What's his name?

Yep - my dear husband - I love him so much.  I love that once we make a decision he works so hard to MAKE ME STICK to it.  Tells me - the choice has been made - that's it - whether its what place to eat, what to wear or what name for Sami.

Well I kept saying his name is Sami and that's easy to make Sam or Samuel here!  NOPE honey we picked Curtis and we are sticking to it.  I asked ONE Last time as I filled out all the paper work for Embassy!  So guess what?  Craig wants to call the baby Sam!  After all that HE changed his mind.  However Nate likes Curt and its grown on me - so ugh!  I want to just scream and love using this to tease him after all of this.  And i can even do it here.

So we'll see.  Regardless he'll have Samuel in his name - first or middle. Or we call him by his middle name?  It will really be his choice when he grows up anyhow.

So that said - I finally got more pictures downloaded fro the other camera disk - and found some friends sent.  So here are a few more.  Enjoy the beauty - and like I tell others - pictures just can't do it justice.
gail

GREENLAND  - VIEW FROM ABOVE

VIEWS FROM THE PORTUGUESE BRIDGE - YES WE STARTED AT THE TOP ON THE LEFT - ITS GORGEOUS

STILL AT THE PORTUGUESE PLACE - BUT SEE THE MONKEY ON THE LEFT NEAR THE BUSH (LEFT AND CENTER)

A WOMAN WALKING IN TOWN - PICTURE TAKEN WHILE DRIVING

CHURCH WE STOPPED AT FOR A TOUR 

ST GABRIEL - TAKEN FOR OUR LITTLE FRIEND GABE

NOT A SAINT - BUT A NATHANIEL FROM THE BIBLE - OR SOMETHING

PICTURES OF ART WORK IN THE CHURCH - 100'S OF YEARS OLD

PEOPLE HANGING OUT AROUND THE CHURCH GROUNDS - SOME SLEEPING AND MAYBE LIVING OUTSIDE

A LOOK OUT OUR DRIVER STOPPED OUT FOR PICTURES

A HERD OF ABOUT 20 MONKEYS RAN IN FRONT OF THE VAN - IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PIC YOU SEE A MONKEY - HIDING IN THE BUSHES

DADDY AND CURTIS SAMUEL

MOMMY AND CURTIS SAMUEL

TRADITIONAL FOOD AT THE RESTAURANT WE WENT TO - DANCE, MUSIC, COFFEE CEREMONY AND ENTERTAINMENT -IT WAS COOL

CRAIG AND RICK DANCING AND OTHER STUFF

ME TRYING HONEY WINE

VIEW OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE ORPHANAGE ENGIDA

SIGN FOR THE ORPHANAGE ENGIDA

SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ORPHANGE - AND YES TELLY TUBBIES ON THE WALL

INSIDE THE ORPHANGE - MAIN FLOOR THE PLAY/EATING AREA FOR THE BIG KIDS

THE STAIRS LEADING UP TO THE SLEEPING AREAS OF THE BABIES

SAMI'S ROOM WAS THE FIRST OF TWO AT THE TOP AND HE WAS JUST TO THE RIGHT AS YOU ENTERED THE ROOM - HERE HE IS!  WAITING TO GET OUT.

PLAY TIME WITH MOMMY & DADDY

Passport and birthcerticate

Wow - all the paper work is completed and ready to submit to the USE (US Embassy for long version) next week.  I am pretty sure agency have a specific day to submit - and ours is Thursday.  So this will be submitted on 12/15 - and then we figure out how long we will wait.

Anyhow - just the cutest stinking pictures on these documents.  The name is Sami Craig Backus to start - and we will change it later to Curt.  However Craig is waivering - but Nate and I are hanging tough.

Just exciting.  I wish I could copy these pics - so adorable!  Can't wait.

A good day today - now we need our son home.  Not sure how I'll do with a long wait.  UGH - but pray for a normal speed.

Another family picked their child up this week adn just had their court in November - so a quick turn around- we can pray for that with our files too.

Happy Friday evening.
Gail

Happy 8 month birthday Curt

Today would be our son's 8 month birthday.  Here in the US - the first year - every month is a big deal.  It brings now "things" a child is able to do and amazing to watch.  We're not there but know our son is in good hands and well loved.  I just can't wait to see him again and celebrate EVERY DAY with him like we do his big brother.  My boys are my pride and joy and the loves of my life.  That includes the big one, Craig as well.  And my father and brother.  And now I have some sister in laws to include in this bunch of "boys".

But Curt - we will be coming to get you as soon as we can.  We are so blessed to have become your parents, that God found YOU for US.  You don't even know the joy you have already brought our family by expanding us to a family of 4.  There are so many plans for us when you finally can come home.  We look forward to showing you the snow, pools, grass and even carpet!  We can't wait.  Today you would have been excited we think to see the snow!  

Hugs and love - along with many prayers.

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Curt's book

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Photo Card

See the awesome card we made on Shutterfly.  new project another photoebook

 

Candycane Frames Holiday

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Pictures - Introducing Curtis Samuel Backus

Ok - I'll try to post some pictures
Mommy and Sami (or Curtis Samuel)

Daddy and Sami

Views to the Blue Nile Gorge

Mud / Stick Hut - many people live in these throughout the country - its the most common homes.  This is more of a shack - they sides are typically more "mud"

 View near the gorge

 Blue Nile Gorge and the bridge - Craig and I

 More traditional huts

Our traditional lunch in a little village

 Craig eating the lunch

 view from lunch - see how the donkey's do a LOT of the work - sometimes the loads are on people.  These are pretty SMALL loads

 Random view from teh van window - to show the farm land

 Views from the Portuguese place - its beautiful -

 The bridge is about 500 years old - at the Portuguese place

Ethiopian Flag - meanings

Ok - during our tour of the University Museum the other day our guide was so awesome!  He told us about the flag and it was amazing.
so here is what he told us:

RED = blood shed for all the fighting in the history
YELLOW = light and brightness - the future of the country
GREEN= fertility of the country, the land and all of that.

The star is the diversity of the country, the acceptance of the religions, tribes, languages, etc - how everything is welcomed and accepted.

anyhow - I felt this was pretty dang cool and wanted to share - I may not have it perfect - but its close.