We.Are.Next!!

That's right...we are next in line for the referral of a baby girl!

Billie called yesterday to find out the latest scoop. One family has currently been given the information on their referral, then it's on to US!!

To say that we are excited is an understatement. The light at the end of the tunnel suddenly got a lot brighter!

Stay tuned for the big announcent...

New Info

Well, we're 9 months and a week and something since our DTE date of 11/6.

The founder/head of AAI is currently in Ethiopia for one of her many trips during the year.

She posted on our yahoo group that 4 more babies came into care in the past week or so and they are all girls!

So while I am burdened for the circumstances that brought these babies into the care of the orphanage, I am encouraged because one of these precious girls could be ours!

I still don't know how many families are in front of us on the November girl list. Part of me wants to call this week and find out.

But then part of me just wants to continue to be patient and just let it happen.

Which is probably the best thing to do...otherwise...

I. Will. Go. Nuts.

Still no real timeline but just hopeful that we will get "the call" soon!

8 month post- DTE update...

Well, 8 months down, about 7 or so to go...then we'll have our daughter home!

We are still about a month or more away from a referral...AAI is almost complete with Oct families that have requested a girl. **EDITED to add -- ONE more Oct family!**

We are the beginning of Nov!

I have learned a lot more of the adoption process in Ethiopia, so I understand better how and why it seems to take so long for a referral.

So we continue to be patient.

Just knowing that in another month I could have a picture of my baby...makes my heart happy!

We are looking at approximately Jan or Feb 2010 for her homecoming. Once we have/accept our referral, there will about a 6-8 week wait for court date in ET. After we pass court, we will have another 6-8 weeks for her travel date. Since we have chosen to have her escorted, our wait will be a tad longer than if we were to fly to ET.

So our prayer now is that we pass court the first time, and that we are able to gather the rest of the funds needed.

The Lord has blessed us financially in this venture...and let me tell you, a youth minister is not the biggest money-making job out there!

I will share how much we lack so that you can join us in praying for the amount that we need. We know that He is able to provide! We lack around $4,000 for the remainder of our fees and our daughter's visa.

When we started this process, we felt that we didn't need to borrow money to complete this task. And He has provided! We are committed to doing this debt free.

Thank you for your support and prayers as we continue this amazing journey!

I've had better...

...days that is!

Denied one more time from another grant agency. That makes 3.

Found out that it could be FALL before we even have a referral.

It's days like this that I wonder if we're really supposed to be doing this. Like "wouldn't God give us everything we need if this is His will for our lives?"...

...but then I remember that nobody said that this would be easy...

...and that this test of our faith and patience will all be worth it...

...and we'll be able to praise Him for providing for us in every way during this journey...


"Adoption is not for the faint of heart"...I can't tell you how many times I have read/heard this over the last 2 years. Sure, I believed it...but now I'm living it.

My friend, Emily, sent me this verse today.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (The Message)
With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.

So we continue to be patient, and long for the day that we get the email that will change our family!

We covet your prayers!

Good news!

No...no referral yet! Maybe soon...

But, the form I-171 that I mentioned a couple of posts ago that we needed?

Turns out we had it the whole time...

It's just also known as I-797. Which we found out today.

So 4 months of fretting for nothing...isn't that the way it always is?!?

AAI is just about done, if not already with Aug 2008 referrals. There were a lot of dossiers sent that month, and not as many in Sept or Oct. Don't know about Nov, but we are at the beginning of the month for that group.

The group that sent dossiers in Dec have about 30 families in front of them, and that is including families waiting for girls, boys, siblings, etc. So we are one of those 30 families. That's where we stand as of now. We are closer than we have been! And that is exciting!

Our prayer request as of now is just that we would love to have our referal before July 15. Due to inflation in Ethiopia, our agency is having to raise its fees a bit. That will take place on July 15th. Any referral before that date will not affect our fees.

But again...He has it all in control.

So that's the latest update...still waiting...still praying...still EXCITED!!

Crap.

Double crap.

Didn't get another grant that we applied for.

Have to sign/notarize/send to AAI/send for state seal another power of attorney form. AAI has hired a new POA (the previous one is coming to our side of the pond) so that requires all families with dossiers in ET to get this new form taken care of.

Double whammy on one day.

On the up side...I just photographed my first wedding last weekend with my best friend as
co-photographer. What fun we had...but boy, were we tired!

All 3 girls are doing great. They ask frequently if we will have EG by the end of the year. My answer used to be, "yep"...but now I have to say, "I just don't know".

Boy is this process mentally exhausting.

Thank the Lord for my 3 princesses that keep me busy.

We are just waiting on Him. In the right time everything will come to fruition.

Just keep praying for our patience and peace of mind.

Thanks!

He will provide...

We found out a few weeks ago that we did not receive a grant from Shaohannah's Hope.

To be honest, I was quite bummed for the afternoon. I just "knew" that we would receive this grant. But God obviously has other ways to provide for us. Now we just keep waiting.

We have applied for 3 other grants, so we'll see what happens with those.

This. Waiting. Is. So. Hard.

There is no other word except hard.

I guess I could get out the thesaurus and look up some synonyms, but I won't. Though it would help pass the time a bit faster. Anything would help at this point!

We appreciate the prayer support more than you know!