THE KURTZ FAMILY........OUR ADOPTION JOURNEY

Here we are the day before we leave for Ethiopia. It seemed at times this day was never going to arrive, but yet here we are. Many people have been asking us if we are excited etc. When I stopped to think about what it was that I was actually feeling....it really is not excitement, although I am, but it is more of a feeling of contentment. I am so ready for this! I am anxious for the trip to start and at times I get butterflies in my stomache and other times I feel panic. This journey has at times seemed like it was never going to end.....and yet tommorrow we are really just beginning. I know many of you have prayed for us, encouraged us, and have been an incredible support.....we are so thankful for that. It is so reassuring to know that people are praying for you. Please continue to do that as we begin our travels tommorrow. I am going to miss my boys so much. Last night we had our last family night together as a family of 6. I made tacos (their favorite) and we played cards. It doesn't sound all that exciting, but it was important to me to have one final evening together where it was us.......the boys and us just hanging out. Tommorrow we will board that airplane and fly to our little girls.....our lives forever changed! Rod and I are both anxious to get going and begin a new life together as a family of 8.

I will not be able to update from Ethiopia....so I will make sure and post the pictures of the girls as soon as I can. I am so excited to introduce them to our friends and family. Please keep us in your prayers as we beging our trip to our girls tommorrow. Thanks again for all your support over this last year....it has meant the world to us!!!

~Debbie~

7 years ago today Sam made his entrance into the world. He had a very rough start......he was born with a heart problem that almost took his life. We did not know until the day he was born that there was anything wrong. The doctors didn't give us much hope for his survival and told us to prepare for the worst.....how does a parent do that. He had an emergency surgery the day he was born and then when he was a week old he had open heart surgery. There was a lot of prayers for our little boy and his story is really all about the miracles of God. He is simply a miracle! Today he is perfect little boy, full of life. He greets me everyday with a smile a hug and a "I Love You mom". It doesn't get any better then that. Last night before bed we were talking about his birthday and he asked where I got him from......I said what do you think....his reply "you just went and picked me up from somewhere" Everynight before bed we pray and thank God for the miracle of Sam's life. He is a gift from God...that is the meaning of his name and he truely is. He loves sports of all kinds . He plays hockey on a team and he is going into grade 2 this year. He is excited about being a big brother, but would prefer if we didn't have to leave him. He is a speicial boy full of life and he is tough......you would never know that he was so close to not being with us.....other then the scar on his chest. We love you Sam and Happy Birthday!!!

Sam is 7 years old...we are on holidays in Coeur D alene.....his 1st brithday.....he is 6 years old.....we were in Disneyland when we celebrated this birthday. We are having his party tommorrow......I will post pictures of all the fun!!!

~Debbie~

I came across this posted on someone else's blog. You have got to take the time to read it all the way through.....I have never laughed so hard. It is so funny!!!! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130144061675&ru=http%25

~Debbie~

Today is our 25th wedding anniversary. I can't believe we have been married that long already. The years have flown by! We were just a couple of kids starting off on a journey that we really had no idea where it was going. 25 years ago today we were preparing to get married.......today we are preparing for yet another journey. Rod is my best friend and I am so glad that I chose him to be my husband. It has not always been easy and the road has had many curves and bumps in it. I am so glad that we had each other to go through the rough times. We've laughed, we've cried, we've celebrated, we've grieved.......we have experinced so much together. We have 4 wondeful boys who add so much to our life.....and now we are adding 2 wonderful little girls to our family. Together we will even be better then before.....it was good, but now it's great!!!

~Debbie~

This is my first attempt with our new program for editing and making movies....it's not perfect, but at least I know what I am doing now....sort of!!

We had a blast celebrating everybody's birthday. We went to the go-karts first then back to our house for ribs and birthday cake!!!

I got good news yesterday.....the visa'a for the girls have been approved!! The last piece of the puzzle has been completed. Now we start a new one once we touch Canadian soil. Oh well it's all good!!!!

~Debbie~

This past week 2 of our boys have been out a camp working as leaders. It has been just me and Sam for the most part. Every now and then I see Taylor....not so much as he is working nights and sleeps days. I was thinking about how much our life is going to change in 12 days. Right now the house is quiet and there is not a lot of activity. I have come to realize that as loud as it is here and as much as the boys mess up the house......I wouldn't trade it for the world. Denaye and Maya are going to be a little overwhelmed at first, but once we all find our groove it will be a very loud, messy, nonstop activity, house. Most of all we will finally be the family I always dreamed of....a house full of boys and girls, but mostly a house full of LOVE!!!!

~Debbie~

Yesterday we had a BBQ with other families who are also adopting from Ethiopia. We are all from the Edmonton area. There were 7 families who came and we are all at different stages of the journey. One of the families had left when we thought of taking a picture.....next time we'll make sure they are in the picture. There are 3 families who are leaving this month for Ethiopia to finally bring home their kids. We are one of those families. It is so cool that we are all from Edmonton and get to travel and experience this together. We will forever be connected because of this. There was also 2 families who are beginning their journey. We pray their journey is quick and smooth. There was one family who had just received their referral.....good friends Rob and Tracy. Their referral was for 3 beautiful children age 4, 3 and 2. We celebrated with them. The star of the day though was the family who just returned about a month ago with their son. He is so adorable!! We look forward to doing this again....the next time we come together their will be 4 more children who will be home with their families!!! Can't wait!!!


16 days and counting untill we leave!!!

~Debbie~

I celebrated my ? birthday on the weekend. It was not a huge celebration as we are getting together with family on the 19th to celebrate all family members bithdays in the month of August. Rod bought me a gift certificate for a pedicure from a spa. It was amazing! I had a pedicure done once in my life and it was not even close to the treament I got on wednesday. I loved every second of it and decided that this was now going to be a part of what I do. They recommened a pedicure every season.....well I'll just have to follow their advice. I am thinking that this would be a great thing to do with friends/family.....make a day of it.....pedicure, lunch, shopping......what do you think......any takers!!!

~Debbie~

~Debbie~