Wait List Update

was the title of the email I just received! Our agency has been developing relationships with a few new orphanages in the last several months. In January, 15 families received referrals for their sweet children! Our case worker emailed us to say that we have moved up on the wait list, and there are 12-15 families ahead of us now on the wait list. She was careful to say it still may be several more months until its our turn, so we don't get our hopes up.. but it is still great progress.

She also said our dossier will be heading off to D.C. next week, for processing with the Secretary of State and then the Ethiopian Embassy. So, Hillary, be watching, there are some important papers heading your way!

Merry Christmas!

Unless things go much longer than expected, we should have our baby home by Christmas next year. We are very much enjoying this one as a family of five! Merry Christmas!

Dossier done!

I mailed off the entire dossier to WACAP today! The ups store guy asked me how much it was worth, how much to insure it for. $200, 4 months of work, a new addition to our family: its priceless. Now begins the real waiting game... up until now, I've had things to do, now there really is nothing left until we get "The Call".

Two more documents

Two more documents are waiting at the NC SOS for me to pick up Monday morning. Then.. the dossier paperwork will be done! By the way, I am determined to get a bit of humanity back from the lady I have visited three times at the Secy of State's office. She ahs barely even looked at me, and only speaks the cursory amount of words to get through our transactions. Despite me being as gracious as possible, while not using up more of her time than is neccesary. I don't think she knows that what she is doing for me a a step in bringing home our son.

I finally got back the medical certificate from my doctors office today, it took them nearly 2 weeks to return. But, I have it now. Tomorrow, I am taking a giant stack of papers to the NC Secretary of State to have all the notary signatures authenticated. I decided to make the drive down there and hand deliver/pick up the paperwork to save some $$. Plus, I don't have to worry it is lost in the mail somewhere.

Quote

“Family need not be defined merely as those with whom they
share blood but for those for whom they would give their blood.”
--from Nicholas Nickleby by Charles Dickens

Sibling Connection?

I was sitting at the table with my three year old while she was eating lunch on Monday. She stopped, looked at me and said "Mama there is a baby crying. I think it's our baby brother. We need to go get him!"

Hmmmm... so I will record this and maybe November 9th is a significant day for our son. Or, maybe our three year old has an active imagination. Either way, this will be fun for both these kids to read some day.