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.

Let's try this again...

Today will be out 3rd attempt at court. Please pray!

ETHIOPIA TIME

No GO #2...

I just received word that our case was not heard in court today. I am home from work today sick. I am bummed but I trust the Lord and His plan so everything will be fine. Rick is out of town but I talked to him a minute ago and his nerves are shot but he also is trusting in the Lord.

I want to thank Tania. She just got back from Addis and brought her baby girl home. She sent me three new pictures of sweet pea. It made my day. The Lord is good!Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Shout out! Our agency has 3 families that just got back from Ethiopia to pick up their kiddos. Go check out their blogs. I am so happy for them!

Tania
Lisa and Cory
Leah and Jon

Please pray that we make it through court tomorrow.

Do Over...

It's 4:11AM and I am awake. I am sick with a cold and I am praying for court that I hope is going on today and that they hear our case. Trusting in the Lord and His perfect plan.

ETHIOPIA TIME

NO GO...

Our case was not heard in court today. Apparently today is a big Muslim celebration.

Radu said usually they work today but they decided to not hold the Court session today. Radu was not aware of this, but he got the info from the attorney today. Today's cases will go before of the judge either tomorrow or Wednesday.
He said that he hopes they don't drink too much today so that they will hold court tomorrow. (can you imagine if the US worked like this?)

We are very disappointed but there is nothing we can do. Please continue to pray that our case gets heard soon and that God's hand is on the whole ordeal. I need to get some sleep but I don't know if I can.

Still no word....

Court should have already let out but I still haven't heard anything. I am freakin out!

ETHIOPIA TIME

Court Tomorrow!

We have our court date tomorrow, Dec. 8th. I pray that Dec. 8th, 2008 will be the day we remember always as the day Ayana became our daughter!

I have been working around the house all day trying to keep my mind busy but it doesn't work well. I am not sure if I will get any sleep tonight. I know Rick will because he is already asleep. He has to get up at 3:00 AM to leave on a business trip.

While I try to sleep tonight, court will be in session. Please pray with us that God's hand will be on our court case,the judge and our attorney. Thanks.

ETHIOPIA TIME

Not much makes me cry, but...

I forgot to tell you about what happened at work yesterday. My assistant came into my office with flowers that had just been delivered. My face lit up.
I will let the picture tell the rest of the story. Sorry, I couldnt get the picture to turn the right way on blogger. What a sweet husband I have!!!

Baby Nursery

OMG, only 3 more days until court!!!

I am so excited about court. I am also excited because today they are at my house installing the curtains and bedding that I had made for Sweet pea's room. Whoo hoo!So much time and effort was put into finding all the fabric. Thanks Jess for your help!!! I can't wait to get off work and go see it. I had the room painted last week. The decorations and all the accessories will not be up yet because I ordered some stuff online and its not here yet.
I will be sure to post pictures of the nursery soon.

Also, I will be posting pictures of some of my favorite and unique gifts that people bought or made for Sweet Pea.

Bye for now!

NEW Hairdo...

OK ladies, I hesitate to put these on the Internet after I saw them. Forgive the bad photography, I took the photos myself. I wasn't about to ask someone at the office to take pictures of me. :) After seeing the photo's, I will be starving myself for the next few months and I will be getting a tan. Ughh!

Anyway, I decided to get a bob. It is shorter/shagged in the bag and layered. It will be less hair to blow dry when sweet pea comes home.

OK, I will quit stalling...







It felt I was in the salon all day. They added highlights and lowlights and then cut my long, thick hair. It looked like a rug on the floor. I wanted to donate to locks of love but they wouldn't take highlighted hair. :(

Anyway, I'm not sure if I will regret cutting it or not but too late. It is what it is. It's just hair right? Well gotta go, I'm on my way to sign up for Weight Watchers. LoL