It has been just over a year since we were first fingerprinted at the USCIS (United States Citizenship and Immigration Services) Office in Oklahoma City. In September our fingerprints will expire. This morning at the appointed times, Rebecca and I made our individual treks back to USCIS to have our fingerprints redone. The fingerprints themselves came and went with little consequence. As I sat in the waiting area, holding my assigned number and waiting to be called, I was struck by the sheer magnificence of being surrounded by individuals from all across the globe - many of whom spoke little English. What a rare experience to be in one's own country, and yet be surrounded by individuals who were so unlike one's self. The experience was both awe-inspiring and humbling.
At the moment, there seems to be little movement on "the list." In the next few weeks, the courts in Ethiopia will again close for the rainy season, not to reopen until sometime in September or October. In the meantime we will continue to wait (sometimes patiently, sometimes not so patiently) in anticipation of what is sure to come.
Ryan
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Monday, July 19, 2010
Fourteen Months and Counting
Each day begins the same, with a speedy check of our "Yahoo Group," a giant online email group of adoptive or waiting-to-adopt parents working with our adoption agency. The question is always the same - Has ANYONE heard ANYTHING?
Thankfully, in the last few weeks, the answer has been "Yes." Two families have received referrals of baby girls. Others have received referrals of 4-5 year-old boys. This knowledge gives us hope that things are moving and that paperwork will eventually be completed on children already in care, meaning we will likely EVENTUALLY get a call.
In the meantime, we would love to say we have waited patiently, but it simply isn't the truth. Some days we have waited patiently. Other days we have waited VERY impatiently. Other days we have enjoyed being "just the two of us" a bit longer, taking full advantage of the ease with which we hop in and out of the car to do pretty much whatever we want.
Fourteen months have passed since all of our paperwork was complete for the adoption and in an envelope to Ethiopia. Twenty months have passed since our very first application arrived at our adoption agency. We have not yet been matched with a child, but surely we are nearing the end. Surely...
Rebecca :)
Thankfully, in the last few weeks, the answer has been "Yes." Two families have received referrals of baby girls. Others have received referrals of 4-5 year-old boys. This knowledge gives us hope that things are moving and that paperwork will eventually be completed on children already in care, meaning we will likely EVENTUALLY get a call.
In the meantime, we would love to say we have waited patiently, but it simply isn't the truth. Some days we have waited patiently. Other days we have waited VERY impatiently. Other days we have enjoyed being "just the two of us" a bit longer, taking full advantage of the ease with which we hop in and out of the car to do pretty much whatever we want.
Fourteen months have passed since all of our paperwork was complete for the adoption and in an envelope to Ethiopia. Twenty months have passed since our very first application arrived at our adoption agency. We have not yet been matched with a child, but surely we are nearing the end. Surely...
Rebecca :)
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Enough...
The slim and easy-to-read book titled "Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity" (by Adam Hamilton) has been the subject of conversation in our house as we still wait for a referral (to be matched with a child) and for the last half of our adoption process to begin. The crux of the book is the need for contentment in and with our lives, just as they are. It focuses on financial health through the lens of choosing to live with "enough."
There have been many times Ryan and I have become frustrated with the waiting process and all of the questions that surround it. Many days it has felt like our whole life hinges on this one event, which seems to always be three more steps away. It is often as if our life isn't complete until this one thing occurs.
In this frustration, Ryan was reminded of "Enough" and began to remind us of it's importance. Now, just for fun, I tell Ryan, "You, my friend, are PLENTY!" :)
Rebecca
There have been many times Ryan and I have become frustrated with the waiting process and all of the questions that surround it. Many days it has felt like our whole life hinges on this one event, which seems to always be three more steps away. It is often as if our life isn't complete until this one thing occurs.
In this frustration, Ryan was reminded of "Enough" and began to remind us of it's importance. Now, just for fun, I tell Ryan, "You, my friend, are PLENTY!" :)
Rebecca
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
We Shall Wait
After a quiet week of waiting, it appears we will have to make two trips (or, as I am hoping, one longer trip). No one seems to know what this means or how it will be implemented, so we wait. My update email this week was uneventful, as there are still families ahead of us waiting for infant boys, and the whole system is moving more slowly. "I think we're getting close," was the best phrase in the response, and those of us with AAI know we've heard that one before. ;)
In this case, waiting is a good thing. We need time to regroup, time to see what the new rules mean exactly, and time to prepare to meet the challenge of this change.
God is faithful, and we are growing patience!
Rebecca
In this case, waiting is a good thing. We need time to regroup, time to see what the new rules mean exactly, and time to prepare to meet the challenge of this change.
God is faithful, and we are growing patience!
Rebecca
Monday, April 26, 2010
Will We Make The Cut-Off?
This is the question in our house this week regarding our adoption.
April 18th marked 11 months of waiting-list time for us, and May 9th marks the implementation date of a new requirement in Ethiopia that adoptive parents appear at the adoption court hearing. Anyone who has a referral and whose file is submitted to the court (to receive a hearing date) before May 9th will not have to travel for the hearing. Anyone whose adoption is submitted May 9th or later will have to travel for the hearing. (This means TWO trips to Ethiopia instead of the one for which we planned.)
We are waiting and praying, waiting and praying. Of course, in everything, we trust that the timing and details will be just right, but we also know we WANT to have a referral and be submitted to court in the next two weeks! It will take an act of God in order for us to only travel once, but we aren't ruling out an act of God!! :)
We have enjoyed watching many new families form in the last few months, as most of the friends we have gained through this process have traveled to get their children, and several others will be on their way soon, including a special couple in our church.
Now, of course, as always, we're ready for it to be our turn!
