Monday, June 20, 2011

Guess who leaves in 5 days?!?!?!?!

Our shots are done, only two more oral typhoid vaccine tablets to take, bags are packed (full of donations of formula, diapers--cloth and disposable, and shoes), hopefully our visas will be processed this week, and we are racing to finish our big projects (me--work and school, Ababa--the kitchen and various other projects around the apartment).  We had a wonderful "toddler shower" on Saturday and enjoyed spending time with our friends and B's future BFFs:-)  We had our official travel call with our agency this morning, and we can't believe the time is almost here!

I leave Saturday and Ababa next Tuesday (don't get any ideas about breaking into our place as we have someone staying there while we are gone, and our friends will be keeping an eye on it as well:-)

Please pray that B's aunt's court date goes smoothly tomorrow and that she has peace about her decision, that our MOWA letter is written before we travel for court, and that our travel and court date goes smoothly.  Most of all, please pray for B (and for us) that our hearts are open and we can begin this journey of becoming a family!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Human pin cushions:-)

We got our travel vaccines today, including yellow fever, polio booster, and typhoid (oral vaccine), plus a tentanus booster and a Hep A shot for me.  Feeling kind of yucky, but trying to power through!

One week from tomorrow is my last day in the office until the end of September.

I have no idea how we are going to get everything done at work, home, and school before then, but somehow it will work out.

A huge thank-you in advance to all our friends and family who are helping whether through watching woosha while we're gone, being so kind to throw us a "toddler shower" to celebrate, being patient when I am stuck at work until all hours of the night instead of keeping to our original plans, etc. THANKYOU!

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Only Three Weeks...

Three weeks from today, we meet B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In 16 days I leave for Russia, on June 29 Ababa and I will meet-up in the Frankfurt airport (he'll be coming from NYC) to fly into Ethiopia together and then on June 30 we meet B and July 1 we appear in court.

Please pray that this all goes smoothly.

Three things have to happen before B will legally be our son:

1. His current guardian has to legally relinquish their rights (please pray for peace and safety for them as it is a long journey and a heartwrenching decision!)

2. MOWA needs to write their letter approving our adoption.

3. Ababa and I have to both appear in court in Ethiopia

Then it takes several days for the adoption decree to be written...and then, B will legally be our son and can come live with us in Addis until he is cleared by US Immigration to come to the US and we all will come home together.

Things easily can take longer at each step of the way, and there are many possible complications.

But, as Ababa says, "if God say the same" in about three weeks we meet our son and become a family.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Court Date:-)

Well, I can't contain the excitement anymore:-)

WE GOT A COURT DATE FOR SWEET B!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We're still working out the details as it is smack dab in the middle of my business trip, so we'll see how it all works out! But, eitherway...WE ARE MEETING B IN JULY AND THEN LIVING IN ETHIOPIA UNTIL HE IS CLEARED BY THE US EMBASSY TO COME TO THE US (probably 6-8+weeks).

Our hearts are so full!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!