First of all, an update. We received word from the Embassy in Addis Ababa that they have sent our case back to the USCIS here in the States. That is a good sign and we anticipate final confirmation on our PAIR letter soon. That will allow us to check one more item off the list before we travel. After the PAIR letter is recieved, we just wait for our Court Date to be given by the Ethiopian Court system.
When we started this 2nd adoption process, I (Vicki) anticipated it would be so much easier than the first time. You see, during our first adoption process, I cried a lot (I know, I know - so hard to believe if you really know me). The anticipation of so many unknowns was hard for me. I thought that because we already had our referral, the process this time would seem like a piece of cake. And, I had been doing pretty well until recently. Now, as we (hopefully) are moving closer to traveling, I'm a little messy sometimes. I've narrowed it down to two things.....
1) I'm a Momma. Deep, deep down, through and through. Having kids on both sides of the world right now is messing with me. I so much just want to have everyone in one place. And, as I anticipate traveling and being in Ethiopia for possibly three weeks, my list of "what if's" while I'm gone and away from 5 of my kids is growing longer and my stresses grow.
2) I'm a planner. Always have been, always will be. It's a blessing and a curse. :-) So, right now we are "In Between". All our paperwork is done. There is no busy work. There is just waiting. And, in that waiting, there is only so much preparation that can be done for travel, because we just have no idea when we'll travel. So - there's lots of time that allows a mind to wander.
What do I remember in the "In Between"? That God is sovereign. He's in control and all the plans for travel, for all of my kids, finances still needed.....He's got it covered. He just doesn't have to show me all of His plans yet because He is the God of the Universe. He's the ultimate Parent and the perfect planner. He's got this.....even during the "In Between".
When we started this 2nd adoption process, I (Vicki) anticipated it would be so much easier than the first time. You see, during our first adoption process, I cried a lot (I know, I know - so hard to believe if you really know me). The anticipation of so many unknowns was hard for me. I thought that because we already had our referral, the process this time would seem like a piece of cake. And, I had been doing pretty well until recently. Now, as we (hopefully) are moving closer to traveling, I'm a little messy sometimes. I've narrowed it down to two things.....
1) I'm a Momma. Deep, deep down, through and through. Having kids on both sides of the world right now is messing with me. I so much just want to have everyone in one place. And, as I anticipate traveling and being in Ethiopia for possibly three weeks, my list of "what if's" while I'm gone and away from 5 of my kids is growing longer and my stresses grow.
2) I'm a planner. Always have been, always will be. It's a blessing and a curse. :-) So, right now we are "In Between". All our paperwork is done. There is no busy work. There is just waiting. And, in that waiting, there is only so much preparation that can be done for travel, because we just have no idea when we'll travel. So - there's lots of time that allows a mind to wander.
What do I remember in the "In Between"? That God is sovereign. He's in control and all the plans for travel, for all of my kids, finances still needed.....He's got it covered. He just doesn't have to show me all of His plans yet because He is the God of the Universe. He's the ultimate Parent and the perfect planner. He's got this.....even during the "In Between".
