Holding Steady

As was previously announced, Chelsea is off to visit her great-grandmother in Nebraska. Unfortunately she did not get to carry with her the news of a referral. We still maintain hope that it will occur this week. I must say that my perspective of our wait time has changed drastically in the past 48 hours as I have read several of your blogs and your time frames. We greatly appreciate you sharing your hearts, as well as the encouragement you send our way despite your own agonizing wait. To all of you who have been through court once or more, and are awaiting your next day - know that our thoughts and prayers are with you! YOU are very close! On another note, http://muchhasbeengiven.blogspot.com/ Sarah and Davis posted a great video from "Children's Hopechest." We have included a link to it on our post today, and hope that you have the opportunity to view it! What a tremendous way to communicate the situation and need in Ethiopia. I've already found it a good way to help others understand our decision to adopt, and our decision to adopt from Ethiopia.

As for us, we keep holding steady, awaiting the exciting news of our referral...and continue to enjoy all of your support.

ENJOY: http://www.youtube.com/user/childrenshopechest

Hoping

We are hoping to get our referral today. I am going to see my great grandma for Thanksgiving (95 years old) and I want to take a picture w/me when I go!

Well I'm outtie. It looks like we aren't going to get our referral today. Everyone have a great Thanksgiving and enjoy time w/your families!

Yesterdays News

We found out yesterday that, according to the FBI list, we are now 4th on the list instead of 5th! We're excited about it! Even better, when I just checked it this morning I found were 3rd! :)

Today would be a perfect day to get a referral as it is David's birthday! :)

26 weeks

So somehow I got off on my count of how long it has been that we have waited for our referral and have actually been waiting one week longer than I realized. Today makees 26 weeks.

Sick

Today is the first day I have felt like posting. David and I have been very sick with the flu. Luckily it was bad enough, that we got in to see the doctor right away! It worked out even better b/c we had an appt. the next week to update our medical forms for our Gladney file. So we ended up killing two birds w/one stone. Even with the meds. we feel crummy, but are starting to feel better *fingers crossed*.


Check this out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3231213.stm . It is the first doll to be MADE IN Ethiopia! This doll has been released for a little while, and I have been wanting to find information on it!!! I think it is really neat b/c the doll really does look Ethiopian esp. in the eyes! I think that is my favorite part, I love big Ethiopian eyes. They are so beautiful! I am so proud of the accomplishments they are making, as I know the maker of this toy is very proud (the article does a great job stating this)! I have read a few stories (there are many) on Senzero and think it is neat that this doll is taken from one of their favorite story book characters! Anyway its a neat article, check it out!

Another week

Tomorrow makes another week of waiting and brings the grand total to 6 months. I realize it is not much of a wait compared to other countries and no matter how long the wait, it will be worth it when we get our baby. However, it's not the length of the wait as much as it is the expectation of normal versus reality. We were given an expectation of 3 to 5 months. As we exited our window we were sorely disappointed. I always plan for things to be a bit worse than I expect b/c it seems to be my luck, but as we have reached these past few weeks our hearts have grown heavier. It has really got to be ridiculous for us and we feel as if we will never get a referral. I know it will happen, to hang in there, that God is in control, all of that- but time marches on and we are left standing still.


On a more positive note today a few things happened that I really enjoyed. I got several records at work that I had been waiting on and excitedly took them to the people who had been waiting on them. As I took them the records I realized there were a couple of people who thought I was not bringing them their paper work, but our referral information. It was too late when I realized what was happening and could see the joy on their faces and their arms come out ready to hug me. Then once I showed them what it was they were still excited but in that odd state of "what to do from here". I felt bad and didn't really know what to say and they also seemed to be fishing for the next move! Even though it was an awkward situation, it was neat to see their excitement and made me feel great that there are so many people pulling for us to get this referral! Our baby is out there and we are going to bring him/her home… I just don’t know WHEN.

So whats new?

This past Wed. makes 5mo. and 3 weeks of waiting for our referral.

There are lots of pictures below that I have been meaning to blog. The very bottom pictures are of some capri pants that I bought. They are really neat and by purchasing them you can help to end extreme poverty in Africa by 2025. OmniPeace donates 25% of its profits to Millennium Promise, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower the poor with skills and tools required to pull themselves out of poverty and become self-sustainable.

The other picture is of the food cubes I bought. I am planning on making my own baby food so now I have something to store the food in!

On Oct. 31 David and I had the day off so we rode a train to a town that is about 1hr. away by car. It was really fun. Later in the afternoon we played with the dogs outside and took a silly picutre together. We had also bought a pumpkin and I got to carve it. I really wanted to carve something different this year. I am really happy with what turned out (see below)! There are 3 posts b/c I can't post as many pictures as I would like to... 3 posts later I get the finished product! I guess I shouldn't get so behind on blogging!