No, I am not teaching you a dance with the heading of this blog. This is just a description of what the last month has been like regarding our battle to get to Ethiopia for our first trip.
It's hard to write out what's been going on because it is very complicated, and as I have said before, I truly think the only people who REALLY understand what is happening are my caseworker and myself.
So, in order to keep things as clear as possible, I'll just break it down into what news we've received lately:
BAD NEWS around January 20th - We became very uncertain about when we will travel because we are waiting on a final signature and no word on when/if we will get it.
GOOD NEWS on January 24th - We get word a hearing is scheduled for February 4th, this meeting should result in getting our final signature.
BAD NEWS on January 28th - Courts randomly close for meetings until February 24th, our hearing will not occur on the 4th.
GOOD NEWS on January 29th - The courts held a meeting despite the closure and we will receive our needed signature!
BAD NEWS on February 6th - Despite all of our approvals, the Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) wants ANOTHER document on file for us before we can travel. (I'm really not even sure it's legal for them to ask for this since we have been approved already) Uncertain how long this will take or if it will delay us beyond when the courts reopen on February 24th.
So, I guess this pattern means that we are due for some good news this week? :-) We are waiting to hear from our agency just how long this document will take to obtain. If we can get it quickly, we should still be traveling around the 24th. If not, who knows when we will travel, probably March.
With all the uncertainty that's been going on, I have to say a big "THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU!" to those who listen to me go on and on about all of this lately. I know you are tired of hearing about it, because frankly, I am tired of talking about it. But, thank you from the bottom of my tired adoptive momma's heart for taking my calls and listening to me go on and on. I have found that I really do feel better if I am able to talk about what is happening with the people that I love when I feel like they are REALLY listening to me. With the complexities of what is going on right now, it can be hard to follow sometimes, so for those of you that have become my sounding boards, I really can't thank you enough. It is helping me process my thoughts and makes me feel supported through this very difficult and uncertain time.
In saying this though, I have made a decision in recent days though, even though I will still talk about the adoption and where we are at in the process of getting Zoe home, I am choosing a more positive attitude. I MUST have faith that the end is near and that God will bring us through this. He hasn't failed me before, so I don't know why I have been doubting Him lately. God doesn't want me frustrated and stressed and anxious, so I am going to do whatever I can to get those nasty thoughts out of my mind. I must focus on my husband and my son so I don't lose precious moments with them because of stress that I simply cannot control. I know that I am doing everything in my power to get Zoe home as quickly as possible, and I am praying each day that she gets here sooner rather than later, but beyond that, I really just have to 'let go and let God' on this one.
So, that's the adoption update for now. I am so sorry that it is mixed with so much uncertainty. I do hope to have great news that we are booking our flights very soon.
I have been working on a video for when we can publish Zoe's photos online... I CANNOT WAIT to show it all to you. We received updated photos from our agency on Friday, and let me tell you she is SO ADORABLE. Here's a lil' sneak peak of her cuteness...
Until next time...
It's hard to write out what's been going on because it is very complicated, and as I have said before, I truly think the only people who REALLY understand what is happening are my caseworker and myself.
So, in order to keep things as clear as possible, I'll just break it down into what news we've received lately:
BAD NEWS around January 20th - We became very uncertain about when we will travel because we are waiting on a final signature and no word on when/if we will get it.
GOOD NEWS on January 24th - We get word a hearing is scheduled for February 4th, this meeting should result in getting our final signature.
BAD NEWS on January 28th - Courts randomly close for meetings until February 24th, our hearing will not occur on the 4th.
GOOD NEWS on January 29th - The courts held a meeting despite the closure and we will receive our needed signature!
BAD NEWS on February 6th - Despite all of our approvals, the Ministry of Women's Affairs (MOWA) wants ANOTHER document on file for us before we can travel. (I'm really not even sure it's legal for them to ask for this since we have been approved already) Uncertain how long this will take or if it will delay us beyond when the courts reopen on February 24th.
So, I guess this pattern means that we are due for some good news this week? :-) We are waiting to hear from our agency just how long this document will take to obtain. If we can get it quickly, we should still be traveling around the 24th. If not, who knows when we will travel, probably March.
With all the uncertainty that's been going on, I have to say a big "THANK YOU, I LOVE YOU!" to those who listen to me go on and on about all of this lately. I know you are tired of hearing about it, because frankly, I am tired of talking about it. But, thank you from the bottom of my tired adoptive momma's heart for taking my calls and listening to me go on and on. I have found that I really do feel better if I am able to talk about what is happening with the people that I love when I feel like they are REALLY listening to me. With the complexities of what is going on right now, it can be hard to follow sometimes, so for those of you that have become my sounding boards, I really can't thank you enough. It is helping me process my thoughts and makes me feel supported through this very difficult and uncertain time.
In saying this though, I have made a decision in recent days though, even though I will still talk about the adoption and where we are at in the process of getting Zoe home, I am choosing a more positive attitude. I MUST have faith that the end is near and that God will bring us through this. He hasn't failed me before, so I don't know why I have been doubting Him lately. God doesn't want me frustrated and stressed and anxious, so I am going to do whatever I can to get those nasty thoughts out of my mind. I must focus on my husband and my son so I don't lose precious moments with them because of stress that I simply cannot control. I know that I am doing everything in my power to get Zoe home as quickly as possible, and I am praying each day that she gets here sooner rather than later, but beyond that, I really just have to 'let go and let God' on this one.
So, that's the adoption update for now. I am so sorry that it is mixed with so much uncertainty. I do hope to have great news that we are booking our flights very soon.
I have been working on a video for when we can publish Zoe's photos online... I CANNOT WAIT to show it all to you. We received updated photos from our agency on Friday, and let me tell you she is SO ADORABLE. Here's a lil' sneak peak of her cuteness...
(She may still be itty bitty at just under 14lbs at 7 1/2 months, but our girl has some chunky toes!!)
Until next time...
