Friday, October 30, 2009

31 plane ride hours later.....

First stop, Cairo.

This place is amazing and my friend Wendy, our host, has been fantastic. You can see the Nile from her balcony, and the pyramids in the distance.

Tomorrow night we leave for Ethiopia!

Laura, Wendy and I at the pyramids.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Well, I think we are ready to go. Bags have been packed and weighed, Farmboy's hair has been cut (so he doesn't look too grizzly when I return), lists have been made for the family to maybe follow while I am gone.

Tomorrow morning, my dear friend Laura and I leave, first stopping in Egypt to visit a friend there for a couple days, and then on to Ethiopia and Li'l B. Sunday, Nov. 1, we will meet her for the first time. Kinda surreal, but it IS real.

Here's hoping to a decent night's sleep (not really counting on that one).

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Tickets are bought.
Bags are starting to get packed.
We are getting our little girl!!!

October 28th

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Happy Birthday!!!

Our baby turned 3 today. Happy Birthday, Li'l B!!!

God has such a great sense of humor. I have to honestly admit Farmboy and I were looking upon adopting a 2 yr old with a hint of trepidation. Seriously, when we first learned of our little dear, we had to double check with our case worker about the age, hoping we were mistaken, and she was actually almost 3, rather than almost 2 at the time. I know, I know, lots of people LOVE that age. The younger the better, stuff like that. Uh, not so much for us. We are so much more drawn to a bit older, just connect so much more easily to older children. Hey, with our first adoption, we specifically requested age 3 or older. But, we KNEW she was to be a part of our family and trusted that God would help us parent our little 2 yr old. Hmmmm, is that why God made this whole thing take so dang long? Yes, I am being a bit trite. There has been a massive amount of aching and longing for her as we waited and waited....and SHE HAD TO LIVE OVER A YEAR WITHOUT HER PARENTS. Heartbreaking. But, I also see a glimpse of His best. Of course, yet again, God knew what He was doing all along.

Well, sweetie, happy 3rd birthday!

Saturday, October 10, 2009

miles closer

Next step -- our approved I-600 is now at the US embassy in Ethiopia, according to my Gladney case worker. Hopefully Monday our HIV waiver will be submitted, and 6-10 business days later it should be approved. Then we book travel....

Friday, October 02, 2009

Approved!

I'm stunned.

Inch by inch....and then hundreds of miles in one moment.

We just got notification our I-600 is approved. 5 days! It got approved in 5 days.

Not quite sure the rest of the paper trail, to the National Visa Center, to the embassy, getting the HIV waiver approved....but I think this means ONE WEEK of travel.

When? Still unsure, but we are getting so close!