Some News About Numbers and our Adoption Agency!!

Often during the waiting time you feel like you are not sure things are real, except for people asking you how the "adoption thing" is going. I love being asked, but I don't love not being able to give anything solid other than we are in a holding pattern for the next 4-6 months. That's how long they say the average wait time is while you are on the waiting list. We have been on it for 3 weeks now. So nothing solid. Some agencies tell you where you are on the list and how many other families are ahead of you. Ours does not do that. They firmly believe that the children are chosen very specifically for your family. So to just take the next in line doesn't always happen perfectly.

Today they sent us an email with some numbers and it was a fun surprise to get.

Referrals
Since May 2010, when the new regulations were implemented, sixteen (16) Dove families have been matched with a total twenty (20) children.  Matches will continue during the court closure.

Court
Dove received our first assignment of court dates under the new regulations.  Several Dove families will be in Ethiopia the first week of August for their court hearing.  Dove is sending Adoption Program Director to gain first hand knowledge of this new process.

As a reminder the Ethiopian courts are scheduled to close on August 9, 2010.  The official opening date has not been announced, but court dates have been scheduled for October 2010.

 It was just exciting to get a small hold of "where we are on the list" even though there is no real order. For all we know there could be 2 children who fit our exact "parameters" that show up tomorrow and that don't fit anyone else. That is unlikely, but it is feasible.

Anyhow, it is still quite surreal, but it feels like the baby just kicked for the first time or something like that. Thanx Dove for the info! Kids, we pray for you EVERY single day and for your birth parents. We pray protection, care, love and a knowledge of Jesus for them and you. Love you already!