Yes, But Not Yet

We received what I believe to be very good news this morning though it has one little string attached. The court gave a "very positive recommendation" to our adoption but there is some additional history that needs to be recorded in our girls' file. This additional info has to be done before we can get the adoption decree. We need the adoption decree for an embassy date so the possibility seems to be this: February 8th, additional court hearing; March 11, embassy date; March 5 or 6 travel.

I got two new pictures of our girls today which are very timely and make me almost incapable of doing anything but staring at my computer.

Emma called from Ethiopia. She is feeling more homesick now, in addition to be exhausted. She got to see our girls this morning--was allowed to give the baby a bottle and hold her for about 10 minutes and let our 2 year old see a video we had taken on the way to the airport. The video seemed to be a big hit both with our daughter and with the nannies who were translating who everyone was. While Lemlem had been afraid of Emma at first, she warmed up after watching the video 8 times (according to Emma) and then even giggled when she pushed the wrong button on the camera.

So we wait for a little longer, but we wait with great hope. I'll have to tell my eyelids. They seem to have chosen to deal with all this by puffing up to twice their normal size. I'll also have to tell the left side of my head. It wants to break off and shatter. I'll also give the heads up to my attention span. It has left me permanantly.

So Glad I Homeschool

Eli gets to go on a trip to New York City with his grandparents. We were talking about what he might like to see. He thought the "big green lady with the fire stick" looked cool.

I scanned my memories and knowledge of NYC for green ladies with fire sticks. Central Park statue? street performer? portrait at the Museum of Modern Art?

No.

The Statue of Liberty.

You go, Big Green Lady With the Fire Stick.

Emma to the Airport

We took our eldest daughter to the airport this morning. I coped with that by being incredibly sensitive and crabby for the entire car trip home.

She left for Boston at 1:10 pm, then flies to Amsterdam, makes a refueling stop in the Sudan and arrives in Ethiopia sometime late Thursday our time, early Friday Ethiopia time.

She will see the girls, Lord willing, as soon as possible.

I have not allowed her to get her ears pierced until she is 16. Now, with her being able to see the girls before I do, I told her I am going to get every, single square inch of my ears pierced while she is gone.

What I'm Learning, Part 457

1. I have really great friend who encourage me, even at 12:52 a.m.

2. I slept really well last night.

3. I'm a little sad this morning but I don't feel like life has been dramatically changed.

4. I have a friend who needs me at the hospital for an hour today.

5. She means more than a misunderstood court date.

6. I'm really, really thankful for the children I have.

7. I really, really love the children I have in Ethiopia. And can't wait to see them.

January 12 is not January 12

I just received the news that while our court date is January 12, it is not our January 12. It is Ethiopia's. That means that our court date is not tomorrow but will be January 20th.

I apologize for the false alarm.

We will wait. We'll see if I'm going to get better at it.

Blessed be the name of God forever and ever,

to whom belong wisdom and might.

He changes times and seasons;

he removes kings and sets up kings;

he gives wisdom to the wise

and knowledge to those who have understanding;

He reveals deep and hidden things;

He knows what is in the darkness,

and the light dwells with Him.

Daniel 2: 20-22

While Waiting for an Ethiopian, Eat Like One

Tonight we were invited to the house of a very good friend. She is Ethiopian and made an incredible amount of food. My 7 year old ate 4 plates of injera with a meat/sauce sort of thing; my 11 year old son lost count. I ate two plates of injera. I have now had 6 glasses of water and can barely tell. I am emanating berbere, the peculiar and wonderful spice that is in most Ethiopian dishes. I had the chance to talk to a mom who adopted 2 kids when they were about the same age as our kids will be. I think the most comforting thing she said was, "It may seem really gross and overwhelming to talk about hair fungus. We all got it and I think my kids had it for.....years. But it's just something you deal with and then it's not that big of a deal."

I also spent about 7 minutes sitting with my back against a chair massager. Upper back? Lower back? Full back? Demo? I tried them all. I'm not sure how my outlook on life can be so changed after 7 minutes with a Half Price Walgreens Chair Massage but I'll take it. In fact, I may see if there is a 36 hour function so I can use it right up to Tuesday morning. My kids would think I'm only getting slightly creepier than I already am.

The Week Ahead

I feel sort of like I did when I anticipated finals in college: there really weren't any days to finals week except the day and time of a particular test. It was all that mattered.

My whole week begins the morning of January 12th when we will find out if we passed court.

My next "final" is 24 hours later when we drive Emma to the airport to get on a plane, fly for 20 some hours and land in Ethiopia.

The anticipation of this week has given me some new insights:
1. It is easier to be busy buying trip supplies at a store you can't stand (Walmart) than it is to be done buying supplies and simply be ready to have your daughter get on a plane.

2. These two situations fully exceed my capabilities to cope, plan, control and analyze.

3. I have a new John Grisham book to read because it is easier to read about a man blackmailed into working for the biggest law firm in the country so he can steal secrets about a new fighter jet than it is to think about January 12. And 13th.

4. I love God more than ever.

5. I cried when our pastor recited the entire book of Philippians by heart.

6. I packed all of Lemlem's outfits because I was done at Walmart.

7. I have packed almost all of my outfits.

8. I have a new verse.

"Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it."
Psalm 119:140

I think I'll either be posting 10,000 new entries for the next 2 days or none at all until we know the outcome of court. It all depends on whether or not I can think up a couple more things I might need from Walmart.