Fingerprint Appointment

Yay!  We are sooooo excited! We received our USCIS finger print appointment in the mail on the 19th.  Of course our appointment isn't until the 14th of JANUARY, but none the less we have a date.  I don't know what takes them so long to schedule it, but whatever.  We are one step closer and that's all I care about.  Nothing much to talk about, just thought I would post another milestone with the adoption.

We had a day of sledding, frito chili pie, hot cocoa & decorating sugar cookies at my friend Kara's. It was so cold, -5, that the boys didn't stay out very long. On the way home here's what I captured:






Reagan & Isaac sound asleep. I had to stop and get Levi, he had gone over to his friend isaac's house. I couldn't post everyone elses picture and not his, so here it is:


Just thought I would share part of our day.

Snow, snow, snow

Well, since Tuesday morning, we have had 17 inches of snow fall. I know because I measured it and shoveled it off the deck. I love snow and when it snows, it usually isn't as cold. Currently it is not snowing and -2 degrees.

I know that when we pick up baby Zya, she will too young to know much about where she is from and where she is going. It will be pretty cool to see pink or purple snow pants hanging up to dry next to the black and gray ones now. I'm sure she will be as excited as Reagan to help me shovel off the deck eventhough it takes me twice as long to clean up his part. I still wonder if I will be more protective of her than I have been with the boys. Hopefully the boys always believe I looked after them with all my heart and attention, but they are boys and I probably associate that with letting them find out how hard it is on their own. That would be a pretty good sociology lesson. It will all play out just fine and I don't think it will matter once she arrives. She will just be one of the DaHouck boys. I can't change how I address all the hoodlums just because she is a girl.

Rain, sleet, snow or shine, Zya will always be mine. Pretty good from rap Master B, huh? According to Melissa, I will take great pains to fully explain the differences of weather and the patterns that create them. I don't think I go off on that many tangents, but "she's always right". It's just easier to admit now that I'm wrong. It will save the argument later. So, I may indulge in the details, I just want people informed. The boys don't seem to mind and I'm sure Zya won't either.

Beautiful tree

I just wanted to give a shout out to this beautiful tree I have fallen in love with and wanted to post it on my blog so that maybe I have some friends out there who agree. Please leave a NICE comment about my tree if you agree!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone Melissa

Still Waiting...

We are still waiting on our fingerprint appointment with USCIS.  It's been a month and 4 days.  I guess this is typical, but I would like to get it done, because after we get it done then we still have to wait for it to process and be sent in the mail and then, and then, and then, get my drift? Sometimes the waiting can get the best of you if you let it.  I try not to think about it, sometimes it's hard though.  I am just anxiously awaiting to hold my baby girl and give her the love she needs.  Until then keep us in your prayers!  Here is some pics our good friend Duke took of us for our christmas cards.

Me and my boys!One of our family pics!

Good night all!!

More paperwork

I'm in the process of writing two letters. One is for the orphanage that gives them a brief bio of our family. This will help them with the matching process. For those of you wondering, we do not go over and pick out a child. The orphanage will match depending on our paperwork and letters. This is why this letter is difficult to write. How do you explain and talk about your family in a letter and make them see who you really are?

The second goes to the Ethiopian government. This is basically to tell them we will take care of the child we are taking from their country and further teach them of their culture. This one seems to be no big deal as it is more of a form letter.

As far as the matching process, we will write the letter and send pictures. The agency assures us the orphanage is very good at matching, but seriously, how would you turn down who they offer? No sorry, we don't like that one, could you try again. It would be like picking out a big screen TV. I would rather have the Sony instead of the Samsung because it looks better. I'm sure as soon as we see the picture, we will both say that's our little girl. Of course Melissa will cry the whole time and want to get on the plane immediately. Me, I'm more reserved and will analytically assess the situation and process the next steps to ponder as we contemplate our next move. Then, I'll excuse myself to our room and cry like a baby. Scratch that last line. Where's the delete button? I'm  a man, I'll be tough.

Billy's take

What's up, blogland. I'm not sure how to address the readers, so there it is.
1 beautiful wife, 3 wonderful boys, what else do I need? A little girl. Actually, I technically don't need a daughter, but I am extremely excited about the concept. My friend Jeff Nance went all goofy when they sang "Butterfly Kisses" at church one Fathers day. He said I didn't understand yet, but when I have a daughter, it will make sense. Well, hopefully in 2010, I will experience that feeling.
I guess it's different with boys. We're into the chest bumping, UFC moves, using the bathroom outside and I have heard at least 28,954 times, "Dad, you want to go play catch?" Not that girls can't catch, but obviously there are differences. Me and the fellas have had the run of the house and soon that will change. Longer lines at the bathroom door, the whole waiting on a woman thing and pink camoflauge? It should be an eye opener.
Some say, she will have me wrapped around her finger. I say, it will be no different than the boys. We'll see. I may be just as wrong as "they" are, whoever "they" are. My kids are my kids and I wouldn't trade them for any other kids regardless of the many times I've told them I would. Just kidding, I have never told them, audibly. Seriously, just kidding. I'm sure people think my boys are spoiled and they have me under control. That's what we do, invest (spoil) in our kids.
I wonder if she will look like me or Melissa? Yes, I know we're adopting from Ethiopia, but I can still laugh at my own thoughts. She, of course, will be the most precious little girl. God has a plan and I am enjoying every bit of it. I can enjoy it because Melissa is doing most of the work. You women will say that is always the case, but I do have my moments. I'd say I put in about 20% effort to her 80% as you can tell from this blog. I do more, but nobody believes it. That's just on the outside, on the inside, I am just as excited. I just more reserved.
Well, there are my thoughts for the moment. I'm sure I'll have more later.

T-shirts & bags

Front of t-shirt says I will not leave you as orphans....
John 14:18. The back of the shirt which I didn't take a pic of has a pink footprint and it says I helped the Houck family bring home their baby girl from Ethiopia. If u live locally they are $20 out of towners please add $2 for shipping


These are messenger bags we have also, charcoal grey $35. I only have 7 of these left.


my iPhone Melissa