Family Baby Shower!

My sister and Mom through me an awesome baby shower Sunday! It was great! We had help from NeNe, Melodie, and Dianne also that weekend with setting up. I loved being able to share information about our adoption with our family. All of my family and Brian's family was there to celebrate with me. I was a little nervous before that it may be awkward because some of the people didn't know much about the adoption and because all the baby showers I have ever been to the mommy is pregnant and knows about when her baby is going to be coming. It was so much fun!!! We got all the big items and several little items we needed too! We played fun games and had great food. I Love My Family :) Bennett is going to grow up with a great family who loves him so much! Mom and Steve got us our pack-n-play, along with paying for the shower and the gifts that came along with the "Memorize Items" game that I got too keep! Thanks, we love you all :)

Cute Bibs for baby :)

View of the Lake Forest Lodge, where the shower took place.

My Aunt Dianne made Bennett 2 quilts!!!! Sooooo cute! Love them!

Here is a view of all the presents we got!!!

Me and Bennett's Auntie Christa!

NeNe, Mom, and Me with Mercedes!

Highchair from my Grandma Doris, my Aunt Cheri and Cousin Lindsay.

Travel system from Brian's parents.

Canvas for the baby's nursery!

Here is a view of most of the stuff we got from the Baby Shower, minus the pack n play and highchair.

Happy Anniversary!

Happy 2 year dating Anniversary Christa and Devin!!!

Our Life...

* I had my first day of clinicals and I loved it. It was exhausting but lots of fun. I learned more in one day than all other clincals combined, lol. Good thing I enjoyed it because I will be spending a lot of time there this semester!!!

* I talked to USCIS and they said it will likely be another month before we recieve our I 71H in the mail (which is a document we need from the United States approving our adoption). That was a bummer but at least it gives us a time frame.

* Our agency told us that everyone waiting for a court date that has been submitted will find out our date around Sept 26th when they open from rainy season, we are still praying for an October court date but dont believe our case has yet been submitted to court...so court date may be late October or early November.

* Also, the baby shower my family is throwing me is this Sunday! I am so excited to see stuff for little Bennett. I know it is early but we are sure God will come through with us on this adoption of our little boy. I also needed to have the shower in the beginning of my school semester because I have a feeling I am going to be VERY busy (with 24-36hours in the hospital, a Monday full of class, an online class, tests and a synthesis paper!)!!! We hope to have everything ready for this little man by the time we pass court that way it will just be time for celebration, packing and preparing to leave school and work.

Please pray for all these events going on in our life!!!

First Day of the Last Semester

Yesterday, August 24th, was the first day of my last semester of college!!! To say the least I am excited to be almost done. Yesterday went pretty well. Class was long but the professor seems to have a good attitude this semester. I also talked to her about the adoption and maybe having to take a week off when we go to Africa to get Bennett and she was super nice about it. I know my clinicals are going to be at Baptist East, which is SUPER close to my house so I am excited about that. I still dont know who my precepter is or what shift she normally works but hopefully I will find out tomorrow and it will be perfect for my schedule :) Please keep me and my fellow nursing school friends in your prayers as this will be a trying semester but hopefully we will get it done and have fun.

My nursing school friends have been there for me through a lot. They were there as I planned a wedding, as I got married, as I got pregnant, as I miscarried, as I tried to get pregnant for months, as I almost failed a class, and now as I am adopting a baby. I have made lifelong friends with these people and I am glad that they were there when others weren't!

I also want to thank my family for being there for me as I go through nursing school. They have been a great support for me through out everything also. I am greatful that I have a mom that is willing to put me and my sister through college. I also thank them for dealing with me through all the long hours of studying!

Above is a picture from our Transition Ceremony.

Updates

It's official, our agency has confirmed that the courts are closing for Septemeber. So far dates have been given out for Oct 7 and Oct 19th from our agency that I have heard. We still don't know our courtdate however. Please pray that the paperwork will happen quickly and that we will pass court the first time so we can see our baby and bring him home quickly and that God's will be done and we have patients through the process.

We are going to watch my little cousins show goats at the KY state fair tonight and tomorrow, that should be fun!

School starts for me on August 24th, yuck. This semester is going to be challenging for me but I will get through. I am taking 2 courses. I have class Monday 9-4 and Thursday 1-3. I have clinicals anywhere between 24-36 hours a week. I should be done with clinical hours by the time we bring home Bennett. Pray for me this semester.

August 30th is my first baby shower, from my sister and mom. We planned it for early in the semester so that I wouldn't be so stressed out yet and will have everything done for the baby early into the semester that way if I go to Africa midsemester I will have everything done. It kind of sucks that the courts decided to close, we planned based on them being open and us maybe having court date in September, but that doesnt really matter, we know we will be getting him sometime!

Africa Necklace Present

Brian bought me this necklace for our one year anniversary. It is in the shape of Africa and has a heart near Ethiopia. One the back our son's Ethiopian name is on it. I LOVVVVE IT! It was ordered from a lady that makes things on Etsy.com her jewlery is under the name Junkposse! Part of the money goes to help adoptions. You can go to www.junkposse.etsy.com .

Bear In Our Car !!!?!!!!