In many other blog posts, I have posted "next steps," with no change really occurring in what should take place "next" in many, many months. Below, though, I have posted two sets of "next steps," listing the steps should we meet the looming deadline and the steps if we don't.
Happy reading!
Next steps if we receive a referral and are submitted to court before May 9:
1. Referral
2. Submission to court & court date scheduled
3. Court date
4. Wait for embassy date to be scheduled
5. Travel for embassy date and to bring home child(ren)
Good news: Easier and Cheaper
Next steps if we are not submitted to court before May 9:
1. Referral
2. Submission to court & court date for documents scheduled
3. Court date for child's documents, living relatives, etc.
4. Pass first court date
5. Court date scheduled for us to attend.
6. Travel for court, meet baby(ies), see Ethiopia
7. Come home without baby(ies) - unless embassy date can be schedule reasonably quickly.
8. Wait for embassy date to be scheduled.
9. Travel to pick up child(ren) or have them escorted home.
Good news: Since we saw the child(ren) before the adoption was final, the child(ren) are automatically citizens when we reach US soil.
I personally prefer the one with the fewer steps! ;)
We'll let you know what we know in two weeks!
Rebecca
April 18th marked 11 months of waiting-list time for us, and May 9th marks the implementation date of a new requirement in Ethiopia that adoptive parents appear at the adoption court hearing. Anyone who has a referral and whose file is submitted to the court (to receive a hearing date) before May 9th will not have to travel for the hearing. Anyone whose adoption is submitted May 9th or later will have to travel for the hearing. (This means TWO trips to Ethiopia instead of the one for which we planned.)
We are waiting and praying, waiting and praying. Of course, in everything, we trust that the timing and details will be just right, but we also know we WANT to have a referral and be submitted to court in the next two weeks! It will take an act of God in order for us to only travel once, but we aren't ruling out an act of God!! :)
We have enjoyed watching many new families form in the last few months, as most of the friends we have gained through this process have traveled to get their children, and several others will be on their way soon, including a special couple in our church.
Now, of course, as always, we're ready for it to be our turn!
In many other blog posts, I have posted "next steps," with no change really occurring in what should take place "next" in many, many months. Below, though, I have posted two sets of "next steps," listing the steps should we meet the looming deadline and the steps if we don't.
Happy reading!
Next steps if we receive a referral and are submitted to court before May 9:
1. Referral
2. Submission to court & court date scheduled
3. Court date
4. Wait for embassy date to be scheduled
5. Travel for embassy date and to bring home child(ren)
Good news: Easier and Cheaper
Next steps if we are not submitted to court before May 9:
1. Referral
2. Submission to court & court date for documents scheduled
3. Court date for child's documents, living relatives, etc.
4. Pass first court date
5. Court date scheduled for us to attend.
6. Travel for court, meet baby(ies), see Ethiopia
7. Come home without baby(ies) - unless embassy date can be schedule reasonably quickly.
8. Wait for embassy date to be scheduled.
9. Travel to pick up child(ren) or have them escorted home.
Good news: Since we saw the child(ren) before the adoption was final, the child(ren) are automatically citizens when we reach US soil.
I personally prefer the one with the fewer steps! ;)
We'll let you know what we know in two weeks!
Rebecca
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Update
March 18th will make 10 months we have been on the waiting list for a baby from Ethiopia. It hasn't escaped us that had we sought children the traditional way, we would likely have a baby now. We have no regret for this decision, though, so we wait with as much patience as we have.
I only know of two others who are requesting the same age child we are who are also willing to have a boy. I know many ahead of us waiting on girls, but girl families seem to always wait longer than those willing to have a boy. The one incredible thing about being at nearly 10 months is that I haven't seen any family willing to have a boy wait longer than 10.5. That is no guarantee, but gives us hope that we're getting close. Families waiting on girls have waited as long as 15 months (indeed, one family is still waiting who went onto the waiting list in December 2008).
During my last check-in call, our agency director sounded confident we'd have a referral in the next couple of months. Hopefully she was being conservative and we'll hear something between now and the 18th (which is our official anniversary date). Of course, Ryan is hopeful for a referral for his birthday, which is on Monday. :)
You can bet I'll be calling for a check-in again on the 18th or close to it, and you can bet we will post as soon as we know anything.
Rebecca :)
I only know of two others who are requesting the same age child we are who are also willing to have a boy. I know many ahead of us waiting on girls, but girl families seem to always wait longer than those willing to have a boy. The one incredible thing about being at nearly 10 months is that I haven't seen any family willing to have a boy wait longer than 10.5. That is no guarantee, but gives us hope that we're getting close. Families waiting on girls have waited as long as 15 months (indeed, one family is still waiting who went onto the waiting list in December 2008).
During my last check-in call, our agency director sounded confident we'd have a referral in the next couple of months. Hopefully she was being conservative and we'll hear something between now and the 18th (which is our official anniversary date). Of course, Ryan is hopeful for a referral for his birthday, which is on Monday. :)
You can bet I'll be calling for a check-in again on the 18th or close to it, and you can bet we will post as soon as we know anything.
Rebecca :)
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Interesting Article...
Dr. Rick Hodes has served the people of Ethiopia in some capacity since the 1984 famine. His story is woven into Melissa Faye Green's novel, There is No Me Without You. Below is a link to a Readers' Digest article published in December 2008 that details his life and work with an embedded link to a beautiful photo montage. Dr. Hodes serves the people of Ethiopia in a remarkable way, I hope you'll enjoy this glimpse into the important work he does .
http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/dr-rick-hodes-helps-the-children-of-ethiopia/article104652.html
Ryan
http://www.rd.com/your-america-inspiring-people-and-stories/dr-rick-hodes-helps-the-children-of-ethiopia/article104652.html
Ryan
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