A wee bit excited....

It's official - we've moved onto the next phase (#145, just kidding) of the process! Our agency was quick to respond to USCIS's request for evidence and our officer emailed today to tell us that she had passed our file on to Addis........

So what happens next? Our remaining process looks something like this:

1. The U.S. Embassy will review her paperwork again to see if there is anything else they need and in most cases schedule an interview with someone involved in the case - however our case is a bit different and we are hopeful that all we will need is to re-submit some documents that we ALREADY have in our paperwork. If that is the case, the interview would be unnecessary, but we'll see. This phase of the process normally takes at least a few weeks.

2. When the Embassy is done with their investigation they issue a PAIR letter (which stands for Pre-Approval Immigration Review) this means that little miss would be cleared to go TO court because she is cleared to come into our country as adoptable. The U.S. used to do this investigation and clearing after court, but now it is done before (hence Pre-Approval). It does add some time to the front end of the process, but it is SO much better than checking to see if the child can come into the country AFTER court, and they are already legally yours. This PAIR letter typically comes via U.S. mail a few days after clearing the above step.

3. The PAIR letter must be sent to D.C. and authenticated before physically heading to back to Ethiopia to join our dossier (the paperwork that we completed back in 2012) and be submitted to court.

4. The first court date is issued (and takes place) which is with the same person in step #1 above, or hopefully in our case, not needed - just paperwork resubmitted.

5. FINAL STEP - Adoptive parent court date - this is where we get to travel! Typically happens a few weeks after the first court date takes place. After this court date, little miss will be officially our daughter and we can take custody of her a day or two after that date. 

Of course timelines on each of these steps can vary depending on the case. In adoption, there is no "normal", we are living proof of that :) I've seen some people fly insanely fast through these steps and I've seen others drag for months on end. I don't have any idea how our timing will play out, but obviously I'm hopeful for sooner rather than later!

To top off the awesome news of heading on to the next step? We got our sweet updates today.

Update week #30. 

Whew. 

Thirty weeks. Seven months. Although I am grateful for these updates, I am SO ready to be done with updates! This week I put a recent picture up on a bulletin board next to one from 6 weeks after our referral - wowza. This little miss has grown and changed developmentally like you wouldn't believe. Not weight wise, mind you. (as she has only put on 3lbs since last January and only 1/2 of ONE OUNCE in the last six weeks) Sigh. Oh how this mama is ready to get little miss home! Here is a picture from today in her 0-3month romper that I brought for her when I traveled in mid-May :)

Happy girl!

Please continue to pray for the health of this precious little one and for favor as we are getting near the homestretch of our adoption process. Also be praying for me. For patience. As time is drawing nearer I am fighting being a bundle of anxiety. I want so badly for this to move along at a good pace and get back to my gal. It has caused me to pick up a burden that isn't mine to bear......and I am finding myself daily (hourly, by the minute even) fighting to stop. Look up. And give it to the Lord. Hard to admit - but hey, you all - I am human and with that? Weakness. Times like this it glaringly comes to the forefront again. I am weak, admittedly weak - but His power is made perfect in weakness.

How.I.Need.Him!

I heard this song recently at a women's event at church.....oh my. Worth the listen.

You make me Brave

Bethel

I stand before You now
The greatness of Your renown
I have heard of the majesty and wonder of You
King of Heaven in humility, I bow

As Your love
In wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You've made a way
For all to enter in

I have heard You call my name
I have heard the song of love that You sing
So, I will let You draw me beyond the shore
Into Your grace, Your grace

As Your love
In wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You've made a way
For all to enter in

You make me brave
You make me brave
You called me beyond the shore
Into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now
The love that made a way

You make me brave
You make me brave
You called me beyond the shore
Into the waves

You make me brave
You make me brave
No fear can hinder now
The promises You've made

As Your love
In wave after wave
Crashes over me, crashes over me
For You are for us
You are not against us
Champion of Heaven
You've made a way
For all to enter in

Preparation - all things hair!

