WE PASSED!

Today was our day! I am overwhelmed with gratitude!

This is my son. Silas James Gedamu Parenti.

a new court date

So I had yet to even update my blog about my July 24th court case being cancelled, when I received the phone call with my new court date. 

FRIDAY, JULY 31

So it was just a little delay..a blip. Very grateful and thankful for that. And so very excited for Friday!

court date

I am amazed at how quickly things are moving with the adoption! It seemed like the wait was so long, it was so quiet, and now everything is happening at once! In less than 3 weeks following my referral for a beautiful baby boy I received my court date. Many adoptive parents share this same court date of July 24th. For those who don't know, the courts in Ethiopia close on August 7th and re-open early October. I am praying that all the families make it through who have been matched with their children before the courts close. 

My little boy will turn 5 months old this weekend. I received an update last week and he is doing really well. He seems to be a very happy, mellow little guy. He is healthy and absolutely beautiful! I stare at his pictures, examining every detail of him, wondering what he is doing and imagining what it will be like to have him in my arms! I am overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement!

Referral!

Wednesday, June 17th, 3:01 pm

4 month old baby boy!

Beautiful, healthy and happy!

Overwhelmed with gratitude and joy!

waiting...obsessing

So I am waiting, and obsessing...and than waiting...and than obsessing some more. Obsessing over "the unofficial list" and of course my phone which is attached to me at all times. Being #1 on the unofficial list is exciting and nerve-wracking! I also know that once I get past this stage and I get the call for a referral, that I am onto the next stage of waiting. However, knowing who my child is and having a connection to him/her will be just amazing. It so often seemed I would never get to this point. This whole process is definitely a lesson in patience, and most importantly that everything is truly out of my control. What will come will come, what will be will be, whenever it is supposed to. 

There are a few court dates this week as well and I am praying that all of those families pass and that parents are united with their little ones soon!

Now back to waiting...

8 Months

So I got a little nudge from one of my blogging buds to get blogging! Thanks Robbin - you are right. Its getting to the point where I can allow myself to get excited! The ups and downs of this adoption (like all international adoptions) have made me a little apprehensive. However things are looking good and I feel really positive! The end of this week will be 8 months on the wait-list. I am #4 on the unofficial, yet famous and often stalked by waiting adoptive parents FBI list. Congratulations to those who have recently passed court. Also congratulations to those who have received referrals—especially those who have waited so long. My fellow single adoptive parents. Robbin & Catrina I hope to meet you in Ethiopia when we are bringing are babies home!  

Five Months

Five months has passed since I was placed on the wait list, paperwork and documents complete and in Ethiopia. I am watching single women being approved in court and bringing their babies home which is encouraging. It's hard not to think that if the limitation on singles was not put into place at the end of last year, that I would be bringing home my baby this year—likely in the next 6 months. There has been no word on the laws changing and I continue to be hopeful that singles will not be eliminated all together from adopting in Ethiopia. So, I try not to focus on it, but I try to stay positive and know that what is meant to be, will be. I know that I was meant to be a mom. I know that I have a great deal of passion for adopting a child in need, particularly from Ethiopia. I know I will pray, hope, and think positively about this venture coming to an end with a trip to Ethiopia to pick up my son or daughter next year. The rest, I will leave up to my higher power and trust that he/she/them.... knows, and will do what is best for me. 

Three Months

Today marks three months that i have been officially on the wait-list. This is where i would have been initially entering the window of time where i would be matched with a child. There have now been changes to the policies in ethiopia regarding single parent adoption, restricting, and potentially eliminating single parents from adopting there. There's no need here for any detail, but i know what is meant to be will be and if there is a baby out there than he or she will come to me. I have not lost hope, and still very much feel the desire and drive to bring home a child from ethiopia. It just may take a little more time than expected. The earliest an adoption could now be processed would be in 2010. Until then, i will continue to hold this hope in my heart, not just for me, but for so so many beautiful children in ethiopia in need of loving homes—loving homes with two parents or just one. 

YES WE CAN!

"I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality...I believe the unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word" — Martin Luther King, Jr.

1 month down

This past saturday, october 25th marked one month on the wait-list. Exciting to be putting some time behind me and know that i am one month closer to being matched with my child. Its strange to know that there is most likely a baby out there today, who is living and breathing in a far away country, that will soon be my son or daughter. Although i am trying very hard to wait until i receive a referral to do much planning and preparing, i did look at cribs this weekend— which was the highlight of my weekend. I also purchased a pair of 12 month old black high-top converse....couldnt help myself! 

