Bring Our Children Home

Bring Our Children Home!  What more can we say than that?  Today, as I awoke, the first thing I did was roll over and open my iPad to see if the Embassy had responded to our case (8 hours ahead).  I went to bed in prayer, I begged you to pray ... and I stepped out in Faith asking that I would awake to something more than we could ask or imagine.  This morning, he answered with "not yet".

I don't know why!  I don't know why he has not finished what he has started ... not just for me and my son but so many who sit and plead "Bring our Children Home"!

I know he hears us!

I am attaching a video and song written by my dearest friend, Cindy Foote.  I found myself grumpy this morning.  Being told "no", isn't easy no matter how old you are.  The reality is, even in the stillness and quiet he is at work.  As I went to this video again, I wept.  So many faces in this video are HOME!  My little girl Maliah, Libby, Gracie, Karleigh Mei, Lindy, Samuel, Naomi, Rood, Shoebin, Zoei and more .  I also see so many who still await their "YES".  Sunny (Cindy's little girl in Haiti who has now awaited TWO years!), the Jones girls.  And I also know of so many faces not even represented here; Ashenafi, Sinteyahue, Leo, Levi, Zebene, Edilu, Meheret, ... would you like me to go on?  There are so many families I know, personally, awaiting so many milestones in this road called Adoption ... this Marathon we have been chosen to run!

Bring our Children Home!

Today marks 2 years since the Haiti earthquake.  Do you know how many children were orphaned that day?  Do you know how many children are looking for the same answer ... your YES!  Haiti's doors are open with my adoption agency.  Tonight we will be hosting a seminar here in our city (San Antonio) to share with families this road called adoption.  We will share with families how we are adopted by "God's Design".  Tonight I pray that even one more family can be represented, in this plea to "Bring our Children Home".  As I cry out to the Lord today, I am reminded that 163 million children are doing the same.  They too are looking for a "yes".
 You never know, your family may be a part of the fabric the Lord is creating in this thing we call the adoption community.  Over the past 7 years I have watched as he continues to weave and sew it together.  It is BEAUTIFUL and I invite you to come and see if you, perhaps, are a square in his quilt.

Today, in my flesh, I want to throw a 2 year old tantrum.  Today, in my flesh, I want to curl up on the couch and forget the world and sulk and pout.  But instead, I will praise the one who called us on this journey.  I will trust the one who has claimed them for us.  I will cry out Abba Father and celebrate knowing that he WILL finish what he has started.  He is faithful!

Enjoy this video and this song!  And well, I'll put a shameless plug out their for my Cindy.  She has entire CD devoted to adoption and orphan care called "No Double Yellow Line".  Go check it out for yourself!  You will be blessed!

It's a celebration!

Happy Birthday Zebene!  

You are 4 TODAY!

As we drove to school this morning the car went into an uproar.  Your Momma and 3 siblings sang as loud as we could "Happy Birthday to You".  I was certain that you might have just been able to hear us 8,000 miles away.  YOU ARE CELEBRATED!  Today is YOUR day!  

Of course, I sang through my tears and your brother told me it was o.k. to cry.  "It's not right that he isn't home ... we are so close".  How true that is!  

Saturday night we celebrated with your Grandparents and your Great Aunt Susie.  Her birthday was yesterday.  I wonder what you would have thought of a great Texas steak!  Granny broke out a present for you and the waitress wondered where the birthday boy was until we told her all about you.  She fell in love with you through pictures and told us we made her night.  Zebene Levi Martine, YOU ARE CELEBRATED!  

I thought I'd share a few pictures of your birthday dinner with you here.  I'm starting to consider a re-do once you are home.  We have 4 years to make up for ... why not?  Who needs the actual day to celebrate a precious boy!  

Happy Birthday today my beautiful boy!  While I celebrate you, I cannot do so without thinking of your beautiful birth mother.  She is so brave!  She is so strong!  She has walked this process with us and without her ... we would not be where we are!  She loves you!   MiMi, you made the greatest sacrifice a mother could make.  Your bold and courageous love will never go a day without being honored.  We pray we can fulfill all those dreams you had for your baby boy.  Thank you for allowing us this incredible honor to parent and raise your precious child!  

Your Great Aunt Susie.  It was her celebration too!

Look at your gift from Granny and PiPa.  I am certain with your love for moving things that you will love this!

THAT is your birthday cake!  

Your Granny and your sister, Maliah

Aunt Susie got her own special treat, courtesy of the restaurant.

Your PiPa and big sister

Your silly brother and sisters ... here they are wishing you "HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZEBENE" with your balloon.

Melkam Genna!!

Melkam Genna!  Merry Christmas in Ethiopia!  January 7 marks that day for them and so when I awoke today (knowing the time difference), I knew they were finishing up a precious day of celebration with their families.
This also marks the last Christmas ... in any country's timeframe ... that my boy will spend without a family.

