Hi Bloggers,
I do have to apologize for the long time in between posts! A lot has happened in the last month and a half.
After receiving our referral late August, we have been patiently waiting to be told that we were submitted to court, for courts to re-open (they take a long vacation mid August - late September), and to be issued a court date.
Well we got a call on the afternoon of October 24th (I was concerned when I first received it, that maybe some paperwork was missing and they needed us to re-send some things). We were so surprised to be told that our US agency staff missed being notified that we had been submitted to court (the date is still unknown when that happened). So we had been submitted and issued a court date of November 6th! I was so shocked, happy, excited, and just could not believe it!...and reality set in that we had little time to prepare for our trip. But really...none of that mattered. We were going to meet our son!!!!!!!
Daniel was out of town the week before we were to leave...my Mom was a life-saver...she helped me in so many ways get ready for our trip...thanks Mom! We took care of donation shopping and our last minute travel shopping was in full swing...not to mention booking a flight (whew!...thanks Mel!)
By the way, thanks to all who helped with the donations! We are so grateful to you for helping us collect these items. They were so needed at the care center and were truly appreciated! We couldn't have done it without you.
So on November 4th, 2012 (Adoption Sunday), we were on our way to Ethiopia to meet our son. Wow, what a LONG flight...but it was so worth it. We arrived on November 5th (Daniel's birthday), and went straight to meet our son. What a sweet time! And let me tell you...he is so precious, sweet, cute, and such a good baby! We know he was meant to be apart of our family!
We attended our court hearing, all went well there! We are still awaiting the "official court decree", but hope to hear soon that we have that so we can start getting together the documents to be submitted to the US Embassy.
After court we picked up our little man and spent the rest of our stay spending time with him at our hotel. He has the sweetest personality. I cannot wait till the girls can meet him...what a special time that will be!
So Thursday afternoon we had to take him back to the care center. We were thinking that he'd easily fit in our carry on...but figured we'd be frowned upon and may end adoptions forever if we did that. So what an extremely hard thing to do...to leave him. But we just think of the day we'll be reunited...and praying it won't be too long from now. We miss him so much...and it already feels we've been away for a long time. I know he's being loved and cared for while we're away from him...and that helps. But at any given moment I may burst into tears...missing him so.
We have been forever changed from this trip. I know the Lord is working...on what He is leading us to...I'm not exactly sure yet. Just trusting Him and keeping faith. He's had this process in His hands from the beginning...He's definitely got the rest of it under control.
We were able to meet some other couples while in country, also adopting. It was good to make new friendships...and I hope we'll be able to stay connected throughout the rest of our process and even after!
What's next: When we receive the court decree our agency can begin gathering the few documents to be submitted to the US Embassy. From there Embassy reviews it, investigates, and then issues an interview date for us. This is the date we await...the pick up trip! Time frame varies...but we are definitely praying for sooner than later! It will most likely be 8 weeks or more...but hoping closer to the 8 week mark.
We have a lot of preparations to finish up...so hopefully we can stay busy with those things...as well as with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up our calendar is starting to fill up quickly. So I'm praying this time will pass quickly with everything else that is going on.
Thanks to all of you who have been praying and thinking of us. We still need them as these days are extremely tough.
Faithfully praying,
Daniel & Heather
I do have to apologize for the long time in between posts! A lot has happened in the last month and a half.
After receiving our referral late August, we have been patiently waiting to be told that we were submitted to court, for courts to re-open (they take a long vacation mid August - late September), and to be issued a court date.
Well we got a call on the afternoon of October 24th (I was concerned when I first received it, that maybe some paperwork was missing and they needed us to re-send some things). We were so surprised to be told that our US agency staff missed being notified that we had been submitted to court (the date is still unknown when that happened). So we had been submitted and issued a court date of November 6th! I was so shocked, happy, excited, and just could not believe it!...and reality set in that we had little time to prepare for our trip. But really...none of that mattered. We were going to meet our son!!!!!!!
Daniel was out of town the week before we were to leave...my Mom was a life-saver...she helped me in so many ways get ready for our trip...thanks Mom! We took care of donation shopping and our last minute travel shopping was in full swing...not to mention booking a flight (whew!...thanks Mel!)
By the way, thanks to all who helped with the donations! We are so grateful to you for helping us collect these items. They were so needed at the care center and were truly appreciated! We couldn't have done it without you.
So on November 4th, 2012 (Adoption Sunday), we were on our way to Ethiopia to meet our son. Wow, what a LONG flight...but it was so worth it. We arrived on November 5th (Daniel's birthday), and went straight to meet our son. What a sweet time! And let me tell you...he is so precious, sweet, cute, and such a good baby! We know he was meant to be apart of our family!
We attended our court hearing, all went well there! We are still awaiting the "official court decree", but hope to hear soon that we have that so we can start getting together the documents to be submitted to the US Embassy.
After court we picked up our little man and spent the rest of our stay spending time with him at our hotel. He has the sweetest personality. I cannot wait till the girls can meet him...what a special time that will be!
So Thursday afternoon we had to take him back to the care center. We were thinking that he'd easily fit in our carry on...but figured we'd be frowned upon and may end adoptions forever if we did that. So what an extremely hard thing to do...to leave him. But we just think of the day we'll be reunited...and praying it won't be too long from now. We miss him so much...and it already feels we've been away for a long time. I know he's being loved and cared for while we're away from him...and that helps. But at any given moment I may burst into tears...missing him so.
We have been forever changed from this trip. I know the Lord is working...on what He is leading us to...I'm not exactly sure yet. Just trusting Him and keeping faith. He's had this process in His hands from the beginning...He's definitely got the rest of it under control.
We were able to meet some other couples while in country, also adopting. It was good to make new friendships...and I hope we'll be able to stay connected throughout the rest of our process and even after!
What's next: When we receive the court decree our agency can begin gathering the few documents to be submitted to the US Embassy. From there Embassy reviews it, investigates, and then issues an interview date for us. This is the date we await...the pick up trip! Time frame varies...but we are definitely praying for sooner than later! It will most likely be 8 weeks or more...but hoping closer to the 8 week mark.
We have a lot of preparations to finish up...so hopefully we can stay busy with those things...as well as with Thanksgiving and Christmas coming up our calendar is starting to fill up quickly. So I'm praying this time will pass quickly with everything else that is going on.
Thanks to all of you who have been praying and thinking of us. We still need them as these days are extremely tough.
Faithfully praying,
Daniel & Heather
