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 ;-)

It's a Boy!!

It's almost over! We are filling out the official paperwork right now for a little boy! Woohoo! Praise the Lord!! We got an email about his last Thursday and asked for more info. We waited (sorta patiently. . .not really) for the whole weekend. They faxed us his paperwork Monday morning (yesterday)and by 3:30 in the afternoon they told us it was a go and that we could pursue him. He is so stinkin' cute and we're thrilled! Lord willing we'll get a court date in December (we don't have to be there for it). This is when a the judge will approve us for this adoption. Once we get that approval they will set an embassy date which is when we have to travel. They are telling us this will most likely be February 2010. That could be less then 4 months!! AHH! We're excited! Please email me if you would like any more info: davenkam@aol.com. Thanks for your love and support.

Life Book & Video Documentary

This is a note from our agency. It's very exciting and I am thrilled they're doing it. It raises our country fees by $1000 but it's worth it.

We reached an agreement with a local partner-agency in Ethiopia that will do life books and video documentaries for the children that we place in our families. The agency does a professional job. They have a large crew of more than 14 professionals including lawyers, social workers and journalist who travel to distant places to investigate the life story and background information for each child. The investigators travel to different regions from where the children come, to find out the circumstances that led to the death of parent/s or relinquishment of the child; hear from the persons who decided to relinquish the child for residential care with orphan centers and other circumstances surrounding the child’s orphan status and origins. When they are satisfied that all the pieces are together, they will then produce a life book and video documentary for the child. The life book and documentary video will be given to the family when the travel to Ethiopia to finalize their adoption process.

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.

News about the Ethiopian Courts

This is info we got from our agency's blog.

On August 28, 2009, the courts in Ethiopia closed for recess. They were initially scheduled to re-open on September 28, 2009. However, after a two-week delay, the courts are finally set to re-open on October 12, 2009.

Sigh . . Yeah, so we still wait. Once the courts open up again Dossiers will start to move. We have no idea what the status of ours is right now. We like hearing about all the families we've traveled to pick up their children and just assume that means we are getting closer. Please continue to pray for us that we will be faithfully patient and trust in the Lord's timing. Thanks!