No word from USE yet

So our paper work was submitted to the USE last Thursday - we all were expecting an email Wednesday or Thursday saying they received our files for a VISA and will start working on it.  However, not to contact them for 5 days.  So far - NO email has arrived.  I know they all took Monday off for a holiday and next Monday as well.  I can just assume that they are short handed with the US holiday and then the Ethiopian Christmas is either the 6th or 7th of January.  Needless to say - I'm sure people are short handed.

So we will ring in the new year without any more info - oh well.

Making progress at the storage unit today and hopefully tomorrow - and then we'll be able to start working on Curtis Samuel's room.  I did find the crib and TONS of toys today - all will be good.

Even bought the black eyed peas for Sunday -

On another note - there are a LOT of people struggling as the year comes to an end.  Specifically my brother - he'll be fine - but just some added prayers would sure be nice for him.  I know he'll make it through and be better than before - always seems to be -but he needs a hug.

If I don't email before Sunday - everyone have a very happy and safe New Year's Eve tomorrow!  The Backus gang is spending it as a family.  Dinner out and a movie maybe?  And we have some special snacks for later - our own individual Edy's Shakes!  Yummy!  Sounds like fun!  Don't think we have a bottle of bubbly - but maybe I can find some sparkling juice tomorrow?

Hopefully we'll make more progress on the storage unit tomorrow!  That's a good plan.
Hugs to all as 2011 comes to a close and 2012 begins anew!  Can't wait - praying for some great things in the Backus lives!
Gail, Craig, Nate and Curtis Samuel (still not sure what we'll call him - ha)

We should adopt from the US before any other country?

So I was actually half expecting a card from someone this year about this topic - and actually that's just what the card said!  they are wishing us good luck but "its too bad you couldn't take a baby from our own country.  There are so many children here that need a good home, and they should come first before kids in other countries.  We should take care of the children here first and then think of kids in other countries.  Well good luck with him anyway"

Seriously!  Does anyone really know what's best for the kids or our families?  Does anyone REALLY KNOW our story?  Ok if you are reading the blog from 2010 to now - probably you do know the story - and its written here.  And I know I can't quote scripture and verse - but I know the Bible says to help ALL kids - no country or child is more important then the other.

I know that people have had good luck adopting domestically and many do foster to adopt.  But there are scary stories out there for any type of adoption.  How domestic adoption, many times the birth mothers back out and take the kids back.  Remember who the father is, and years later he can take his child away.  And then there are sad stories with foster to adopt - just  having to give the kids back and forth to  messed up parents and someday they may loose their rights and the kids can be adopted.  And that many kids in the system  - yes they have it hard.  But that doesn't say that kids in other countries don't either?

Every one's story is their life story and its their choice and honestly its their business.  No one has a right to judge anyone else for their decision on how to grow their family.  I'm sure there are many people out there that do not believe in fertility treatments.  Well without those - we wouldn't have our beautiful Nate!  He is a miracle child via fertility treatments that the Dr's told me were not going to work!  But guess what - he's almost 7.5 years old and perfect in my eyes!  But many people are against those treatments.

And now - people don't like that we are adopting internationally or maybe its a child of color?  Well I know Craig has some color blindness - and I think I must as well - because that doesn't matter.  I'm in love with our baby!  He's perfect in our eyes -  just like Nate!  No matter what these boys do - they will always be our sons and perfect - we will think they are the best at everything they do!  Curtis Samuel Backus - he's awesome!  he's sweet, innocent and needs a family to love him!  He's pretty darn healthy (from what we know) - and he'll be the best addition to our family!  EVER!  No one can tell me otherwise.

And I do believe that people that adopt domestically or from another country - those are all perfect adoptions and families too!  God led us down this path and no matter what - I believe this is meant to be.  Its sad others can't see past their own feelings to acknowledge that other opinions, paths or options are just as good for other people.  It may not be right for them, but it is right for the others.  For us - domestic and foster care were not our paths.  Not that I didn't try or want to - but for many reasons that don't need to be written here - I wasn't a good fit for that path!  Those kids are great too, but I wasn't gong to be the best mom in those situations.  I know my friends that are awesome and they are the best - they have some awesome kids - and their lives are great!  And some even admit -Gail this isn't for you!  And guess what -its OK!  they don't judge me- maybe its because I accept them just like they accept me.

Anyhow - its just another day - and just sad when people have to be closed minded.

And its funny - Craig saw my quick post on Facebook and just KNEW who it was - too funny!

anyhow - I respect this persons thoughts and wish they knew about the system in the US and how messed up it is.  how people can't just 'adopt" kids here.  How kids get stuck in the limbo and court systems for years.  And how we have a son and everything we are doing is with him in mind!

