September 27, 2012

It's been a pretty quiet month or so, with the courts closed for the rainy season in Ethiopia. Not many referrals or families traveling. We were officially #11 for August and #10 for September, but could be next for a 3 year old...

We enjoyed a wiener roast a couple of weeks ago with other families in central Illinois who are in the process of or who have adopted from Ethiopia. It was so nice to visit with others who are in this same journey. The kids had a blast playing together too!

In line at a party store this past week, my 8 year old turned to me with a smile and said, "We should get that 'It's a girl' balloon when we find out about my sister!" As I gave him a hug I thought how much I liked that idea! :)

August 4, 2012

For a few months now, with our parameters up through age 3, I've been thinking that it is possible for us to get "the call" from AGCI for our referral, so when our caller id displayed "AGCI" at the beginning of August and our caseworker was on the other end of the line, I felt my heart race. Could this be it? But within minutes it became evident that no-it was not-but instead an unscheduled monthly update call. Seriously???

The good news is that we are officially #13 for July, but with 2-3 referrals since then we are unofficially #10-#11! I am so hopeful in this movement the past couple of months!

Our agency has partnered with another orphanage, which is encouraging, as this provides the opportunity for more children to be matched with forever families.

In our phone call, we were informed that we are in need of updating some dossier forms as they are now 2 years old. Uggg!! Back to paperwork!

July 1, 2012

"For a long time, there were only your footsteps and laughter in our dreams and even from such small things, we knew we could not wait to love you forever." These words are framed and were given to me by a dear friend several months ago. I have it in Stella's room (that is how we've been referring to our future daughter for a while now- not what her name will be- but just calling her a name gives us assurance in her eventual permanence in our lives). I was a little on edge today and while I'm not sure why, it brought me to her bedroom, where I spent some time cleaning out her closet (odds and ends from the boys' nursery and tubs of boys clothes). I realized as I was finishing up that it felt a little bit like "nesting". That push of anticipation and desire to be ready for the arrival of a new addition to the family. Now if I just knew WHEN that arrival will be! :) June number #17

May 2012

So, as it turns out, that dream I had with my brother and sister-in-law in it while looking at a referral on email connected to the number #9 wasn't actually about our referral, but my good friend's referral of their little boy from Korea! She received the email about him on May 9 and ironically his birthday is on 9/9 which is my brother and sister-in-laws anniversary! Crazy! So now she needs to have the dream about our referral call! :) It did bring such joy though to hear her news and I am just thrilled for her and their entry into parenthood! He is an adorable little guy and I know that they will be an amazing family! Utter happiness for them! We moved up one spot in April and we did not have any movement this month...still #19. ugg...so frustrated my hope is becoming jaded as more and more time passes...

April 4, 2012

Emmett said today, "I miss my sister. Don't you miss my sister too?" I'm not sure why along this journey his comments have tugged at my heart strings so much. I am amazed how he truly feels connected to her through he doesn't even know who she is. He speaks of her as though she is already with us- even the other day when a page from his book was torn and he said,"hmmm...maybe my sister did it!" Ha! Poor child is already getting blamed for things she didn't do and she is still half way around the world! :)

March 31, 2012

We are officially #20 for March and thankful for some good news from families in the court/embassy stages! Many children have left Hannah's Hope this month to be with their forever families. Hopeful for referrals to follow!

March 9, 2012

So aside from this feeling that our referral is getting closer the following things have happened this week:
- I had a dream last Saturday that we were emailed our referral information and then my brother and sister-in-law were telling me something about the number 9. When I woke I was compelled to think that the number 9 was tied to our referral somehow...9 days, 9th day of the month, 9 weeks, 9th month...who knows!
- Emmett said a few days ago, "My sister is almost here!"
- Gavin was playing his MP3 player a couple days ago and started singing "I just haven't met you yet" (the song that has reminded me of our daughter since we started our process 2 years ago)
- I heard the song "A thousand years" 3 times yesterday (reminding me of this waiting for her and meeting her)
- The boys were watching "Meet the Robinsons" yesterday and I happened to walk in the room just at the part where the mother is leaving her baby at the orphanage. I was overcome with sadness for this loss in our daughter's life and then continued to watch the movie and see the little boy become adopted into a loving family...
- I was able to be at the airport to welcome home my friend's little boy as they returned home with him from Ethiopia. An amazing experience and such joy in this homecoming. She at one point turned to me and asked, "Did you get a referral?"...
- Emmett woke up this morning crying and saying "I want to see my sister...I want to see my sister's picture!"

I cherish these things and they continue to give me hope...