Fast forward a few hours and indeed, I was also blessed this day too!  A sweet Momma who is in country sent me pictures of our boy at the celebration the Transitional Home did with our kids.  LOVE IT!  Apparently they got to watch a movie outside, eat lots and lots of candy, sing songs and put on a drama.  Thought I'd share my blessings with you today.

MELKAM GENNA ZEBENE!

I know this one is blurry ... but I LOVE what it is all about.  Tara said he jumped up and was dancing.  He looks so happy too!  I can't wait to see those moves!

I also thought I'd share with you a little about how they celebrate their Christmas.  Perhaps we, in America, the land of abundance could learn something.

Ethiopian Christmas is a major holiday in Ethiopia and falls on January 7, instead of December 25. Unlike the rest of the world Genna is devoid of Santa Claus and Christmas trees. But more recently the trend has been changing where Christmas trees have slowly started creeping into Ethiopian households where many people started using decorating trees even if there is still no Santa Claus stories told, giving and receiving gifts is also not a big deal among the people rather new clothes are bought for children as a present on the holiday.

Genna is followed by one month long fast. It is said that Legend has it that among the Magi the king bearing frankincense as gift to baby Jesus was King Balthazar of Ethiopia. The day before Genna, people fast all day. The next morning at dawn, everyone dresses in white. Most Ethiopians do a traditional shamma, a thin, white cotton wrap with brightly coloured stripes across the ends. After the mass in church families get together to take part in the holiday feast which include doro wot, tela (homemade traditional beer) and Defo Dabo (bread made for holidays). As done in many holidays’ people visit relatives and spend the holiday feasting together.

Christmas is a holiday where many people come together especially in recent times Ethiopian Diaspora come for the holiday in an attempt to not only enjoy Genna, but also celebrate Timket (Epiphany), considered one of the biggest holidays of the year which is just two weeks away from Genna.

In rural areas people play yegena chewata; Ethiopia’s version of hockey which is played using carved stick and kind of rounded ball where men and young boys participate in the game – at times the rivalry can be fierce. There are also songs which are sung to show how people appreciate the game ‘begenna chewata aykotum geta’ at times the rivalry can be fierce. According to tradition, shepherds celebrated when they heard of Jesus birth by playing such a game.

Because I needed to smile and you might too

I thought I'd share this video that makes us all giggle in our house.  Watch and find joy in our little boy who is learning all his colors ... with GREAT excitement!  We know he loves books.  He loves to sit in your lap and point out pictures and tells you what he sees (in English and Amharic none the less).  We also know that he loves his pre-school teachers.  I have a feeling, I have a sponge coming home.

I need off the roller coaster!

Today was good ... and hard.  Good because we got an update of our sweet boy.  Hard because we got an update of our sweet boy.  Confused?

Our sweet boy is adorable and being so far away is growing ever so much harder.  I'm such a liar ...
I just said a day or two ago how at peace I was.  And I was.  But now ... not so much!  I'm a mess.

Welcome to the roller coaster of emotions with an adoption!

Yep, today I woke up and decided that I was so done with this wait.  Today I woke up angry that we had received nothing ... just silence, from the embassy.  I also woke up wondering and worried that there could be delays.  So not that peace I had two days ago huh?  

I'm so done not being able to see his smile, hold his hand and tell him he's never going to be alone again.  I'm ready to figure out his likes and dislikes.  I'm ready to hear him laugh.  I'm ready to see him learn new things and experience a new world.  I ready to hear him say again "Balooo" for Blue and giggle.  And well, honestly ... you know your ready when you can visualize the really hard ... and say your ready for that too.  Could it be any harder than being 8,000 miles away from your son?

So, today I felt that way and then it got worse (and better).  Confused?  Welcome to my hormones.

We got our December update for Zebene.  It is with joy I got see his face.  It is also with heartache as I see how much he is changing and growing without us.  It is joy that I see him smiling and climbing on a park.  It is with great sadness that I'm not the one helping him on the jungle gym while he plays.  It is with joy that I read all the Nanny's answers to my questions.  It is with heartache that I read that he too has heartache.  

Ugh, dear Jesus, I'm starting to get motion sickness.  I seriously need off this roller coaster!  

Lord hear our cries

This is what they said today.  The questions were mine ... the answers are in purple.

