My Family, My Journey: 10 Months Down...

Monday, October 12, 2009

10 Months Down...

...and still feeling strong! Mark and I were checking in with each other at dinner on Friday night and even after completing ten months on the wait list, we both agree that we cannot complain about this wait. Being patient is challenging, sure, but we think what lies on the other side of this is so wonderful and so worth waiting for.

We are also acutely aware of the loss that is occurring in our children's and their birth family's lives. In light of that awareness any feelings of impatience just seem selfish and trivial. We are praying double time for everyone who is connected to our adoption...people half way around the world, whom we may never even know, but whose lives will be connected to ours forever. We hope that our children are healthy and happy and already in Gladney's care...and we know in our hearts that we will see their little faces when the timing is right.

“Faith is not simply a patience that passively suffers until the storm is past. Rather, it is a spirit that bears things - with resignations, yes, but above all, with blazing, serene hope.” ~Corazon Aquino quotes (Political leader and president (1986-92) of the Philippines, b.1933)

9 comments:

Rebecca said...: I think you are awesome! Yep, just completely and totally awesome! And I am so happy you are my friend and that our kids will be friends and we can go on vacations together!!!; Monday, October 12, 2009
Tam and Kai - NYC said...: Very well stated. You truly inspire the rest of us along the way!
and lastly...I am SO looking forward to seeing you :); Monday, October 12, 2009
Lisa said...: My feelings exactly. Your prayers are heard and God is faithful! My thoughts are with you guys! The week is young...; Monday, October 12, 2009
Maribeth said...: These kids are going to be so lucky to have such incredible parents. It's so easy to loose track of the big picture in this process. Talk about 2 people that really get it... these kids will be yours, and it will be awesome! Can't wait for that day!; Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Journey to Jaden said...: Just wanted to let you know that I am still praying for you!!; Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The Busters said...: I love that quote! You are such an inspiration, Heidi! Reading your posts keeps me strong. Thank you!
PS - Am I the only one who finds the "words" for the word verfication to be totally hilarious sometimes. The one for this post is "nomers." WHAT? It's the little things! :); Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Billy Francis said...: We families on the list are watching and praying with you. We are 17 down from you, www.francisfamily.com. Billy, Annalise and Callie; Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Francis Family said...: We families on the list are watching and praying with you. We are 17 down from you, www.francisfamily.com. Billy, Annalise and Callie; Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Mathews Family said...: We are praying for you and for your babies!

We just hit wait list yesterday...

What a journey!

All the best to you!

The Mathews Family; Friday, October 16, 2009

Timeline

*PAPER CHASE/5.5 MNTHS*
6-27-08: Register for orientation with local agency
7-16-08: Attend orientation with local agency
8-19-08: Decide to adopt from Ethiopia through Gladney. Best decisions ever!
8-28-08: Attend orientation with Gladney
8-28-08: 1st Home Study interview
9-25-08: Home study interviews completed & all Gladney paper work submitted
9-30-08: CIS fingerprints
10-2-08: FBI clearance
11-12-08: Home Study report completed
11-25-08: Gladney approval
12-4-08: CIS approval
*WAIT FOR REFERRAL/13 MNTHS*
12-11-08: Wait list!!!!!!!
4-21-09: Increased our age preference hoping to speed things up (HA!)
8-29-09: Heidi's medicals updated
9-15-09: Mark's medicals updated
9-20-09: Travel Immunizatons
11-10-09: Sent in request for CIS fingerprint updates
11-11-09: Gladney calls to review our age preference
11-17-09: Gladney calls again and tells us about twin boys who *might* become available. We agree to increasing our age preference in order to pursue these boys.
11-21-09: Receive CIS fingerprint appointment
12-16-09: Have CIS fingerprints taken
1-4-10: Referral!!!!!!! 28 month old twin boys!!!!!
*WAIT TO PASS COURT/4 MNTHS*
1-19-10: Start home study update
2-18-10: CIS fingerprints cleared
3-4-10: Home study update completed/sent CIS extension request
3-30-10: File submitted to courts!
3-31-10: Received court date!
4-22-10: Received CIS approval extension
4-23-10: 1st court date
4-28-10: 2nd court date
5-05-10: 3rd court date
05-06-10: 4th and final court date! We're a family!
5-12-10: Receive travel dates!
5-18-10: Travel!
6-1-10: Home as a family of SEVEN (four humans, three puppy dogs!)

Fun Facts About Ethiopia

•Ethiopia has been around for a very long time. The country's Rift Valley is known as the cradle of humanity - fossils of the oldest known upright hominid (4-million years old) were found here in 2005, surpassing the famous 3.5-million-year-old 'Lucy', which was discovered in the same region back in 1974.

•A thousand years before Christ, the Queen of Sheba, we are told, traveled to Jerusalem where she met King Solomon, married him, and had a son, Menelik. When Menelik reached maturity, it is said he left Jerusalem and took with him the Ark of the Covenant, containing the original 10 commandments, back to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Christian Orthodox Church says it still has the ark in its possession. No one else makes such a claim...

•Ethiopia's official religion is the 1700 year old Ethiopian Christian Orthodox Church. The Jews of Ethiopia, Beta Israel, are said to have been there for 3000 years. And its Muslim adherents have practiced Islam for 1300 years. Ethiopia is split religiously, with official statistics of 35% to 40% Ethiopian Orthodox primarily in the north, and 45% to 50% Muslim, primarily in the South.

•Ethiopia is the only country in Africa never to be under colonial rule, other than a brief occupation by Italy during WWII. You can visit many restaurants in Ethiopia today due to the influence of Italy during the occupation.

•Traditional Ethiopian food consists of various vegetable or meat dishes, usually a wat or thick stew, served atop injera, which is a large crepe-like sourdough flatbread made from fermented teff flour. One does not eat with utensils, but instead uses a piece of the injera (always with the right hand) to scoop up the sauces.

•The Ethiopian calendar is very similar to the Egyptian Coptic calendar – each have 13 months, 12 with 30 days each and the 13th month at the end of the year with 5 or 6 days, depending on whether it is a leap year. The year starts on September 11th (12th in a leap year). The Ethiopian calendar is 7 years behind the Gregorian calendar, so Ethiopia recently celebrated their millennium on September 12, 2007.

•Coffee can be traced back to the 9th Century where it is believed a shepherd discovered coffee beans in the highlands of Ethiopia, namely the Kaffa region. The Ethiopian people are very proud of their coffee and they show this in their well known coffee ceremonies. The Coffee Ceremony is a very important part of socializing in Ethiopia and to be invited to a coffee ceremony is always considered a sign of respect and friendship.

•There are multiple tribes with different subcultures and over 80 languages in Ethiopia. The Amharic language is a Semitic language spoken in North Central Ethiopia and is the official working language for Ethiopia.

•Family in Ethiopia includes immediate and extended relatives, neighbors, and friends. Faith and family are the foundation of the Ethiopian culture. Ethiopians are very respectful and loving. The elderly are considered very knowledgeable and as a very important part of the family structure. Children are usually raised in a large community that includes extended family and neighbors, and siblings are expected to help take care of each other.