Bags

21" x 16" x 8" -- 15lbs. Carryon limit

Plus a laptop or purse

Restrictions for ethiopian air.

Oops........
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And we are off

Thanks again for all the prayers and humanitarian aid. We checked 11 bags in. Luckily the united check area was relativly empty. Apparently they only give a discount for camera crews, and our point & shoot didn't quite make the bar.

The Frey's checked in right after us and will be our traveling buddies for the next 24 hours.

- the lydicks

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MORE PACKING!!!!

OK. I might have lost count, but I think we have seven 69 pounders
and three 49 pounders. Two of the duffles are slightly over 62" but
hopefully we will get an agent with a big heart.

Still haven't packed us yet. Guess we'll start tomorrow.

More Packing

The ones standing up are done. 69lbs each.

The ones laying down are 49lbs and we need to put 20lbs more books in
them.

Still haven't packed our clothes yet.

For those planning to take United Airlines to Ethiopian Air to Addis
the restrictions are as follows:
2 checked in luggage for free (62 linear inches & 50lb limit)
Additional bags are $160-180 (I have called 4 times and gotten a
different answer every time)
You can upgrade any bag to 70lbs for $50.
The limit on extra bags is 4, so 6 checked bags total per person.

I haven't found anyway to get United to give a discount for
Humanitarian Aid.

Packing

62 linear inches, 50lbs, ohhh my!!!  That's the limit for United International flights per checked-in bag.  

We basically started packing things today.  Not our things, but aid for the foster homes and orphanages.   We have had an outpouring of support from our friends, sunday school class and Greenwood Office Outfitters.  We have over 300 lbs of notebooks, diapers, school workbooks, children's clothing.  So... um ... yeah, we will be buying extra bags.  

Did you really just wake me up?

Here I lay, fast asleep dreaming of dolls, teddy bears, brothers....


Did you really just wake me up to take a PICTURE!!!




Ok, photo shoot over, can I go back to sleep now?





Thanks to the Runnions for sending us new footage of our little one. They just returned after picking up their daughter. Here is what they said: "She was just waking up when we saw her...hence her not so happy face in one of the photos. The caregivers LOVE her!! She is the Princess of her room! "

Whoa squared

Court done, our beautiful Nevaeh is offcially ours!!! We travel Jan 29th.
Thank you for all your prayers.

We are currently missing connecting flights and traveling in rainy California (the sunshine state?!). Always an adventure with the lydick clan....

Our hearts and prayers go out to those that got delayed today in court, we know this must be extremely tough.  

Whoa?!?!

Court date scheduled for this Friday, January 4th.

Which means we could travel as soon as late Jan - early Feb!!!!


Court processes can get delayed and moved so we are trying to keep a flexible mindset, but WHOA!!!!

so many things to do, so little time.....

Isn't it ironic, don't you think?

A few bits of irony about our referral for your New Years enjoyment:

- Bryce has been crazy about pirates for the last two years  --->  Our darling little girl has one hooped earring and is nicknamed "cutest pirate" by her caregivers

- Emily and I had talked about trying to stop in Dubai on our way over there to see the amazing city.  We probably won't go now because of logisitics.  --->  Nevaeh was conceived and born in Dubai, so we're getting the best part of Dubai, even if we don't go there.  

Oscar drew this picture at the beginning of last week before the referral, he had decided to call his new baby sister Bessy for the longest time until last week.  This is a picture of him, Emily, and "Lucy".  He changed what he wanted  to call her out of the blue last week to Lucy, obviously quite close to LuLu.   

Happy New Year to all!  I know that 2008 will be wonderful and different for our family, I hope it is good for all of you. 

More Pictures

Thanks to Carey for sending us more pictures of Nevaeh!! She and her
husband Drew met her when they were picking up their daughter last
month. Carey says: "You guys are going to go nuts when you meet her
in person. You can just tell she's really special and full of life.
She's talkative, flirtatious, alert and social. She definitely made
an impression on us." Is that simply awesome or what?!

Also, we have made contact with another family that is arriving today in Ethiopia and they will be sending us more pictures.