One Day Closer to Baby E

One thought goes through my mind quite often as I wait to hear about a court date and then traveling. It is this, "Everyday is one day closer to my daughter." That sole thought keeps me getting through the day to day. No matter what happens in a day, good or bad, I am always one day closer. Of course, I try to enjoy each day to the fullest, but when you have a small babe on your mind, that isn't always easy. I find myself quite distracted at times.

If you are wondering about the rest of the process, these are the two main events that need to happen before Baby E comes home.

1. Court Date: This will probably, in my best estimate, happen in early to mid summer. I may have more than one court date depending on a number of factors. Once we pass court, that means that Baby E is legally my daughter.
2. Embassy Date: This is when I will get to go to Ethiopia, appear at the US embassy and then travel home with Baby E. Before the embassy date, my agency will be working hard to gather the necessary paperwork and get the necessary clearance to do this.

Those are the facts; the emotions, as always, are a little more complex. But look... the day is over half done, the rest is filled with fun with my son, and when we go to sleep, we are one day closer to E. Amazing! And she is one day closer to us.

It's Time

I think it is time to write about the latest adoption development. I have gone through the emotions of denial (which felt more like being stunned), anger, panic, and a few others. I can't say that I have found any pleasant emotions yet. One night this week, I woke up at 2:30 am and didn't fall back to sleep until 4.

It was announced this week that adoptive parents will need to take two trips to Ethiopia to bring their children home. One of my trips will be for the court date and one will be for the embassy date and to take my daughter home. Why the panic? It means twice the cost for traveling, leaving Levi twice, and finding someone to travel with twice or going on my own. It also means going through jet lag, culture shock, and the unknowns of traveling twice. And maybe one of the hardest, I will get to meet my daughter and then have to go back home without her for a couple of months.

I am trying to keep in perspective. I am still able to adopt from Ethiopia. I will get to see my daughter and hold her for a week on the first trip. That will be a treasure. When she comes home, she will immediately be a citizen. (I'm still waiting on the paperwork that declares Levi a citizen.)

I know that God sees it all, what is and what is coming. I am trying to trust Him.