My Family, My Journey: New Court Date (Sort of)

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

New Court Date (Sort of)

Soooooo, I spoke with our case worker this afternoon. She said that if the relinquishing family member has been able to resolve her ID issue, then our case will be heard again tomorrow.

As in, TOMORROW.

That is one big giant if, though, folks. I think it highly unlikely that there has been enough time for her to travel all the way back to her region (a full day if not two days of traveling), obtain a new ID (not exactly like going down to the DMV), and travel all the way back to Addis Ababa in time to appear in court tomorrow. It's possible, but I think highly unlikely.

Nonetheless, I am again expecting a call from our caseworker between the hours of 12 and 3 PM tomorrow. I am hoping for at least an update as to where things stand with that pesky ID.

This person, on the other hand, has a very real shot at passing court tomorrow and this person has a court date on Thursday! I have not given up hope that I will meet these lovely ladies in Ethiopia soon. Please send them your well wishes!

"The marvelous richness of human experience would lose something of rewarding joy if there were no limitations to overcome. The hilltop hour would not be half so wonderful if there were no dark valleys to traverse."

Helen Keller

13 comments:

Evelyn said...: Tonight, I was lying in bed between my boys trying to get them to go to sleep. I remembered when I didn't know what that felt like. I remember how I ached for them. I thought of you. May your aching be over soon. You, too, will lay between your boys, marvel at their warmth and wish they'd hurry up and go to sleep!

xoxo; Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Rebecca said...: wishing for the best!; Tuesday, April 27, 2010
kn said...: I'm praying for you guys tonight.; Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Eryn said...: So, does gladney/the orphanage in "the region" help her get to and from court or help her resolve this or is she left to finish it on her own? So hard, the ole' waiting game!

Praying for good updates for you!; Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Heidi said...: Eryn, yes, the orphanage director where the boys were relinquished is helping her get the new ID and also helping her get to and from Addis.; Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Kellie said...: Praying for you guys.; Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Lisa said...: Ooo Heidi, that is good news! I hope your case will be heard tomorrow!!! I'll be praying that it is!

How exciting would that be if all three of us pass court this week and get to meet in Ethiopia with our kiddos!!!! Okay I shouldn't get ahead of myself and get too excited...but I just can't help it :); Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Katie Morris said...: Oooohhh, I REALLY hope you hear some good news tomorrow. If not tomorrow, I am praying that it will be really soon!!!!; Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Claudia said...: Oh, SO much hoping for good news for you tomorrow!! (today, now I guess....); Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Busters said...: I missed this post last night!!! Hoping!!!! Love you!!!!; Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Denise Crawford said...: Heidi - Eryn's mom here... Just wanted you to know that I pray for your family every day. Waiting is so hard, but wow what a prize at the end!! This blogging community is so amazing - they way you all support each other, such a major part of your life stories. God bless, hope it all comes together for you and your precious little fellas can come home soon. Today would be good!!; Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Tam and Kai - NYC said...: sending big hugs! i just saw this update. thinking of you...; Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Kat & Stacy said...: soon soon soon soon soon soon soon you will get to hold those boys. I KNOW it!; Wednesday, April 28, 2010

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.