Waiting for newn

Just lots of little things lately - but not much news.  WE have heard our little Curt is a very happy and healthy little guy.  One family met him when they met and then later brought their little guy home.  I've been told the orphanage he's at is VERY nice and so loving.  Just so blessed that he's where he is to get that love from some wonderful women!  Can't wait to meet them and him.

With that I've heard more court dates are being assigned!  So we are hoping to get a call soon and travel later this year!  Maybe November or December?  what a miracle that would be -can't wait to just hear!  I just want to see him.  So we'll see.

All that - lots of people need prayers - please pray for little Gabe- you can read his story at www.caringbridge.org and search for BraveBabeGabe - they still haven't figured out the blood disorder, but have decided to do DNA sequencing to see if that an figure it out - thank God for some new docs in Chicago.  And the brain issues can wait for now - its not changing. But poor Gabe keeps getting fevers and not sure why - he's so adorable - a great 4 year old.  Keep them all in your prayers.

My friend Michele is in the hospital with a fever too - she's in severe pain and not sure where this is coming from?  She's had health issues and many surgeries the last few years - it really stinks.  She and her family need prayers - especially her wonderful wife Tammy - she's got 4 kids to take care of, a job and worrying about Michele in the hospital!  How sad!  Hopefully the docs will get something soon.

Also continue to pray for the kids that are affected by the orphanage shut downs - especially K and the other two boys that had referrals voided.  I pray they are reunited with their families or find a loving home!

Thanks for following -life has been crazy with work and travels - so I'll continue to update as I get more info.
Gail

court dates?

Ok - NO we don't have a court date yet - however I saw on the yahoo posts that they recieved court dates this week!  Really?  That's amazing - because we didn't think they'd start doing them again until the governemtn opens!  But looks like they are being assigned!  yeah - maybe we will get some news sooner or later!

Also - just some prayer requests when we have people all over reading this.
1 - for my coworker Bob - he lost his wife Marsha on 9/11/11 to cancer.  They have two kids 13 and 9.  they will defiantly need some prayers.

2 - little Gabe is back in the hospital with a fever and infection - and he's due to be in Chicago Monday for tests with the specialists.

3 - for my friend waiting to get her referral - some agencies just handle this VERY different - and from what I"m reading - it is weird  I just pray that they get to see the picture of their son SOON

Thanks - hugs to everyone
GAil

Happy New Year's to Ethiopia - & happy 5 month bday to Curt

two things -
Happy 5 month bday to our future Curtis!

SEcond - happy New Year's - a few days early to Ethiopia.  They celebrate on 9/11 - and it will be 2004!  See the note below - our agency sent it out - figured they took it from some place.  Sounds very cool - looking forward to celebrating something happy next year on a sad day!


gail


Ethiopia New Years
Ethiopia will be celebrating their new year on September 12. It will be the year 2004 for them. I found an article that I thought was interesting. It gives you an idea about some of their New Year's traditions, etc.....

Ethiopia Preparing to Celebrate New Year (Enkutatashe)
Posted on admin on September 7, 2011 // 

Ethiopia is preparing to celebrate colorfully its New Year or Enkutatashe ("Gift of Jewels" in Amharic) i.e. 2004 on Monday based on its own ancient calendar which is eight years behind the Gregorian calendar.

The Ethiopic and Coptic calendars have 13 months, 12 months of 30 days each and an intercalary month at the end of the year of 5 or 6 days, depending whether the year is a leap year or not. The calendar totals 365 or 366 days.

This year, Enkutatashe falls on the 12 of September because of the leap year. Enkutatashe or spring festival is celebrated as the three months rainy season ends.

With the New Year approaching, the spirits of fresh beginnings are naturally in the air.

Here in Addis Ababa, home to around five million people, the New Year mood has already started, making the city busy, crowded and warm.

People are busy shopping for many things for the holiday.

Men are bargaining to buy different things for the holiday, including sheep, chicken or goat for slaughter on the day.

