Well as of today, our home study agency is still waiting on 3 state background checks before we can even get on the waitlist. It's amazing to look back to January when we thought - dossier is being sent in toward the beginning of February and we should get on the list, to now just hoping we get on the list sometime in April. So we continue to wait...

In the midst of waiting, a lot has changed with Ethiopian adoptions. There is another form that we need to submit (the I-604 form) which could add an additional few weeks in the midst of our referral-bringing babies home time, and then as of today - big change. Ethiopia has determined that it is necessary for families adopting children to visit the country twice. Once to meet the referred child(ren), determine that they will indeed 'accept' this child(ren), and then 6-8 weeks later travel back to get your child(ren).

This all came about when 41 families went back on their word of adoption. In Ethiopia once a child has gone through the court process to become yours and you come and say - oops something is not right here - that child can never be up for adoption again. Some of the questionable activies with some adoption agencies is - not sharing all medical information, or inaccurate information, possibly not sharing accurate ages, etc - which has probably led to some families saying no. I believe the Ethiopian government really does have the childs best interest at hand. How incredibly excrutiating and traumatizing for these precious children to think they're going to forever families - to finding out they will never be adopted.

Jay and I DO want what is best for these beautiful children of God, and I'm thankful that they are going to be even more watchful for them. Yes, it does mean some 'hardships' for us - but then again, it's not really about us. It's about God's call on our lives - and knowing that, we are at peace.

Here's a few of the pros and cons with this information:

Pros:
- Your child is a US citizen when they step foot into the US, you don’t have to re-adopt. This definitely did add time to the much busier schedule when returning home - and will be so nice to not have to do.
- You physically get to see your child earlier - this will be great for those of us who love pictures, love the thought of our children having their own albums they can cherish - and this just means their album starts sooner.
- We get to bring them our gifts and give them first-hand. Blankets, stuffed animals, clothing, for older children - pictures...
- On the broad scheme of things, this will help to keep adoption agencies more honest in the profiles of the children.
- Airline miles

Cons:
- You see your child for a week and then have to leave!
- Cost of 2 trips to Ethiopia
- Leaving Noah & Jonah twice in such a quick timeframe
- Jet lag

We have been told that both of us must travel on the first visit (makes sense, if we're deciding whether this child will be in our home), and then the second visit can be only 1 parent. I'm expecting this will mean that on that first visit - there will be more time to learn about the culture as we won't have our child outside of the premises of Hannah's Hope, shopping for special items for our children, etc. We can see our children there but can't take them out with us. With our new partnership with our church in Debret Zeit, Ethiopia - it might mean even some more time with them.  Depending on work we will decide whether or not we're both able to go the second time, or whether I and a friend go. I have a couple people who are ready to jump on that plane with me now!

With all that said, I have to say that I'm so thankful we're not further down the process. Please pray for those families who have already received a referral as this drastically changes what they thought they had coming over the next 2 months. Details are still being worked out as this was new as of today!

It's amazing how you can have such conflicting emotions - and feel both of them so strongly. The situation:

We found out today that our home study agency did not send some of our paperwork in for criminal checks in each state that Jay and I have ever lived in since we were 18, and we now have to wait for those to be sent and for the results to come back. The frustrating part - is that we sent this information in with our application - which they have now had for 4 months! They forgot - and now we cannot get on the waitlist (which we were expecting to hear about possibly even tomorrow).

Frustration. Frustration at a situation that we have no control over. Frustration on doing our part - and someone else's mistake affecting us. Frustration at not being able to do anything about it. Frustration at being so close to feeling so far now from the next step.

Faith. Faith that we know, that we know, that we know - God is in control and He has a perfect plan! Faith that He knows which beautiful children will be joining our home, and He was not surprised by this. Faith - He knows where those children are now (the womb, alive, or not even on this earth yet) and He knows when they need to be brought to Hannah's Hope so that we can bring them home.

So while I still feel the frustration of someone else's human error 'affecting' our family, I'm thankful that He has this in control and I can rely on God - fully knowing that He is in control! Does that make sense?

Yes, we're waiting to be on the waitlist. Our dossier has been received, our paperwork looks great, the only thing holding us back from getting those special numbers are the home study review. We have reviewed it, OK'd it, signed the cover copy, and it's now been in our adoption agencies hands for a week. Any day now they should have completed reviewing it, will offer revisions back to our home study agency, then they will notarize it and send it back. Once the notarized originals are received by AGCI - we will get our numbers. In the last week I've seen one family get #19 for siblings, and another get #20 for siblings. So - - - I'm guessing we're going to be in the 20's for our siblings.

For those who aren't familiar with this # thing, some agencies and some countries do it differently. Our agency and Ethiopia allow for us to be on a waitlist where you can see the numbers move - and slowly see yourself move up the list. We have some friends in Denver that are adopting from Rwanda through a different agency, and there process is much different. Rwanda urrently has all of their paperwork and has since October. Once they review your paperwork (which hasn't been done yet), they will receive some sort of 'favorable' letter saying they can adopt through Rwanda, then they have 1 to 2 months to wait for a referral - with basic information - picture & age, if they 'accept', then they get the medical records and any history, have that reviewed, 'accept' again, and then work on court dates and travel time. I'm amazed at how different it is for each agency and country.

My hope is that we have our 'numbers' before Jay comes back from his trip to Ethiopia on the 25th.

Woohoo! Our dossier is in the mail today. We received our final document, made copies of it (everything else was already copied) and the boys and I took it to the post office. What a great feeling - MOST of the paperwork is done!

Exactly 59 minutes - to get the family loaded in the car, drive to Town Hall, get dossier paperwork notarized, drive home, put the boys to bed for naps, then I leave, go and get copies made of the dossier, and arrive home! I love my small town!