Quick update……..the paperwork that we waited forever for? As you should know (if you've kept up ;), it has all been turned in to USCIS (US immigration) and is being processed.

Can we all collectively sigh in relief together? Ahhhhh.

Our paperwork was sent to Dallas and logged, it then headed to Lee's Summit, MO where it awaited an officer for review. We found out this week that we indeed have been assigned an officer (the exact one I was hoping for!). This stage is great because there is actually someone we can contact. We found out from our officer this week, that USCIS needs three more things from us, before it can send our case file on to Addis. We were relieved to find out that what is needed is just a additional local translation to a few documents (to add to the Amharic and English versions they have now of those same documents). Hopefully our agency will swiftly get us these docs so that we can move on to phase #145 of this crazy process (just kidding), but move on to the next phase nonetheless.

So in the meantime, what does THIS mama do with more waiting? Continue to prepare. Crazy how much preparation has gone into a little one that is a mere 11 pounds. If she only knew!

If little miss only knew how nerdy her mama was. Oh wait, no. That isn't what I meant, albeit true :) If she only knew how much she is anticipated and loved already. It would blow her itty-bitty socks off.

It’s no secret that I’ve read my way through countless books this last year. Covering topics from international adoption (like the actual nuts and bolts of the process), attachment, how to parent a child who has experienced trauma, books about Ethiopia, the orphan crisis, on and on and on………

What else could there possibly be? Oh, believe me there is more! 

I have officially started to add more layers to my preparation - hair care.

It will soon VERY apparent that I am out of my element in the haircare department. I’ve never had to really think about hair before. Myself and my bio children have VERY low maintenance hair. The styles that are currently in my portfolio are wearing hair down, the ponytail, the messy bun and the braid. Not a french braid, mind you. Just a plain braid. (big shout out to Disney and the character Elsa, from the movie Frozen, for popularizing the low plain braid. That was super helpful!)

So where does one turn to learn about hair that is totally different from my own and will require much more maintenance? There are MANY good resources, but my favorite? This place. 

Chocolate Hair Vanilla Care

The above is a blog by an adopted mama that has worked her way through this topic herself, has learned the in’s and out’s. Take a look at some of her daughters hairstyles. This mama has mastered it. Hands.down. Seriously, check out the blog and just take a look. That mama even has themed hair at times - think Valentines day hearts, Micky mouse for Disney, Shamrock for St. Patty's day. It is wild!

I don’t ever expect to master it like this, but knowing that I have a LOT of work ahead of me in this department - I’m starting now. BEFORE our little gal comes home. BEFORE I have a cute person head to learn on. Most likely I won’t ever be awesome, but I’d like to at least conquer some of the basics. I’ve been working on this, since I know myself well enough to know that before I would attempt a more intricate braid on an actual human person, I must at least master it on a yarn board. Have no fear. I don’t plan on dying little miss's hair purple, green & yellow so I can have a similar experience on her head - I also have plans to make a practice board in all brown for when I become “advanced” ;) 

Whew. Lots to learn, but with it comes excitement about having something new to work on!

Oh, how I CAN NOT WAIT to get back to this little one and scoop her up forever :) Please be praying that things process smoothly for us as we are in this final stretch......we are so hopeful we will be bringing her home this Fall! 

What you have been waiting for.....the giveaway winners

The draw commenced a few minutes late due to Saturday morning relaxedness (new word for ya!). I coaxed a pj-clad Tori from a morning cartoon in order to give the drawing total objectiveness.

The winners are announced via photo below, check it out :)

Names going in the hat!

My lovely assistant

The draw.......

Our first winner!

Our second winner!

Thanks to all of you all for entering - I hope that everyone checked out Connected in Hope and the amazing work they are doing in Ethiopia! Congratulations to Liz and Kari - your winning scarf will be in the mail this coming week :)

Have a great Saturday!