Ok - off my soap box.  If anyone has suggestions on how to deal with this - please feel free to contact me privately - gmbackus@hotmail.com.

I just will continue to look at our little guy and fingers crossed that we will get news from USE this week that they do have our file and some idea in the  next few weeks where we will go from here.

Thanks for your support friends and strangers - I follow so many blogs to learn from you - I do hope maybe I can help someone here.
Gail

Merry Christmas Ethiopia

Ok- its 4 am in Addis Ababa - but really thinking of Curtis Samuel right now.  Hoping he is all snuggled in his little crib and not missing his buddy Elias too much as he went home to his forever family a few weeks ago.  And I pray that he gets some loving tomorrow.

However, I do know - its not really Christmas in Ethiopia, they celebrate the Orthodox days and will have their celebrations in a few weeks.  In 2013 I will do a dinner or some celebration on that day as our family is officially Ethiopian now as well.

So I just am missing our little boy today!   I know he will be home soon - but its hard.  It was fun to envision having him with the big family celebration today with my step sister and her kids.  It will be fun to have a baby there next year.  And if we are lucky - I may even get a niece or nephew as well?  Hum - two babies?  that could be fun.

We had fun tonight handing out Timbit's from Tim Horton's to random people working tonight.  This is something I helped to start last year at church - and our wonderful Pastor helped us fund the event this year.  WE went to 5 places and I wish we had 5 more!  Its fun to see the reactions of people as you just leave them a box of donuts and say thanks for working tonight ! Nate really was getting into that spirit and it was fun!  Very happy for a great kid and husband.

So all the babble - I'm pretty tired - to my Sami - Love you so much Sami - I can't wait to have you in my arms for years to come.
See you soon!
Love mommy, daddy and Nate

Submitted to US Embassy

We were officially submitted to the US Embassy today.  Now a NEW wait begins.  The review can take a few weeks to MONTHS!  So far only two families have been sent to further review from our agency - one has recently passed and the other should soon.  So we'll see what happens.  WE expect some interviews to be requested at a minimum.  All I know is that we agree with the reviews to ensure our child is truly an orphan and available to be adopted.  Now we just have to pray it goes smoothly.

Sami - one day Mommy and daddy will have you in our arms, reading these stories and you will realize just how badly we wanted you with us and how in love we are with you.

Merry Christmas everyone.
Gail This is an e-mail from General Dynamics Land Systems. It is for the intended recipient only and may contain confidential and privileged information. No one else may read, print, store, copy, forward or act in reliance on it or its attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, please return this message to the sender and delete the message and any attachments from your computer. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Our own Santa Delivery

Yes - the Backus family has found its OWN personal Secret Santa or maybe the real Santa Clause decided to use Amazon.com's free shipping last week.  Either way - we received a package yesterday at the UPS store - we haven't used this mailbox in about a year or more - but someone didn't know that.  Anyhow - to our great surprise - Nate received a really nice toy!  I think we'll tape the box up and let him open it as he LOVES getting package.  And this time - its a wonderful surprise to Craig and I as well!

There is NO name on who sent this wonderful present.  And we even called Amazon to ask - wanting to thank someone personally and they said no - its anonymous -and they'd send an email to the sender to say we say thanks!  Weird - but our own little Christmas magic this year.

Just cool - so if you read this Santa - thank you from the bottom of our hearts - your kindness reminds us about the special meaning of the season to give and be thankful - I want to just cry and hug you!  As my coworker told me - maybe someone knows our struggles this year and wanted to put a smile on our faces - well guess what - YOU SURE DID!  

Our sermon on Sunday was about Christmas miracles or the little miracles and journey's along the way - when something bad happens and turns good.  Well not that we had anything "bad' happen - but this is a good.  But I was reminded Sunday of Christmas 2002 - the big blizzard that hit upstate NY - we had been going there every other year for Christmas - rotating holidays every year between families - so 2002 was the NY trip.  So Craig's mom lived in the valley (we lovingly call it Happy Valley) and his Aunt Sandy lives up on the mountain and his dad stayed there.  We left to go visit him for a few hours - well it was snowing hard and decided we needed to leave early and go back to his mom's place in Happy Valley - there is a HUGE steep hill to go down - and it would not be easy travel.  It wasn't that far at all - but just a big hill.  So about a mile or two from aunt Sandy's - she lives in the middle of nothing - but its beautiful - the road was covered and we couldn't make out where it was or the corn fields it went through - needless to say - we found the corn field and got stuck.  REALLY stuck - we were there for hours -

The blessing - a house up the way was home - they never are home on Christmas day - but were that year - they took us in - gave us Christmas dinner and a warm bed for the night!  When we woke the next day - record snow fall - almost 4 feet of snow - and more in some places!  What a miracle - strangers took us in!  That year will be our miracle - just like our Secret Santa from 2011.  2002 was a nice miracle - with a sadness - I remember getting a message as the call never came through - but the message did hours later - my wonderful aunt Alma passed away that day too!  So we had her angel watching out for us as well.

