While We Wait

Here we are on the cusp of a new month, which (as you know if you've been following) means that we will soon be receiving a new wait list update.  Our agency notifies each family at the beginning of each month (for the last two months, we've actually gotten our update ON the first) where they fall on the agency's waiting list.  Just being honest, my patience becomes less graceful as each month passes and, at the same time, I know that there are many who have been waiting longer; we personally know people who have been waiting for a referral for over a year.

I wanted to post before we actually get our wait list update for the month of May and then I will post again once we receive it.  To be completely transparent, for some reason, I am anticipating this month's number to leave me discouraged and I figure that no one wants to hear from Debbie Downer.  I have absolutely no reason, by the way, to believe that we will move any less than we ever have; just being especially pessimistic, I guess.

This month, while we wait, we've been furniture shopping.  We have narrowed down some of our options and are almost ready to order furniture for our daughter's room.  Granted, a referral could still be months away; however, lately, once a referral is received, the rest of the process has been more efficient so, since we will be ordering furniture that will take several weeks to arrive, we thought it best to go ahead and make those decisions and place the order.  I'm liking crisp white like this?  (What is it about white that screams little girl room?)

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In addition, I've been trying to learn a little Amharic.  We purchased an app for our iPads that teach some basic words and phrases.  In addition, I purchased this book & CD set that, I believe, will come in very handy.

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See you soon with a new update.  In the meantime, amesegenallo for stopping by.  (That's "thank you" in Amharic).  : )

Running for One

Tomorrow is the Country Music Marathon / Half Marathon.  My hubby is running on Team Ordinary Hero and, tonight, as I attached his number just under the caption, "Run For One", I couldn't help but think about our girl.

So proud of you, honey, for running (at all) but mostly because you're running on behalf of orphans everywhere.  Go get 'em!

Two Steps Forward, NO Steps Back

...and that's a very good thing.  (See, the glass IS half full.)





Today was the day that we received our monthly wait list update from our agency.

Our April number is:

This number, really, doesn't tell the whole story about our wait, but it's the one "tangible" thing that we have right now that shows movement.  Other than this monthly update email, we really don't hear from our agency during this phase of the adoption (which is fine...there is really no need for anything more; it just makes receiving this email extra special because, well,  it's something).  The fact that we were 25 last month and 23 this month seems to say that there were 2 referrals within our agency in March, but that's not necessarily the case.  It is highly likely that families with numbers larger than ours have received referrals.  The way that this happens is that the referrals were given for a child outside of the parameters of our application/home study.  For instance, someone with a number greater than ours could have accepted a referral for a 12 year old boy, a sibling set or a special needs boy/girl, for instance.  This also means that we will likely get a referral before some families whose number is less than ours.  Are you adequately confused?  Mission accomplished.  : )

We know that a month ago, we were number 5 in our gender/age specific "category" (3-5 year old girl) but this is not a number that will be updated regularly.  In fact, we will likely never have an update to this number....until, of course, we get a referral call.....and then we TOTALLY won't care about this number any longer.

So, anyway, that's our number for April.  Still waiting (sometimes not so) patiently but thankful that we continue to move toward our girl.

Give 1 Save 1

I've been meaning to do a post about Give 1 Save 1 for quite some time.  It's a great site/organization that was established by an adoptive mom who knew, as many of us seem to, that when God called her to adoption, it went beyond their own adoption story.  Jeff and I feel the same way.

The Give 1 Save 1 idea is awesome.  Each Monday a new family is introduced through the site (www.give1save1.com) and each reader is asked to GIVE 1....$1.00....to help SAVE 1....1 orphan.  It is amazing to see the funds add up each week for the featured family.

I'm so excited, in addition to just telling you about Give 1 Save 1, to introduce you to this week's family....THE SANFORD'S.  Mom, Kim, traveled with me to Ethiopia in July and, since returning home has embarked on a journey to adopt NOT one, NOT two, NOT three, but FOUR children.  Go on over to www.give1save1.com and hear they're story.  And while you're there, go ahead and GIVE $1 (or, even better, give $4...one for each child who now has a family).