03T21:50:00.000-08:002009-03-03T22:04:25.885-08:00

Leah is a funny girl. Recently I have captured some faces that give a peak into her quirky personality. She has a subtle nature about her that sneaks out when she is feeling feisty.This pucker thing is her newest face. She makes this face when she is in trouble. I'll say her name with a strong, low, serious tone. The next thing I know, she is tilting her head and sticking her lips out as far as

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-36621232008157906732009-01-20T18:50:00.001-08:002009-01-20T18:53:23.317-08:00

Here are some photos of Melody's haircut after her scissor experiment. The first one is a mug shot taken before bedtime the day of the whole incident. The second was taken a few days later at Vance and Harmony's wedding reception. I'm slowly getting used to it.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-41546374715036440712009-01-14T20:22:00.001-08:002009-01-14T20:28:33.977-08:00

Today is a day I won't forget. I was doing my own thing this morning... taking a shower, etc. The girls were watching a DVD, like they usually do each morning when I take a shower. I walked into the living room where they were and noticed a big chunk of Mel's hair on the couch. I looked at her with a startled expression and said, "DID YOU CUT YOUR HAIR!???" Her response was nonchalant, "Yeah, I

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-20003028194553211292009-01-07T12:39:00.000-08:002009-01-07T12:50:41.101-08:00

We had our homestudy on Monday. This is a big step in the adoption process. A social worker came to our house for three and a half hours. We sat in the clean living room with water, coffee and a muffin each. It was like a combination of job interview and counseling session. We were asked about our strengths and weaknesses as individuals and as a couple. Other questions were, "How do you cope with

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-41848880538027382592008-12-19T18:36:00.001-08:002008-12-19T19:19:38.383-08:00

We are expecting our third child! In twelve to eighteen months Chad and I will travel to Ethiopia to adopt a baby boy. When I tell people the news, tears stream down my cheeks. It's embarrassing, but I cannot help it. They are happy, giddy, joyful, bursting, fill-your-heart-with-pounding-love kind of tears.For a long time (perhaps our whole marriage) international adoption has been on the back

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-60505553275778452302008-12-18T19:39:00.004-08:002008-12-19T07:35:45.856-08:00

We celebrated Melody's birthday early this year. Her birthday is December 22; we had her party a couple of weekends early so that more people could attend. It was the first big birthday party we've had. It was a lot of work and a lot of fun! Above is a picture of Melody that I frantically snapped seconds before guests started to arrive.I made the cake four layers because Melody is four years old!

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-10222231226453244762008-11-07T18:34:00.001-08:002008-11-07T18:53:35.456-08:00

Every Friday we do playgroup. There are eight moms and 19 kids. We trade houses, passing the crazy task of hosting around and around. Today everyone came to my house and we celebrated Leah's birthday. Playgroup Birthday Parties are great. There are no gifts required. (Leah did receive one gift and a few drawings this morning.) We have cupcakes or cakes -- sometime healthy versions, other times

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-20204826425784250332008-11-05T19:27:00.000-08:002008-11-05T19:41:13.222-08:00

Leah will turn two next week. (!) I cannot believe my baby is going to be two years old. Everyone always say, It goes by so fast.... Now I can say the same thing. Leah is so much fun. She is sensitive, feisty, silly and loud. I took these photos about a month ago in the front yard.

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5629737.post-43962893510875196232008-08-28T13:53:00.001-07:002008-08-28T13:54:20.917-07:00

bekahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17095813087438748798citydreamer4@gmail.com6