Only hours remain!

Until what?

The GIVEAWAY, of course!

Missed something? Click here to read about it and then comment via fb post OR blog to be entered! You have until Saturday morning, September 13th @ 9am. It's that simple :)

Oh, that everything could be so simple........

My kiddos will help with "the draw" tomorrow morning, so tune in (after you comment to put your hat in the ring) tomorrow morning for the winners to be announced!

For your listening pleasure, ah the lyrics. Redeemed.

Greater

by Mercy Me

GIVEAWAY!!!!

So you know how a few blog posts ago, I mentioned how those of you that have stuck with this blog for so long deserve some sort of reward? Well, it is time! Having just gotten back this week from Ethiopia and making some purchases from Connected in Hope's weaving compound in country, I thought this would be a good opportunity to show you all some love while at the same time highlighting this amazing NGO.

Connected in Hope (former firewood carriers association) was founded by an adoptive mom who saw a need. Teaching women a skill and providing income generating programs, education, afterschool programs, social work services and adult literacy/education programs is giving these women a hand up. The program not only creates opportunity for women with limited options, but it also works to make sure their family stays preserved. I encourage you to check out there website - you will find opportunities not just to purchase items and learn how you could host a trunk show that would help support these women, but you will get a glimpse into a different life. A glimpse that is invaluable, because let me tell you first hand, the way we live here in America? Oh peeps. We are wealthy. Ridiculously wealthy. With that glimpse, with that knowledge? We can use our dollars purposefully and help - whether that be choosing to purchase quality products that give back and support those in need or by donating.

Pictures are worth 1,000 words, so here you go.........keep scrolling for the giveaway!

A typical firewood carrier's load is 70-80lbs, walked 10 miles down a mountain and sells in the market for a dollar.

Former firewood carrier, now artisan working on a scarf. Each scarf takes approximately 2 hours to complete.

Sign outside of Connected in Hope's compound I visited in Addis at the base of Mt. Entono

Weaver inside the shop where completed scarves are ready to sell and/or ship

 Amazing, right? So obviously I am giving away scarves.........two to be exact! 

To enter the drawing, leave a comment on this blog post (don't worry when it doesn't show up immediately, I moderate my comments due to trollers who occasionally spew negativity, so there will be some delay, but will eventually show up :) OR if you are a fb friend of me or my hubs, you can leave a comment on the fb status that contains this blog post. 

What should your comment contain? Identifying info of who you are (it would be hard to send an anonymous person something) and a favorite color or two.......since I have a wide variety of scarf colors - that way, if you are one of the two lucky winners, I can send you the scarf of your dreams that has a story behind it! 

The drawing will take place NEXT Saturday at 9am, and the winners will be announced on the blog.

There you have it folks. 

Finally a short-term reward for keeping up with this adoption story for so long! Whew. It's about time!

Stateside again!

I have made it home and am back on the grid. Internet outages made communicating difficult for those last two days we were in country. Which sometimes feels hard, not being able to talk to the hubs and kiddos whenever I desired or when our time frames lined up (i.e. the best time to call and talk to the kids has me waking up at 4am to chat with them at 8pm, right before they go to bed). However, when I contemplate the fact that I am half way across the world, in a developing country none the less, and have internet access at all? I am more than grateful for the times I got TO connect! Lack of internet connection at the end of the trip is why the blog posts ceased......

The rest of the trip was incredible. Most of the visiting times with sweet little miss were spent alone in the visiting room, which was a treat. Each time I visited we would play for about a half hour, she would take a bottle and would inevitably take a nap. She is taking her bottle SO much better than when I visited in May, which makes this mama's heart rejoice. Little Miss still typically won't eat more than 3 1/2 to 4 oz. a time, however she wowed me the day before we left and downed almost the whole 7oz. that they prepare for her each time. Oh, and the napping. How I LOVE holding and snuggling relaxed baby weight. There is nothing else like it. I loved it when my bio babies were small and I love it now. The last few days of our visit I started bringing my bible and devotional packed in my bag to bring, knowing I had at least an hour per visit to spend snuggling little miss and reading the word by myself. Having seen God's hand throughout this process (in more ways and in more details than I've ever shared publicly on the blog, but willing to share IN person), being closer than ever towards the end of our journey, experiencing His faithfulness and then HOLDING ONTO little miss while spending time reading, praying & rejoicing? Awesome.

