Reason for delay

It's our agency's fault and I am trying not to be angry. We had to get re-approved by USCIS to adopt an older child then we originally requested. We just got an email today from our agency asking us to write a letter to USCIS begging them to expedite our approval so we can still travel this month. There was a lack of communication within the CO and IA branches of our agency and it sounds like we've been waiting for 3 weeks for nothing. UGH!

Heritage and Naming Ethiopian Children

I found this on the internet and thought it was pretty important. We had decided to make his given name his middle and then give him a new first name. I realized that his "last" name is also his birth father's first name. Now, I think that our little man will end up with 4 names because I don't want to drop any of the two names he has.

Heritage is very important and traditionally a child grows up to know at least 7 generations of his / her ancestors. For example a child named Abraham Alemayehu Zerihun carries 3 generations of names, his own (Abraham), his father's (Alemayehu) and his grandfather's (Zerihun).

Why are children named like this?

One reason is that many people have the same first name so the father's name identifies them like the English "Robert - son" = Robertson.

The grandfather's name adds to this and also shows heritage which is important in determining status - the more names you know the higher your status in the community.

Another reason for naming children this way is that when Ethiopian men plan to marry, traditionally they send a delegation of 6 elders to the girl's family to negotiate the marriage. This negotiation includes determining if the bride and groom are related. Both families must provide the male lines of both sets of parents back 7 generations. Therefore, it is the names that are handed down through the generations that are the evidence of their family line.

just waiting. . .

I found that Bethany Christian Services has a message board for those adopting from Ethiopia. This has kept me occupied within the past few days. It's nice talking to others who've done it or are doing it. There are a lot of ladies on there who are right where we are, waiting for our embassy date. So, I could be "meeting" people who we might meet in Ethiopia picking up our kids. It's exciting!

Advice about adoption

I found this list on someone's blog and thought I would share it and comment on how we handled these things.

1.Get your ENTIRE family on board before you begin. There will be bumps in the road.
We didn't need to worry about "convincing" each other. We were both 110% on board the moment we felt called to start the adoption process.

2.Consider your birth order and do not change it easily. I had been set from the first moment that our adopted child would also be our youngest. I don't know why, but this was how I thought.

3.Consider an older child as well
I thought about this for a moment. . .but went back to wanting "as young as possible." However, God had other plans.

4.Realize that you are not in control and that God has a plan. He just needs obedient followers.
This was HUGE for us! Since I had my heart set on a young child it took true obedience and seeking God to know we were called to accept a referral for an older child. If I hadn't had an open heart to the Lord I would have passed up that referral. Soooo glad I was in tune to Him.

5.This adoption is not about you getting children, but rather children getting parents.
This was our feeling from day one. It's tough and it can't be selfish. It HAS to be about the child. This is why I didn't request a girl. I knew God was in control and would bring the child who needed us the most. I couldn't try to control it.

Preparing for the trip

We're realizing how quickly time is passing. It's been 12 days since our court date. . .almost 2 weeks already.

We went to Walmart today and bought a bunch of stuff for the trip. We got some travel size bottles, deodorants, q-tips, Pepto-Bismol, ibuprofen, children's Tylenol, suitcase tags, neck pillows, travel tissues and wipes.

We also bought a few pairs of lightweight, quick dry pants for the trip. They'll be easy to hand wash and dry over night. We've heard it's best to wear pants there even if it's warm. I guess it's culturally respectful which makes sense.

We're going to get a few other like a set of outlet converters, a document organizer some organizing packing cases.

We are going to take up a collection at church of stuff to take and leave at the orphanage. Things like balls, bubbles, toys. We're taking two extra luggage filled with stuff that we'll leave. Then we'll have room to bring home souvenirs.

On it's way. . .

Our photo album was sent off to Ethiopia yesterday. We're told our son should have it by next week sometime. They also said that chances are good he's already been told about us. I wish I could have been a fly on the wall to see his response. It's exciting to know that he will see our faces (in photos) soon. I hope he will recognize us when he sees us in person. It could be sooooo soon. I don't know how to prepare myself for this. It's just overwhelming and so wonderful! What a great Christmas present!

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.

Family Photo Album

So, they mentioned a while back that we could send a photo album to our son and our understanding was that we wouldn't do that until we got approved. We just asked about it and they were surprized we hadn't sent it yet. Hmm . . . oh well. We printed a ton of pictures today and I hope to get it in the mail tomorrow. We mail it to our agency in MI and they send it on. I hope it doesn't take long. We thought it would be nice for them to wait to tell him about us until they could give him the album, but now I don't know how long it will take to get the album there.

Anyway,as I was putting the pictures into the album I was trying to imagine what he would be thinking. Would he be excited? Would he understand what's going on? I hope he recognizes us when he sees us. I can't wait!

He's Gonna be my SON!!

Yesterday was our court date in Ethiopia. We found out today that we were approved. WOOHOO!! We couldn't be happier! They are telling us to except to travel in 4 to 6 weeks. However, we may only have a couple weeks to get our trip planned because we may not know when we're going for a few weeks. So, we could be going mid January but not find that out for 2 more weeks.

Liam asked if his brother is coming home tomorrow. :-) It's so sweet that he's excited but he just doesn't understand the timing of it all. Liam wants to share his toys and his bunch bed. I can't wait until my 3 boys are united!

Please pray for our son. Pray for health and pray that his heart will be ready for the news of a new family. We'll be sending him pictures of our family and that may be when they tell him about us for the first time. it's very exciting to know that he will see our pictures and know we're coming for him.

2009 Ornament

We buy ornaments each year for our kids and as a family based on important things that happen in our lives. Well, getting our referral for our little boy was a BIG deal! So, I wanted something super special. I found this ornament on Etsy.com which is a site where people can sell their own homemade things. I love it! Next year's ornament will be even more special!

NEWS!

UPDATE (only moments after posted the last blog update)

We just got an email THIS morning saying we have a court date!!!! It's December 14th!! We've been told that if we do get approved on that date (PRAY we do) that we could travel as early as the end of January. We are THRILLED!!

Please pray that God's will be done but our hearts desire that we get approved on Dec. 14th and that we can bring our boy home!

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 ;-)