Update on our adoption

We are continuing to work hard on completing the adoption process so that we can bring our boys home! Things have been moving so quickly, and I keep thinking that it will probably slow down soon. I think I feel this way because we were prepared for a really long journey, and we only officially started the process this past August! Also, there are so many variables in the adoption process that can affect things so we want to be prepared for any unexpected bumps in the road. I'm trying to not have any expectations since this is completely out of our control. :)

We completed our homestudy before the holidays, and sent off our dossier (official paperwork) overseas. It's currently being translated and then will arrive in Ethiopia. This is usually the point in the process where families wait 3-6 months to be matched with a child. Since we found the boys on a waiting list and already accepted their referral we get to skip this part! We talked with our adoption coordinator from our agency, and she told us last week that they are working hard on getting us our travel dates already! We should know our exact dates in about 6 weeks, and actually travel 3-4 weeks later!

In the past, adoptive parents only had to take one trip to Ethiopia for their court date and to bring their child(ren) home, but the law now requires two trips. The first one is for your court date, and then you have to go home and wait about 3-4 weeks before being able to get your child(ren). We were told that what this will most likely look like for us is that we will find out our travel dates the beginning of March, travel to Ethiopia for our court date the beginning of April, and bring the boys home the beginning of May. It could go faster or slower but it will most likely be close to these times.

Stephen and I have decided that we both should travel for both trips. At first we were thinking that only he would go on the first trip for the court date because only one parent is required to be there, and plane tickets to Ethiopia are extremely expensive. We also didn't think that we'd be able to see the boys on the first trip. But we just found out that if we aren't both there for the court date, we have to officially re-adopt them once they are in the states which takes time and money.

We also found out that we can see the boys on the first trip! I was under the impression that the boys were in an orphanage still, but they are actually in one of our agency's private care centers. So we could just extend our trip for a couple of days and spend some time with them after our court date. I am, of course, worried about how they will handle spending time with us for a few days, and then us leaving for 3-4 weeks before returning to bring them home. But I also think it might be really good for them to become a little more familiar with us before we bring them home. I'm also very relieved that they are in our agency's care center because they are probably receiving much better care and attention there than they would be in one of the Ethiopian orphanages.

Our agency is doing a great job of trying to help us prepare emotionally for meeting them. It's easy to have preconceived ideas of what it will be like, and how they will react to us. They have been very up-front and honest about how toddlers in particular usually react to meeting their adoptive parents. Older children have been waiting for a family long enough that they are excited to meet their new parents, and babies don't know the difference. But to toddlers, you are just strangers. Many of them are very scared at first, and it takes time for them to even feel comfortable enough for you to hold them. Obviously each child is different, but we want to be prepared to handle whatever their reaction to us is. Just like with any person, it takes time to build trust and to bond.

Please continue to pray for us as we move forward. We so badly want to finish this process and have our boys home! It's hard to think of them being in a care center without a family and wondering if anyone is showing them love and kindness. I can't wait until they are home. Until I get to tuck them in at night and say prayers. Until we get to make blueberry pancakes together for breakfast. Until I get to see them playing with their sisters. Until I get to show them how much they are truly loved. I know it's going to take time to adjust, but no matter how much work it takes, they are worth it. They are my children.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13