Six More Weeks

Our court date was rescheduled for March 10th. We are disappointed that it is so far out but also thankful to at least have a date to look forward to. So now we wait some more and pray that everything goes well in March.

Still Waiting

We talked to our caseworker, Jessica, earlier today and found out that MOWA has not issued an opinion on our case. The boys' birthfather was at court and did relinquish his rights which is definitely an answer to prayer. We don't know what will happen next, if our case will remain open or if we will get a new court date, but we should hear more tomorrow. We are praying that if we are rescheduled, it is a date that is not too far away.

In brighter news, Jessica sent us a sweet update on our boys this afternoon. The picture with this update was so precious, the first picture we have seen with both boys smiling at the same time. We needed that today!

“M and E are both doing well. E came right over to me when I got to the foster care. He loved attention and seeing the computer and pressing keys on the keyboard. E is a typical two-year-old. M is more reserved than E. He was playing with his friends, kicking a soccer ball back and forth when I got there. M kept an eye on E as he played making sure that his brother was alright.” --Emily

Possible Delay

We got a call today from Gladney giving us a heads up that there could be a delay in our court case. It is still possible that our case will be heard tomorrow, but it doesn't seem likely. We don't know for sure what this will mean for us, but I am guessing we will be rescheduled. So for now, please pray with us for a miracle that the cases will be able to be heard tomorrow with opinions from MOWA and if we have to be rescheduled, that the date is not too far away. We are ready to bring our boys home!!!

Waiting...

Our court date is getting close, just a few more days! This week we are waiting with excitement, anticipation, hope, and a lot of nervousness about whether we will pass court, be delayed, or even denied. We expect one of the first two, but we have learned you just never know in international adoption. We are painting, cleaning out, organizing, child proofing, reading lots about adoption, attachment, and Ethiopia, just trying to prepare our house and ourselves for the changes, challenges, and blessings that we hope are coming our way soon. We are dreaming of our future with our boys and all the blessings they will bring into our lives.

Meanwhile, a man on the other side of the world is waiting and preparing as well. He is preparing for a long trip, which I imagine will be difficult for him both physically and emotionally, to appear in court and relinquish his sons for adoption. The boys' birthfather has been heavy on my heart this week. I just can't imagine what this week and the actual court date must be like for him. I wonder what his dreams are for his boys. I wonder if we will live up to his expecations as the boys' new parents.

Also in Ethiopia, two little boys are waiting. I'm not sure how much they understand about their wait. They have our pictures, letters and gifts we have sent, but I don't know if they really know who we are or what changes are in store for their little lives. I think about them all the time, I've programmed myself to think 9 hours ahead and wonder about what they are doing at a specific time and pray for them. I know they know to some degree the loss they have experienced in their lives already. I can see it in their eyes, especially M.'s and especially in the earlier pictures. They seem happier in the pictures we have seen more recently and I can tell they love their friends they are with. And now, we are preparing to go and take them from all that they know. We can't wait to meet them, to hug them, to care for them, and to share our love with them, but still I know that all these changes will be challenging for them and they will experience even more loss as we move them away from their friends and the caregivers who they know and love. They have been through so much in their little lives already. I hope and pray that we will be able to help them work through their grief and loss as they move into a whole new world. It is just all so much to take in and so overwhelming to think about all the aspects and people involved in our adoption.

Please pray with us this weekend and early next week:
*for our boys
*for their birthfather, that he will make it to court, and especially for peace and comfort
*for us as we wait
*that all of our paperwork is in place
*that we will find favor in the courts in Ethiopia
*for several other families with our agency who also have court next week

Playroom Progress

Monica working on the lion mane

Henry doing some detail work

Work continues

One of many toys that Henry will assemble

Working on the playroom

Tracing the design onto the wall

Starting to add color. Hope we can stay inside the lines :)

A couple of years ago I found a web site that provided paint by numbers designs that you could trace onto the walls in children's rooms. I thought it would be neat to have one, so I bookmarked the site. It's been pretty easy so far. Lining up the sheets so the lines meet was a little tricky, but we managed. Also we put the wrong side of the carbon paper against the wall on the rightmost section, so we had to take it down off of the wall and turn the carbon paper around. One suggestion I have is to check underneath before you take the paper down all the way. We found a couple of spots we missed. I don't think it would have been possible to put the sheets back up in the correct spot. We will post more pictures as the mural progresses.

If anyone wants to know the web site we purchased this from it is called Elephants on the Wall

Bedroom nearing completion

The room with beds and a complete paint job

Guess whose daddy went to UT

Closeup of bed ready to go. The top will have to wait until the oldest is big enough.

Curtain and valance

We are almost done in the bedroom. Just a few finishing touches and it will be ready.
The giraffe on the top bunk next to the two little longhorns was the spoils of victory from several trips to Dave and Busters. It's almost as tall as Monica!