To-Do List

My to-do list before leaving for Africa:
1) Stop making lists on the back of receipts
2) Stop throwing away receipts
3) Combine receipts to form one big list
4) Remember to write things on the list
5) Post list on refrigerator
6) Try to remember what I was trying to remember by writing it on the list
7) DO IT

I'm so not a list person, but I'm finding that I won't get out of this part of our journey without one. Thus began my lists yesterday. One for packing, one to-do. It makes me cringe a bit to walk by my list and see all the things on it ... only to add more. BUT, I suppose it's all necessary, and will be worth it in the end. It's just too bad that tying a red string around my finger won't do the trick this time around.

Baby Man

"Baby Man" .... this is your new name according to Sam. Much better than Ronny if I do say so myself.

For some reason, the kids still think that what your name will be is up for discussion. So, last night, Sam decided on Malachi Baby Man Britton.

Just so you know, Sam's nick name (one of them) is "Little Man" ... I think in his determination to not surrender his place as Little Man, he came up with Baby Man for you. Or .... maybe he doesn't think about such things ..... :)

So, see you soon Baby Man!

I'M ON CLOUD NINE !!!!

I don't really know what that title means either ... but similar to last post, it seems to fit! :)

WE GOT TENTATIVE TRAVEL DATES !!!! Our agency sent us an email today stating that we can plan to travel November 1st through November 7th. All I have to say is AAAAGGGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so overjoyed, overwhelmed, over this waiting thing! :) While these dates COULD possibly change, we pray they don't. Would you please pray the following things over the next 2-3 weeks as we plan this trip :

1) That we would get through our court date as scheduled so we can actually travel on these dates. ( I do not know when our court date is scheduled, but I do know that our tentative dates are planned accordingly, as our agency knows when it is. Don't ask.)

2) That we would be able to use our frequent flier miles.

3) That we would be diligent in all that needs to get done for us to leave. (I'm a bit of a procrastinator, and that probably won't serve me well this month.) Pray that I have a clear head about all that needs to happen, and have the strength and energy and patience to actually do it.

I'll let you know if I think of anything else, because as I told you already, I'm on cloud nine! Meaning, mental clarity has not kicked in yet. I can't believe it's finally coming. We get to go get our baby!!!!!!!!!

WE ARE COMING MALACHI !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Be Still My Heart

I don't know what that title means, but it seemed to fit.

We got an update from Ethiopia today on Malachi. We received reports on his heath and habits. He seems to be doing well. We also got an ADORABLE picture of him. He's sitting in one of those bouncy seats. This cracks me up, as he can sit on his own now. My kids NEVER sat in those bouncy seats once they could sit on their own. Maybe that says something to Malachi's calm and submissive spirit. HAHA Well, a mother can hope. :)

This part cracks me up though ....... as is true to all the Britton children, Malachi has a HUGE head! :) I compared his stats with one of his little friends in the Transition Home right now who is only 1-2 months older than Malachi. hehe..... His friends head circumference: 40.5 cm. Malachi's head circumference : 45.2 cm. For those of you who knew Sam especially - this is hilarious to me!

Anyway, we are hopeful that we will be flying in just over a month ... perhaps even one month from today. Again, a mother can hope, right???

Travel Plans On the Horizon

Courts re-open in just 2 weeks!!!! We are so excited for the ball to start rolling again. There is a group of families before us who have their court dates scheduled for Oct. 8. (About 6-8 families I believe.) They have also been given tentative travel dates of Oct 25th. I'm thrilled for them, and saddened at the same time, as I was holding out hope of them traveling sooner than the 25th, and my travel group traveling at the end of October. However, it appears that we will wait until our turn in November. Perhaps November 1st???? A mom can hope, right? Besides, little Woody and Jessie (AKA Sam & Eden) may not be happy if we aren't here to see them parading around on the 31st dressed as these characters. :)

Anyway, if you could please remember us and all the other waiting families over the next month. (I believe our court date is sometime mid-October.) Pray for the courts to run smooth, and quick. Pray for families to get through their court dates ON their allotted dates. And one last HUGE request for us, is please remember our flights in your prayers. We moved forward in faith to try and use Frequent Flier Miles for our flights. (One blessed family has plenty for our roundtrip airfair!) Pray this can happen. With the condition that airlines are in, this is one of those shady areas. I can't stress enough though how we need that to be our means of travel.

So, I'll keep you posted these next couple of weeks! We're almost there!!!! Thank you for your continued prayers for us as we wait.

2 Months and Counting

Well, today is the 2 month mark of meeting Malachi. I must say, it's gone quick ... no it hasn't ... yes it has .... no it hasn't. Ugh...... How do you judge time when you are waiting for a piece of yourself to come home??? Hmmmm.... Well, hopefully we only have about 1 1/2 to 2 months left. So, I guess I'm at least half way there. Hohum....

In other news... how do you like my new blog layout??? Pertty, huh???? Thanks to a good friend - Lindsay Boyle - my blog got a facelift. I love it!! I can't wait until those pictures up top can show the real star of this particular blog!

Beautiful Song that IS my heart!

Sara Groves has an album out entitled "Station Wagons". It is a favorite at the Britton household, and the babes often fall asleep listening to it. And although I've heard this CD a MILLION times over, a song jumped out to me just last night that is exactly my heart toward Malachi these last several months. (It is a wonderful song for any mom toward their child, adopted or not ... so you should listen regardless of where your babies come from!) The video is sadly some lame video someone posted on YouTube...so just listen on a different window while reading the words on this page. In case you don't feel like doing that, you can just read the words below if you'd rather ... but you should listen to it. :)

Oh, and we got an update on Malachi today along with some more pictures from the Director of the home he is in. We can't wait! 1 month and 2 days until courts re-open!!!

Prayers for This Child
by Sara Groves

I do not know how I am to pray for this child
as a mother I don't want my baby denied
but in the waiting in the waiting
I learned

every instinct in me wants to shield him from pain
take the arrows of misery heartache and blame
but in the sorrow in the sorrow
I learned to hold on

I only have two eyes - be all seeing
I only have two hands - be everywhere
I do not know enough - to be all knowing
I give this baby up into your care

I do not know how, how to pray for this child
I want to guard her from everything wicked and wild
but in the trial in the trial
I learned to hold on
And in the trial, in the trial
I learned to hold on to the heart of God