Court....

We have court in less than 4 days. For those of you that are new to the blog, we had our first court date on Dec 8th. They ended up not having court that day due to the Muslim Holiday. The following day, they were only open a few hours and did not get to our case. By then, I was a mess with emotion. The following day we waiting on pins and needles. We soon found out that our case was heard but we did not pass due to the fact that the birth mom did not appear at court. She lives very far away and was ill. A new court date was assigned for six weeks later, Jan 22nd.

So here we are, 4 days away from court. Addis is nine hours ahead of us, so while we sleep on Wednesday night, court will be in session for our sweet pea.
We are praying that we pass. Court dates are getting harder to get and further out. They are now assigning families who have just received a referral, April court dates.

Our sweet pea turned 8 months on Friday. She was three months when she made it to the orphanage and we were assigned to her a short time later. We have received medical and photo updates each month. She is growing up before our eyes and I feel like I am missing so much. I am thankful for the people at toukoul for taking such good care of her while we are waiting to

bring her home.

Please join us in Prayer...

1. Please pray that the birth mother makes it to court

2. Please pray that we have favor with the judge and MOWA with our case

3. Please pray that the birth mother is comforted in such a hard time

4. Please pray that I stay calm during this process!!!!!!!

5. Please pray that more children are adopted and have forever families.

6. Please pray for the Ethiopian adoption program and that it stays healthy and strong in the coming years.

Thank you kind friends for your support in bringing our girl home! I appreciate it more than you know.

Update on Sweet Pea...

We recieved an email from our agency with a medical update on our sweet pea. There was not new pictures just the report. She is doing well and is growing. She gained 2 pounds and now weighs 14 pds 1 oz. She is also able to sit up without support.

Wow, she is growing and I am missing so much. I pray that we have her soon. It was tough making it through the holiday without her. God has a plan!

Court update...

Our court case WAS heard today and we did NOT pass. Apparently the judge requested that the mother be at the court date and she did not show up. The attorney thinks that she is sick. I was not aware that she had to be there as she has already shown up to court and has relinquished all rights 3 months ago. The mother is very, very
poor and is homeless. She is only 18 years old. She lives 168 miles south of Addis so I imagine that it's hard for her to make it to court. When I asked why she had to be there, I was told that these things are happening in the courts right now, sometimes they are requesting that the mother be there and other times not. We were assigned a new court date of Jan 22nd. Jan 22nd? That seems so far away.

To say that we are devastated doesn't even begin to cover it. Adoption is not for the faint of heart. I am not trying to be dramatic, just trying to keep it REAL. I thought I was strong but I am feeling very weak today. I think about our baby sitting in the orphanage for another two months and it makes me cry. I am home sick from work today, thank God. I do not want everyone to see me like this. I just took a hot shower and let the water beat down on me as I cried. It's amazing how you can love someone so much that you have never met. It's indescribable. I can only imagine what parents like the Fournet's are feeling, who are going for their 5th attempt at court on this coming Monday.

PLEASE PRAY:

1. Please pray for the mother of our child. Pray for her health. Pray for her heart for what she must be going through being so brave to give up her child. Pray that we can find her to get her to court. Pray that she is blessed.

2. Please pray for our sweet pea and that she doesn't get the chicken pox, scabies, or eye infection that is going around the orphanage right now. Pray that God protects her and loves on her and the other kids in the orphanage.

3. Please pray for the stability of the courts in Ethiopia and for all future adoptions.

4. Please pray for the Fournet's to pass court on Monday.

Thank you dear friends.