It's been a month

Well I can't believe it's been a month since we posted last.  Don't have anything new to update on really.  I talked to my agency today to ask about any updates on both parents traveling, the last email I received stated one parent could travel if the other parent was military and deployed or if medical reasons arise.  I asked my agency director if being pregnant was medical reason enough and she said she's pretty sure but can't give a definite yes until May 9th when the Ethiopian government meet to settle on all guidelines.  We have to wait until then for a more detailed answer.  This is the longest part of the process, THE PAPERWORK!  Trying to be patient through all of this and concentrate on our new arrival in September and wait on our other new arrivel, via Ethiopia, after that.  Please keep praying for things to go smoothly!

I guess Billy the bloginator has been slacking a bit, oh well we forgive him.  Well we have received news that Ethiopia government is changing their laws a bit, involving 2 trips to Ethiopia.  They want both parents to appear at court and bond with your baby for a week, come home without your baby for 3-6 weeks and then travel back to get your baby.  I am not too happy about this since I am 4 1/2 months pregnant and won't be able to travel until after September, if I'm able to go at all with a newborn.  Don't know what the future holds but God does.  He has had His hand on this whole process so I really can't let my FAITH begin to waiver now.  I know He wants these two babies to grow up together and that has been His plan all along.  We are getting ready to send in our dossier as soon as we update our homestudy (due to our pregnancy).  The waiting will be much harder once our dossier is sent because then we will be waiting on a picture and praying she is the right one for us.  Thanks for your prayers! 

Forward movement this week

Good news this past week. We received word that our federal fingerprinting had been approved. Then, we got our letter in the mail and sent the paperwork to Juneau for the state authentication. If all goes well, they should send it back this upcoming week and we can submit our dossier to the agency. We were told that once we send it into the agency, there is a 4-6 month average wait. However, we have learned this is only a number. Only God knows when things will happen. We were told this could happen sooner, or it could take longer. Really??!!!

So, our prayer continues to be that God will open doors and we will find His favor throughout this process. He has done amazing things and we have no doubt it will continue. We figure little Zya is not ready yet. But, when the time is right, we will be ready.

Back from Israel

So, Billy Bloginator is back. Some may think it's lame to give yourself a nickname, but I consider it creative and imaginative. Of course, a person who gives themself a nickname would consider it that way. I digress. I recently returned from a wonderful trip. I never thought I would have the opportunity, but that's exactly what happen. An opportunity. I took it and have been grateful ever since. Melissa was instrumental in easing my aniexity. She assured me everything at home would be okay and I should not miss out. I think of her and the boys if I'm away. Not that God couldn't take care of them, but rather I'm not there to help when needed. Then Levi had his little incident that required 6 stitches. The same thing would have happened had I been at practice, but I could have helped with the ER visit and the other boys. A huge thanks to Tara for helping out with Isaac and Reagan during that ordeal.

So, an opportunity presented itself. Although nervous at first, extremely happy now. Much like our adoption process. I would lie if I stated we were not a little anxious. What is the entire process? How much longer do we have to wait? Are we really ready for this? Will we be the best parents for Zya? All questions that come to mind. Yet, we have before us an opportunity. One that I believe we should not let go by. We didn't set out at first to adopt, but we don't want to miss the opportunity now. With 3 boys, why do we want to add another child? We feel it is just something we need and want and God is opening doors. Why would we won't to miss this now? We will someday look back and have a hard time remembering life without our little daughter just as we do now about the boys. Surley life was good before Isaac, but it's so much better with him and the other 2 hoodlums.

If an opportunity presents itself, don't look at all the obstacles, rather look at the potential. You never know what good things can come if you give it a chance.

Still waiting...

Yes we are still waiting.  It seems to be our topics for the past couple of posts, welcome to adoption world.  It has been 4 weeks today since we had our fingerprinting done.  I sent off our homestudy the day before to the Texas office and they still have not processed it.  I called a week or so ago and asked what the hold up was and I was told they are processing all of the people that want to adopt from Haiti through first.  I was not happy about this, but at the same time I understood.  It's just that the more obstacles in the way the longer my baby girl has to sit and wait in an orphange, that is if she is there yet, which I hope not.  So paperwork, paperwork is where we are at in the process or I guess I should say waiting on paperwork.  Even after we get our fingerprint results back it has to go to our state capital, back to us, we send it to our agency, they send it to Washington D.C. and then to Ethiopia, so we still have process ahead of us.  Please join me in prayer for speedy processing!  Our God is bigger than anything!! 

Waiting on a daughter

Brad Paisley sings a song called "Waiting on a Woman". The video is pretty cool as it showcases Andy Griffith and his advice to Brad. I don't have too much in common with the character in the song as Melissa is usually prompt and timely. In fact, she will say that I'm the one that causes her to wait. Obviously I disagree with that, but don't tell her. I'm not scared of her, but we'll let her have her thoughts.

Back to my dilemma. I am waiting on a daughter. No more news as of yet, just more waiting. Perhaps this is a prelude of things to come. I'm hoping not, but you never know. We have our own waiting problems dealing with the boys. They will get sidetracked and take forever to get ready. If you turn the TV on, you might as well forget about it. Adding a daughter may slow down the process of getting somewhere, but as the song suggests, it will be worth it. So, we will continue to wait and keep you updated as soon as we know anything.

Different than us, but the same

So, a while back, Reagan informed us he didn't think he wanted a black baby sister. At first, this startled us a little. We don't know what may have triggered his thoughts since he and the other boys knew from the start that our new addition would be from Ethiopia and she would indeed be considered black. We didn't panic, but we were curious why he would be worried? He did what any other 5 year old did and told us he didn't know. Perhaps just a random thought, perhaps just a feeling of someone new coming into the family, or perhaps just a change that facilitates conversation? We may never know his rationale at that moment, but the rest of the story is pretty cool.

Late Saturday after Isaac's basketball game, we went out to eat at Chilis. Food was good, conversation was good and laughter abounded as we shared stories. Melissa and I sat on one side of the booth and the boys sat on the other side. We finished our meal, rather we ate all we could and got a to-go box and then ordered dessert. Funny, since the boys were full yet ate all the dessert. Isn't that the way it's suppose to work? Anyway, as we were eating our dessert, a family sat down in the booth behind the boy's side. A mother, father, 3 boys and a baby girl. Melissa and I immediately noticed the little girl. Just as cute as could be with curly hair and full of energy. I would say she was about 2 years old. The family was as white as our faimily, with the exception of the little girl. She was noticably darker in skin color. Obviously, our minds went into an adoption mode. The little girl was at the end of the table in a high chair so we had a clear view. She looked our way and we started making a connection. We let the boys in on our fun and then Reagan immediately got out of the booth to investigate. We told him to say hi and she would probably respond. He did and she smiled and they had a moment of 5 year old to 2 year old communication. Whatever that entails. They both laughed. Melissa took this opportunity to inform Reagan that his baby sister may be like this little girl. He seemed to be more at ease with this as it was a visual illustration of something going on only in his mind.

During this process, we have been open and tried to explain everything to the boys. We can't control their thoughts or questions. We encourage them to ask questions so they might better understand. The funny thing is, Reagan is not the only one who has posed this same question. We have been asked numerous times why we chose Ethiopia. Truth is, we have reasons and it makes sense to us. Ethiopia or America, white or black doesn't matter to us as we will love that little girl just as much as if we brought her home from the hospital. Although she will look different on the outside, she will be the same as our family on the inside and that is what matters.