And so it begins...

We have started getting Zachariah's little room ready for his little self! Okay, not really his room, but we've started getting things ready for his little room.  We have his crib, and I'm working on getting it ready to move into his room.

I love decorating, but along with decorating, I love pieces that have stories behind them.  We're so lucky to have many pieces in our home that come from family and close friends that all have memories and stories behind them.  Little Z's room will be no different. Each month I've been collecting little things along the way that will go in his room, and when he's old enough we'll share the story behind each one. 

Here's just a few things we've gotten so far, and their stories :)

I was given this map for a birthday gift this summer.  I'd been eyeing it for a long time, and was so excited to see it in person.  The map comes without any hearts, so you can place them where ever you'd like, ours has a heart on Ethiopia, and a heart on California. It's important for us to preserve Z's heritage and that we incorporate both American and Ethiopian things in our home. It's my prayer that this map will be a visual reminder of people that love him all over the world; from Ethiopia to California. 

This sweet doll I got when we went to see the Rwandan Children's Choir sing this last summer.  It was made in Rwanda and will be placed in a special spot in Z's room.  This doll s a reminder to us for the heart God has given us not just for Ethiopia, but for Africa as a whole.  When we make the trip to Ethiopia, I hope to get more things from Z's country to put in his room and our house, pieces of his county that will be a part of his story. 

The blanket the doll sits on is so very special to me.  It was handmade for little Zachariah by a former co-worker.  She wrote the sweetest note that goes with the blanket that I've put away in a special place to share with Z when he gets older.  In her note, she wrote that while she crocheted his blanket, she was constantly praying for him; for his birth mother and birth family, for the journey he'll soon go on in his young life, for Justin and I as parents to him-seriously I can't even write about it because I will begin bawling.  

His crib is a gift from a friend, it's spent many years with sweet babies sleeping in it, playing in it, ect. I can't wait for Zachariah to join the list. It is a special crib with special memories. 

So many people play a part in his story, and he doesn't even know them yet. I love it. 

On a complete sidenote, this past weekend I have felt a strong burden to pray for our adoption, not sure why, but if you're a praying person, will you join us in prayer? Prayer for our son, prayer for the 147 million orphans in the world, prayer for the country of Ethiopia and the adoptions that are happening there right now, and for the adoptions to come. 

Have a wonderful week!

Oh, and ps, this last week we celebrated 4 months waiting for sweet baby Zachariah! We're now month 5! 

 “But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”

-Habakkuk 2:3