For the majority of Ethiopians, both Christians and Muslims, it is a must to slaughter a sheep, a goat or chicken on New Year's day to prepare Ethiopian traditional food such as chicken stew.

On the first day of the new year, people spend their time mainly at home eating and drinking traditional foods and drinks mostly cooked by women both in urban and rural areas of the country.

Men who are head of a family slaughter the sheep or goat early in the morning of the New Year.

The celebrations include visiting friends and families on the day, presenting them with gifts.

The New Year celebration is also a time when many people put forward their hopes, aspirations, resolutions and prospects like quit smoking cigarette, drinking alcohol or other bad habits.

A good number of Ethiopians in the Diaspora are also arriving to celebrate the New Year with their families.

whoo - the US government is working fast

So in under 10 days we went to renew Nate's passport - and got it back already!  AMAZING - they said it could be a few months!  Nope - not even 2 weeks - WITH a holiday thrown in!  Gotta Love it!  his passport expired at the end of this year - so we're hoping now that he can travel on the short trip with us - so we can all become a family together.

Then last week my friend had finger prints (to renew the dossier and all that) and her report was mailed in days!  Again - cool beans!  I know things are shut down for the season in ET but I just have this feeling things are all aligning for everyone - that our kids are fine and we'll hear soon when we will have a court date.  Ok - soon may be in middle of October or early November to even GET a court date - so we shall see.   I heard from our agency today they still don't have a confirmation as to when the courts will be open again  could be this month or next.  I've seen both out there in blog/group world - but we'll get there.  Just exciting anyhow.  God's got a plan and a LOT of things in motion in the Backus House - so hopefully its all just in his time so that it works out the best.   - that's my prayers and I"m sticking to it

so all that said - I do have some prayer requests for anyone that believes out there

1 -my coworker Bob - his wife Marsha was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year - well he emailed people this weekend and they are preparing to Hospice to come in - NOT good at all!  She's in her 40's and has two young sons

2 - a friend lost her sister -in her 40's this weekend as well!  Unexpectedly.

3 - the Borkes  family - Ruth the mom and wife died over a week ago to some rare infection - again totally unexpected

Just a lot of sadness - but all are or will be with our Lord one day.

Thanks all.
Gail

updates on K and the other boys

Hi all - happy Labor Day weekend -we are where we are meant to be - I'm tired but decided to make a quick update.

anyhow - I heard that K and the other boys - the 3 referrals that were voided in July - anyhow they were al moved to a new orphanage in the southern region  the government is still working to reunite them with their families  And it sounds like if they do tnot find the family or the families don't want them - they will remain in the orphange and probably moved to another home.  The country told the AAI people the kids may never be up for adoption -they may want to just keep them in group homes.  Just very sad.

Hopefuly these kids find the home and love they deserve!  They are so precious and deserve to be loved.

In other news - we are still waiting on a court date for S- I really can't wait to meet him!  Hopefully later this year.

some families are traveling to ET and have kids in the ame orphanage as S -so hopefully getting more news on our little guy. One family that did meet him told us how sweet and beautiful he is - and how loved he is.

Man -I can't wait to learn and see the ET culture in person. I've been reading about the country and peopleand learning how wonderful they are.  so it wil be fun.

Ok - tired -
enough of this babbling post.
Please continue to pray for all the kids inET as they are needing love and care.
Gail

Detroit Woodward Dream Cruise

A nice day has turned into a gusty WET one - but still fun.  Luckily some nice people are around to help hold our tent down -  - lost our donation container to the wind - but caught it!  Ha - pretty little storm rolled in.

For those outside of Detroit Woodward was one of the first paved roads in America - 102 years old.  Well parts of it - anyhow they have a huge event every year where people bring old classics, current new muscle cars - you name it and just drive miles up and down the road.  Our business is located here so we team up with the auto hobby store next to us - giving free things away.

Been a good day - maybe post pictures and video's later on - Craig has a video of me handing out bumper cards to the cars as they drive by -t hey are "collector items" - not stickers car people put to show they were here.  Pretty cool.

however I opted to get out of the storm and landed myself inside.

