Awwww man!

OK, no sharing pictures today! :( The girls' cases were not heard today because MOWA was in training and did not do their paperwork. We have been rescheduled for March 12th. And the wait continues... Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement, please keep it up. We appreciate it more than you know. This wait has been the hardest for me, but I know it WILL happen. Check out this wonderful email from my Dad this morning:

At 3:47 AM, I heard your Mom’s voice say “Pray with me”. When I woke up she was sleeping. So I got up, found my rosary and prayed it. Maybe it was God’s voice on behalf of your girls - I don’t know - but as I prayed I received peace in the fact that whatever the results today, your girls are on their journey home to you – however and whenever that journey might unfold. And God is watching it all with great pleasure.

YAY!!!!!!!!!

We have a court date!!!!!!!! And it's February 24th in Ethiopia!!!!!!!! SO SOON! Prayers please my dear friends - lots and lots of prayers. Specifically, we need all the paperwork in order and both girls' birth families to make the travels to the court proceeding. We're REALLY hoping both girls pass! If one passes and the other doesn't, it's an issue with pick up. The court proceeding will be occurring while we sleep (sleep, right!) the night of February 23rd. We should get the results on the 24th sometime. For those of you not in the adoption world, this is a BIG deal, as this is when Little J and T legally become our daughters! 12 days until I post the court outcome. :)

Victory!

OK. So we really don’t know T’s age. I was told that because they put she was age 8 at her medical appointment, T likely picked up that number from there. You see, it would be very unlikely that she really knows her age, as this just isn’t important in Ethiopia. People just don’t track it. Imagine how we would all live if we just lived, without reference to age! Maybe it would be better? Maybe. But as you can tell, my American self wants that number! And my oldest son, how is he doing with this unknown? Well, he was set on the number 6, but after his play date the other day, I think the ambiguity is growing on him. “This is T and this is J,” he proudly pointed at their pictures. “T is 6 or 8. We don’t know how old she is yet because she can’t talk like we talk yet.” Then, wheels turning, he looked at his friend’s older sister (now, for background…know that this is the older sister of his FIVE year old friend who is ALWAYS older than his 4 year old self, which just plain irks him), “How old are you?” he asked her. “I’m 8.” Ahhhh, the moment he had been waiting for, this unknown age thing could work for him… “Actually, I think T is 9,” he said. Victory! And they left it at that.

Now, can I get a victory and get a court date for these girls?!

Just couldn't do it without good friends!

I was on the way home tonight having my weekly “driving home from work talk” (you know, without kids and interruptions) that I do almost every week with this friend. I was telling her about my anxieties and fears becoming a Mommy again, this time to an older child I haven’t raised to this point. She was supportive and said I needed acupuncture (she LOVES acupuncture!). :) We got off the phone and she called back 2 minutes later saying she heard this song as soon as we got off and I needed to listen to it. I had never heard it. Oh how it calmed me on so many levels and just kept things in perspective!!! I love good friends who know how to inspire you and soothe your fears. I love you my friends!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3R8267afmzw

T is 8!!!

So my friend who spent a lot of time with T last week emailed today and said T is actually 8 years old. T told her. Thank God she was listed as 6 on the waiting child list! :) Our son is NOT happy about this. He has some time to get used to it before T and Little J get home, but hopefully not too much time! :)