Ok, so the new news!

Well, The birth mother interview came and went.  We even got up this morning and received a lovely email from the embassy stating that our case had cleared.  The email only had one of the boys' name on it, so I promply emailed the embassy to 'clarify' that they had indeed cleared our entire case.  The response came back about 45 min. later that no, we had only cleared on one child.  They stated that they were going to request a birth mother interview for our other boy  -  WHAT!!! I was irate!  I emailed them back again, after I had calmed down a bit, and asked how this could happen.  Our case, along with both boys, is one file.  So, it should all happen at the same time.  We even questioned why they only requested a meeting w one birth mother in the first place.  So, anyhow,  a bit later, got an email from the embassy that they had ineed made a mistake.  MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!  :)  The embassy admitted they made an error!  So, where we stand now....  the embassy still watns a birth mother meeting with our other son's bmom.  So, in talking with our case worker, they (in Ethiopia) are in a dash to find her!  The embassy has said that when they could get her there they would make accomidations to get her in.  Pray with us, once again, that they find her like, today, and get her to the embassy at the first of next week.  We are now on hold again, and I have to admit, I am going to really, REALLY, struggle with being thankful at Thanksgiving if they are not home!  

PRAYER REQUEST!

I am writing this to you all to request prayer from any and every one!  While we are sleeping tonight (Tuesday night), the US Embassy in Ethiopia will be meeting with one of our sons birth mothers.  Please pray that they are pleased with the information and that they quickly (preferrably right away) clear us for travel!  We are anxious to get our boys home before the holidays and it is cutting things close!  Pray that when we get up tomorrow (Wednesday) we will have an email from the embassy!  I am praying for sleep!  It's been about 2 weeks of weird dreams and lack of sleep!  I definitely have adoption on the brain! 

I know I am writing this post early in the day, but figure having a full day of people praying can't hurt!

I want to thank you all in advance for your continued prayers!  We really appreciate each and every one!  This process is difficult even with prayers, I can't imagine keeping my sanity without being surrounded by it! 
THANK YOU!

the 26th...

The birth mom interview has now been confirmed for the 26th of October.  Our case worker at the agency said that if we hadnt heard anything by the 28th to contact the embassy.  She said that usually families clear fairly quickly after the interview.  I am praying that is the case for us.  Things have been a bit unusual for us (like MOWA not wanting to write our letter) this adoption, so I am praying this is not the case.  i would love to have travel clearance by the end of next week. 

Yesterday was a 'down' day.  I wasn't really upset by the delay, I was just kind of numb.  It was just one more thing.  I am defnitely in a better mood today after a good nights sleep...  or kind of good.  Little one was up 3 times or so, I had weird dreams about the adoption.  But, overall, I woke up refreshed this morning.  So, on with another day.  God has given me joy in the morning and I will be glad!

Delayed...again

We received an email that the embassy no longer had appointments available on the 25th.  They stated they had the 26th available, but confirmation had to be requested.  We are in the process of finding out if we are going to be able to have the interview on the 26th or not.  Please pray that we are able to get that date for the birth mother interview!
Thank you!

the 25th

The 25th of October is now the day we are anxiously awaiting!  The embassy decided a little over a week ago when we were submitted again that they wanted to meet with one of the boys' birth mothers.  So, our agency people quickly started reaching the birth mother and has scheduled the interview with the embassy for her for the 25th of October.  Please be in prayer for us as we wait for next Tuesay to come.  Pray that we find out next Tuesday that the embassy has cleared us and we can travel.  If that is not the case, and they decide they want more information, pray that I handle it well... 

In the meantime, I am going to 'prepare the fields for rain'.  We have been watching a lot of Facing the Giants or 'the football movie' as my two year old calls it.  It has got me thinking that I need to be ready for God to say go!  Maybe we will get blessed and only have a few days notice for travel.  Either way, I need to be prepared.  There is house work to be done, things to be organized, just stuff to be done.  I am the ultimate procrastinator.  Not just a procrastinator, but I do amazing with a deadline.  I can get twice as much done in half the time if I have a deadline.  It is something I am working on because not everything that has to be done around the house has a deadline, actually very few things do. 

So, all that being said, I am going to get up and get to work.   Get this house prepared, laundry done, maybe even a few meals in the freezer.  I am going to be prepared and ready for the call.  I am going to be ready enough so all we have to do is complete the packing and play with our two year old before we go!  It is a challenge I have given myself and I will succeed!!

Thank you to all who are still reading this.  Thank you for reading, thank you for supporting us, thank you for your prayers!  They are truly appreciated, we are thankful and grateful for each and every one of you!

waiting

Apparently I am not as good at waiting as I thought I once was.  I am sick, which is not hleping anything, but to be honest, bitterness is creeping in.  Please say a prayer for me if you think of it.  Pray that I feel better!  But more importantly, pray that God works miracles on my heart and on our case in ET.  It is killing me that the boys are getting so much older.  We received pictures the other day and our older boy is starting to stand alone and walk.  Breaks my heart.  Didn't think it would, but it makes me cry to look at the pictures and see all we've missed.  Please say a prayer for us as a family.  Thank you

'THE' question...

There is one question we get from just about everyone who knows we are adopting.  This question is phrased in many different ways, but it all comes down to the same exact thing.  "When do you get to bring the boys home?"  It is something I am struggling with.  We were hopeing when we went to court in the beginning of July that we would be going back mid September to bring them home.  By the beginning of September, I started to answer the question with, 'hopefully by the end of the month'.  Then, as September was about halfway through, the answer shifted to 'hopefully by early October.  We even waited to sign up for a marriage conference at our church this coming weekend - just in case - we were able to travel early October.  Then, now, it is October.  We are still here in Kansas, the boys are still in Ethiopia, and the wait just keeps getting longer and harder.  I am at the point of going ahead and packing a bag for Mason.  I know roughly how long we will be gone, and then, at least I will be doing something to be prepared for the trip.  I am ready to pack the stuff for the boys, I know what they are going to need and about how much.  I am at the point of, 'I need to do something, anything!'  Anything to feel like I am doing something towards bringing the boys home.  Nothing is in my hands, absolutely nothing!  I am praying, trusting, praying some more, being anxious, praying, and trying to continue trusting!  This adoption process is long and hard and not for the faint of heart.  I continue to pray for our boys, for the others we traveled with, for our case with the embassy!  Pray we travel in the next couple weeks!  Pray, pray, pray!!!  While praying, I prepare!  This is all I can do, pray and prepare.  It is something I am working on.  God is working on me.  It is painful... but working.  I am starting each day to trust him more and more, may faith is being stretched and and it is growing, for which, I am thankful.  I will thank the Lord!!