Nothing today

Well for those of you who are anxiously waiting with me, I have nothing to tell you.. I did not get an email or a call today. All I know is that today would have been the last day they needed to turn in all the papers to the American embassy since the embassy date moved up to 5/3 and not 5/5 (5/5 is an Ethiopian holiday).

Anyways, the weekend wasn't very eventful, my mind was in ET and now its even more in ET. My patience is running thinner by the minute. Thanks for checking in.

Why Adoption? Because its better than Childbirth:)

Unice Imani (Liberia)

Juan Antonio (Guatemala)

Benson (Zambia)

Our adoption journey started just about 4 years ago. Adoption has changed me from a worldly, selfish, nagging, over the head in debt person to a nothing but humble humane being that wants to bring home more and more kids or do more for these precious children every day and encourage the world to adopt. When people say: The kids are blessed! No: We are blessed!

Today I am glad my journey has passed so many children but they all left something in my heart and also finally brought me to Amira and Biruk.

I started out in 2006 when I went on my mission trip to Guatemala. I met an amazing boy named Juan Antonio who was 8 years old. This adoption never worked out because when I started the process for 3 month his mom came back after having him left for over 3 years at the orphanage and never visited.

In 2007 we were lead to domestic adoption through the foster system but soon were shut down because of Anastasia's Autism and her past. So can't say I never tried domestic (their loss)

That same year I went to Zambia. There I met Benson, a 10 year old boy who lived with me for 3 week at a hotel I was with 3 other families and than UNICEF and the Zambian government decided that adoption is not legal in Zambia and came and ripped all the children from us saying we were trafficking and adoption was never allowed. I think this one was the most painful thing in my adoption journey. I returned home empty handed. Today I still miss Benson deeply and if I have to be honest, he will probably be the one I see in our home one day, even if he is 18.

Than finally 2008 was pretty crazy:

In January I signed up with a Liberia adoption agency and shortly after I received my referral for a 5 year old girl. But that happiness quickly vanished when I found out adoptions were on hold and might not ever happen again in a long time. Haha they still on hold today.

Then I received a infant referral from my homestudy guy. The girl (14 y/o) was due in a month. She was expecting a baby boy. After meeting her and lots of prayer and Kevin feeling just not right about it we declined just weeks before the baby was born because we felt she would not give us her baby and keep it.

Finally in May of 2008 we signed up for Amira and Biruk. By that time, everyone had told me I lost my mind and need to go in the crazy house. My dear husband couldn't take anymore and said "baby how much more money are we giving away, I can't take it anymore"!? I begged him and begged him and said "Honey, I promise this is the last time". I didn't feel that God told me to stop yet. Many people asked me if I was so desperate to have a child that I needed to adopt HIV children. Let me tell you, God orchestrated it so ridiculously clearly it wasn't even funny. Every little detail that this was the way we needed to go. Now we are blessed to have 2 more positive kids coming home very soon.

If I had to do it all over again I would. Losing massive amounts of money and many many many sleepless nights but it was all worth it. I'd rather have a tiny house, a little food to eat and lots of adopted children than all the riches in the world, because today adoption has changed me to the person God wanted me to be. I am finally home:)

Micah's Birth Certificate is in

Yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, one step closer to getting the heck out of here on 4/30. I am about to puke, I am that excited!

Today I received Micah's Birth Certificate and it was actually issued on Tuesday.. Right now I have lots and lots and lots of hope to leave for my desired timing.

BTW, his birthdate is 11/25/2005. So he will be 5 in November. That looks sort of okay but I think we still will have to make him one year younger just to give him some time to catch up. Otherwise he would start Kindergarten next year..

Anyways, I am supppppppppppppppper excited today!

Love you all..

Ramblings/Danica got a job

I told the kids the other day to pack up some of their toys for me to take. Amira packed Misrak's toys and Biruk picked Micah's toys. I was so amazed at what Biruk was sharing for me to take. All the superman stuff he got for his birthday and over time. I think he really wants to take care of his little brother. But than Danica budded in and told him that it might not come home so he took some stuff back:) His daily temper tantrums have really become less because I have been preaching to him that he is the big brother and he shouldn't be crying over everything infront of Micah because Micah will do everything he does. The kids are really ready for them. They can't hardly wait.

Also Danica finally found a job. Since she changed colleges in January she automatically lost her job at the old college because it was work study. Actually since the last week she not just has one job but 2 jobs and they also offered her #3 job but she had to decline. She will be working at a spa and at the genetic department at her school. It has been a long 4 months with her not having a job and on our pocket books but we are all so thankful. It was hard on us because we had to carry her and even harder on Danica because she was dependent on us again. But we made it through. I am so thankful to my God that he finally opened the doors for her after she kept knocking and knocking and knocking and she almost lost her confidence to find a job. I kept telling her that eventually the doors will open for her if she just keeps knocking and they finally did. She is also doing incredibly well at her new college with her grades and I see that competitiveness come out again. I am so proud of my baby girl.

