Referrals are coming in again!!! Moving on up that list!

YES  - the referrals are coming through again!  Yeah - I was told we are #15 on the list. They've referred 3 kids this week, anticipate 1-2 more next week and then 12 are getting paper work ready!  PLUS they announced an 8 month old little baby with some potential health issues was available - I did say we'd look at him, but just in my heart felt he wasn't for us and it sounds like a few other families are interested that are farther up the list - so that will be a referral!  YES _ they are coming in and we are moving on up that list!

Its only a matter of time. Its taking a LOT longer for the agency and their people to do the research and get all the documentation the ET and US govt's are looking for.  But honestly -its probably for the best. Because if all the paper work is there, the court dates and appointments usually go a lot faster and without any issues.  So I'll take it- they are just really trying to document that these kids ARE orphans and available to be adopted - and that's fine.  I want our child for real - not some other crazy methods.

So yes - this was good news for me today.  My friend was told by her agency last week some time between July and November for a referral - I can see that.  And I can live with that.  I'm still praying we will be in country at the same time and can meet over there - it will be a blessing.

Thanks everyone.
Gail

Ethiopian Heritage Camp - in VA

Here is the location and the website for the Ethiopian Heritage Camp - its located in Virginia!  What a GREAT thing - I can't wait to go there someday.  Hopefully in a few years - we'll have a child home and maybe have a referral this year, child home next  and camp - in a few?  Just a great dream and event for the whole family someday.  and with the age difference - maybe a great parent and child special trip someday.


enjoy everyone.


exact address is 
Massanetta Springs Camp and Conference Center
712 massanetta Springs Rd
Harrisonburg, VA

One of the place we have this information is at the following link:
http://www.heritageandculturecamp.org/ethiopian.php


Also - this is a time to be thankful for everything Jesus did for us here on Earth - and today being Good Friday AND Earth Day - its pretty cool to the environmental engineer in me - bringing it all full circle.  He died for us - and gave us this earth to take care of and be good followers.  I hope I can do him justice and just pray I continue to grow in my faith and strength.  This is sure a process - I had hoped in August that our paper work would be done before the holidays 2010 and a referral by now with hopes to travel this summer.  That's not in the cards now - but I do believe God's working very strong in our lives and taking care of us - he's bringing people into our lives to keep us going.


I'm so thankful for that.
God bless you all
Gail

Update on Ashton & Adoption news

All - thank you for prayers for Ashton and Gabe - the family is VERY appreciative and we believe (well Rebekah and I) that the prayers were key in Ashton waking up with no real issues last night - and he seemed fine t his morning I think.  Anyhow - she's asked that everyone continue - they feel they are getting hit by stuff on all sides - trying to break their faith.  Their faith has brought them this far.  I read some devotionals today and basically the devil attacks when we are close to answers!  So as bad as things are for them I have to find the positive that they are close to their answers on Gabe's unknown diseases and once they know that he can have the brain stuff fixed - hopefully he can continue to have minimum symptoms and not have emergency brain surgery.

So I just want all of us to pray for this family to continue to hang onto God's promises and their faith that they will  make it through.

Thanks everyone.  As I know more about both boys - I'll post.

Some adoption news - we are #18 - but that doesn't mean too much - from my count there are 8 families that want a child - either gender (basically boys are easier to get) or a male in the same age range as us.  Ok a few more want one of each - I didn't count them.  Now hopefully some referrals will come out soon.

We need prayers on this as well.
God Bless the Lord today
Gail

Prayers - urgent for GAbe's brother Ashton

All - I've posted before about Gabe - our friends son - he's 3 and has his share of health issues -the unknown blood disorder first and now his brain malformation.  HIs brother Ashton is the perfect match for a bone marrow match.

so Ashton went to the dentist - and besides messing the work up - the quack dentist was too busy and didn't do things right - even his nurse agreed this was wrong.  so in a nut shell Ashton was given an overdose of sedatives and nitrous oxides!  The work was 3 hour late -

the nurse and Ashton's parents (well I think the nurse- maybe I"m assuming) - decided he needed to go to the ER - the ER docs figured out that Ashton was given an OD of drugs today!  He's still not awake.  His mom knows I sent prayer requests out and I know people all over the world see this -so if you do please pray!

I believe the devil is trying to break this families faith - with all the issues with little Gabe and now this - it horrible.  You can look gabe up on caringbridge.org - search for bravebabygabe - you can see the horrible process there!  and then see the strength and faith this family has!

thanks for the prayers- they need this - we need Ashton to wake up and go back to school - he's Nate's best buddy!  I can't imagine

thanks
God bless
Gail

signs from above????

Ok - I've been trying to get some signs on what path we should take with all that's going on in ET- I'm still not giving up - but it was so nice to just see so many multiracial families this weekends.  Some very beautiful children and parents - from all over the world and just happy as can be!  I just want to ask them all about their journey- but I know that's probably totally weird.

