Backus/Wilcox Family History: November 2012

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Sami Craig Backus for a year now

Wow - I can't believe that Curt officially became our son 1 year ago today. I remember waiting for the courts and in this really hot room - that kept getting VERY loud. It was fun to see how well respected our agency was - AAI for those keeping track and , saying bad things about them - they are so well respected the employees kept going to THEM to help keep order. And we saw this at the US Embassy too. Anyhow - we were not the first family in but ended up going after an hour or two. So we go in and the judge asks us a few questions about our family, if Nate was OK with it all, if we planned to keep the culture in his life - and that was about it. Ok, she asked if we understood this is forever and non-reversible - and YES we knew that - she then hit her gavel and declared us his parents! Sadly it took a few more months to bring our son home - but it happened. And today I see this awesome little personality watching the Wiggles at the moment, dancing around and fighting with his big brother to have a bite of his Popsicle. We are truly blessed by everything and God's timing in our lives. Right now Craig has been given an opportunity to stay home with Curt for a little bit! What a great opportunity for them? They are both enjoying it very much! Curt's been getting into a routine (one that was not working out well at his former daycare) and really a happy boy! I will cherish so much for many years to come.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

One year later

Wow - a year ago today Craig and I met and held Curt (aka Sami) for the very first time. I looked at the pictures that another mom with us too - the VERY first pictures of the caretakers at the orphanage introducing us to our sweet, sweet boy! We got to see that amazing smile first hand - we'd heard how sweet it was - and it truly is! And this last year has had some roller coaster rides trying to bring our beautiful boy home - but now we are watching him turn into the sweet little guy. Learning to talk - today he said Elmo, Happy Day (for Happy Birthday), one, two - and something for "three". WE are blessed. On the 30th it will be a year that he legally became our son! I feel blessed - I love my family so much - both boys are are just sweet! Nate talked all the way home today - he's so sweet. I heard about his Star Wars dreams and how he wants to invent a light saber? the new events in our life - Craig is now officially a stay at home dad for a few days. He's really enjoying this time with Curt and going out and bonding. They are doing fun things and getting a LOT of things done. He's very blessed to have this short time to be home with him before life takes another change! Ok - babbling - I just feel so happy today!. Gail

Thursday, November 22, 2012

Happy Thanksgiving

Today is the first Thanksgiving for our little Curt! I feel like we are just so blessed to have him home for the holidays last year. A year ago today I was packing to fly out the day after Thanksgiving to go meet our son! Craig and I just had such an amazing trip meeting our new son. And today I"m so thankful for my boys it isn't even funny! I'm thankful for the selfless act that Curt's birth family did in 2011 - I know they are not celebrating a holiday in Ethiopia - but I just wonder if his family thinks of him, if they are even still alive. Do they know what a beautiful little boy they gave life to and such a spirit? Today we went back to the Detroit Thanksgiving Parade - and would like to start this as a tradition for our family (so anyone want to join - feel free - maybe some of the cousins and their kids can join in the future). But both Nate and Curt were so fun! Nate was lucky a family let him get closer to the front to see. Curt well he made friends with everyone. It is just amazing how so many people, from all over, all different, different stages of lives and totally different lives can all come together, standing in a small area and be nice. People helping one another, giving kids some food and a necklace when they didn't catch one from the clowns. Just such an amazing holiday spirit today. Anyhow - then our TRADITIONAL Thanksgiving with my family - I loved seeing my cousins and their kids that I haven't seen in some time. And for Curt to meet more family members. He was a good boy - and Nate - well he always loves knowing he has more family! Anyhow - today I feel blessed. My family is amazing and I love them all dearly! I'm just thinking ab out the trip of a lifetime we took a year ago and Curt was officially our son- I just love it. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Gail

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Our Adoption Time Line

5/5/10- attended Kensington Church Adoption Seminar

6/2010 - attended free informational meeting at Adoption Associates, Inc (AAI)

7/2010 - met one on one with AAI to discuss domestic and international adoption

8/2010 - submitted application for international adoption (undecided on country)

8/2010 - decided on Ethiopia (ET)

8/26/10 - accepted by AAI to adopt internationally

8/30/10 - Home study visit #1 (with 3 more to follow)

10/6/10 - Passed HOME STUDY

11/5/10 - Home study report finalized

11/9/10 - USCIS paperwork mailed

11/16/10- USCIS accepted paperwork

11/24/10 - USCIS accepted application - date for biometrics set! - 12/17

12/17/10 - USCIS Fingerprinting / biometrics completed

12/20/10 - Redford PD paperwork completed

1/8/11- I-171H RECEIVED from USCIS / DHS

1/26/11- FINAL document received - Gail's dr letter

1/28/11 - Great Seal of MI for Authentication of docs

1/28/11 - Dossier MAILED to Assistant Stork to deliver to US Depart of State and then Embassy of Ethiopia

