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

Monday, June 1, 2009

Sitina: Words, Books and the Hammock


My little bookworm loves the hammock. We've been reading in it for the last few nights before bed. Ahhhh, the breeze on an early summer evening. Can't think of anywhere I'd rather be than with Sitina on the hammock reading her current favorite, Are You My Mother? Sitina can listen to Are You My Mother? over and over again. The best part? When she decides to read the story to me. It is without a doubt, the sweetest retelling of a story I have ever heard!

Sitina has also added a few words to her vocabulary in the last few weeks. Her favorites are: thank you (ank ou), banana (annana), uh-oh, Sitina (Sssssna), hi, and dahh (dog). And, my personal favorite: Sitina, what does a dog say? Her response..."wouf wouf."

And, the last little tid bit...When she is not content in a situation (rarely) she has what I call a huffy face. Her grandfather, Papa, thinks this face is hysterical and laughs when she makes it. Now she makes the face to get a laugh out of Papa and a huffy face out of me.

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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.