Trying to look at the bright side...

Well, it's been 7 weeks since our referral. I'm really praying that we hear some news soon. With every day that passes, I'm growing more and more concerned and paranoid that something is wrong. Holt has reassured us that everything is progressing normally and there are other families that received referrals on the same day as us that have not been assigned a court date either, but it's still hard to stay positive. We did receive notification the other day that one of the agencies that Holt uses in Ethiopia is going through a review so that their license will be renewed. Without going into too much detail in such a public forum, this is all very normal and is mandatory for all adoption agencies working in Ethiopia. Holt has said that they suspect the process will be over quickly, but in the meantime, this COULD cause some delays.

However, I'm trying to stay positive and keep myself busy. Over our Christmas break we intend to get the nursery set up. The bedding came in yesterday, and I also received a call from the furniture store that all the furniture that Mom and Dad bought us for Christmas is in, as well. It's fun to imagine what it will look like when we have all the pieces put together. So, onward and upward we go, trusting that God's timing is perfect and Little A will come home soon.

Our babies are growing up so fast!

I can't believe that Thanksgiving has come and gone. As I mentioned before, it's hard being away from Aidan during his first holiday season, but we've been so busy lately that it's really making the time fly. Speaking of our little guy (that was a subtle segway, as if there is ever a time that I'm not talking about or thinking about or dreaming about our little boy), Aidan is 4 months old today! He was 17 weeks on Saturday. How can that be? I still marvel at the fact that we've known who he is for over 6 weeks and I have still been able to somewhat effectively function in my daily routine. Little Ava Rose is also growing fast. She is 1 month old today (she was 4 weeks old on Black Friday). Whew...Black Friday. That's a whole other entry! Hope everyone's Thanksgiving was joyous and filled with good food, memories and family.

6 Weeks!

That's how long it's been since our referral for our oh-so-sweet and cuddly baby boy. How is it possible that we've managed to go about our daily lives without him with us? The first week, though we were so excited, the time seemed to be standing still as I would find myself looking at his picture hundreds of times throughout the day. It really has been a blessing having the Holidays to focus on, though it's very difficult to think that we are missing our son's first Thanksgiving and Christmas. I just wish we had a court date assignment...something tangible to look forward to. I've decided that that's how the adoption process goes. You get exciting news and then you WWWWWWAAAAAAIIIIIITTTTTTT, and without something to keep you busy, it's easy to become depressed and a bit crazy :). Usually, I opt for shopping for Aidan to keep me busy and so far Liam has been surprisingly understanding. That brings me to my second point.....

We've picked out Aidan's bedding for his nursery!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(I know the suspense is killing you)

AFRICAN DREAMS

I had seen it over a year ago and just couldn't get it out of my head. I LOVE the colors and even though I liked some of the other choices, I kept coming back to the color scheme. The good news is that it's been discontinued, so I was able to purchase the 6 piece set for very cheap (I had bought the blanket a bit ago). The bad news is, IT'S BEEN DISCONTINUED! What was I thinking? I have looked all over, but with the exception of the blanket, 6 piece bedding set (includes comforter, sheets, bed skirt, bumper, valance and diaper stacker) and mobile (which I still have to purchase); I haven't been able to find any of the other accessories. BUMMER! I'm still looking for the rug, hamper, lamp and (*sniff*) canvas wall art. So, if you come across them anywhere, let me know and I will swoop down on them. I know that I can always substitute, and will probably have to, but I would love to have the complete set.

Some disappointing news...

I read on the yahoo forum that a fellow adoptive parent had emailed Stephanie (Assistant Director for the Ethiopian Program) yesterday because her husband has to travel overseas for 2 weeks at the beginning of January. She hadn't received a court date either (her referral was the day before ours) and asked if it would be safe for him to go. Unfortunately, she was told that the last of the court dates have been assigned and that they don't expect more court date assignments until sometime in December (making our court date probably sometime in February). This is because there are so many families traveling in the next few weeks and the Ethiopia staff is going to be so busy. She said the paperwork is being processed as usual but the reporting of the information may be delayed due to so many traveling families right now.

Bummer! We were really hoping to hear something soon and have a court date in January. Okay, change of plans! So, let's pray now that we have a court date assignment before Liam's birthday on December 14th (still secretly holding out for a late January court date~ please, oh please). It's hard to wait, but I keep reminding myself that God's timing is perfect. He has a plan in all the frustration and madness.

Health Update!

We just got another health report on Baby Aidan (no pictures, though. RATS!). It was dated October 3, so about 6 weeks ago. He weighs 9.7lbs (that’s up from 8.2 pounds at 6 weeks old). He’s also 22 inches long (up from 21.7 at 6 weeks). He was 16 weeks on Saturday, so he would have been 9 weeks when the health update was done. Our litte boy is growing. In all other ways he is a perfectly healthy little guy. Praise God! Can't wait to finally see him and kiss his beautiful face.

Fun Surprises!

So this weekend was full of fun surprises! First, we met some friends for dinner on Saturday night that we had not seen in over 10 years from when we all lived in Texas... and it's all because of Facebook. Liam had looked them up on Facebook and coincidentally they were traveling through our area the very next day! Here's a picture below (Jill W. you should get a kick out of this):




Secondly, my parents took us shopping for a new nursery set Sunday afternoon. I'm the most indecisive person in the world, but I love this set! Thanks Mom and Dad. Aidan will be so lucky to have you as his grandparents.

These Are a Few of My Favorite Things...

I posted this video on my facebook the Sunday before last, because it was Orphan Sunday and (as I find myself doing more and more lately) because a friend posted it on theirs and it touched me. I love the song but had never heard the story behind it. Funny how one person can impact another.



So, after I posted it, another friend sent me a message that I HAD to check out the documentary that inspired the song. I went to Amazon.com that very day and bought a used copy. It arrived last night.

I watched it from beginning to end and it moved me so much. It's a call-to-arms to go out into the world and show God's love by serving other's in their time of need. The story follows Sara Groves, a Christian singer and songwriter, as she aids victims displaced in the days following Hurricane Katrina, as well as to Rwanda where she meets survivors of the genocide that occurred there more than 15 years ago. I'm telling you, buy, rent or borrow (you can have mine) this. I've even included the link here. Watch it. It will bring you to tears and leave you questioning what your purpose on Earth is and whether you have been fulfilling it. As one of the people that she meets along the way, says, "During autrocities, I used to ask where is God. I've ceased asking that question. Now I ask, 'Where are God's people?'"

Another wonderful and moving documentary that I bought a bit back is The Invisible Children. This is the story of Ugandan children who walk miles each night to the city center where they huddle together to avoid being kidnapped and forced to be child soldiers by the sectarian Lord's Resistance Army. It was because of this documentary and the work that Charity Gray and Watota are doing, that I was inspired to give, even if it is only a small amount each month.

As Sara Groves quotes Mother Teresa as saying, "In this life we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love."