Light at the end of the Tunnel

Well today I heard from the agency that we got our decree. One step forward. Since the 4/21 embassy date is out for sure now, I am now hoping for a 5/5 embassy date. They are not promising this yet because they want to make sure all the papers are in prior to the date. If it is the 5/5 embassy date, I am going for sure if it ends up being 5/19 Kevin most likely will go because he is on break. I should know by 4/21 which embassy date I am getting. Oh and the ticker to the right is just my wishful ticker:)

HE IS RISEN

Finally an Exit report on Misrak

I got this report today. It was very short. They say she has a size 12 in shoes, shirt 6-7 and pants 3Tto 4. Haha, the pant size I am not going to believe the rest sounds good to me and pretty much what I expected.

I am sad that I have not gotten any updates or photos on Misrak all this time but as I always say, the Kidane kids are the forgotten ones, at least this time around. If she is truly like they described her she is just like Amira which makes me so happy. I cannot wait to put my hands on my precious little girl and love her and assure her how special she is. Soon, hopefully soon.

***************

Misrak is a very quiet girl. She is a bit shy, but when she gets use to the people around, she is more confident. She is very playful and likes particularly to play in the playground. She has the most beautiful smile ever. She also needs to be hugged and to feel that people pay attention to her, otherwise she is somewhat insecure and isolates herself. Misrak is a lovely child who needs to be reassured and comforted.

Funny Faces

Danica is off to college again but here is what she emailed doing it behind my back:)

Micah is Finished

Today the weirdest thing happened. I wrote my agency an email early this morning to check in with them reminding them that my son had court next Monday and making sure all necessary docs were there.

Later in the day I got an email back saying the attorney went to court and finished the case on Monday and they waiting now for the court decision which is the adoption decree I suppose.

I know I am not acting crazy excited ; I sort of have my guards up right now because the last news just hurt too bad. Just waiting for the birth certificate/embassy date so I know its for real. Than I will get excited.

Hopefully we can get an embassy date in May.

Misrak's photos

When I found out Micah never passed court I had to take down the slide of him so here is the one just of my precious Misrak. You guys have already seen the pics when she passed court. Unfortunately I only have half of the pics of her than what I have of Micah. The children at Kidane are so neglected when it comes to picture taken

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Amira learning how to ride her Bike

Amira said she wants to know how to ride her bike before Misrak gets here. Its amazing to see what motivates people. For Amira, its Misrak. I am sure she is ready when she gets here. This whole last year she had no desire to learn it.

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

My Montage 3/20/10 at OneTrueMedia.com

The kids are trying to explain why they are happy about Misrak and Micah coming

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

WAITING!!!!

The News I Never Expected to Hear!!!

Today I found out something so crazy that I wished I had never heard.

I found out this morning from my agency after they were checking with the clerk of the court and finally with the judge that Micah’s case never passed court on February 5. It said: the Judge said MOWA recommendations were not in the file, even though …… specifically remembers seeing the positive recommendations on the desk at the MOWA office. It took almost 6 weeks to figure this out?

I know we are dealing with 3rd world country and stuff but to me that looks like pure laziness on someone’s part. To me that’s a bunch of hearsay and pointing fingers, instead of getting to the bottom of it rather quickly. Nothing else. So if I was beaming yesterday I really am today. I have not words other than that I feel totally joked on.

My son’s new court date is 3/29. Please keep that precious little guy in your prayer for a successful court date. And if he were to pass court and “everything goes smoothly” thereafter, than we will look at a May embassy date.

Looking for Dresser but Instead I found this!

Our 2nd children's room is slowly but surely coming together as of tonight. From the very beginning I said I will not go in debt over this adoption which includes buying furniture and clothing or whatever they need. Kevin wanted the easy way out and just buy new beds and dressers (he probably got tired of my grumpiness because I want the room ready) but I put my foot down and said no. Its not that easy when your trying to buy used stuff and attempting to match the best you can... Yesterday someone donated to us a very, very good mattress set with rails, today I got another bed and mattress from a co-worker for free, and Kevin bought a really nice used bed and mattress with bookself headboard. Hopefully soon we can get the girl room set up this weekend. We have to paint the bed from my co-worker white since the other bed is white. God has truly blessed us abundantly today.

Anyways, while I was looking for dressers at the Goodwill, I found these cute little shirts below. After the description I got of my son I thought these shirt would be simply fitting for him and he can wear them with pride:) I didn't even look for Misrak because she is LOADED with beautiful clothes from my sister in Germany. Micah still needs a bunch of clothes, he just has the bare necessities to get him home which is fine.