5 Months and Counting

When we started out (almost a year ago) we thought for sure we would have our referral by now, maybe even be traveling at this point. Well, things have sure changed. Our agency is saying expect to wait six full months. So wait we do! Sometimes patiently, sometimes not. BUT good news, there are LOTS of court dates this week! We are praying so hard that these families will pass and the little ones will get to come home very soon. Wouldn't that be the best Christmas gift?!

The fall in pictures:

Introducing our newest nephew
Rennon "Luke" 10/8/2008

Family vacation

Lalu's birthday

Sabine's 1st day of 1st

Celebrating Brad

Mara's 1st day of school with her girl Sylvie

Getting up to date..

Fall is in full swing around here. (Except for the weather, of course.) Can I use that for an excuse for being such a terrible blogger? Or maybe it is just my facebook obsession that is wasting all my expendable time. That and stocking other people's adoption blogs.

On the adoption front there hasn't been anything new with us. Just waiting. Next week will mark 3 months of waiting, so we will finally be in the 3 -5 month window for our referral! Yea! I can't wait too see that little face! I don't expect it anytime soon though, because it looks like it will probably be closer to 5 months from what I am seeing from other Gladney families recently. We are keeping busy working on our Hague training courses too. We are actually really enjoying some of them!

Some big news - we have a new nephew! An absolutely gorgeous baby boy was born to my little sister and her husband last week. It is so weird, we have about 7 friends who have had or are about to have baby boys this year! This is going to be fun! And wild. And rowdy.

So true...

I found this on someone else's blog, and thought it was so true!

You Know Your Adopting When.....
Top Ten Ways You Know You Are Adopting Internationally:
10. The fact that there are 143 million children without a parent to kiss them goodnight has made you lose sleep.
9. You can't watch Adoption Stories on TLC without sobbing.
8.You spend free time surfing blogs about families who have experienced the blessing of adoption.
7. You have welcomed a social worker into the most private parts of your life.
6. You have no idea how you will afford to adopt but stepped out in faith anyway, knowing where God calls you, He will provide.
5. You are prepared to take an airplane ride half-way around the world and return with a child you just met.
4. You know what the word "Dossier" means, and you can actually pronounce it!
3. You realize DNA has little to do with love and family and that welcoming a child into your heart and family is one of the most important legacies you could ever leave on this earth.
2. You shudder when people say your child is so blessed/lucky that you adopted them, knowing full well you are the blessed/lucky one to have him or her in your life.-Author Unknown
1. You stare like a psycho at every child you come across that is the same ethnicity as your soon to be adopted child imagining the day you are united with your own.

Waitlisted!

Yesterday we got the great news that we have been put on the official waitlist for a referral! Yea! Finally finished the crazy mounds and mounds of paperwork! Kate sent it all to D.C. yesterday. About a week later it will be inroute to Ethiopia. Gladney tells us that the current wait is 3 to 5 months. I am thinking that the time will fly by being that it's the end of summer, then school starting for the girls, then our BIG vacation in Sept., then Brad's little sister Caiti's wedding in October AND my sister is due in October... Anyway that's lots of good stuff - I guess I shouldn't wish all that time away! We just can't wait to find out who our little boy is!
Today was an awesome day because 1o families cases were approved and finalized after a period of delays! We are so happy about much!