Waiting for Christmas

A little more than a year ago, we began the journey of adoption. For most of that time, I have optimistically asserted that we would have a baby by Christmas. It is nearly Christmas, and we have still not received a referral; however, I feel confident we will hear something in the months to come (Frankly, I told Rebecca that it is still approximately 144 hours until Christmas, and although we may not have a baby home, we could still receive a referral in that vast expanse of time. Unlikely, yes, but divinely possible).

As we look forward to Christmas, I can't help but imagine the anticipation that Mary and Joseph must have felt as they made the trip to Bethlehem. It is probably not so unlike the anticipation we have felt over the course of the past several months as we look forward to a looming major life transition. So many things seem so uncertain, so unknown. We often think we have been left alone, to our own musings and devices, squinting into a crystal ball, trying to see the future. I have to wonder if this is how Mary and Joseph felt after they were visited by the angel. I have to wonder if they spent the next several months in some kind of state of disbelief, all-the-while trying to see ten, twelve, eighteen months into the future. They must have wondered how this visitation by an angel, an unexpected pregnancy, and the promise of a Savior's birth would change their lives. They too must have been puzzled by these new tastes that enticed their senses.

Every Christmas, we still anticipate the birth of a Savior. This Christmas, we also anticipate new lives with new roles and the coming of a small Ethiopian child, whose face we have never seen, who we are already coming to love.

Merry Christmas,

Ryan

Tis the Season

Ryan and I are still anxiously awaiting our turn for a referral. As far as we can tell, there are between 10 and 12 families probably ahead of us for baby boys. (We did not specify gender, but when you don't specify, you come up first on the boy list usually, as they are currently 4 full months behind on the girl list - they are referring girls to families whose documents were completed last December and they are referring boys to families whose documents were completed in March. 70% of families tend to ask for girls.)

Our final file was submitted in mid-May, so only the families of March and April (and maybe a family or two in May) stand between us and a referral. This still may mean 6 weeks of waiting or 6 months.

For me, I would say this has been a time of tremendous (and slightly unwanted) faith-building. I like to plan, and I like to be able to see what's happening next. Unfortunately with this process, that is simply not an option. So we take each step as it comes and we wait a little more. We are very thankful to be part of a great group of "waiters" and families who have already adopted who are helping to lead our way and who know what it means to obtain faith through complete lack of foreknowledge of what happens next!

As Christmas approaches, we are thankful for a few more months of "just the two of us" and anxious to meet number three.

Rebecca :)

6/12

This month marks 6 months of waiting on a referral since our dossier (file of adoption paperwork) went to Ethiopia. It also marks 12 months of actually being in this process. There is movement on the waiting list, as they are referring baby boys to families whose files were complete March 9th, 2009 and baby girls to families whose files were complete November 14th, 2008. Our file was complete May 18, 2009, so we have a little bit of a wait still left.

Here our are next steps:
1. Receive/Accept a referral of a baby.
2. Documents submitted to court. (This will occur shortly after we accept our referral, as the child's file is court-ready when we receive the referral).
3. Court date/ Child becomes legally ours. (Sometimes this requires more than one court date, but our agency is working very hard to make it only one).
4. TRAVEL - I'm sure I have said this before, but I'll say it again...I'm ready to travel!

Rebecca :)

Families for Children

Our adoption agency has a blog of it's own to highlight what is happening in Ethiopia and other countries and to promote its work. While not every article seems worth mentioning, this one stands out.

Families for Children - All of Them.

Anniversary Blog

Today marks a special event for us, as Ryan and I celebrate three years of marriage. We have truly been blessed to have each other on the path thus far. I can't imagine a better friend with whom to travel.

Two days ago also marked five months of waiting on a referral from AAI. When we first began this process, five months was about the longest we imagined we would have to wait, but here we are, behind families who have waited anywhere from eight to ten months for a referral themselves. Our last check-in with the agency produced an answer of "probably another few months for you" and reminded us how annoying it must be to have families call who KNOW they have at least a few more months to wait who call just to hear it one more time.

Rebecca :)

The Mothers of Ethiopia

This news series was posted by someone in our adoption group. I couldn't help but share it (and archive it so I can read it again sometime!).

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

News Story

This news story features a family that has adopted through our adoption agency several times. At the end of the story, Julie Hehn tells what she likes most about her LARGE family. Her answer is something we would all love to say.

Hehn Family of 29

Rebecca