I know I haven't written in like, well, forever. But the reality is we are still where we were during all of my previous posts. At least as far as the actual adoption itself is concerned. Since I have had so many questions lately I thought it was time to say a word about what is going on.
We have been waiting for the Orphanage to pass along paperwork to the Adoption Agency in Ethiopia. Once they have that paperwork they will be able to have a different state-run orphanage finish more paperwork. Until we have all that paperwork finished (timetable completely unknown) we cannot start paperwork here.
It's hard. There are really no other words. I call once or twice a week to the adoption agency here in the US and we chat about the activity (mostly lack of activity) in the case. The agency themselves keeps saying that this is normal in these cases. Let me tell you, that does NOT make it any easier.
Once we can get the paperwork there finished the predictions (hopefully these are more accurate than weather predictions but I'm not holding my breath) are that it will take 2 months to do paperwork here. Then 4-6 months after that before we can bring her home. I am really just praying this is by Christmas-time.
On the upside I got a new picture of her in my facebook inbox yesterday, the first I have had in 3 months. She is growing up so much! and just gorgeous! It's bittersweet seeing the picture. It's good to have it and good to see her, but it also only further accentuates that she is growing up and I'm not there.
I ask that you pray for her. Pray for me and Jeff. Pray for my kids who want her home now too. Pray for those involved in all this paperwork processing. Pray that we get some good news soon. It seems like so long since we've had any forward progress.
The one upside to this is that our fund to bring her home has been steadily growing. We have received a couple generous gifts and we did a small coupon booklet fundraiser. Everything else has been cutting down the budget, really it's been NOT doing a lot of stuff we'd like to do and then our tax refund. We are at 57.6% funded!