We are now waiting for two items - 1 donation is in the mail as we speak, and we're waiting for one other document that should arrive sometime this week. Then we can mail this dossier paperwork out. What a great feeling!

We are only 3 items away from having a completed dossier!! WOW! I was sure this paperwork process would take forever - and that it would be completely daunting - but it really wasn't that bad.  Now we just need $450 before we can mail it in, so please pray for this.

Our home study appointments have been completed and we're just waiting for the report to be written for us to review and finalize. We have 4 of our 6 online education adoption courses done, and 1/2 of our adoption workbook completed.

I believe that once the above items are done we can be put on the waiting list! Amazing. We'll continue to keep you updated on what is going on and how you can pray.

For those of you like me - you'll appreciate this. I am a planner, even by trade. I like timelines, order, dates, deadlines... And then I think - what am I doing, doing an adoption process? I've heard so often that it's moving fast, then waiting, moving fast, then waiting. In the midst of all this - I am excited to see how God will use this to stretch me and grow me. My husband on the other hand, is calm - - - calm, cool, collected. What a huge blessing that God has melded our hearts together and that we can draw from each others strengths.

With that said, here is our current timeline:

2004 - First time that we both felt that God was leading us towards adoption as one way to grow our family.

2007 - Decided upon Ethiopia as the place we felt God's tug on our heart, for our children.

2008 - After much research, and recommendation from Loving Shepherd Ministries, we chose All God's Children Int'l (AGCI) as our adoption agency.

Summer 2009 - Chose Lutheran Family Services (LFS) as our home study agency.

October 7, 2009 - Mailed in our application to AGCI. (We had to wait to start our adoption process until our youngest child in the home was 9 months old.)
October 16, 2009 - Mailed in our application to LFS.

November 18, 2009 - Officially approved through AGCI. (The normal wait for the 'initial approval' is 48-72 hours after they receive your packet, but we had delays with medical coverage questions - which lead to 1 month and 11 days, instead of 48-72 hours)
November 19, 2009 - 1st Home study visit
November 20, 2009 - Contract-Orientation call with AGCI
November 23, 2009 - Mailed in all contracts and beginning fees for AGCI

December 4, 2009 - Received Dossier packet
December 7, 2009 - 2nd home study visit
December 8, 2009 - Dossier-Orientation call with AGCI, *postponed, case manager sick
December 14, 2009 - 3rd home study visit, orientation dossier call with AGCI
December 14, 2009 - Birth certificates/marriage license ordered
December 15, 2009 - 1/2 of With Eyes Wide Open workbook completed
December 17, 2009 - 4th and final home study visit
December 18, 2009 - Power of Attorney and Criminal Records verified and notarized, extra passport photos taken
December 18, 2009 - Financial Statement and Post Adoption Commitment letter written
December 22, 2009 -  1 out of 6 education courses online completed
December 23, 2009 - Power of Attorney paperwork sent in for State Certification
December 30, 2009 - Medical appointments for Jay & Kimberly complete
December 30, 2009 - Power of Attorney is now state certified and in our hands

January 3, 2010 - 2nd online education course completed
January 7, 2010 - 3rd online education course completed
January 11, 2010 - Photos of Family and Home printed
January 12, 2010 - 4th online education course completed
January 12, 2010 - Received Employment Verification Letter through our tax office since we're self-employed
January 13, 2010 - all but 3 documents in hand, waiting to turn in for our dossier!
January 24, 2010 - Our own adoption application letter to MOWA written (Ethiopian government)
January 26, 2010 - 1st letter of recommendation received
January 27, 2010 - prepared dossier and copies, minus 1 letter of recommendation
January 28, 2010 - donations received that brings us to the place where we have enough to send in our dossier

February 1, 2010 - AGCI call to discuss the USCIS forms needed
February 2, 2010 - received 2nd (& final) letter of recommendation, made copies of this to attach to dossier
February 2, 2010 - DOSSIER IS COMPLETE & IN THE MAIL!!!
February 3, 2010 - Dossier has been received by AGCI
February 4, 2010 - Home Study Review with Lutheran Family Services
February 5, 2010 - Our home study has been received by AGCI for review

Today we received the call that we've been waiting for, for over a month. Our application is approved! After much discussion, they have all determined that our medical coverage IS sufficient, and that we can proceed. YEA!

Tomorrow we have our first home study meeting and Friday we have our orientation call with our adoption agency.

Thank you to all who have prayed for us through this first challenge. We continue to covet your prayers throughout this time.

Just a quick update on this cold, but beautiful sunny day with snow everywhere!

The home study agency just let me know that our 'challenge' is going to the director of social services with AGCI in Oregon and they will have an answer on Wednesday for us. Please pray that they will find favor with us so that we can proceed. Also, on Thursday we have our first home study appointment in our home in the afternoon. Please pray that it goes well and will be a great introduction to all of the next steps.

Today we received word from Lutheran Family Services - our home study agency. And the news is this... the state of Colorado WILL accept our medical coverage for adopted children!!! Praise the Lord!!! Now, the next step will be to see if our adoption agency, AGCI, will get on the same page with us, regarding medical coverage. Our LFS representative will call them on Monday, in hopes of getting all of us on the same page so that we can proceed.

Please pray that this will be able to accepted by AGCI. Their challenge is, that they are based out of Oregon and the Oregon social services is the one that is saying they won't accept our medical coverage. If they (AGCI) are able to accept this, then we will officially be approved and can move forward! If they are not able to accept this, then we will be in search of a new adoption agency. We know that God knows exactly where our children will be and the agency we go through will determine where we get our children. It is in the Lord's hands.