Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.  Proverbs 13:12

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

UNofficial Number Update

So my morning email looked a little something like this:

From Amy in Washington State: 
Ok Ladies!  I am flipping out.  I just emailed Kami to confirm that she was #2 on the list.
 
We are unofficially #1, #2 and #3!  This is happening so fast all of a sudden.  I hope this pace continues.  I am sooo tired of waiting to see my little girl.  I have been trusting in His timing, but that doesn't make me any less excited to meet her.  The anticipation is almost more than I can handle.  Put me out of my misery God and let me meet her!  :  ) 

My cyberadoption buddy Amy sent this at 11 something last night.  I read it twice and I was thinking, "Who the heck is Kami?"  Actually I think that's what I emailed Amy and Bethany (my other cyberadoption friend who is the unofficial #2 mentioned above.  They both responded with very enthusiastic emails that indeed, I am now #1 on the list as Kami received her referral yesterday afternoon.  

Now, I am OFFICIALLY speechless.

10 comments:

Dawn said...

YAY!!! Congratulations!! How exciting - so happy for you!!

jody said...

woohoo! Seems just yesterday I was emailing to ask you questions about AGCI and you were waiting to get on the waiting list!!! God is amazing! I can't wait to hear when you get THE CALL!!

Jocelyn Zarr '86 said...

gosh, Missy! what a surreal and super post! Hold on tight for a wild ride!!! I am so pumped for you and i cant wait to hear more...flying high for you! love jocelyn

Our journey said...

I can not believe that at this point you were not obsessively checking your e-mail mulitple times each day to see if any news came over the listserv! (Oh, ya that was me.) Remember it is unofficial and I am just making educated guesses, but I would think most would agree that you are numero uno.

Amy

Anonymous said...

SOOOOOO excited for you!! i can't wait to hear the news of your little one!!

Brian and Autumn said...

Can't wait for the next post!!!!!!

Three2Five said...

Soooo excited for you!

Pamela said...

WELCOME TO THE NUMBER ONE CLUB!

At the rate you're moving through the queue, you'll know who your daughter before me. But, that's okay with me...cause I can't wait to meet your little one!

Big giant hugs!

Pamela

Michael and Michelle said...

WooooHoooo!!! I am so excited!!!! Can't wait to hear more!!!

Michelle

Michelle Riggs said...

Congrats! I can't wait to hear more details.

So...what's next?

Below is an overview of an Ethiopian adoption process from the time my agency receives adoptive parents' completed dossier and home study.

Agency Sends Dossier for Authentication and Translation Check!
Agency will forward adoptive parents’ dossier to the U.S. State Department and the Ethiopian Embassy for authentication. Once processed, the agency will forward the dossier to our staff in Ethiopia where it is translated

Referral Process Check!
Once the dossier is in Ethiopia, adoptive parents can wait six to eight months for a referral of a child. Once referred, the agency will send the adoptive parents referral photos, medical information and the child’s background information, including any known family history. Upon acceptance of referral, the agency's foreign staff will submit adoptive parents’ dossier, with the referred child’s documentation to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA).

Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) Reviews Documentation Check!
MOWA is the branch of the Ethiopian government that reviews all documentation submitted by the adoptive parents and on behalf of the referred child recommends the adoption to be finalized to the Federal Court of Addis Ababa.

Federal Court Date November 11, 2008 Check!
Once MOWA recommends the adoption to be finalized, a court appointment is scheduled. At this appointment, the judge can either finalize the adoption or ask for further documentation and set another court date. Once the adoption is finalized, the court decree, new birth certificate and passport are issued, and the adoptive parents can travel.

Travel December 6, 2008 - December 11, 2008
Adoptive parents should be ready to travel within two to four months after accepting a referral. One parent is required to travel and the in-country stay in Ethiopia is five to seven days. During this time, adoptive parents will complete the U.S. Embassy Immigration appointment for the adopted child, which is necessary to bring the child to the United States. The agency's in-country staff will accompany each family throughout their entire stay in Ethiopia.

Post-Adoption- Until the child turns 18 years old In Process
In Ethiopia, an adoption is finalized before entrance into the United States. Upon arrival, post-adoption reports are due at three, six, and 12 months on the anniversary of the U.S. Embassy appointment date. After the first year, family authored self reports are due every year until the child reaches 18 years of age.