Backus/Wilcox Family History: 2009

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Lilacs in our backyard. not quite at peak but close.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Surprise! Niagara Falls!

My big birthday surprise landed us in Niagara Falls. and we have tickets to the indoor waterpark!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Thursday, April 02, 2009

hats ON for EmbroidMe!

i've got my custom hat ready! i'm ready to sell some hats now baby!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Gurneith Susan Wilcox (January 6, 1917 - March 13, 2009)

Gurneith Susan Wilcox, age 92 of Howell, passed away Friday, March 13, 2009. Born January 6, 1917 in Lapeer County, she was the daughter of Arthur and Arminthia (DeGrow) Shippey. A resident of Howell since 1975, Gurneith was a former credit department clerk for Hudsons and a member of the First Baptist Church of Howell. Beloved wife of the late Arthur C. Wilcox (10/12/1996) whom she married in Silverwood, Michigan on April 20, 1940. Loving mother of Darlene (James) Garver of Oxford, MI and Douglas (Mary) Wilcox of Howell. Also survived by her grandchildren, Renae Fox, Brian Garver, Gail Backus and Marcus Wilcox; great grandchildren, Travis, Nate and Justina. Funeral service Monday, 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church, 210 Church St., Howell with Pastor Herb Wilson, Jr. officiating. Interment to follow at the Rich Cemetery near Lapeer. Visitation Sunday 1 – 4 & 6 – 8 p. at MacDonald’s Funeral Home, Howell (517-546-2800). Memorial contributions suggested to: First Baptist Church of Howell or the American Diabetes Association.

Funeral Arrangements for Gurneith Wilcox

Visitation will be MacDonald's Funeral Home of Howell

(http://www.webfh.com/fh/home/home.cfm?&fh_id=10817&ck=1)

MacDonald's Funeral Home
315 North Michigan Ave.
Howell, Michigan 48843
Phone: 517-546-2800

Sunday, March 15, from 1p to 4p and 6p to 8p.

The funeral will be at the First Baptist Church of Howell (http://www.fbchowell.org/)

First Baptist Church of Howell
210 Church Street
Howell, Michigan 48843
(517) 546-2830

Monday, March 16, 2009

Visitation from 10a Service at 11a

Internment in Lapeer, Michigan for immediate family only.

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Katherine Elizabeth Bottorff

I did confirm the spelling with Jennifer tonight.... It's Katherine with a "K" because she's going to call her Katie. The baby was born at approximately 6.30p last night and was 10lbs, 15 ounces, and 21 inches long. Pictures will be forthcoming in a few days.

Friday, January 09, 2009

Katherine Elizabeth Bottorff

I'm a proud Uncle! Katherine Elizabeth Bottorff was born a little while ago. She's nearly 11 pounds! My sister, Jennifer, and baby are doing fine.

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Our Adoption Time Line

5/5/10- attended Kensington Church Adoption Seminar

6/2010 - attended free informational meeting at Adoption Associates, Inc (AAI)

7/2010 - met one on one with AAI to discuss domestic and international adoption

8/2010 - submitted application for international adoption (undecided on country)

8/2010 - decided on Ethiopia (ET)

8/26/10 - accepted by AAI to adopt internationally

8/30/10 - Home study visit #1 (with 3 more to follow)

10/6/10 - Passed HOME STUDY

11/5/10 - Home study report finalized

11/9/10 - USCIS paperwork mailed

11/16/10- USCIS accepted paperwork

11/24/10 - USCIS accepted application - date for biometrics set! - 12/17

12/17/10 - USCIS Fingerprinting / biometrics completed

12/20/10 - Redford PD paperwork completed

1/8/11- I-171H RECEIVED from USCIS / DHS

1/26/11- FINAL document received - Gail's dr letter

1/28/11 - Great Seal of MI for Authentication of docs

1/28/11 - Dossier MAILED to Assistant Stork to deliver to US Depart of State and then Embassy of Ethiopia

2/1/11 - Dossier arrived at The Assistant Stork

2/2/11 - Dossier being delivered to US DOS and then to Embassy of ET

2/8/11 - Dossier in mail to ET for translations. OFFICIALLY ON WAITING LIST

6/1/11 - moved up to # 9 on waiting list (only one other family willing to adopt a little boy - so may move faster

6/23/11 - THE REFERRAL

6/26/11 - Answer YES and announcement to the world

7/18/11 - LOST referral - voided out

8/2/11 - officially #1 on wait list again

8/11/11 - Referral for Sami - and accepted

10/10/11 - Got the call about Court date - 11/29/11! Leave Thanksgiving weekend!

