Ya know, looking back a year ago, I remember reading about the “ups and
downs” the adoption journey would take. I remember thinking, “Well, ours WILL
be different”. I hate to admit it, but all those negative Nancy’s out there in
the adoption circuit, were unfortunately right. We recently received more
frustrating news from our adoption agency. The wait continues to grow, and
grow, and grow. The necessary paperwork requirements continue to grow and grow
and grow. At the start of all this, it was beaten into our brains that no
legal documentation we completed could ever expire. We created an excel
spreadsheet specifically designated for adoption paperwork expiration dates.
Trust me excel is neither of our finest strengths, but we completed it to stay
on top of the adoption paperwork mountain. A few weeks ago, we heard that our
agency is actually recommending that we ALLOW our paperwork to expire, in order
to save us money along the way. They believe that the wait is looking like
greater than 3.5 years before that long awaited referral call comes our way and
likely another 6-8 months until the baby is actually home. What’s more, they are no longer giving
out monthly updated waitlist numbers. We will continue to get an email monthly
depicting the number of referrals the agency has made that month, but we will
have no substantial way to document our “progress” (and I use the word progress
lightly). To be honest, we are a little confused, a little annoyed, but more
than anything just heart broken for all the waiting kiddos stuck in
orphanages. I guess you could say
our five-year plan for our family has basically been shattered. But through
this entire journey we are learning a very valuable lesson: WE are
not the authors of our story. God is. He is writing our adoption
story for us and He is writing for HIS glory. I read
this on another adoption mom’s blog and it does fit into our story beautifully.
You see, over a year ago Jay and I said, “yes” to God, but we had no idea what
“yes” meant and we still don’t! We had no idea that saying “yes” would or could
mean the “adoption” of someone very close to home.
On May 8th Jay and I were granted full
legal custody of our nephew, who as you recall has been with us for the past 7
months. It has been a very emotional journey, and continues to be a process we
are working through day by day. “Adoption”, we are finding, whether domestic,
international, foster care, guardianship or custody is NOT and easy or flawless
process. We are learning that
through the trials, frustration, and tears, it is all and will be all worth it.
Parenting this amazing little boy has been an absolute delight (except for
perhaps the occasional temper tantrum in public and potty training but hey he
is three and we are told that’s normal). He just started a new school, we moved
him into a newly decorated big boy room, and we just celebrated his third
birthday. We are having a blast with him this summer with trips to the park,
the zoo, Grandma and Grandpa Reichert’s pool, miniature golfing, baseball
games, sprinkler runs (see below),and lots of bike rides.
While the adoption of our international delight (you see what I did
there?) continues to be prolonged, we are more excited than ever to get him or
her home and we are anxious to see what our family will look like in the next
couple of years. Jay and I will be getting the chance to update our preferences
for our child in our updated home study within the next few months. And in case
you didn’t catch it a few sentences back, we may be expanding to include a boy
or a girl, or possibly even siblings. Who knows right?! A year ago, we thought
we knew how this was going to play out, but the Almighty keeps surprising…so
for now, We are going to take a break from making our own plans and just enjoy
the ride we are currently on.
Ethiopian Education:
I haven’t done this in a while, but found this picture recently, which
helps one to understand the size of the great continent of Africa. Thought id
share for perspective.
