Tentative Travel Dates!

Our case worker called yesterday to let us know that the next embassy appointment for our agency is set for January 11th. If we are in this group we would be leaving around January 8th, arriving in Ethiopia on the 9th, and meeting our son on the 10th! We're trying not to get too excited until these dates are confirmed, but we are looking at flights to see what options are available. Hopefully, we'll hear a confirmation later this week and can go ahead and book our tickets!!

We'll be home for Christmas

We found out yesterday that we for sure will not be able to travel in December. This week has been an emotional roller coaster. We were very hopeful that we might leave on Christmas, so it was heartbreaking to discover that we'll have to keep waiting some more. However, today's a new day, and I'm tired of being sad about it. To that measure, I've decided to post the top ten reasons that we're happy to be going to Ethiopia in January. (If you happen to be in that Dec. travel group, please ignore any negative statements, of course we'd love to be on that plane with you!!)

10) My birthday is in January...what better way to celebrate!

9) The Ethiopian Christmas is in January, so it's possible that we'll get the rare opportunity to join in that celebration (credit to Audrey for thinking of this one).

8) I've heard that airports are crazy this time of year.

7) We can celebrate Christmas with the other members of our family.

6) We have more time to get organized and prepared for our trip.

5) We have time to collect more donations for the orphanage (credit to Shannon for this one). We are collecting diapers and formula, especially soy formula, to take to Hannah's Hope. Let us know if you want to contribute!

4) We get to travel with awesome families like the Pell family and the Titus family, who have also already passed court and are just waiting to travel.

3) Isaiah gets a couple more weeks to soak in the sights, sounds, and smells of Ethiopia and to be loved on by his special caregivers.

2) Since we won't be traveling during the busy holiday season, more people will be able to celebrate his homecoming with us (we'd love to see you at the airport!)

And the number 1 reason we are happy to be traveling in January to Ethiopia....

1) We serve a completely sovereign, always loving Creator, who does not make mistakes and whose plan is always perfect. Do you think Joseph was happy when his brothers sold him into slavery? Of course not, but what they meant for evil, God meant for good.

But Joseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in God's place? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." Genesis 50:19-20

We trust that God has a plan, and even though we don't understand, there is a reason that we will travel when we do, and we're thankful that the One who can see the entire picture orchestrates everything accordingly.

Now come on guys, you know you want to chime in. Remind us, along with the other families waiting with us, why it will be great to travel in January!

We Passed!

This morning, our case manager called to share the wonderful news that we passed court! Isaiah is offically our son!! We are so excited and so incredibly grateful. The Lord is so faithful!

They are trying really hard to get us into the next travel group, but for that to happen all of Isaiah's paperwork will have to make it to the Embassy by next Friday, which is crazy fast. We know it can happen though! IF it did, we would leave for Ethiopia on Christmas Day! How amazing would that be! If not, we'll go sometime in January...either way we'll know something by Friday. Thank you so much for all of your prayers!! Please keep praying for the other waiting families, and especially for the Pells, another NC family who will have their 3rd court appointment next week.

Our agency encourages us not to post pictures until we are home so we will have to leave you with this little sneak peek...

Hang on sweetie, mommy and daddy will be there soon!

No News

Our case manager told us that they didn't receive any news today from our court appointment. We are hoping to hear something tomorrow. A big thank you to the many many people who have been praying for us! We love ya'll and will keep you updated as we hear anything. In the meantime, check out this video.

Court

Tonight as we sleep a judge in Ethiopia will decide if Isaiah will officially become our son. We desperately need your prayers. Many families from our agency have not passed court this week, and at this time they don't even know why they didn't pass. As a friend reminded us, adoption is a spiritual battlefield. Let's go before the only One who is able and willing to work on our behalf. Please also keep praying for all the families who heard disappointing news this week and all those who are still waiting to get their children home.

The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.

Proverbs 21:1

A father of the fatherless and a judge for the widows, is God in His holy habitation. God makes a home for the lonely.

Psalm 68: 5,6a

What Happens Next

Now that we have a court date, everyone is asking what happens next. A very good question indeed...

On December 3rd, (sometime in the early morning hours our time, keep in mind they are 8 hours ahead of us), our case will go before a judge in Ethiopia. We will not be present for this, instead someone from our agency goes on our behalf. When we pass, Isaiah is officially and legally our son! We may or may not pass the first time. Many families have not been passing lately, and it is usually for a reason that is completely out of our control. For example, someone from the MOWA (kind of like our social services here in the US) has to write a letter for the court case. If they do not write the letter in time, you fail court and are rescheduled. Some families are rescheduled for later in the week while others are pushed to a month or so later. So passing court is the first hurdle. After passing, (and celebrating like crazy), we wait for an embassy date appointment. From what I understand, the staff in Ethiopia has to receive our court degree and then gather numerous documents including little Isaiah's new birth certificate, passport, medical records, etc. All of these documents have to arrive at the Embassy at least two weeks prior to our appointment. What does this mean? This means that we'll probably get a tentative embassy date, and then wait for it to be confirmed when they receive all the documents. If they are there in time, we book our tickets! WooooHOOO!

Right now we are guessing that if we pass court the first time we will probably travel sometime in January. There is a December 28th embassy date, but to make it, all of our documents would have to be gathered with super sonic speed and this does not usually happen. However, we know that our Father will work out His perfect plan, in His perfect time, and nothing is impossible for Him.

11 days...Let the countdown begin!

THE UPDATE WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR...

WE FINALLY HAVE A COURT DATE!

DECEMBER 3rd!!!

WOOOHOOOO!!!!

PRAISE TO THE ONE WHO HEARS AND ANSWERS OUR PRAYERS!