11/17/11 - Pass 1st Court appointment & MOYA letter is waiting!!!!!

11/25/11 - travel to ET to meet our boy

11/29/11 - Court date for US to appear & LEGALLY OUR SON

12/22/11 - Submitted to USE for approval and VISA

1/10/12 - USE finally acknowledges review of file

1/25/12 - USE sends to USCIS - more frustrations

1/31/12 - USCIS Nairobi receives files - another wait

2/7/12 - CLEARED USCIS NAIROBI

2/8/12 - Tentatively scheduled for Embassy Visa on 3/13/12

3/9/12 - LEAVE for final Trip#2

3/12/12 - GOTCHA DAY

3/13/12 - Embassy appointment

3/15/12 - Leave for home

3/16/12 - Become US Citizen!!!

Fun Facts about Ethoipia

Ethiopia has been around for a very long time. The country's Rift Valley is known as the cradle of humanity - fossils of the oldest known upright hominid (4-million years old) were found here in 2005, surpassing the famous 3.5-million-year-old 'Lucy', which was discovered in the same region back in 1974.

•A thousand years before Christ, the Queen of Sheba, we are told, traveled to Jerusalem where she met King Solomon, married him, and had a son, Menelik. When Menelik reached maturity, it is said he left Jerusalem and took with him the Ark of the Covenant, containing the original 10 commandments, back to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Christian Orthodox Church says it still has the ark in its possession. No one else makes such a claim...

•Ethiopia's official religion is the 1700 year old Ethiopian Christian Orthodox Church. The Jews of Ethiopia, Beta Israel, are said to have been there for 3000 years. And its Muslim adherents have practiced Islam for 1300 years. Ethiopia is split religiously, with official statistics of 35% to 40% Ethiopian Orthodox primarily in the north, and 45% to 50% Muslim, primarily in the South.

•Ethiopia is the only country in Africa never to be under colonial rule, other than a brief occupation by Italy during WWII. You can visit many restaurants in Ethiopia today due to the influence of Italy during the occupation.

•Traditional Ethiopian food consists of various vegetable or meat dishes, usually a wat or thick stew, served atop injera, which is a large crepe-like sourdough flatbread made from fermented teff flour. One does not eat with utensils, but instead uses a piece of the injera (always with the right hand) to scoop up the sauces.

•The Ethiopian calendar is very similar to the Egyptian Coptic calendar – each have 13 months, 12 with 30 days each and the 13th month at the end of the year with 5 or 6 days, depending on whether it is a leap year. The year starts on September 11th (12th in a leap year). The Ethiopian calendar is 7 years behind the Gregorian calendar, so Ethiopia recently celebrated their millennium on September 12, 2007.

•Coffee can be traced back to the 9th Century where it is believed a shepherd discovered coffee beans in the highlands of Ethiopia, namely the Kaffa region. The Ethiopian people are very proud of their coffee and they show this in their well known coffee ceremonies. The Coffee Ceremony is a very important part of socializing in Ethiopia and to be invited to a coffee ceremony is always considered a sign of respect and friendship.

•There are multiple tribes with different subcultures and over 80 languages in Ethiopia. The Amharic language is a Semitic language spoken in North Central Ethiopia and is the official working language for Ethiopia.

•Family in Ethiopia includes immediate and extended relatives, neighbors, and friends. Faith and family are the foundation of the Ethiopian culture. Ethiopians are very respectful and loving. The elderly are considered very knowledgeable and as a very important part of the family structure. Children are usually raised in a large community that includes extended family and neighbors, and siblings are expected to help take care of each other.

Backus/Wilcox Family History

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Lilacs in our backyard. not quite at peak but close.

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Surprise! Niagara Falls!

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Peace out!

Thursday, April 02, 2009

hats ON for EmbroidMe!

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Gurneith Susan Wilcox (January 6, 1917 - March 13, 2009)

Funeral Arrangements for Gurneith Wilcox

Saturday, January 10, 2009

Katherine Elizabeth Bottorff

Friday, January 09, 2009

Katherine Elizabeth Bottorff

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