Waiting. . . like usual

So, it's been almost a week since we got approved and we were told it could be as soon as 4 weeks later we'd travel. That's 3 weeks away but. . .we may not know for another week. We are realizing that we shouldn't wait until we know the date to start getting ready. There is a lot we'll have to pack that isn't typical for our other travels. We're reading a lot online about international travel and making lists. It's a little over whelming but very exciting.

Our pastor just returned from a trip to Kenya (Ethiopia's neighbor). He said he knows how to pray for us now cause the travel part of the trip was tough on him. We should have many fewer layovers which will hopefully make the trip quicker. The flight from DC to Addis will be 15 to 17 hours, ugh! I can't imagine being on a plane nonstop that long but it'll all be worth it.

I think one of the biggest things that makes me anxious and nervous and unsettled is the booking of our tickets. They will most likely be close to $2000 a piece but that all depends on how much time in advance we can get them. Then there is the chance things could go wrong and we have to change them or get new ones. It just makes me nervous. So, if you think about us traveling soon please pray for peace for us before hand and that God would have him hand in it.

Update

It's December. That should be exciting news but we still have no news of a set court date. As I understand it, we could find out last minute about the court date. I pray it's still in December because the later it is the later we go to Ethiopia to get our little boy.

A couple days ago we got a phone message from a local family who is also adopting a boy from Ethiopia. She wanted to tell us that they would be leaving Grand Junction for Ethiopia this very morning to bring their boy home. She offered to bring something to him except that since we're still waiting on the court approval, he doesn't know about us yet. I would have loved to send a Christmas gift to him since we can't spend it with him.

So, I called her back last night and we found out that both boys are from the same village in Ethiopia and that her boy used to be in the orphanage that ours is in now. She said that their agency (not BCS) is taking them to a couple different orphanages and that our little boy's is one of them!

I gave her his picture so she can keep an eye out for him. So, there's a chance they'll come back with a report on how he's doing! It's very exciting! I am a bit (I mean, A LOT!) jealous. . . I wish I was the one travel to my son's home country today. I wish I was the one who could see my boy face to face!

Anyway, I am praying for that family and looking forward to them coming back. We're going to get together with them to look at pictures and hear all about their trip. So, the countdown to that day begins, 9 more days. Maybe we'll get our court date within the time too ;-)

End of 2010?

We emailed Bethany to see if there was any sort update. This is the response we got:

Two families who submitted dossiers to Ethiopia last August and September, received referrals the end of September, so it is taking about a year for a young child in good health. We are telling people the wait for the referral of a young child in good health - or a young sibling group in good health could be 18 months. I am hoping it won't be quite that long and that you will bring a child(ren) home by the end of 2010.

A little disheartening. . . but God knows. It's been 4 months since our dossier was sent. I suppose we need to prepare ourselves for 14 more months of waiting. I just pray we can celebrate Christmas of 2010 with our new little baby. That's our year to spend Christmas in Seattle and so far both our boys have spent their first Christmas there. I know this may not be our baby's "first" Christmas but it would be their first on with our family.

Please pray for us as this is long and we have moments of sadness thinking they may be born already and we don't know where they are and if they're safe and healthy.