So to all - enjoy this season - give a little - even if its a smile, a few coins in the red kettle or a hug to someone this season - you will brighten their day like someone brightened ours!

Merry Christmas a few days early.
Gail and Craig This is an e-mail from General Dynamics Land Systems. It is for the intended recipient only and may contain confidential and privileged information. No one else may read, print, store, copy, forward or act in reliance on it or its attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, please return this message to the sender and delete the message and any attachments from your computer. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Not submitted to USE today

Sounds like we will be submitted on the normal scheduled day, which is what I had anticipated - but still bummed out.  But it sounds like Curtis Samuel passed the medical exam.  Oh yeah, the other disappointing news, we can't even hear or read about this medical evaluation.  Its all in his files, but not for us to see.  So that's frustrating.  He had a cold or some respiratory issue while we were there and hoping they will take care of that for him.  

So since my focus of good news was to get a copy of his medical report, and we can't - I will just focus that no news is good news right?

Nothing we can do to make this faster.  So IF everything goes well, our files will be submitted on 12/22/11!  So its one week later.  We will then wait a few days to get an email stating that they have our files.  And just pray for a fast review.

Just hard!  I had so hoped to have our son home for the holidays.  But next year!  Pray he comes home by the time he turns one in April!

Gail This is an e-mail from General Dynamics Land Systems. It is for the intended recipient only and may contain confidential and privileged information. No one else may read, print, store, copy, forward or act in reliance on it or its attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, please return this message to the sender and delete the message and any attachments from your computer. Your cooperation is appreciated.

embassy submittal - delayed

Appears our little guy didn't have a physical exam by an Approved Embassy physician - or the paperwork wasn't done in time - so his files were NOT submitted to the US Embassy (USE) today.  They asked if they could submit them on Monday - but not sure yet.  Our agency can submit information on Thursdays.

So we'll see.  At least we will have an updated medical - haven't seen much since he was 3 months old.
Positive thinking right?

Home trying to recreate the Yummy Pizza's taste - didn't work out too well - they have the cheese down to a science on how it will melt evenly - but practice.  AND too much sauce - ha!  Now my tradition going to show Nate how to make Christmas Wreath cookies!  Should be fun - just hoping for green food coloring - no red hots - but it will work!

Tomorrow is Nate's Christmas party in his class and then the school will be roller skating - I will never forget - my 6th or 7th birthday - so Nate's age - and the brownies went skating at the Roller Rama in Brighton to celebrate Girl Scouts birthday.  I wasn't very good and my mom and I were going along - I was hanging onto her hand on one side and the edge on the other - as we passed the LCP photographer - we both fell (well me taking her with me)  - arms and legs every where.  Guess what picture HE got!  And of course - asking a little girl - putting her picture in the paper was a big deal AND on my birthday - poor mom!  What she did for me - she pretended to be so excited that day!  Ha.

I miss her tons this time of the year.  But I know she's in heaven watching over us and watching over Sami until he can become Curtis Samuel Backus -

HUGS to all
Gail

What's his name?

Yep - my dear husband - I love him so much.  I love that once we make a decision he works so hard to MAKE ME STICK to it.  Tells me - the choice has been made - that's it - whether its what place to eat, what to wear or what name for Sami.

Well I kept saying his name is Sami and that's easy to make Sam or Samuel here!  NOPE honey we picked Curtis and we are sticking to it.  I asked ONE Last time as I filled out all the paper work for Embassy!  So guess what?  Craig wants to call the baby Sam!  After all that HE changed his mind.  However Nate likes Curt and its grown on me - so ugh!  I want to just scream and love using this to tease him after all of this.  And i can even do it here.

So we'll see.  Regardless he'll have Samuel in his name - first or middle. Or we call him by his middle name?  It will really be his choice when he grows up anyhow.

