Here's what went down....
It all started with an email from Gladney this morning saying that the Ethiopian courts had officially reopened from the rainy season. (For those that don't know.... the Ethiopian courts close from late August until around the beginning of October - give or take some time there) So no one can have their case opened before court during this time. So things become somewhat stagnant during this time period.
Back up. Last week another email was sent out saying that the average wait time once you are on the "waitlist" is an AVERAGE of 8 months... for all children... all ages. That's an average. Some less, some more. Because I am usually a glass half full kind of girl... I tend to think that we are going to be the ONE family that gets their "referral" in like 2 weeks of being on the waitlist. (Don't laugh people! It could happen! I mean seriously, we gotta get a break somewhere after all this USCIS mess. ;)
So, where was I?..... okay so next I get an email from a fellow adoptive parent via the Ethiopian Adoption Yahoo group.... just stating the facts.... which were.... if a family got on the waitlist a few months ago (8 months waiting) + 2-3 months waiting for a court date = being right smack dab in the middle of court closures for the raining season 2011.... So for some of us this means.... not getting our children until next October or more likely after October.
Well.... that sent me straight into deep depression... D-E-P-R-E-S-S-I-O-N.
When we started this process in January, we really thought that we would be bringing our son home in around the 1st of the year 2011. That hope was moved to Spring.... That hope was moved to Summer.... That hope is now moved to Fall. Not what the Cheathams had in mind! at all! (Little Man---- we are ready for you!)
I then got more emails from people from that Ethiopian Adoption Yahoo group... people giving me hope again.... saying, "you just never know, God's timing, anything can happen, everyone's situation is different".... WHEW! my glass is half full again! 2 weeks! ;)
So... next came THE CALL.... our CASEWORKER FROM USCIS.... and I can't say too much because she was calling me from my email that I ACCIDENTALLY put my blog address on. So you never know... she might read this. Anywhoo.... we have tried to call over and over again. I know I have expressed to her on 3 different occasions.... I'm just scared our file is LOST!?????? She assured me everytime, that it was not lost. Somehow we were told our "SIM number" only to find out that .... that was someone else's SIM number, not ours. So she was calling to see if I might just send her all of our documents again so that she could "RECREATE" our file.
So I spent the next hour and a half gathering documents and then driving to meet Derek so that he could scan and email all of our documents to her. We are talking... homestudy, birth certs, marriage cert, I600a application, payment verification, etc... Praise The Lord that my hubs does such a great job keep records and copies and whatnot. HOLLA! You ROCK D-ROCK! They don't call you D-Rock for nothing!
I was then late to pick Ellison up .... I told her the whole story of why I was late, because I had to meet Dad to give him documents. (
To which Ellison replied,
"WELL THAT'S NOT VERY RESPONSIBLE OF THEM."
-Ellison, 9 years old
out of the mouths of babes.
The end. Just a gut feeling. lost.
8 comments:
So sorry. I know you're so torn with all of these "waits". Stay positive and we'll do the same!
Oh, Heather. I am so very sorry. Keep hanging in there!
oh, man!! that's hard to swallow...darn...but it must be God's way of getting the perfect child He's picked out for ya...We had SO many ups and downs getting to LL...but she was meant for us!!! God knew it!!! :) kj
Sorry to here that ... you have such a great attitude through this whole process! You are such a great example to others! Don't ever forget that!
Oh Heather, reading your post took me back a couple of years to our wait game and the lack of control that goes along with it. My heart aches for yours! There will be a time where you can look back on these days and just praise HIM for stretching and molding you more like Himself. Your little man blessing will be in your arms and you will know His timing was perfect! (I see so much of myself in this post, if you were to have told me what I just told you 2 years ago when I was where you are today, well quite frankly I would not have believed (just sayin', I'm stubborn like that) ;>) <><
oh girl. i know the starts and stops. the ups and downs. we had eight court cases canceled before the twins adoption was finalized. hang in there. your persistency paid off. trust that mama's gut and HIS perfect timing!
love & blessings from hong kong,
kim
Girl, I am so sorry that this has taken so long and been so frustrating!! I cannot even imagine! Hang in there! And thanks for staying so positive in this...it's inspiring to see!!
So sorry Heather! I have been lamenting as well that we were "supposed" to have ours home by this November and we are not even on the wait list yet. =(
Soooooo thrilled you had the paperwork. With our move....ugh... let's just say, I am glad our SIM is good.
Remember, we are going to laugh about this one day, right?
Here's hoping we get quick referrals and travel together!
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