Officially on the wait-list!

Last night i received the notice from my adoption agency that i am officially on the wait-list! Very exciting news. What does this mean? This means that my dossier (official paperwork that will be used to match me with a child and will be used in my court case to adopt the child) is complete and has been sent to the secretary of state in D.C. for final authentication. From there it is sent to ethiopia where it will be translated and the process of matching me with a referral (child, age, medical history, background history, etc.) will begin. I have not requested a specific gender, but have requested an infant 0-12 months at the time of referral, and more specifically as young an infant as possible. The wait time to receive a referral is averaging 3-5 months. Once i accept a referral, the average time until the the adoption is completed in an ethiopian court, and i travel to ethiopia to bring home my baby will be 3 months. So rough estimation (hard to do with the uncertainty of any international adoption), i will be bringing home my child in the spring of 2009. So it will be a long quiet winter, without any paperwork, just waiting—to officially "meet" my child—and begin the exciting process of bringing him/her home.

CIS Approval!

Today I broke down and called US Citizenship and Immigration Services to check the status of my adoption file. The adoption officer kindly told my impatient, anxious self, that my petition to adopt an orphan from Ethiopia had been approved! The document showing this approval (the sacred I71H) will be in todays mail—the last document I need to be placed officially on the wait list will be in my mailbox, notarized, and off for authentication by the weeks end!

Gladney Approval!

I have officially been approved by my agency to adopt. That felt like a long time coming. However I have been simultaneously working on my dossier and am only lacking one document that needs to come in, be notarized and sent off for authentication. Wait list is nearing— not sure what I will do when just "waiting", but its very exciting. Maybe Ill start the babies room? Not sure when I will "safe" enough or if I ever will feel "certain" enough to do that until I am flying home from Ethiopia with my baby in my arms. But thats not very realistic. I guess I will know when the time is right—  hopefully soon! 

chasing paper

Well...its been quite some time since I have posted. A lot has gone in the last several months—from moving into my new house, completing a volunteer mission in ghana, west africa, and of course, lots and lots of adoption paperwork. But I feel like I am getting somewhere today, which I think was sparked by receiving my FBI clearance and completing my home visit with my case worker last week. So I am now waiting for my home study to be edited, approved by my agency and sent to CIS in order to receive my I71-H. That will complete my dossier as well and it will be on its way for authentication. So being on the official wait list for a referral, which once seemed so far away is nearing—and im thrilled to be getting closer to that stage. No more paperwork for a while...just more waiting. The notary at M&T bank that I have befriended since I see her every other day will wonder what has happened to me. Although she now knows my whole story and looks forward to meeting my little peanut when I have him/her home.  As to be expected in international adoption, the bumps along the road has made me anxious, uncertain and worried— but I am staying focused and positive and I know that soon enough, when it is meant to be, I will be bringing home my baby from Ethiopia. Every day I am one step closer. 

i bought my house

I bought my house today! Here is where I will be bringing my little peanut home to. Very exciting step for me in this process.

my journey begins

My lifelong journey has begun. I, like many women, have wanted to have children since I was a child myself. I never imagined that I would be where I am today, 37, single, and yet to be a mother. My expectation was to be married, and to have at least 3 children by now. However, I have come to grips with the reality of "you cant always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find, you get what you need" (thanks Mick). I knew it was never an option to not have children. I knew, somehow, someway, I would become a mother. I have had many attempts, from adoption, to medical procedures only to end up distraught and saddened that my dream was not being fulfilled. Today I do not dwell on the past, and what didn't happen for me and why. I am very much a believer in destiny, fate and that our path unfolds for us exactly the way it was intended to. So now, I am here, and I couldn't feel more right about the decision I have made to adopt a child from Ethiopia. From the moment i researched it, I became intrigued, excited and energized. In the weeks to follow, and after endless research, I knew — this was where I am supposed to be today—and I am doing what was intended for me to do. From the need, the babies, the people, to the beautiful country of Ethiopia. I am driven now, and I will bring home my first baby from Ethiopia. When somethings feels this right I become more than just hopeful—I believe. So my journey begins— as well as all the paperwork, the waiting, the roller coaster of emotions— but most importantly, the journey begins.