Yes! We finally received "the call." I was totally taken by surprise. I think when you spend so much time waiting and waiting, you just think it won't happen. Then, when it does, it's almost unbelievable. But it was real and God's timing is perfect. We received that call on Monday, the 17th, and accepted the referral on Wednesday, the 19th.
We received a referral for two little girls. Oh, my! Two beautiful girls (sisters)! They are ages 8 and 5. We are so excited! My mind is whirling with all there is to think about. I feel so blessed and so terrified. But already, God has given me amazing peace about our decision to adopt these girls. I have had encouragement from wise friends, who have gone before, and from our adoption agency, as well as our social worker. So many of you have already sent us encouraging emails and we are so thankful for your words and prayers.
Next on our list:
1. Getting a care package ready for the girls and finding someone traveling for their court date to deliver it to the Transition House. I am putting Olivia in charge of creating a photo album for them.
2. Waiting for a court date. (This could be approximately 6 weeks or so). Then we would travel to Ethiopia to meet our girls.
3. Lots of reading, more paperwork, gathering items to take with us.
When I know what we should take with us, I will post a list for anyone who would like to help out. I know there are several items of need for the orphanages in Addis. I will keep you posted. Until then, have a Merry Christmas!
Friday, December 21, 2012
God's Timeline
I am finally starting a blog to keep all of you family and friends in-the-loop about our adoption adventure. I know you have been wondering and asking and now there is finally something fun to write about. :) So here goes.
Jay and I have had adoption on our hearts for many years. Ever since we struggled with infertility early in our marriage, God has placed the seed of adoption there. Now, after 22 years of marriage and three kids later, we are finally following God's plan for our family to adopt. It has been a journey to come to this place in our lives, but as always, God's timing is perfect, and we are excited to be adding to our family.
We have chosen to adopt internationally, specifically Ethiopia. Here is God's timeline of how our adoption journey has gone.
November 20, 2010--Began paperwork with America World Adoption Agency
This process lasted for 6 months and included a home study done by Catholic Chairities in Minot, office visits, online training, personality tests, financial reports, medical exams, fingerprinting (local and federal), etc. We are totally checked out. :) We are requesting to adopt a little girl 0-6.
May 6, 2011--Our dossier is finally complete and in Addis Abba, Ethiopia. This is called the DTE or Date to Ethiopia. Yeh! This is a milestone to celebrate!
May 16, 2011--Completed our 8 hr. Multicultural Training in Minot
April 9, 2012--Easter Monday...We made a flying trip to Rapid City, SD to get our fingerprints renewed. The paperwork is only good for one year.
May 3, 2012--One year from completing our Home Study and it needs updating. Met with social worker and updated our paperwork. We changed our request to be one female 0-9 or a sibling group 0-9. This required sending more paperwork to USCIS to be approved and then that paperwork forwarded to be state certified. We will pray and wait.
August 30, 2012--Still Waiting!!! Still Praying!!!
December 3, 2012--Received an email from America World explaining the wait time. "Paperwork, specifically the government-issued clearance, is still the main contributor for the slowdown in the Ethiopia process. If we have a child in the transition home that is completely paper ready, but who does not have a clearance, we need to wait on that final document before referring the child to a family." So we wait some more! And pray some more!
December 17, 2012--REFERRAL DAY!
Jay and I have had adoption on our hearts for many years. Ever since we struggled with infertility early in our marriage, God has placed the seed of adoption there. Now, after 22 years of marriage and three kids later, we are finally following God's plan for our family to adopt. It has been a journey to come to this place in our lives, but as always, God's timing is perfect, and we are excited to be adding to our family.
We have chosen to adopt internationally, specifically Ethiopia. Here is God's timeline of how our adoption journey has gone.
November 20, 2010--Began paperwork with America World Adoption Agency
This process lasted for 6 months and included a home study done by Catholic Chairities in Minot, office visits, online training, personality tests, financial reports, medical exams, fingerprinting (local and federal), etc. We are totally checked out. :) We are requesting to adopt a little girl 0-6.
May 6, 2011--Our dossier is finally complete and in Addis Abba, Ethiopia. This is called the DTE or Date to Ethiopia. Yeh! This is a milestone to celebrate!
May 16, 2011--Completed our 8 hr. Multicultural Training in Minot
April 9, 2012--Easter Monday...We made a flying trip to Rapid City, SD to get our fingerprints renewed. The paperwork is only good for one year.
May 3, 2012--One year from completing our Home Study and it needs updating. Met with social worker and updated our paperwork. We changed our request to be one female 0-9 or a sibling group 0-9. This required sending more paperwork to USCIS to be approved and then that paperwork forwarded to be state certified. We will pray and wait.
August 30, 2012--Still Waiting!!! Still Praying!!!
December 3, 2012--Received an email from America World explaining the wait time. "Paperwork, specifically the government-issued clearance, is still the main contributor for the slowdown in the Ethiopia process. If we have a child in the transition home that is completely paper ready, but who does not have a clearance, we need to wait on that final document before referring the child to a family." So we wait some more! And pray some more!
December 17, 2012--REFERRAL DAY!
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