My Family, My Journey: The Suspense Continues

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

The Suspense Continues

Most families find out their travel dates the day they pass court...

But it just wouldn't be right for us to get through this last and final phase without a few delays, would it?

Our agency needed a little extra time to find out if they can get our court decree in time for us to travel in the next group.

Fine, no problem.

We thought we would find out on Monday...

Then Tuesday (today)...

Now Wednesday!!!

So, tomorrow.

Okay, no problem.

Tomorrow we hope to hear that we will be traveling in the next group, which would mean we leave in ONE WEEK!

They did tell us to put our flights on hold so I'm hoping that's a good sign...

One week, people!

But first, tomorrow...

13 comments:

Lisa said...: Oh, good grief! I was just going to ask if you had heard anything. The suspense is killing me, I can hardly imagine what you two are going through!; Tuesday, May 11, 2010
The Busters said...: Yes, the suspense is killing me too!! Hopeful for you guys!!!; Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Jennifer said...: Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow!; Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Rebecca said...: seriously ... i think i am completely gray now.; Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Amy said...: I can't wait for you to be able to hold those sweet boys!!!; Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Cassandra Britt said...: Gracious!!!; Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Eryn said...: You are so gracious. Seriously, what else? Volcanic Ash to cancel your flights? :) Lord, I hope not...I shouldn't even joke, but REALLY.; Tuesday, May 11, 2010
scooping it up said...: If it makes you feel better, we passed court April 30th, and are still waiting to hear about travel dates as well... Good luck!; Tuesday, May 11, 2010
scooping it up said...: PS, we probably won't travel for at least another 5 weeks... :( Go get those sweet boys, you've waited long enough for each other!; Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Tracy said...: !!!!!!!

I hope tomorrow brings the best news!; Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Leanne said...: Heidi - please share!!!! When do you travel? I realize that Ft Worth isn't even open for business yet, but come on!! :); Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Leanne said...: Heidi - please share!!!! When do you travel? I realize that Ft Worth isn't even open for business yet, but come on!! :); Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Evelyn said...: Sheesh! Let the rollercoaster end! Though this craziness is so typical of life with instant two! You're getting a head start. Can't wait to hear when you travel!!!; Wednesday, May 12, 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.