2/1/11 - Dossier arrived at The Assistant Stork

2/2/11 - Dossier being delivered to US DOS and then to Embassy of ET

2/8/11 - Dossier in mail to ET for translations. OFFICIALLY ON WAITING LIST

6/1/11 - moved up to # 9 on waiting list (only one other family willing to adopt a little boy - so may move faster

6/23/11 - THE REFERRAL

6/26/11 - Answer YES and announcement to the world

7/18/11 - LOST referral - voided out

8/2/11 - officially #1 on wait list again

8/11/11 - Referral for Sami - and accepted

10/10/11 - Got the call about Court date - 11/29/11! Leave Thanksgiving weekend!

11/17/11 - Pass 1st Court appointment & MOYA letter is waiting!!!!!

11/25/11 - travel to ET to meet our boy

11/29/11 - Court date for US to appear & LEGALLY OUR SON

12/22/11 - Submitted to USE for approval and VISA

1/10/12 - USE finally acknowledges review of file

1/25/12 - USE sends to USCIS - more frustrations

1/31/12 - USCIS Nairobi receives files - another wait

2/7/12 - CLEARED USCIS NAIROBI

2/8/12 - Tentatively scheduled for Embassy Visa on 3/13/12

3/9/12 - LEAVE for final Trip#2

3/12/12 - GOTCHA DAY

3/13/12 - Embassy appointment

3/15/12 - Leave for home

3/16/12 - Become US Citizen!!!

Fun Facts about Ethoipia

Ethiopia has been around for a very long time. The country's Rift Valley is known as the cradle of humanity - fossils of the oldest known upright hominid (4-million years old) were found here in 2005, surpassing the famous 3.5-million-year-old 'Lucy', which was discovered in the same region back in 1974.

•A thousand years before Christ, the Queen of Sheba, we are told, traveled to Jerusalem where she met King Solomon, married him, and had a son, Menelik. When Menelik reached maturity, it is said he left Jerusalem and took with him the Ark of the Covenant, containing the original 10 commandments, back to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Christian Orthodox Church says it still has the ark in its possession. No one else makes such a claim...

•Ethiopia's official religion is the 1700 year old Ethiopian Christian Orthodox Church. The Jews of Ethiopia, Beta Israel, are said to have been there for 3000 years. And its Muslim adherents have practiced Islam for 1300 years. Ethiopia is split religiously, with official statistics of 35% to 40% Ethiopian Orthodox primarily in the north, and 45% to 50% Muslim, primarily in the South.

•Ethiopia is the only country in Africa never to be under colonial rule, other than a brief occupation by Italy during WWII. You can visit many restaurants in Ethiopia today due to the influence of Italy during the occupation.

•Traditional Ethiopian food consists of various vegetable or meat dishes, usually a wat or thick stew, served atop injera, which is a large crepe-like sourdough flatbread made from fermented teff flour. One does not eat with utensils, but instead uses a piece of the injera (always with the right hand) to scoop up the sauces.

•The Ethiopian calendar is very similar to the Egyptian Coptic calendar – each have 13 months, 12 with 30 days each and the 13th month at the end of the year with 5 or 6 days, depending on whether it is a leap year. The year starts on September 11th (12th in a leap year). The Ethiopian calendar is 7 years behind the Gregorian calendar, so Ethiopia recently celebrated their millennium on September 12, 2007.

•Coffee can be traced back to the 9th Century where it is believed a shepherd discovered coffee beans in the highlands of Ethiopia, namely the Kaffa region. The Ethiopian people are very proud of their coffee and they show this in their well known coffee ceremonies. The Coffee Ceremony is a very important part of socializing in Ethiopia and to be invited to a coffee ceremony is always considered a sign of respect and friendship.

•There are multiple tribes with different subcultures and over 80 languages in Ethiopia. The Amharic language is a Semitic language spoken in North Central Ethiopia and is the official working language for Ethiopia.

•Family in Ethiopia includes immediate and extended relatives, neighbors, and friends. Faith and family are the foundation of the Ethiopian culture. Ethiopians are very respectful and loving. The elderly are considered very knowledgeable and as a very important part of the family structure. Children are usually raised in a large community that includes extended family and neighbors, and siblings are expected to help take care of each other.

Backus/Wilcox Family History