Two months down and ??? to go!

The two month point...



Well Happy Labor Day everyone.  Summer is over and fall has arrived.  While I sit here and update the blog....Len and the girls are outside draining the pool and riding bikes.  We have had a wonderful weekend as we celebrated Len's 37th birthday and Hannah's 8th birthday.   It has been a good and relaxing weekend.  Hopefully you have enjoyed some time with your families as well. 

Well the question we have heard the most this month...."so anything?"  Well.....no.  I am not anxious about the referral.  Excited yes, anxious no.  I just want to hear from our agency telling us where things are and what the next steps are.   I can tell you what I do know.  We will be given a list of required and recommended vaccinations.  Thankfully, we have a wonderful woman at church who is willing to order and administer all shots that our insurance does not cover.  PHEW!
The other one is to prepare for the referral.  We have a wonderful friend in the neighborhood who has adopted a amazing set of twins from Russia.  They are such a hoot!  Anyway, she has contacts with the adoptive medical community.  We can send all of our referral paperwork to them and they will evaluate it from the medical perspective.  This will allow us to make an educated decision as to whether we will accept the referral.  
Everyday, I pray...."Will this be the morning we hear from the agency so we can begin to prepare?"  Please help me pray for patience while we wait for this email as well the health of our little one.  I am starting to wonder if he is born yet.  :)

I have also kept a close watch on the blogs the last few months.  The courts are closed in Ethiopia due to the rainy season.  The blogs are saying that there is a great deal of surrendering after the rainy season ends.  I am also praying for those moms and children as they make the difficult decision to break up their families which could result in a complete family somewhere else.  Amazing paradox isn't it? 

Have a wonderful September.  Hopefully you will see a post indicating we have heard from our agency soon!

One month down....

Well we have been a waiting family for one month now.  We have been told it will be 4-6 months for a "typical wait". 

It has been an exciting and settling month.  The reality has begun to set in.  Len and I are now saying when he comes home not if the adoption happens.  So fun to change those verbs.

Our adoption director from Dove is in Ethiopia now.  She is walking some families thru the process.  They are hoping to have a better handle on the two trip process with her visit.

This week we are waiting for an email from Dove to schedule our phone conference and referral/travel packet will be in the mail soon.  Hopefully, before Len scoots back to school.

We are anxious and excited for this next month of waiting.  My birthday has passed, Len's is next on September 3rd and Hannah's on September 4th.  Between birthdays and the start of school....we have lots to keep us busy.

I am thankful for the Strategies training that occurred this past week.  It was exhausting and challenging but rewarding to think of all of the students that will be touched by the teachers and specialists that we trained.  On the financial side....it paid for 50% of our last payment.  Phew....He is good.  He has provided every red cent that we have needed for this adoption.  What a blessing.  I am just overwhelmed thinking about His role in this process.  One word......wow.....well two words.....thanks.  :)