It's here! It's here! It's here!

Our official referral showed up on Tuesday! We had a scare last Thursday that there might have been a problem, apparently everyone at the agency thought we had our referral already. Sort of a nerve racking weekend!

Yesterday, we dropped the 100 pages of signed and notorized documents and another check off in the mail. (okay, not quite a 100 pages, but it felt like it). So glad that part is over.

Next step is waiting for a court date. We hope to hear about our court date before the end of December, but it could be January. We do not have to be there for the actual court date, a representative of the agency handles that for us. The theory is we should "pass" court a-okay because our daughter was on a special list and all her paperwork is in order. Some people don't pass court the first time, which just means the judge wants clarification on something, so you get another date and so on til you pass.

Once we pass court we get to travel. It's about 3-4 weeks after court...typically. We are praying very hard and would appreciate all prayers that the next 2 steps go very quickly as Emma has a birthday toward the end of February. We would love to have her home by then.

In the meantime we are keeping very busy with the holiday season. We will have family over for Christmas day dinner and our dear friends are going to drive all the way from Virginia to spend the week before and New Year's with us. We are so excited to have them again this year. The distraction will be great for the kids as everyone is getting anxious nervouse and anxious excited.

My apologies to everyone, but I am not mailing Christmas cards this year. I will try to get a great picture of the kiddos up as you won't believe how much they keep changing!

Thank you for all your warm thoughts and prayers.

The Blind Side

Doug and I went to see the Blind Side over Thanksgiving weekend. Actually, we went twice, because the fist time it was sold out! I was impressed that it was sold out after already running for 2 weeks and it was an afternoon show.
Anway, all I can say is "Wow!" It is definately a must see.
As most of you know, I am not a crier. I can take a hit pretty well and I don't choke up at things that normal women choke up at. However, there is a scene in the movie that struck a cord with me. It's played in a commercial for the movie, but something about seeing it in the moment and I couldn't stop the tears.
The foster mom shows Michael his bedroom and Michael says, "I've never had one before." She says, "What? Your own bedroom?" and he says, " A bed."
Can you imagine being 16 and never having a bed? Well, it's happening all around us. Right in our own backyards (as this movie depicts) and all around the world.
Do us a favor. Count your blessings. Do you have a bed? Did you eat today? Yesterday? Will you be able to eat tomorrow? Do you have shelter over your head? Do you have heat? Someone to call family?
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.Albert Pine, English author, d.1851

It's a good day!

Just wanted to write that. IT'S A GOOD DAY!

I wonder what our Ethiopian daughter is doing today? Did someone give her a hug today? I wonder what her hugs are like? Are they tight? Does she reach for your neck or your waist? Does she look you in the eyes when she hugs (like my Samantha) or does she lay her head on your chest and snuggle in (like my Isabella)? ....sigh....

DTE!

We are DTE as of Friday, November 6th!!

DTE=Dossier to Ethiopia

Timeline??? Still no idea. We have to go through translation 2-4 weeks and then wait for official referal and then court and then we can finally get travel approval. Best guess (and I am emphasizing GUESS here) Travel time ... Feb. 2010!

National Adoption Month

November brings a lot of fun and exciting times. November in MN usually brings the first snow that stays until March. In November we have Thanksgiving, which leads to black Friday shopping, which leads to Christmas.

But did you know that November is also National Adoption month? I personally didn't know this until myself had adopted. The second Sunday of November has been marked as Orphan Sunday in many churches. Again, never knew that (or paid attention) until I adopted. I am not proud of that fact, in fact I am embarrassed my own self-centeredness. Yes, I was one of those people that thought, "Adoption is for all those other people." You know, the ones with lots of money, the stay-at-home mom types, the people that have the patience of Job, the people with the Norman Rockwell home and the white picket fence to boot. Boy, was I ever wrong. The typical people who adopt, are not rich, not stay-at-home moms, ALL have the patience of Job (you have to with adoption), live in homes less than 3000 square feet and a chipped white picket fence (if there is even a fence). They are amazing people inside and out. Everyone has something special of themselves to contribute the crazy world of adoptions and foster care.

I realize that many of you are not in a position to adopt or foster care a child, but there are so many things you can do to help orphans. This is a list I keep handy on my computer through the last year. I hope it inspires you to serve orphans this November and forever….

*Be informed - learn about adoption so you can support those who do. Many are still hindered by ignorance when it comes to adoption - don't be one of them.

*Financial Support
-Donate to a specific family trying to raise funds for their adoption-Donate to foundations that support adoption
Shaohannah's Hope www.shaohannahshope.org/
The Elison Project www.theelisonproject.org/
Project 1:27 http://www.project127.com/

*New in 2009: Children’s Hope Gift Catalog:
http://orphan.childrenshope.net/fileadmin/media/2010_Foundation_Catalog.swf

*Physical Support
-Provide assistance to a family during the adoption process
-During their travel time (3 days to a month or more) provide:
- childcare to children left at home
- provide meals
- Lawn care or shoveling
- Pet Sitting
- Housecleaning or house-sitting

*Throw a baby shower or welcoming party if the child is older- all children new to the family should be honored and recognized

*Home modifications
- help paint/decorate the child's room
- donate new or gently used furniture
- help with modifications necessary for the child who has physical challenges

*Ongoing Support
- Adoptive family's needs may not be known for several years after finalization - be there for the long haul
- Be a "student" of the adoptive family and counsel them with empathy and respect.
- Provide one-on-one support to the special needs child during church so their parents can be refreshed by worship and fellowship.

-*ASK - don't be afraid to ask what ways you can help families raising adopted children - particularly those with special needs.

* Pray for families who have adopted and that God will raise up many more who are willing.

Samantha's GOTCHA DAY

It's so hard to believe that it's been 4 years since we laid eyes on Samantha for the first time. I remember her standing in classroom where all the tables were pushed up against the tall windows. Her back was to us, but she had beautiful long black hair. She was putting beads onto string. Her eyes were so close to both, but Doug and I looked at each other and then at her foster mom and said, "She can see?!?!" Her foster mom was surprised that we didn't know she could see. When you get into adoption, especially international you have to take a leap of faith and boy did that leap pay off greatly for us.
Samantha is thriving in school, with family and friends. She just loves life and has the energy to prove it.

Tonights menu...dumplings, corn (on the cob) and chocolate dessert fondu!

We love you Samantha!
Mom and Dad

Snow?

It's snowing in MN right now. We had snow a couple of days ago, more than a dusting, less than an inch. But it started at 3AM and it's suppose to go until late this afternoon. We have actual white trees, white ground and white knuckles (driving for the first time this snow season is always fun).

It made me think, what's the temp. like in Addis Ababa, ET?
70 degrees the whole week (rain today and tomorrow) Lows are around 50s. Not as bad as I thought. However, poor Emma. Nice warm weather and we are dragging her to the frozen tundra at the coldest time of year. (sorry sweetie!) We promise to buy a very nice coat, boats, hat, mittens, scarf and save our best bread bags.

A few quick facts about Ethiopia.

Capital: Addis Ababa
Population: 64.5 million
Currency: Birr ($1-8.16)
Language: Amharic + 60 others
**Ethiopia is the oldest state in Africa and formly known as Abyssinia.

Thank you to mapsoftheworld.com for the above information.

Feel free to email me or post a comment if you know any "fun" facts about Ethiopia.