Kiera Singing with Daddy

Kiera was singing with Daddy while coloring.
 "I just thank you father for Makin' Me Me"
How cute!

Home visit complete

Today we completed our home visit for our second adoption. This means that we are closer to getting our home study done. Once that is complete we can send in our dossier to IAG (International Adoption Guides) and hopefully soon get on the waiting list for a referral.
We are so excited that we get to grow or family through adoption again. We are already praying for or new little one to be healthy, loved and nurtured.
Mandy

Happy Baptism Birthday

One year ago today Kiera was adopted into God's family through baptism. We celebrated by lighting her baptism candle and talking about the day. We prayed for the Lord to continue to bless her with faith as she grows and learns. She then got to blow out the candle (about 3 times, since she kept asking "again please."

 

Hapy New Year 2012!

I cannot believe it is 2012 already. Where did last year go?

My baby will be 2 this year. She had grown so much. She isn't really a baby anymore. She is a full toddler in every sense: sleeping in a toddler bed, full of energy, talking, learning, laughing, singing and dancing. She has recently starting singing along to a few  songs, counting to 13 and saying her ABCs and prayers in part.

God has given us so many blessings!

Merry Christmas 2011!

Photo Card

View the entire collection of cards.

Gotcha Day Celebration 2011

Happy Gotcha Day!

One year ago today, the caregivers at the Holt orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, placed Negatua (Kiera) in our arms. That night she returned to the hotel with us. It was our first night together as a family.

Click here to see the moment we took custody of Kiera. The happiest of moments caught on film.


Today we celebrate her “Gotcha Day!”

As a family we’ll be eating a traditional Ethiopian dinner of Wat (Lentils) and Ingera (flatbread). And we will be reading Kiera's Lifebook (a book I put together of her life before us and through the adoption process).

It is amazing to see how much she has grown and become a part of our family. She is amazing and we give thanks to God for her everyday. Can you believe this is the same little girl?

(yes those are Daddy's pants)

We Love You Kiera!
Mommy and Daddy

Adding to Our Family!

Hi everyone!
Joel and I have been talking and praying for the last few months about growing our family again.
So ... we are excited to announce that we are starting the adoption process again. We are going back to Ethiopia to get Kiera at little brother or sister. God knows the timing, but we want to be ready when He is. If anyone wishes to help fund our adoption, there are a few links to the right of this blog that will take you to our fundraising options. They would be great Christmas gifts.


Just Love Coffee -  They sell fair trade coffee from countries around the world (and a few other gift items as well). Of course I would recommend the Ethiopian coffee as we have become quite attached to it.We get $5 per coffee sold. This is our direct fundraising site so nothing is needed to give us credit for the purchase.

Wild Olive Tees - This site sells unique t-shirts that are made well and very comfortable. We get anywhere from $7.50 - $10 per t-shirt sold. Enter the code BRANDT1120 in the coupon code area for us to get credit for the purchase.

Thanks and God Bless!
Mandy

Growing fast

Kiera is growing up so fast. She is now almost 20 months old and is learning new things daily. She is saying please and thank you without prompting (especially when it is to ask for candy) and she makes her stuffed Minnie Mouse say her prayers before bed. She runs, skips, gallops and hops everywhere, unless she is pretending to be a horse or dog. She loves to give hugs and kisses and even started turning my head so she can kiss both cheeks too. She amazes me everyday.

We are so thankful to have Kiera as our daughter. I thank God for her many times a day.

Happy Ethiopian New Year!

I know it has been a very long time since my last update. Kiera is so much fun and keeping us very busy. So, I decided that to mark the beginning of 2004 in Ethiopia (no, that is not a typo. Ethiopia is 7.5 years behind in there calendar), I would update with many pictures that show how Kiera has grown in the last few months.