Where we are...

I have had a few people ask us as to where we are in the adoption process...  how far along are we, how much longer until our babies are home, and how we are doing financially.  This may be a long post (we'll see...) but hopefully it will answer those questions for all those who are wondering. 

As of right now, our dossier (paperwork) was sent to Ethiopia and has been translated.  We were awaiting our I-171, which is the permission from Immigration to bring children into the country.  It arrived this past week.  We then sent it on to our agency, it is in DC now being 'authenticated' and then will be sent over to Ethiopia to join our dossier.  We are waiting for a referral at this point in time.  A referral is when we get the pictures and paperwork on children that will possibly become ours.  I spoke with a lady at our agency today and she said we were #6 in line right now.  Of the five families ahead of us, four are also wanting multiple children.  I am not sure if some are requesting older kids or all younger and I am also not sure as to if they were specific on gender either.  She said to expect that we would wait approximately 2-3 months.  We get the referral and if we accept it, we will do a bunch of paperwork to 'officially' accept the referral and then our file will be joined with the children's files in Ethiopia and presented to the courts.  We will find out then about our court date.  We (Dan and I) will travel to Ethiopia and meet our babies.  We will appear before the judge and hopefully then pass court.  Once we pass court, we will come home and then await an embassy appointment.  When we get an embassy appointment, we will be headed back to Ethiopia, along with our mothers, to pick up the children.  We decided to take both mothers for backup.  With how our trip to get Mason went (especially the trip home), we figured we may need the help.  If not, then we at least get to show our mothers where our children are from, what the country is like.  We are excited to share this with them. 
Financially, we are ok, not there, not great, but ok.  We are definitely in need of more, but we know that God will provide in His time.  We are anxiously awaiting our income tax return, which will cover the fees due when we get a referral.  Beyond that, we are planning a garage sell, probably the first weekend of May.  I am praying and hoping that it will cover the costs of the first trip.  I know that is a huge prayer, but our God is bigger.  I am estimating that we will need approx. $5,000 for our first trip (including airfare, hotel, food, etc).  We are also thinking of having a spaghetti dinner at our house.  We are thinking we can set up tables, chairs, lights, tiki torches in the back yard and turn it into a 'fairyland' of sorts.  I figured we could sell tickets in advance to get an idea of how many people will attend, but also sell tickets at the door.  I can make a huge spaghetti dinner, and then have a 'dessert buffet'.  For those who do not know, i went to culinary school for pastry arts, so I enjoy the desserts!  I have fun making those!  I am praying that we have a huge turnout and that event will cover the second trip.  If not, we will see how the Lord provides.  I am estimating at this point we are in need of approximately $15,000.  It doesn't seem so bad since after paying the fees for the referral, we will have paid roughly $25,000 out of pocket already.  It's pretty awesome to see God providing along the way.  We have made huge progress, but still have quite a ways to go. 
We have worked on applying for grants as well, but there is no guarantee there.  i am hoping to finish filling out those applications this weekend and getting them in the mail.  Also, our agency will take donations ear-marked for us that would be tax deductible, should anyone wish to help in that manner also.  We know the Lord will provide for our needs in His plan and timing.
I hope this helps those who are curious understand and know where we are in the process.  Hope you have a blessed weekend!