Just 2 steps to go!!!

We're SOOOO close! I can't believe it! But first - let me tell you about meeting Nicole Wiegold! She's our family coordinator at the America World home office. Matt & I got to stop in last week and meet her while we were in Virginia for Premier stuff. She's FANTASTIC! It was such a treat to get to meet all the people behind the *magic*! They have such a heart for God & for these children - it was sooooo great to get to meet her :)

As far as our paperwork goes - we're just waiting to hear back from USCIS (immigration). They have to approve us to bring an orphan into the states. It could be anywhere from a 2 week to a 12 week wait - wanna guess what we're prayin' for!?!?!? We're having everything notarized tomorrow and then we have to send it to Olympia so that can certify that the Notary really is a Notary! (every i is dotted and t is crossed, folks!!!) Please join me in praying that everything will be completed exactly in God's timing :) I KNOW that our dossier will be completed at exactly the time to put us in line to receive EXACTLY the child HE has for us - not a family sooner, or a family later :) This is FOREVER and I am FINALLY to the point where I'm realizing what's another month? Of course I'm as anxious as ever to get her as soon as possible - yet I'm completely at peace that everything will happen exactly in God's timing - which is quite a relief for Matt since he kind of messed up getting his employment verification letter from the Coast Guard!!! ha!!!

We have Ethiopian *Neighbors*!!!

We were sooooo excited to get to meet Seyoum & his family this Saturday! They're from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. He has been in the states for the past 5 years studying Civil Engineering. He is currently working on his doctorate degree from WSU. It was so fun to get to spend the afternoon with them!! Tigist made us traditional Ethiopian bread - super yummy - and Matt took the kids on a tractor ride. They're planning to be in the area (Pullman) until at least 2010. We're looking forward to getting to know them better! Tigist even promised that she'd teach me how to do the baby's hair!!!

You MUST read their story!!!

I've been closely following 2 families adoption journey's.

The Kulp Family is getting ready to leave Ethiopia TODAY after their VERY long journey to their son, Micah David. They received their referral in SEPTEMBER and because of paperwork mumbo jumbo did not get to pick him up until APRIL - this past week. The blog is beautifully written - i.e. hankies required!!! Check it out: http://thekulpfamily.blogspot.com/

The Foote Family just received their referral on TUESDAY - April 14th for a 3 month old baby girl - who weighs 6 POUNDS!!! It's also wonderfully written - not as many hankies needed as Kim's - but sooooo good to read!! http://adoptingaria.blogspot.com/

SOOO close....and yet so FAR!!!

Yes.....we have a new addition! Well 2 actually. They're Ben's - Missy & Silver. Jack is holding Missy above - and Ben is wearing...I mean holding Silver below! They're 4 week old rats - and quite adorable I will admit!!!
But on to adotion stuff......WHAAAA!!! Yes, the paperwork is almost done - but I TOTALLY forgot that we then have to apply to USCIS (immigration) to let us a bring an orphan into the country. It's another 6-12 week wait on that one & includes a $600 fee and $160 to redo our fingerprints.....arghhh! We can't apply to Immigration until our homestudy is finished - which should be early next week. Matt keeps reminding me that this is all about God's timing - which in my HEAD I know is true....but a piece of my heart is sitting somewhere in Ethiopia!!! It's so CRAZY how you can love someone so much that you haven't even met - you don't know her name - how old she is - even her story....yet you love her so much....my heart just aches........

I love our small town newspaper! They had a FRONT PAGE article on families in the area that are adopting from Ethiopia. It was beautiful!! It was so positive and encouraging! Right below it was how a boy in the area had set a new Guiness World Record by solving the most Rubic's Cube's in 1 minute - 64!!! That's what I want to read on the front page of a newspaper - not gloom and doom. I'm so sending a letter to the editor!!

If you haven't read "There's No Me Without You" by Melissa Faye Greene - you MUST!!! It's a FANTASTIC book about a woman in Ethiopia that stumbled into opening an orphanage in Ethiopia. Be careful though - it will give you a real heart for the country!!! and you'll need multiple boxes of tissues. But the book leaves you with stories of the kids that went through her orphanage into homes in the US and talks about their transition to living here. It will answer any questions you may have about WHY the Ross' are adopting!!!