My other new friend of the day just strolled in - this young kid selling Domino's pizza - kids been walking MILES selling pizza's all day - they make $1 for every pizza they sell - doesn't seem worth it to me - but great exercise - ha.

Yes - rambling on at the moment - sorta bored.  Anyhow - looks like the classics have left for a bit - but that's alright.  We have some custom one of a kind cars by us - one is the Helderodo - NO idea if that was spelled correctly - ha.

Ok - hope everyone is enjoying the Saturday afternoon - where ever you are.
Gail

Happy 1st Birthday K

I want to wish a Happy 1st Birthday to little "K" - granted they didn't know your birthday - so we chose today with much consideration.  You aren't even referred to us anymore - but we want to let you know we still love you very much!  Its YOUR 1st birthday - we are thinking and loving you just as much as anytime since we saw your pictures in June.

We know you will be loved and safe. We pray you are adjusting to the new orphanages and maybe even reunited with your mother!  I hope she wants you back.  We love you very much!

With love your "not so much" family.
Love the Backus' Family, Gail, Craig and Nate

Fight Leukemia - join MY personal cause

Seriously - if you want to read more about my mom's story - THIS blog is the place to do it - you can read my tears if you start back in 2004! I remember those last moments writing or begging for prayers to save my mom - that's not fun - but I have accepted it now and know she's in heaven - but those first few months - especially after having her first grandchild 17 days later -I was in a cloud - it hurts to remember those moments. But please - consider joining our team!  WE want walkers!

elcome to our Team's Homepage

Welcome to our Team's Homepage

Aug 15, 2011

Welcome to the homepage for Loretta's Love, my team for Light The Night Walk.

Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's evening walk and fundraising event. It is the nation's night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of people battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost.

In 2004, my mom, Loretta, was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia on Mother's Day that year - one day before her 58th birthday. She had been in the hospital about a week while doctors tried to determine exactly "what she had". Unfortunately, she never left the hospital as she died there on June 22, 2004. She was and always will be the Light and Love of the Wilcox Family! Losing her has been the hardest thing I've ever had to face, but I know she's with us all the time. Only 17 days after her death, her first grandchild, our son Nate was born. I talk about her often with him, trying to explain how much she loved him before and still. She hand picked him up in heaven and held him in her arms before he was born. He thinks it's "neat" to know he is that special - and no matter what he always will be.

In 2008 we walked our first Light the Night and its a great organization. They were there for me as I did research trying to help mom fight this battle. Unfortunately the genetics on her side were too strong and the treatments just couldn't win. But we know we can help others prevent going through a similar loss. Please support the cause and help us raise money to fight cancer and WIN!.

For more than 60 years, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has been solely focused on people with blood cancers. Presently, we have more than $250 million committed to research across the United States and in ten other countries. Every dollar is provided by concerned donors. We invest in the best, outcome based science:

• Anywhere, with no geographic or institutional boundaries
• Without profit incentive
• To meet unmet Medicare needs of people with blood cancers

And LLS funded advances are helping patients beyond those for whom they were originally developed, including people with solid tumors and auto-immune diseases. In the past decade, nearly 50% (19 put of 39) of the cancer drugs approved by the FDA were approved as treatments for blood cancer patients. Twelve are already approved for people beyond those for whom they were first developed. With your help, we are saving lives.

• A donation of $25 provides patients and their loved ones with FREE booklets that contain up-to-date information on their disease and help them make informed decisions about their treatment options.
• A donation of $50 makes possible a Family Support group with a trained facilitator where comfort can be found and experiences can be shared among patients and family members.
• A donation of $100 helps supply laboratory researchers with supplies and materials critical to carrying out their search for cures.
• A donation of $1,000 makes possible one- on-one conversations with health care specialists who provide patients with information about their disease, treatment options, and helps prepare them with questions for their health care team.

Please join our team's effort today by registering to walk or by making a donation. Your participation in the Light The Night Walk will help save lives. Be sure to check our team Web site frequently to see our progress, and thanks for your support!

thankful for other adoptive families

I was just posting on FB tonight that I'm falling for S - well then i get to the yahoo email - this is where I check the yahoo groups - and another mom - who I didn't realizes child is in the same orphanage -s he had sent me 3 pics of S!  He is so beautiful - its just so funny how different they look when other parents take the pictures.  I decided today that the first pics we see are the "adoption mug shots" - they are adorable but just not as cute.
So seeing him smile - its melting my heart!

I pray it works.  I saw tonight court dates in late October and early November are being assigned - it is possible we travel later this week - so we'll see.  Not sure if trip #1 will be this year or not - but definitely won't be bringing him home till 2012.

Its hard to not get attached - Craig is very nervous this will fall away just like K's referral did - I pray it doesn't - I have to hold on to something.

so we'll see.
continue to pray for all the kids in limbo, suffering in this horrible drought and famine - they need prayers more than we do!

thanks
Gail

Will this time work? -yes a new referral

Ok - we accepted another referral last night - for a beautiful little boy "S" that is about 4 months old.  Was so hoping to help pick his birthday as my  mom's in May - but it wouldn't work out - so we ended up going with a day in April - not totally random, but no real significance.

So we are excited - but VERY cautious as well - cautious as to what will happen?  Will this beautiful guy be taken away?  Who will care for K?  But that wasn't moving.  This little buy seems very healthy and is adorable.  Only 1 pic of him - but regardless until he's legally ours those can't be shared anyhow.  He's at Endigma - Oh can't spell it - or was from there?  I've heard good things.

Its just funny as I really told God Wednesday night that I BELIEVE our son will come to us soon!  And as I was traveling for work - I was actually driving back to the airport as my phone rang and I couldn't answer it.  I had read something that unless you have hands free - do not use your phone.  I was afraid.  I KNEW it was Sally - but then as I got to the rental car return I saw she called my work cell too!  But no messages.  I was going CRAZY - I decided to wait till I got to the airport, checked my bag and through security to just relax and not worry about time.  And I had enough - so it was a good call!

We don't really know the time line yet - our paperwork is still in court for K - so we are hoping they  can just "switch" things out and we keep in the court system - but not sure.   And don't know when we'll know.  The courts are closed for rainy season - so not sure if we will find out till October anyhow.  But hopefully we can keep our paper work there and just change out the boys.  Just very exciting.  We will see how it works out -

Please continue to pray for God's Will and that we bring home the son he's already picked out for us.  And pray for my patience to and beliefe and faith to continue!

Thanks everyone -
Gail

Keeping the Faith

Today I was reading another blog - and its posts from other agencies stated that what happened to us has possibly happened to other families.  It is so sad - but their agency was told the kids already referred and paper work submitted to courts will be evaluated - but still probably go through!  That is very positive news.  I'm hoping it is true - I keep picturing little K's face in my mind and just pray that God's wisdom guides us through this journey.  Its not easy for me - waiting and not knowing - I'm one for surprises- never have been  but not much I can do about this one.  I know we will have another son and really like the name Curtis for our boy.  So we'll see.  I just want to see his face - and last night I dreamed that was K! So then reading this other blog today - it sounded promising.

I know when I've talked to our agency - they've been positive - they don't know what's going to happen - and I really appreciate their honesty.  I swear I can hear the sadness in their voices - maybe not sadness but they feel the pain for every family and child.

so I just keep the faith!  It seems like lots of devotionals I've read this week seemed to teach me to just keep the faith and trust in God's plans.  He knows what's going to happen - we do not.  In one devotional it said that sometimes we force things to work out the way we want and its not going to work or it will be hard - that is because that's not the way God wanted it to be!  And if we just sit back, enjoy the ride (emotional or not) and follow God's path - trust him - things work out.  so I'm doing that.  I keep thinking of the saying and I may not get it totally accurate -

"If you love something set it free.  If its meant to be, it will come back to you" - that's my motto at the moment.  at least for the last few days. I love little K with all my heart, I can SEE him in our family!  I can see him being called Curt - I want to go hold him, make him smile, listen to him laugh - all of that!  so I'm trusting God knows what is best for our family.