So today were leaving Gatlinburg. Brian and I were packing up our car this morning with all of our luggage. Brian put a few suit cases in the trunk and then he went inside to get a few more (leaving the trunk open and front door to cabin open also). When he turned back around and looked back out the open front door and saw this bear looking back at him. He quitely told me to come to the door QUICKLY. When I got there I saw the bear too!!! I couldn't believe it! Of course we quickly shut and locked our cabin door but we didn't dare go back outside to shut the trunk of the car. This bear climbed into our trunk! We were shocked. He then got out Brian's bowling shoe and ripped it to shreds. After ripping it up he got back in the trunk again and started pulling and tugging and biting my suit case! There is a whole in it now. We banged on the door and yelled to try and get him off my luggage ( I thought he was going to ruin all my clothes!) but he didnt really care about us. He eventually left and got far enough for Brian to go back outside and close the trunk and lock the car incase Mr.Bear decided to return. Well we are all safe and in Louisville now and have a funny story to tell and a hole in my suit case and one less bowling shoe.

Gatlinburg Anniversary Trip

Brian took me to Gatlinburg for our 1 year wedding anniversary this weekend! I still can't believe we have been married a whole year (even though we have been in LOVE for 7 YEARS!!!). We have been staying in a chalet in the mountains.Friday we got down to Gatlinburg. We checked in. Then we went to eat at the Old Mill in Pegion Forge. It was yummy :) After that we did some shopping.

Saturday we woke up and went tubing at the River Rats. It was awesome tubing through the Smoky Mountains together. We also went on a nature trail (in our car) and didn't see anything so we were bummed and sped up so we could leave...then all of the sudden a baby bear cub ran right in front of our car!!!! We almost hit it! There was a mommy and two little bitty babies!!!! SOOO CUTE! We ate dinner at Blaine's (not very good). Then we played putt putt at Davy Crocketts. Sunday (today), Our 1 year anniversary, we slept in late. Then we ate at Apple Barn YUMMM! We shopped some more. Then we went to a mirror maze. Ate at Peddlers Steakhouse on the river. Then we went to 3D/blacklight putt putt which was lots of fun! Then we did the Sky Lift like normal and got another picture!!! :) I love my husband.

One Year Ago...

It has been one year today since I married my best friend! Wow, one whole year! We have been together for almost 7 years now and I love him more and more each day. He is a Christian leader and great husband, and soon to be awesome father. We have been through the best and worst moments in life together. We will always be there for one another. We had the best wedding I have ever been to August 16, 2008! We are so glad our family could be there to witness the first day of our marriage, they are our biggest supporters! My husband took me on a great trip to Gatlinburg for our anniversary and I will post pictures when we get home :)

I Love You Brian Gibson and I Always Will!!!!

Mercedes is Prepared

Mercedes has a new "Africa Dress" that she is wearing while she waits for Baby Bennett!!!

Pictures

This wonderful Sunday morning I woke up to check my email before getting ready for church and found an email with subject lines that said "K is beautiful". I opened it and there were 2 photos of our baby boy wearing an outfit that we sent over for him that says Heaven Sent on it, and it is so true. I do believe that this is one of my very favorite pictures of him!!!!! What an awesome feeling to wake up and see him this morning!

Still waiting for a court date.

Queen of Sheba Ethiopian Resturant

Today Brian came home from a closing and decided it was a good day to go to the local Ethiopian resturant, Queen of Sheba. I was nervous but I actually enjoyed it. If you don't know already, I am a VERY picky eater! I also do NOT like new foods. BUT we had a really good time!

Brian laughing at something about the food I think. We ordered an appetizer, it was ground beef, some type of Ethiopian type cheese and injera. Brian HATED injera. I was not a huge fan either but I think I could eventually get used to the taste and tolerate it.

Haha, I cut off the top of his head on this one but the face was awesome. Its the injera he keeps calling sour... I think I forgot to tell him about what injera was. I had never tasted it either but I have read about it and knew what to expect.

His face is just killing me with these!

The meal was actually good (minus injera). He got Derek Tips and I got Doro Tips. I liked the steak better than the chicken so I ate most of his but they both were good. The dark brown stuff on the plate was REALLY hot/spicy. I don't eat salad but he said it was good. The wot wasn't bad actually, after I got over the look of it and tried it.

The dessert was great! It was Balwaka (I think is how it is spelled?). It was a crispy layer with honey and nuts. It was small. Next time we will get two :)

Africa Shirts

We just ordered some new Africa shirts! They are from a family who adopted a beautiful little girl! You can visit them at http://jamullins.blogspot.com/ .

Skype

Today was awesome!!! We got to get on Skype with our baby in Ethiopia for a few minutes! It was short but oh so awesome! He is just as cute live as he is in pictures! We love him so much :) Can't wait to hold him.

Baby Updates

We got an email from the couple that brought our package to our baby in Ethiopia. It was very sweet and I loved hearing about our baby boy!!! Here is some parts of what the email said about him:

"What a trip. Thank you for all your prayers. We so felt them. Can I tell you how very beautiful your son is! He has the biggest and brightest eyes I think I have ever seen! He was very alert. I so wanted to hold him but didn’t want to disturb him or frighten him. We completely unwrapped him-so cute he was completely swaddled in a blanket. He looks healthy he is just a little sweetie. Tiny little hands but long fingers. We gave the caregivers your package for him and they brought it right up!"

Also, my sister has been working on stuff for my baby shower for family and family friends. The invites are soo cute. I am really excited. I cant wait to be a mommy (well, legally and in person!).