So that said - I finally got more pictures downloaded fro the other camera disk - and found some friends sent.  So here are a few more.  Enjoy the beauty - and like I tell others - pictures just can't do it justice.
gail

GREENLAND  - VIEW FROM ABOVE

VIEWS FROM THE PORTUGUESE BRIDGE - YES WE STARTED AT THE TOP ON THE LEFT - ITS GORGEOUS

STILL AT THE PORTUGUESE PLACE - BUT SEE THE MONKEY ON THE LEFT NEAR THE BUSH (LEFT AND CENTER)

A WOMAN WALKING IN TOWN - PICTURE TAKEN WHILE DRIVING

CHURCH WE STOPPED AT FOR A TOUR 

ST GABRIEL - TAKEN FOR OUR LITTLE FRIEND GABE

NOT A SAINT - BUT A NATHANIEL FROM THE BIBLE - OR SOMETHING

PICTURES OF ART WORK IN THE CHURCH - 100'S OF YEARS OLD

PEOPLE HANGING OUT AROUND THE CHURCH GROUNDS - SOME SLEEPING AND MAYBE LIVING OUTSIDE

A LOOK OUT OUR DRIVER STOPPED OUT FOR PICTURES

A HERD OF ABOUT 20 MONKEYS RAN IN FRONT OF THE VAN - IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PIC YOU SEE A MONKEY - HIDING IN THE BUSHES

DADDY AND CURTIS SAMUEL

MOMMY AND CURTIS SAMUEL

TRADITIONAL FOOD AT THE RESTAURANT WE WENT TO - DANCE, MUSIC, COFFEE CEREMONY AND ENTERTAINMENT -IT WAS COOL

CRAIG AND RICK DANCING AND OTHER STUFF

ME TRYING HONEY WINE

VIEW OF THE OUTSIDE OF THE ORPHANAGE ENGIDA

SIGN FOR THE ORPHANAGE ENGIDA

SCHOOL ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE ORPHANGE - AND YES TELLY TUBBIES ON THE WALL

INSIDE THE ORPHANGE - MAIN FLOOR THE PLAY/EATING AREA FOR THE BIG KIDS

THE STAIRS LEADING UP TO THE SLEEPING AREAS OF THE BABIES

SAMI'S ROOM WAS THE FIRST OF TWO AT THE TOP AND HE WAS JUST TO THE RIGHT AS YOU ENTERED THE ROOM - HERE HE IS!  WAITING TO GET OUT.

PLAY TIME WITH MOMMY & DADDY

Passport and birthcerticate

Wow - all the paper work is completed and ready to submit to the USE (US Embassy for long version) next week.  I am pretty sure agency have a specific day to submit - and ours is Thursday.  So this will be submitted on 12/15 - and then we figure out how long we will wait.

Anyhow - just the cutest stinking pictures on these documents.  The name is Sami Craig Backus to start - and we will change it later to Curt.  However Craig is waivering - but Nate and I are hanging tough.

Just exciting.  I wish I could copy these pics - so adorable!  Can't wait.

A good day today - now we need our son home.  Not sure how I'll do with a long wait.  UGH - but pray for a normal speed.

Another family picked their child up this week adn just had their court in November - so a quick turn around- we can pray for that with our files too.

Happy Friday evening.
Gail

Happy 8 month birthday Curt

Today would be our son's 8 month birthday.  Here in the US - the first year - every month is a big deal.  It brings now "things" a child is able to do and amazing to watch.  We're not there but know our son is in good hands and well loved.  I just can't wait to see him again and celebrate EVERY DAY with him like we do his big brother.  My boys are my pride and joy and the loves of my life.  That includes the big one, Craig as well.  And my father and brother.  And now I have some sister in laws to include in this bunch of "boys".

But Curt - we will be coming to get you as soon as we can.  We are so blessed to have become your parents, that God found YOU for US.  You don't even know the joy you have already brought our family by expanding us to a family of 4.  There are so many plans for us when you finally can come home.  We look forward to showing you the snow, pools, grass and even carpet!  We can't wait.  Today you would have been excited we think to see the snow!  

Hugs and love - along with many prayers.

Love Mommy This is an e-mail from General Dynamics Land Systems. It is for the intended recipient only and may contain confidential and privileged information. No one else may read, print, store, copy, forward or act in reliance on it or its attachments. If you are not the intended recipient, please return this message to the sender and delete the message and any attachments from your computer. Your cooperation is appreciated.

Curt's book

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Photo Card

See the awesome card we made on Shutterfly.  new project another photoebook

 

Candycane Frames Holiday

Create photo holiday cards this Christmas season.

View the entire collection of cards.

Pictures - Introducing Curtis Samuel Backus

Ok - I'll try to post some pictures
Mommy and Sami (or Curtis Samuel)

Daddy and Sami

Views to the Blue Nile Gorge

Mud / Stick Hut - many people live in these throughout the country - its the most common homes.  This is more of a shack - they sides are typically more "mud"

 View near the gorge

 Blue Nile Gorge and the bridge - Craig and I

 More traditional huts

Our traditional lunch in a little village

 Craig eating the lunch

 view from lunch - see how the donkey's do a LOT of the work - sometimes the loads are on people.  These are pretty SMALL loads

 Random view from teh van window - to show the farm land

 Views from the Portuguese place - its beautiful -

 The bridge is about 500 years old - at the Portuguese place