DTE for 8 months

I have been trying to stay busy so that I am not pouting every day about the wait. I have been enjoying my time of projects to keep me busy. I know you are thinking, "You need projects to keep you busy?" I know, I know, my 4 kiddos keep me extremely busy, but projects go into a different department. They keep my brain energy focused! Otherwise, I think I would be going nuts!

All this to say, I FORGOT it was Zoe Day, but I think the last picture could help explain my day.

Keeping Busy...

The conference call was today. Nothing new was really said. They still just don't know time frames yet. It is hard not getting concrete answers but I do understand why we don't get them. This is a long hard road but in the mean time I am staying busy! 

Well, I am always busy but I am just trying to stay busy with the right things! 

This is one of my new adventures. Check out my other blog, "Don't call me CRAZY!" 

An update from AWAA

This was an email we received this week. I figured this was the easiest way to keep you all informed. 

From America World:

Dear Brian & Kristy,

Thank you for your continued patience as we all wait for more information to unfold in Ethiopia.  In an effort to keep you apprised of any and all updates in regard to adoptions from Ethiopia, we are writing to let you know that over the last few days our staff has seen MOWCYA writing only five recommendation letters a day.  Meetings with the State Minister and other adoption stakeholders in Ethiopia continue to take place and we are still hearing pro-adoption feedback from government officials.  While it appears this trend with MOWCYA will continue for the time being, we ask you to continue to join us in prayer for the officials in Ethiopia as they work to improve the adoption process.

We know that a lot of questions remain in regard to the implications of this change, specifically about its effect on future wait times to both pass court and receive referrals.  While we do not have many answers at this time, America World does want to ensure that you feel supported, informed, and have the opportunity to ask questions. 

We will hold an Ethiopia Conference Call next Tuesday, May 17 at 3pm EST.  Conference call information is listed below.  Please plan to join us as we talk more about the current situation within the Ethiopia adoption program.

Putting it all in perspective... every step matters...

When trying to wrap your head around the waiting process, it can be very hard to understand. As time goes on, I have started to understand some things a little more. There is a good chance that me trying to explain all of this will just confuse you even more, but....here it goes.

These are the steps...

Step 1. Paperwork (compiling your dossier)

Step 2. Waiting (set time for a infant girl is 7 to 11 months)

Step 3. Referral

Step 4. Waiting for a court date (8 to 12 weeks)

Step 5. Court date (first trip to Ethiopia)

Step 6. Wait for an embassy clearance (6 to 8 weeks)

Step 7. Go pick up baby girl (second trip)

What a long road ahead. We are only at step 2. Also, just so you can understand it a little further some people (not all) fail court and will have a court date re issued to them. Unfortunately, that can happen multiple times.

As much as we want step 3 to happen for us, steps 4 through 7 have to happen for a lot of other people in order for step 3 to happen for us. AWAA transition home gets full and can no longer take other children in to be referred until more room is available. How does more room become available? That would be step 7.

Now for the numbers... we are currently on the list as #12. Here are the stats...

People currently doing STEP 7 (in route to Ethiopia): 1 child

People waiting for STEP 6 (embassy clearance): 25 children

People that have been assigned a court date STEP 5: 11 families have upcoming court dates and 10 have failed court and waiting to pass

People waiting for STEP 4 (a Court Date): 22 families

People waiting for STEP 3 (a Referral): 96 families

So, not that my records are that official but those stats say that there are 69 children in Ethiopia that have forever families waiting for them to come and pick them up.

**We are only at step 2 and I honestly had no clue how hard this process was going to be. They say the only thing about adoption that is predictable is that it is unpredictable. **