1. What do you believe we should have in our home or how should we prepare to help Zebene feel most comfortable when he arrives here with us? 

a. He loves to have lots of playing cars, books and toys, to play with him and when he become angry or fussy he needs to be held closely or hugged 

2. Does Zebene still have the photo albums we sent and is anyone sharing them with him? Does he ever mention his family now that we have met? 

a. He often looks at the photo albums. After the family left he is always asking when his family is coming. Especially when he seeing other kid’s families coming 

3. Does Zebene understand that the family that came to see him (us) will one day soon return to bring him with us to our home and make him our son? Do you visit with him about this? 

a. After the family retuned he has been somehow sad and he has received follow up by transition home social worker and psychotherapist and he is doing well and assured that family will come back. 

4. Does Zebene have a particular Nanny(s) that cares for him? If so, what are your names? (I have a picture of him with 2 Nanny's that I would love to bring.): 

a. Zebene doesn’t have particular a Nanny he especially attached to, he is harmonious with all. When he was asked about it, he said Enatenesh and Abnet, who are his nursery school teachers. If you have photos with Nannies you can bring them and give them. 

5. How is Zebene put down for bed/nap each day? Is he a good sleeper? Do you think he would be most comfortable upon arriving home sleeping in a room with someone else? 

a. At 7:00 pm he will go to bed and he may not fall asleep for a few minutes. After he falls sleep, he sleeps all night. He will take a nap after lunch from 12:30 pm – 2:00pm each day. 

Here's a few pictures too though this time they are blurry and well ... they shaved his hair again.  BOOO!

Not me - ALL him!

Sometimes I open up my blog or photos and see this face and CANNOT believe THIS IS MY SON!
It overwhelms me sometimes to think that 8,000 miles away is a precious boy with my last name, with my inheritance that is no longer an orphan ... nope, he is my boy!  It overwhelms me to think that HE chose US to be his parents.   I have NOT a clue what HE sees in me to think I am worthy of such a privilege.  I am such a mess!  I have so far to go to be in his likeness.  What in the world?  Seriously ... THIS is my son!  So as I wait for embassy clearance, I found myself driving down the road today laughing. Yep, those next to me probably thought I was crazy.  Why?   Because I am at TOTAL peace and that is sooooo not in my nature.  It is so NOT who I am!   I could leave ANY day to bring home a son and I ... preparation, perfection Cristie is AT REST!

THAT my friends is testimony of a peace that surpasses all understanding!  

I see his fingerprints all over my life

December 28 ...

That was OUR day ... we were submitted to Embassy on December 28!!!  I would have written sooner but our family was knee deep in snow and tearing the slopes.  The whole family was skiing for the holidays which was so much fun.  A first for my kids ... and well, back to a childhood love for this girl raised in the North.   On that Wednesday, as I stood in line for the chair lift, it dawned on me ... it is WEDNESDAY!  WEDNESDAY!  WEDNESDAY!!  Oh my gosh it was torture the rest of the day.  All I could think about was our boy and the possibility of being submitted that day.   As soon as we arrived back to our house I ran upstairs.  I scrolled through the e-mails on my phone to find the long awaited one ...  Yep, I'm all sappy ... I cried.  We are on the LAST step!

Congratulations, your embassy paperwork was submitted today! Copies of all documents submitted are attached to this email.

We are excited for your family as you enter into this final stage of your adoption process. Many families have commented this season of waiting is the hardest, and our prayer for your family is that you will have a peace that passes understanding as you wait through this final season.

Once the embassy receives your paperwork, the embassy will let us know within 10 business days whether you are cleared, whether they'd like to interview someone involved in the case (birth parent, police, etc.), or whether your case is "not clearly approvable" and is being forwarded to the USCIS office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Birth Relative interviews are currently being requested for all cases with a living relative who relinquished a child, so we encourage any family with that situation to be prepared for this possibility. If an appointment is requested, it may take as long as a week or more for the embassy to request this from the date of paperwork submission, and as the embassy only has limited interview slots, it may take a week or more for this individual to interview (if applicable and requested).

Once your paperwork is submitted, the embassy will copy your family on all correspondence with us. The Embassy could potentially notify us on any day of the week that you are cleared to travel and will notify you and us once you are cleared via email. As soon as they clear you to travel you will need to notify the embassy of your top 3 choices for embassy interview dates. We will then request these dates and should hear from the embassy on the following business day regarding your request.

Embassy interviews occur Monday-Thursday with the exception of embassy holidays. Visas are issued the second day after the interview (Monday interview=Wednesday visa pickup) with the exception of Thursday interviews for which visas are issued the following day (Friday). Families can leave Ethiopia any time after 7pm on the day the visa is issued. 

If you have any further questions on this, please let me know.

In Him,

So, there you have it ... we now WAIT again.  Each step brings a new place of trust.  We are pretty sure they will request that birth parent interview and that could take some time ... but guess what 2012 brings???  ZEBENE COMING HOME!  

Happy New Years friends!  It indeed is looking to be a glorious one FULL of transitions, hope, and promise sprinkled with heartache, trials and the process of redemption.  We are READY!