I Need Africa More than Africa Needs Me

Something to think about as we open gifts, celebrate with family, love each other...love people...love EVERY person.
Remember we are all here for a purpose.
I need Africa more than Africa needs me...
God Bless you today. And we live for a better tomorrow
Love Chantelle

HAPPIEST HOLIDAYS!!!!!!!!!!!!

This year's holiday card...Okay, please don't be bummed if you did not get one. (Could still be in the mail)...And maybe I did not get one to you and if not I am sorry. Prices way up from the "do-it-yourself" Walgreen photos I sent out so often when Bianca first came home. I TOTALLY underestimated how many I needed when I ordered, and once it was time to order even more, I was busted on the budget! (I rarely talk budget, but it can get crazy!)
Know that we love and adore our peeps.
Isn't Bianca a little doll?
Much Love, Chantelle, Eric, & Bianca

A LITTLE bit of news!!!!

I heard through the grapevine today that we have moved up 2 spots to #3 on the waiting list for Little Miss Sunshine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is huge!!!! It has been a long time coming and it looks like there has finally been some movement. Now, I am pretty sure this is fact, as I read several posts about it on our adoption agency forum. There were some major changes last week in staffing so I am not surprised I did not get a call. And no big deal...Good news is always welcome!
So, I have not called everyone for an update because I have been a bit under the weather the past 24 hours. And we are still 3 spots away from our referral, but that is still awesome!!!! So for those of you who would love to know when we will have a referral, I still have no idea. I will post just as soon as I know! And I will post as we move up to #1! Praise God! 2 families from our agency were placed with their baby girls...How awesome. There is nothing sweeter than a family coming together.
Thanks for caring and following our journey....We thank you love and appreciate all of your prayers for Little Miss Sunshine. I pray someone loving is holding her right now and loving on her. And that God is giving her comfort in knowing she will have a family soon.
Big Love-Chantelle, Eric & Bianca

100 MILES AN HOUR...IN A GOOD WAY

Well, ever since Bianca turned 2 and got her new Jeep, I can hardly keep her at home. She was off to STL in it on this day. Big sale at the Lucky Brand store, no doubt. ha ha It is hoot to watch her attempt to drive it. She is great at hitting the gas pedal...and not so great steering it!



She also loves a romp in the leaves...EVERY time we go toward the car...That is fun for the first 20 times...then momma gets a little tired of it~ but not Bianca!


Gettin' er done at the tree farm! Another COLD night! We were in and outta there in no time! Bianca seemed to love it!


This is PRE-Christmas parade last Sunday night...When we could all still feel our fingers and toes...Holy Crap it was a cold one. Bianca hung in there, much longer than I was hoping! I was ready to get the heck out of there!



Here is another great passer of time for hot stuff. She loves to "help" in the kitchen, but unfortunately for the refrigerator, Bianca has chosen it as her work out area...Think Flashdance! She hangs on to the bar on the pull out freezer door and does all kinds of dance moves, followed by repeated open and slamming of the door. She is a piece of work!

Yo yo yo, check me out momma!

I am just so thankful for Bianca's little personality. After some of the things I have been exposed to -going on in other people's lives, I feel overwhelmed with thankfulness. It is a good time to really take in our blessings. I know I need to get over my own personal pity party for the lack of referrals coming from our agency. They are great, and as many of you have reminded me...It is in God's perfect timing...Not mine. Thanks for the reality check.
Much Love
Chantelle

3 Months today on the wait list for Little Miss Sunshine

Today is officially the 3 month mark we have been waiting for our referral of Little Miss Sunshine. I know with most agencies this seems like no time at all, but when we started the process there was no wait time with our agency....So I have been a little anxious lately as there has been NO movement in 3 months on the girl wait list. No pity parties here, as I know God has a plan. I just think a lot about our daughter in Ethiopia and it is like I already miss her although I do not yet know her.
This is an area I have always struggled with....LACK OF CONTROL over a situation. You would think I would learn after our long wait for Bianca, but alas, I am still as stubborn as before.
Actually most days are great, and I just feel so thankful for what God has given us.
Today when I was feeling bummed and looking at all of the other blogs I love, I came across some really sad news. A friend of a blogger friend of mine has suffered major tragedy.
A wonderful family was about to go pick up their little girl from Guatemala...literally almost through this long and crazy process, and they found out that she was killed tragically. Her name was Josi and she was 5 years old. Please pray for this loving family who are now going through what I am sure feels like the darkest of days. You can read their story on Carla's Blog and please send them some support & encouraging words in this time of sadness.
I cannot imagine...The long wait was almost over for them. They were anticipating the call that told them they could go and pick up their little girl. Instead they received such terrible news. God be with them. I cannot wrap my head around the sadness they must feel.

When I read their story I felt like any problem I have is nothing in comparison. You really just never know what people are having to go through in life.

We will continue to wait for God's perfect timing to bring Little Miss Sunshine into our lives.
Thanks to everyone who asks about her and looks for updates on our process. We are so happy to have people who love us and are interested in this journey we are taking. I am excited and thrilled that God would provide for us to bring home another baby.

NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS?????

Sorry I have not posted for a while about the adoption. So many of you have asked and I have not gotten back to you...Sorry for that.
I have heard NOTHING on the adoption front. As far as I know we are still #5 on the wait list...and waiting and waiting...No movement for some time now.
I am so torn between my feelings this time around. For the most part I have not been too stressed during the wait...but I have had a few moments lately. Okay, this weekend in particular. As I enjoyed my time with our families, I could not help but wonder about where my other daughter was...what she was doing, who was taking care of her, if she was in an orphanage, if she was being held and loved on....so many thoughts.
On the other hand, I can only imagine how sad it must be to be on the other side of our adoption...The family that will mourn the loss of their baby, no matter the circumstances. It just breaks my heart.
I am praying that God will protect our daughter and her birth family through this crazy process that will bring us together. I know she will have already been through some serious trauma in her little life before she will become a part of our family.
I guess that is why I am so eager to know her. To see the first photo of her little face. The little face I have imagined a thousand times and already love.
I am ready to get a move on, and see this happen.
I am also thinking of Bianca and just taking in our time together.
God has blessed us in such a wild & crazy way. I can only imagine what He has in store for our lives.
If you are a prayer person, please pray for Little Miss Sunshine today. I feel like she could use it.
And I PROMISE....as SOON as I know something I will post all about it!
Thanks for thinking of us!
Chantelle