During our last couple days there I experienced some things that will ever be beautiful memories......getting to meet the boys of a friend in country, who is now dear to my heart, and seeing the pride he has in his children. Witnessing a coffee ceremony send-off for multiple families heading home with their children this week and seeing the love that the nannies/staff have for these precious children. But the most amazing thing? Watching Rhonda's little man learn to trust her, reach for her and begin truly attaching to his mama and seeing their family reunite after our long journey home.

Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

This journey may be long, but there is joy unspeakable along the way in so many little things. Even in our long flights - how challenging it can be to sit still for that long of a period of time. No amount of movie watching or book reading can make it an exciting experience. It is just something that has to be endured because the end result is good. Long plane rides AND I had the center seat each time. Rhonda on one side. Unknown person on the other. Not that I'm complaining, I was ecstatic to be going - but as a person with introvert tendencies? Awkward potential. However, out of the probably two to three hundred people aboard, who do I sit next to? An Ethiopian pediatrician on the 13 hour flight there, and a church-planting pastor from the Congo on the 17 hour flight back. How amazing is that? The little things. Even down to who I sit by.

I see God's hand in it all. It is not at all because I am something special. Not.at.all. It is because God loves me and He is good. Unmerited grace. Unmerited favor.

Do you know why the gospel message is also called the good news?
Because that grace?
That favor?
The sacrifice He gave?
The love He has?
It is also for YOU.

Seriously, you all, I promise that every time I sit to blog, I rarely intend to end with God's love for you and the gospel.....however, that seems to almost always be where the writing takes me. Amazed by His love. Amazed. I am finding that as He is writing my story, God IS the story. His grace is the main thing. That is my story. That is my song..............and now this hymn is in my head - so here you go!

Blessed Assurance

Who knew?

Africa could be so cold? That pretty well sums up the day. Cold. It rained pretty much all day and I don't think it ever got out of the 50's. I even saw my own breath today while visiting little miss. Apparently my body is used to temperature controlled indoor climates, because with no central heat I have been shivering all day (and that is with jeans, long sleeved shirt w/ tank top underneath, hooded sweatshirt on top of that AND shoes/socks). What I really would've loved was some warm fleece blankets, mittens and a warm hat! I'm not sure I will ever get over being surprised that Africa can be this cold. It is that strange to me.

Our visits have been so wonderful, since Rhonda has taken custody of her little man, little miss and I are the only ones in the visiting room......which means I can have conversations with my sweet girl, sing and act silly without feeling odd with others listening in on our back and forth.

What a joy it has been!

While I am visiting each day, the nannies and staff will occasionally walk by the room we are in and come in to visit. They can elicit smiles from my girl by just a look (and a few smooches thrown in for good measure). Today one of the nannies came in as we were playing and she was talking to little miss in Aramaic. As she was talking you could tell she kept asking her about her mama (because I recognized that word)......she was asking who her mama was. It was so sweet. Little miss would watch her for a while, when she'd heard the word mama, she would look over at me and the nanny would then cheer and say yay!!! Be.Still.My.Heart. I am in love.

We also spent some time today looking at pictures of her awesome daddy, siblings, grandmas, papas, aunts, uncles and cousins. This girl is SO loved already - I'm just trying to give her a head's up that she is part of a large and amazing family!

Two more days left and then I head back to my other loves who are stateside. Oh, how I can't wait for everyone to be on the same continent. Soon and very soon!