I pray for all the families being touched by these orphanage shut downs right now - its very difficult for us all.  IF you are one of them -feel free to reach out - its helped talking to another family that's going through this with us.

For everyone else - please pray for the children stuck in this mess.  I just keep thinking  - we have shelter, clothes, FOOD and WATER!  they may not have all that.  with the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa - many people are suffering every second of every day.  Many are dying - kids, babies and adults.  But the number of kids lost in this UNDER the age of 5 breaks my heart.  Anyone that ever questions WHY did we pick Africa - Ethiopia to adopt from - well that's ONE reason of many!  God led us here - He knows these kids suffer and their parents love them so much, they will do what ever it takes to make sure their kids are fed and have water and survive.  I want to do those parents honor by protecting their blessed child as our own!  Its just one reason - no one can replace the love of the parents in Ethiopia - but we can give just as much love and caring for a child - they will be my son for ever and ever.  I will love him to heaven and back - 999,999,999,999,999... times - Nate and I make up the biggest number we can think of - THAT many times to heaven and back!  Basically infinity - but he couldn't grasp that number.

so all this said- keep the faith!  that's one constant we do have. God loves us and these kids - he will take care of us.  Do not let the little negatives get us down - I believe that's the devil trying to crack me sometimes.  I'm NOT going to let him win!  I have my down days - trust me - some of you follow this and we email personally - YOU KNOW I have had my low moments the last few weeks!  VERY LOW - but I'm determined to KEEP THE FAITH.

thanks for listening and reading my babble for the day!
God bless you all
Gail

#1 - Again

Yep - we are officially #1 on the wait list - AGAIN - but this time I believe IS the time for our child's referral to truly be ours.  I can't wait to see his beautiful face and learn all about him.

Its still possible - HE may end up being our little K - but its possible its not.  we have chosen to let this be in God's hands!  If K is meant to be ours - he will come to us - if not he's meant for another family  - and possibly his birth family - we just don't know.

Its SO hard as we fall in love with these kids - but we just don't know what God's plan is - we have to trust, take the leap of faith and just go with it all.  The agency is working on a few referrals for some infant boys - so one of them may be our son.  They don't have it all ready - so it may be a while.AND it may be long enough for K to come back?

so keep us in your prayers.

and today - today is a special day - its the 13th "meet"-aversary the day Craig and I met for the 1st time 13 years ago - a "blind date" for lunch after church. we had lunch and then saw the movie - The Negotiator!  Funny how "the Riverplace" radio stations - the River Meeting place - phone hook up system - matched us up - thankful for that system - was worth the few extra phone charges!  Ha.

And now we are awaiting our 2nd child -

Everyone also n- please continue to pray for all the kids and and people in the Horn of Africa that are starving, looking for water and food - its just scary times right now

God Bless
Gail

Fresh Air Children - they need your assistance

The Fresh Air Fund has been able to find 650 of the 850 host families we need. Right now there is just one week left for us to place the remaining 200 children with a loving host family for a Fresh Air experience that can change lives. Please consider it and pass it along on your own Facebook pages, or Twitter to help spread the word and connect with someone who can open their home to a child this summer.

Our agency

Our agency is just really awesome - to actually respond to things on a weekend and help us out through all the craziness - NOT many if any would do that.

I'm very thankful for the staff and their experience and just them overall.

HOpe everyone is survivng the heat and humidity - but while we have fans and AC units - think and pray for all the kids being moved around by the orphanage closures - being moved south where there is a drought and help take care of them.

enjoy a blessed Saturday
Gail

anonymous commenter

to the anonymous commenter - I"d love to talk to you privately - please email me at gmbackus@hotmail.com  I'd like to find out where you got your info and have more info myself before I contact the agency.

but it is bothersome.
gail