And today was just beautiful - again didn't get much done around home we really needed to - we're bums - but enjoyed the surprising 80+degree weather here in metro-Detroit in early April - its not going to last and the showers are coming back tonight and tomorrow - and longer - but it was nice.  Church - I worked in the nursery and totally got my baby fix with this beautiful Austin!  Lunch with great friends, and then off to see HOP with my boys only to come home and go for a walk and take in some local playgrounds!  Just loved it -

so enjoy all - staying positive with life and moving forward.
gail

Clarifications

For a few that have asked me off "blog-land" - we do not fall into the catagory of "expedited cases" per the post earlier this week from the USCIS and DOS stuff.  So I figured I would just ask and clarify with our agency -

Unfortunately I was right in my thinking.  They are pushing cases of families that have already accepted a referral and been submitted to the courts and system to be processed.  So since we do not have a referral at all yet - we're most likely going to be hit with delays.  However, the US government agencies are really trying to help ET and help with training and other things to help them hire more people to get back up to speed.  Everyone seems very positive about this so its possibly a small set back but hope to get it going again in the future.

Also - I saw some post on one of my yahoo groups that even with 5/day - people aren't too worried they figured they will get a court date by later this summer.  So that's positive outlooks.

continue to keep all of us waiting families in your prayers - but mostly the kids.  Just having to slow things down for them and keep them in the orphanages seems hard.  We ask that people pray that God just looks over them and takes care of them.

Happy Friday night all
Gail

Update from US Gov't - April 6, 2011

Here is the latest data from the big conference call by the USCIS and DOS today.  This email is from our agency - I'm so thankful that they update us and keep us informed.  Its funny - if they haven't heard they sometimes just send and email to tell us that!  Ha.  Anyhow - its great that they did this - I think it was in my in-box shortly after 5 pm today!  The call was from 1-4.  Anyhow - Craig and I have some different interpretations of my last post - so I"m gong to ask some questions through the agency - so we'll see.

Also - note - you can follow by email now - yeah - try signing up for that.
I'm working on my faith - praying for God and thankful for my wonderful friend in TN that's keeping me focused. She's right - just have faith and pray - God has a plan.  I honestly do believe that - we'll bring our boys home sooner than later.  I also think God has other things he wants Craig and I to accomplish before our child is home - I may not "like" that, but do believe somethings are much needed to better our lives.  So hopefully those "things" can be shared someday - but for now their just little personal things.

God Bless everyone for their prayers.
Gail



Dear Families,
Many of you were likely participating in the conference call today. For those that were unable, we want to share with you some of the main points of the discussion.

Here is a link to the presentation that was given:

http://www.uscis.gov/USCIS/Outreach/Upcoming%20National%20Engagements/National%2\
0Engagement%20Pages/2011%20Events/April%202011/Ethiopian%20Adoptions%20-%20Prese\
ntation.pdf

The presentation covers all of the main points that were discussed and is quite comprehensive. We recommend that you read through this thoroughly.

After the presentation, they opened the meeting up for discussion and questions.

* USCIS/DOS reports that the majority of the cases are "good" cases and that the
majority of children are clearly determined to be orphans, but there are serious
problems in transparency as to how children are coming into care.

* Page 8 of the presentation outlines the proposed pre-approval process (filing
I-600) which will allow the US Embassy to investigate and approve the case prior
to the family appearing in court and becoming legal parents of the child. The
timeline for implementation of this was not given.

* There is currently one employee at MOWCYA (formerly known as MOWA) processing
cases. It was suggested that if MOWCYA were to increase their staff, the number
of cases processed daily would likely increase from five. They did not give a
projection as to when this might change, but did say that they were offering
assistance in training MOWCYA employees.

* USCIS/DOS will be meeting with MOWCYA in the next few weeks to assist them in
improving their practices and address deficiencies. They will report back to us
after this time with the outcome.

* Specific questions can be sent to askci@state.gov

We will continue to update you with any new information that becomes available.
If you hear something that you would like us to confirm, please email us at
ethiopia@adoptionassociates.net. We will only post information that we know to
be factual.

We are encouraged to have learned today from USCIS/DOS that the majority of the
cases processed through the Embassy are approvable and that they are making
strong efforts to assist MOWCYA with the improvement of their procedures.

Laura, Sally & Mary
Ethiopia Team

US dept of state update / warning

Posted today on the Department of STate'es website - not good news.  Tomorrow is the big USCIS conference call - unfortunately I can't personally participate - anxious to hear what they have to say - so sad and scary!

Gail


Notice: Significant delays remain likely for cases presented
to Ethiopia's Ministry of Women, Children and Youth
Affairs after March 8, 2011
The Government of Ethiopia's Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs (MOWYCA)
told the American Embassy officials that adoption cases presented to the Federal Court of First
Instance prior to March 8, 2011 will be processed expeditiously. However, cases presented to the
Court after March 8 will be processed in a more deliberate manner to allow greater scrutiny and
oversight. Based on their March 8 announcement the American Embassy anticipates that
MOWYCA will process these cases at a rate of approximately 5 per day.
It is unclear whether there will be an official announcement from the Government of Ethiopia
regarding the plan to reduce the number of cases adjudicated daily.
Prospective adoptive parents who did not reach the court summons stage before March 8, 2011,
should expect significant delays in the progression of their paperwork through the Government
of Ethiopia. Prospective adoptive parents should be in close touch with their adoption service
providers to confirm the status of their cases.
The U.S. Embassy continues to work with Ethiopian government officials and adoption agencies
to gain a clearer understanding of these procedures, and will continue to post information as it
becomes available