The waiting game

We have been on the waiting list for 1 week now! I feel a little bit like I don't know what to do now. The beginning of the process was so much paperwork and it consumed my life. Now that the paperwork is finished, I'm not sure what to do next!

I was reading another blog this week where they were talking about adoption and comparing it to pregnancy. The time line they gave really made sense to me. The first trimester is the paperwork stage. You are busy, busy with paperwork and planning and it is exciting to tell everyone you're expecting again.

The second trimester is the waiting list. This is the time to relax. In pregnancy the morning sickness is over and you are feeling pretty good. In adoption, the paperwork is finished and it feels great to know that you are officially waiting for a referral.

The third trimester is the time between a referral and going to pick up the baby. I have heard that this wait is the hardest because you actually know who your child is and can't wait to hold them.

Personally, I'm not sure the 3rd trimester will be the hardest. You'll have to check future posts to find out! I think it will be better because you have pictures you can show to family and friends and you have actual information to share. I find this stage hard because everyone asks what's new with the adoption and the answer is nothing! We are just waiting, waiting, waiting. There is no "news" to share.

I was reading James 5 today and found some encouragement. James 5:7-8 says, "Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near."

A baby is much more exciting to wait for than land to bear fruit so I will continue to practice patience!

Waiting list

Today is the day that we have been waiting for! I can stop "waiting to wait" and just "wait." I called our adoption agency this morning to ask about the status of our dossier and they told me that our dossier was being assembled and we are on the waiting list as of today.

We have requested an infant boy or girl less than 12 months. The agency shared with me today that there is quite a big time difference between families waiting for infant girls and boys, so we will most likely be having a baby boy! They are currently giving infant girl referrals to families who sent their paperwork in August 2008 and infant boy referrals are to families with their dossiers sent in January 2009.

After we receive a referral we will be assigned a court date and then once we pass court we will probably be able to travel about 6-8 weeks after that to pick the baby up. We are hoping to get a referral sometime this summer and would love to be able to travel before Christmas, but I am trying to not to stress too much about dates right now. I am listening to my "In His Time" song as we speak!

Growing up

This week I discovered another way that my children are growing up. My 9 year old son, Jackson, started baseball this week and my husband is the coach of the team. We were informed that this year the boys needed to start wearing cups! I did not realize this was necessary, nor how the topic would take over our life!

It is hilarious to listen to the boys talk. Last night he had a sleepover with some friends and it was all they talked about at the dinner table. My husband assures me that this is normal, but since I have never been a 9 year old boy I'm not so sure...

Anyway it has been cute to watch and something that I never knew could generate so much excitement!

Starting to blog

This is my first try at this, and I am starting a bit later than most adoption blogs I read.  My husband and I have 2 bio children, Jack (9) and Olivia (6) and are in the process of adopting a baby from Ethiopia.  We are anxiously waiting to hear that our dossier was sent to Ethiopia and that we are officially on the waiting list.

A bit about our family... My husband and I are both first grade teachers.  We met in college and have been married for almost 11 years.  We have been living overseas for almost 6 years now and we are currently living near Tokyo, Japan.  We have been living in Japan for the last 2 and 1/2 years, before that we lived in Germany and Saudi Arabia.

We began our adoption journey in October and expected to be on the waiting list several months ago.  We ran into some unexpected and baffling delays with the agency handling our home study.  At church a couple of months ago we sang the song "In His Time" and it really touched me and has become my mantra during this time.  I have to keep in mind that God is in control and He has a child in mind for our family.