We got an email from Imagine Adoption this morning. As expected, we were able to "pass" the court part, but the adoption is not completed yet as we are waiting for an approval letter from MOWA (the Ministry of Women's Affairs). Recently, MOWA decided they would write only about 5 letters a day, which is significantly down from the 50 letters a day they said they were writing. Since it has been 11 days since this ruling, you can imagine the backlog. There have been rumors that MOWA will start clearing the backlog, or writing more letters a day but so far there has been no official announcement. We have not been given another court date - once MOWA writes the letter it is presented to the court and we are then officially Mebira's parents. So the good news is we don't have to wait for another far off court date, and the staff in Ethiopia think it won't be long (a week or two). The bad news is that there is no court date to put pressure on MOWA to write the letter...so we are even more at their mercy now.
What happens when we get this letter? Well, after a big celebration on our end, we can then post pictures of Mebira on our blog as she is officially our child. The court documents, birth certificate, and passport need to be sent to the Canadian embassy in Nairobi (which in recent cases took about a month, however, with the recent MOWA changes I have no idea), then, when they get to it, the Canadian embassy looks at our file and gives Mebira a permanent residency visa. Once we get this, we can immediately travel and bring her home. Taking a wild guess, we're hoping this will be about 3 to 5 months after we get the letter.
What about Mebira? A day or two after the MOWA letter is received, she will be moved to a Transition House, operated by our adoption agency in Ethiopia. They will be giving her the presents, clothes and photo album we left for her and telling her about our family. We will FINALLY start getting update pictures and measurements each month, and they will start to prepare her for the adoption and life in Canada.
I can't wait to bring Mebira home. The ups and downs have been more than I can take sometimes. I am glad we were able to check off another requirement in the process today, but this journey is still long from being over...thanks for journeying with us!
Monday, March 21, 2011
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Tonight's the Night
Well, tonight while we're sleeping MOWA and the court will decide on our adoption. For details on our first court date, my friend Ruth has allowed me to link you to her blog. We all had court on the same day, and she described everything in great detail. So if you're interested, check it out here: http://ruths-rambles.blogspot.com/2011/03/judgment-day-of-court.html?utm_source=BP_recent
Do I think we'll pass tomorrow? Not really. If I took a guess, I would guess that the court will "pass" us, but that MOWA won't have our letter ready, which means the adoption won't be finalized and Mebira will not be moved to the Transition House yet. If it's better news then that, I'll be thrilled. But given the recent updates from Ethiopia, I think we'll be waiting for the MOWA letter, with no idea as to a timeline for its completion...
I mostly feel at peace right now. I have no control over this situation and have come to accept that. Feeling tense or angry or worried about it hasn't helped but to make me (and probably my family at times) miserable. I am choosing to accept that God is in control and is sovereign, and I have chosen to enjoy these days as much as I can. My previous focus was really on the adoption - on not passing court, or worrying about what it will be like when we bring her home. And I forgot to live in the moment.
Some of the things I'm thankful for:
- A great husband who has been wonderful through this adoption. From letting me vent, to dreaming with me, to speculating, to listening, he is amazing. He truly is my best friend. Just last week (when the State Department indicated delays could be up to a year) I was so frustrated...but he came home with a beautiful pandora charm and a nice, encouraging note. Isn't he a nice guy? :-)
- The girls. I'll admit, sometimes I can't handle the noise and need my breaks, but they are such a joy in my life. I love them to pieces. I am sometimes nervous about how this adoption will affect our family life...it will change for sure, so I'm trying to soak up every day.
- Friends and Family. We are surrounded by so many supportive people and it makes such a difference. People who have posted or stopped me or called or written cards and have said they're praying or sending positive vibes...all of you mean so much to me. Thanks so much!
- Our jobs. Arvid and I are blessed with wonderful jobs and wonderful places to work. Not only do we get paid, but we both enjoy what we do and who we do it with.
- Living in Canada. Ethiopia was beautiful, but man, life is good in Canada! Now if only Spring would start. :-)
Anyway, I'll update more tomorrow morning, as soon as I hear from Imagine.
Do I think we'll pass tomorrow? Not really. If I took a guess, I would guess that the court will "pass" us, but that MOWA won't have our letter ready, which means the adoption won't be finalized and Mebira will not be moved to the Transition House yet. If it's better news then that, I'll be thrilled. But given the recent updates from Ethiopia, I think we'll be waiting for the MOWA letter, with no idea as to a timeline for its completion...
I mostly feel at peace right now. I have no control over this situation and have come to accept that. Feeling tense or angry or worried about it hasn't helped but to make me (and probably my family at times) miserable. I am choosing to accept that God is in control and is sovereign, and I have chosen to enjoy these days as much as I can. My previous focus was really on the adoption - on not passing court, or worrying about what it will be like when we bring her home. And I forgot to live in the moment.
Some of the things I'm thankful for:
- A great husband who has been wonderful through this adoption. From letting me vent, to dreaming with me, to speculating, to listening, he is amazing. He truly is my best friend. Just last week (when the State Department indicated delays could be up to a year) I was so frustrated...but he came home with a beautiful pandora charm and a nice, encouraging note. Isn't he a nice guy? :-)
- The girls. I'll admit, sometimes I can't handle the noise and need my breaks, but they are such a joy in my life. I love them to pieces. I am sometimes nervous about how this adoption will affect our family life...it will change for sure, so I'm trying to soak up every day.
- Friends and Family. We are surrounded by so many supportive people and it makes such a difference. People who have posted or stopped me or called or written cards and have said they're praying or sending positive vibes...all of you mean so much to me. Thanks so much!
- Our jobs. Arvid and I are blessed with wonderful jobs and wonderful places to work. Not only do we get paid, but we both enjoy what we do and who we do it with.
- Living in Canada. Ethiopia was beautiful, but man, life is good in Canada! Now if only Spring would start. :-)
Anyway, I'll update more tomorrow morning, as soon as I hear from Imagine.
Friday, March 18, 2011
Confession Friday, March 18
Well, this is my first Confession Friday post...hmmm...let me think...
- I confess I had a really tough week last week. I am not one who easily rolls with the punches, and this time the punches knocked me down. I found it hard to see how having Mebira stay in an orphanage longer could be part of anyone's plan, least of all God's. However, after much wrestling, some tears, lots of reading and praying I feel like I've come through it a bit. I am choosing to wait on God and His timing, and have acknowledged that He is God and I am not. I feel much more at peace now, although I still REALLY want to pass court on Monday.
- I confess that I often compare myself to those who were just before us...those who passed court the first time and were able to travel 2 months later to pick up their kids, and those who passed court 2 days before us, and those who passed a few days after us. Although I am happy for them, it is a fast way to get myself feeling grumpy again, if that makes any sense. Sometimes, though, I compare myself to those who don't have referrals yet or those who are still waiting for court dates...and it makes me smarten up. (Not to make anyone in that position feel bad...I am just thankful we have a referral, etc.)
- I confess that Starbucks mochas and Second Cup skinny vanilla bean lattes are starting to taste pretty darn good again...sigh
- I confess that my favourite cold drink in the world is 1/2 coke with 1/2 coke zero. Yum!
- I confess that my mood is very weather dependent. If it's sunny, I'm happy, if it's cloudy and cold it's amazing how much harder it is for me. Good thing we live in sunny Alberta! :-)
- I confess that I really don't like the phone, but I LOVE email. I am generally OK to talk on the phone before 3, but after 3 I dread every time it rings. Arvid and I usually fight over who has to answer it, and normally no one wins so the phone just gets ignored. The best way to get in touch with me after 3 is via email or text. :-)
- I confess that I have 40 youth kids from church coming over for a progressive dinner tonight and I haven't even started getting ready yet...I better get cracking!
- I confess I had a really tough week last week. I am not one who easily rolls with the punches, and this time the punches knocked me down. I found it hard to see how having Mebira stay in an orphanage longer could be part of anyone's plan, least of all God's. However, after much wrestling, some tears, lots of reading and praying I feel like I've come through it a bit. I am choosing to wait on God and His timing, and have acknowledged that He is God and I am not. I feel much more at peace now, although I still REALLY want to pass court on Monday.
- I confess that I often compare myself to those who were just before us...those who passed court the first time and were able to travel 2 months later to pick up their kids, and those who passed court 2 days before us, and those who passed a few days after us. Although I am happy for them, it is a fast way to get myself feeling grumpy again, if that makes any sense. Sometimes, though, I compare myself to those who don't have referrals yet or those who are still waiting for court dates...and it makes me smarten up. (Not to make anyone in that position feel bad...I am just thankful we have a referral, etc.)
- I confess that Starbucks mochas and Second Cup skinny vanilla bean lattes are starting to taste pretty darn good again...sigh
- I confess that my favourite cold drink in the world is 1/2 coke with 1/2 coke zero. Yum!
- I confess that my mood is very weather dependent. If it's sunny, I'm happy, if it's cloudy and cold it's amazing how much harder it is for me. Good thing we live in sunny Alberta! :-)
- I confess that I really don't like the phone, but I LOVE email. I am generally OK to talk on the phone before 3, but after 3 I dread every time it rings. Arvid and I usually fight over who has to answer it, and normally no one wins so the phone just gets ignored. The best way to get in touch with me after 3 is via email or text. :-)
- I confess that I have 40 youth kids from church coming over for a progressive dinner tonight and I haven't even started getting ready yet...I better get cracking!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Coffee Ceremony
Well, after yesterday's deep thoughts I thought I'd post something a little more fun today. My friend Ruth really eloquently wrote about her experience with Ethiopian coffee. I won't be able to match her writing ability, but I thought I'd write a bit about the Ethiopian coffee ceremony.
I have not been a coffee drinker until very recently. People kept telling me "Oh, wait until you are in University, then you'll start"...didn't happen. Then people said, "Oh, wait until you start work, then you'll start"...didn't happen. Then people said, "Oh, wait until you have kids, then you'll start"...didn't happen. What did it? Having the kids start school full-time (not only did I have to make myself presentable, but pack lunches, organize 2 kids and get out the door so early)! Of course, having a weekly coffee get together with good friends at Starbucks sped the addiction along quickly. My problem was that I didn't like coffee...I liked lattes. And lattes are more expensive, and more fattening...especially when it's a Starbucks mocha with whipped cream! I confess that I was very addicted before we left...I had received some gift cards at Christmas, and might have had 4 or 5 the week before we left for Ethiopia. (This was an exception).
Anyway, I'm digressing again. While in Ethiopia, we were privileged to participate in some coffee ceremonies. Basically, a coffee ceremony is done right in the living room of the home. They take some green coffee beans and roast them right there on some coals. Once the beans are roasted, they crush them (done by hand in the villages, by coffee grinder at the guest house), they add the water and bring that to a boil. While all of this is going on they burn incense, and offer you popcorn, and sometimes barley. The coffee, once boiled, is put into a traditional clay coffee pot called a Jebena. We bought one in Ethiopia for $2 and actually managed to bring it back in one piece!
After a few minutes, the coffee is served in tiny little cups. The "buna" or coffee, is very strong, but very good. It is basically like an espresso, but you add a lot of sugar. Well, not everyone may, but I do. :-) Once everyone has finished round one, they add more water to the grinds and have round 2, then round 3. The whole process takes about one hour. Our guide at KVI, Solomon, told us that in the villages they do this up to 3 times a day. Wives will often make it for husbands before they leave for the day, then it's done two more times with the ladies and kids - sounds like our version of a playdate, but we pick up Starbucks or Tim Hortons on the way!
At our guesthouse they performed this coffee ceremony every time someone left to return back home. Fortunately, we were the last to leave so we were able to enjoy this three times (we missed a few while we were traveling in northern Ethiopia).
The problem is, now that I've returned home, coffee just doesn't taste as good. I have had a few lattes and they just taste so milky. And regular coffee tastes so watered down. We have a cool coffee machine at GE so I had some espresso there the other day...when I added a package of raw sugar it tasted as close as I could get.
Thankfully, we purchased some Ethiopian green coffee beans (round one was a disaster - I don't think we roasted them long enough. Sorry D&B and L&E) and roasted coffee beans and we're starting to work on bringing back the taste...although I have a feeling that it will never taste as good as the coffee we had while on vacation.
Anyway, that's enough rambling for now...I need to keep up my addiction of scrolling through the various Ethiopian adoption forums to see if there is any news on the latest regulation.
Green coffee beans, roasted right over coals in the living room.
The finished beans
Everything you need at a coffee ceremony
The ground coffee, not as dark as you'd think
The finished product. YUM!
I have not been a coffee drinker until very recently. People kept telling me "Oh, wait until you are in University, then you'll start"...didn't happen. Then people said, "Oh, wait until you start work, then you'll start"...didn't happen. Then people said, "Oh, wait until you have kids, then you'll start"...didn't happen. What did it? Having the kids start school full-time (not only did I have to make myself presentable, but pack lunches, organize 2 kids and get out the door so early)! Of course, having a weekly coffee get together with good friends at Starbucks sped the addiction along quickly. My problem was that I didn't like coffee...I liked lattes. And lattes are more expensive, and more fattening...especially when it's a Starbucks mocha with whipped cream! I confess that I was very addicted before we left...I had received some gift cards at Christmas, and might have had 4 or 5 the week before we left for Ethiopia. (This was an exception).
Anyway, I'm digressing again. While in Ethiopia, we were privileged to participate in some coffee ceremonies. Basically, a coffee ceremony is done right in the living room of the home. They take some green coffee beans and roast them right there on some coals. Once the beans are roasted, they crush them (done by hand in the villages, by coffee grinder at the guest house), they add the water and bring that to a boil. While all of this is going on they burn incense, and offer you popcorn, and sometimes barley. The coffee, once boiled, is put into a traditional clay coffee pot called a Jebena. We bought one in Ethiopia for $2 and actually managed to bring it back in one piece!
After a few minutes, the coffee is served in tiny little cups. The "buna" or coffee, is very strong, but very good. It is basically like an espresso, but you add a lot of sugar. Well, not everyone may, but I do. :-) Once everyone has finished round one, they add more water to the grinds and have round 2, then round 3. The whole process takes about one hour. Our guide at KVI, Solomon, told us that in the villages they do this up to 3 times a day. Wives will often make it for husbands before they leave for the day, then it's done two more times with the ladies and kids - sounds like our version of a playdate, but we pick up Starbucks or Tim Hortons on the way!
At our guesthouse they performed this coffee ceremony every time someone left to return back home. Fortunately, we were the last to leave so we were able to enjoy this three times (we missed a few while we were traveling in northern Ethiopia).
The problem is, now that I've returned home, coffee just doesn't taste as good. I have had a few lattes and they just taste so milky. And regular coffee tastes so watered down. We have a cool coffee machine at GE so I had some espresso there the other day...when I added a package of raw sugar it tasted as close as I could get.
Thankfully, we purchased some Ethiopian green coffee beans (round one was a disaster - I don't think we roasted them long enough. Sorry D&B and L&E) and roasted coffee beans and we're starting to work on bringing back the taste...although I have a feeling that it will never taste as good as the coffee we had while on vacation.
Anyway, that's enough rambling for now...I need to keep up my addiction of scrolling through the various Ethiopian adoption forums to see if there is any news on the latest regulation.
Green coffee beans, roasted right over coals in the living room.
The finished beans
Everything you need at a coffee ceremony
The ground coffee, not as dark as you'd think
The finished product. YUM!
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
And the rollercoaster continues
Well, it's official. We heard rumors of it, but the US state department has confirmed it. MOWA (the ministry who needs to approve each adoption case before it is official) has decided to reduce the number of adoptions it is approving to 5 each day, effective March 10. This is a reduction of up to 90%. See more info here: http://adoption.state.gov/news/ethiopia_alert.html
What does that have to do with us? We're not entirely sure, but I can assure you that I am pretty apprehensive. There were 3 other Canadian families who did not pass court with us the first time, and we all had our next court hearing rescheduled to March 21st. (No, we do not have to go to Ethiopia for this - our adoption agency handles any subsequent court dates for us). So there are already 4 on that date, and I'm aware of at least 1 other American family...so that's already 5, and who knows how many others? If they only approve 5 each day, there is a definite chance that we won't all be approved.
The other concern is that if we're not approved then we'll need another court date. Seeing as the second court date was 5.5 weeks after the first one under "normal" circumstances, this change could mean our next court date (if we need another one) could be very far away.
I'm trying not to worry, but I can't help it just a little bit. I am tired of the roller coaster. Things were looking so good there, for a while. Right now I feel disheartened, frustrated and done! I just want this up and down to end...I just want to bring her home.
I have to admit that I also wonder how often God intervenes. I know He has a plan, that He was aware of this before it happened, that He can turn even this to good...but I'm a planner, a Type A personality, and this is not how I would have planned it at all. :-) And it's so hard to see right now how this can be for good. As Arvid has pointed out to me, people still have free will on this earth and God won't dictate our every move...so sometimes things go differently than we hope or pray. I do appreciate all of the prayers right now that we would pass court on March 21st, but I can't claim any outcome that I want. What I can claim, is that God will be with us and help us through this - so after you're done praying for court, we'd appreciate a prayer of peace and contentment for us and the other 3 families who are waiting.
What does that have to do with us? We're not entirely sure, but I can assure you that I am pretty apprehensive. There were 3 other Canadian families who did not pass court with us the first time, and we all had our next court hearing rescheduled to March 21st. (No, we do not have to go to Ethiopia for this - our adoption agency handles any subsequent court dates for us). So there are already 4 on that date, and I'm aware of at least 1 other American family...so that's already 5, and who knows how many others? If they only approve 5 each day, there is a definite chance that we won't all be approved.
The other concern is that if we're not approved then we'll need another court date. Seeing as the second court date was 5.5 weeks after the first one under "normal" circumstances, this change could mean our next court date (if we need another one) could be very far away.
I'm trying not to worry, but I can't help it just a little bit. I am tired of the roller coaster. Things were looking so good there, for a while. Right now I feel disheartened, frustrated and done! I just want this up and down to end...I just want to bring her home.
I have to admit that I also wonder how often God intervenes. I know He has a plan, that He was aware of this before it happened, that He can turn even this to good...but I'm a planner, a Type A personality, and this is not how I would have planned it at all. :-) And it's so hard to see right now how this can be for good. As Arvid has pointed out to me, people still have free will on this earth and God won't dictate our every move...so sometimes things go differently than we hope or pray. I do appreciate all of the prayers right now that we would pass court on March 21st, but I can't claim any outcome that I want. What I can claim, is that God will be with us and help us through this - so after you're done praying for court, we'd appreciate a prayer of peace and contentment for us and the other 3 families who are waiting.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Posts
Hi everyone. I just wanted to say how thrilled I am when people say they have been reading the blog. I have always enjoyed writing and have kept journals since I've been 11, so this is kind of a fun way to journal...but I'll try to spare you the more intimate details of my life. :-)
Thank you to everyone who has clicked on being a follower of this blog (I LOVE that), to those who are reading this and keeping updated on our journey, and especially to those of you who comment when I've posted something. I'll admit, I love comments so much I sometimes just want to post so that I'll get a comment. :-)
If you've recently tried to comment and are still having problems, let me know. I did change the settings when we got back from Ethiopia so I hope it is all good now.
Thank you to everyone who has clicked on being a follower of this blog (I LOVE that), to those who are reading this and keeping updated on our journey, and especially to those of you who comment when I've posted something. I'll admit, I love comments so much I sometimes just want to post so that I'll get a comment. :-)
If you've recently tried to comment and are still having problems, let me know. I did change the settings when we got back from Ethiopia so I hope it is all good now.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
KVI Guesthouse
KVI Guesthouse
View from our window into the courtyard of the houses below
Zenaba, the cook, with a special breakfast she made for all of us
Doro Wot, traditional Ethiopian food with rolled up injera (a sour, pancake-like bread), and the spicy (red) doro wot and non spicy (yellow) version. It is a chicken stew with lots of red onion, and a boiled egg thrown in just because. I hate to admit it, but I'm not overly fond of Ethiopian food, but I'm working on it. This, however, was the best doro wot I've had!
Since we were the last to leave the cook must have had more time...we got a special farewell drink. Yum!
I thought I would show some pictures of where we stayed - the KVI Guesthouse. Although I had seen a few pictures before we went, I still wasn't sure how this whole trip would go. I was a bit scared of bed bugs, and wasn't sure if we would have hot water, etc.
When we got there at 7:30 am we were absolutely beat after traveling for around 30 hours. I was so exhausted - I just wanted to sleep. We walked in to the main area and saw about 10 people sitting around and having breakfast. Although we "knew" a lot of them from the yahoo group, it was still a bit intimidating to be the last ones to get there. Arvid and I are also both introverts, and I wasn't sure how we would handle having people around the whole time.
Thankfully, we were shown to our room pretty soon. I don't think I took one picture of the room, which is quite ridiculous. I was pleasantly surprised, though. We had a double (?) bed, two night tables (one with a TV but we never turned that on), a large closet, small table and chair and attached bathroom with its own hot water heater! The shower actually worked pretty well, but due to an odd configuration, the shower curtain doesn't reach to the floor so when you get out the floor is soaked with water. Oh well, having that as the biggest pain was not so bad!
After a short nap (and, I'll admit, an exhausted, emotional cry where I just wanted to go home and be with the girls again) we went downstairs to chat with everyone. I have to say that the people we met were fantastic and really made our trip. The staff there was so friendly and helpful, and being together in a house full of Canadians was so much fun. We were all in various stages of the adoption process (4 families there for court, 2 picking up their kids), but all going through such similar things. At home, we don't want to bore our friends and family with hours of adoption talk, but it was so cool to be going through the same thing and to be able to talk about attachment, bonding, court, referrals, adoption agency, etc. all day long.
Aside from just adoption, though, we found we had so much in common. We all got along so well - Arvid summed it up pretty well when he said it seemed like youth camp. :-) One of the coolest times was before court, when the 2 other families who had picked up their kids already, and the 3 other families going through court with us all joined in a circle and prayed together before court. Although the outcome for us wasn't as we had hoped, I know it's due to the prayer and support of the others there that we were able to pick ourselves up and enjoy the rest of our trip.
Tim, Flora (even though we were only together for one day), Naomi, Terry, Nicole, Bobby, Jasmine, Dennis, Joanne, Gwen, Usko, Liesl, Drew, Ruth, Geoff, thanks for making it such a wonderful trip. We have been blessed to get to know you and hope we can continue our friendship across the miles. And we really do need to schedule a reunion once we all have our kids!!
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