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!
Our Journey to add to our family through the blessing of adoption!
About Us
- Laura and Brad
- We have been married for 9 years and are parents to 2 precious girls, Sabine (6) and Mara (4). Enjoying life together in beautiful central TX!
"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart I will be found by you....."
Jeremiah 29:11-13
Jeremiah 29:11-13
WHY ETHIOPIA
• 720,000 children have been orphaned by AIDS alone, and there are 4.6 million orphans in Ethiopia.• One in six children die before their fifth birthday• 44% of the population of Ethiopia is under 15 years old• 60% of children in Ethiopia are stunted because of malnutrition
• Half the children in Ethiopia will never attend school. 88% will never attend secondary school.• The median age in Ethiopia is 17.8 years• 1.5 million people are infected with AIDS (6th highest in the world)• Per capita, Ethiopia receives less aid than any country in Africa• In the 90s the population (3%) grew faster than food production (2.2%)• Drought struck the country from 2000-2002 (first year no crops, second year no seeds, third year no animals)• Coffee prices (Ethiopia’s only major export) fell 40-60% from 1998-2002.• Ethiopia’s doctor to children ratio is 1 to 24,000.• In 1993, after 30 long years of war, Eritrea broke from Ethiopia and became an independent nation leaving Ethiopia landlocked without any major seafaring ports.
Timeline
- July 14 Officially waiting for a referral! Finally!
- June 28 I 171A arrived!
- June 10 finished dossier documents minus CIS approval
- May 17 fingerprinted for CIS
- May 13 Gladney approved!
- March 25 recieved FBI clearances
- March 19 homestudy conducted by Amy
- Feb. 20 doctor's appointments
- Feb. 6 sent initial application to Gladney
- Jan. 25 sent I-600A application
Must Reads
- Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
- There is No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene