Wait Mailing #2

A month or so ago I would have been so excited about receiving a new email from our adoption agency however now, anything short of a referral call is short. The email was great and included a 22 page document of information about Ethiopia. I was actually surprised at how much I already knew but we bought books a while back and have been reading up on the Ethiopian culture. Still holding out hope for a call this week....but I know the holidays are a busy time. We have been waiting just over 4 months and the wait is 4-6 months.

Our family is headed to Gatlinburg on Thursday with our friends the Stalnakers. Looking forward to playing with the kiddos and getting away from the house. Happy New Years to all!

Turning 40!

Yes it's true ....I am turning 40. It's so funny because I see people who are 28-30 and think they are my age, my friends, my group, etc. I really don't feel 40 and although it does sound a bit old to me to say I'm 40, I really don't think I am old. (My daughter may say differently however). We celebrated with a wonderful party at my parents house that included friends from when I was 5 up until 39. My actual birthday is this coming Tuesday, the 22nd which is also my mother's birthday. I can't help but hope that just maybe we will receive our referral...what an awesome gift that would be! I must admit the past two weeks have been a little tough on the waiting for referral front. Because we know that we are "on deck" and could potentially receive a call at anytime....I can't help but wake up each morning and have a bit of hope that today might be the day. Then about 3:30-4:00 when I know the AWAA office is closing in VA I have a bit of sadness and disappointment. Talk about a roller coaster of emotions. I so want God's perfect timing but my humaness (sp??) can't help but switch from hope and excitement to disappointment on a daily basis. Thank goodness for the joy of Christmas which is keeping my spirits high and my body and mind busy.

Shots and more shots....

Well, today Russ and I went to the Vanderbilt travel clinic to get our shots for travel to Ethiopia. I got 5 shots and Russ had to get 6. You might think that was enough but we actually have to get our Hep B from our primary care physician and we may have to go back and get Yellow Fever if we decide we want to leave the city of Addis Adaba on our trip. We also got Typhoid pills an antibiotic prescription and a list of things not to eat. Although this was not just loads of fun it again makes it seem a little closer and a little more real which is very exciting. Next step....is for the phone to ring!

This weekend my husband and parents are giving me a 40th birthday party (no it is not a surprise). The theme is Ethiopian and we are having Ethiopian/African decorations, food and music. I am so looking forward to the party and to sharing a little bit of our sons culture with all my friends and family. I will try to remember to take pics and post them.

Headed to take some more tylenol and massage my arms....

New news...

Sorry there has not been an update in a couple weeks. I have been preparing for Christmas like a crazy lady in hopes of having everything done by Dec. 1st.....that didn't happen 100% but I am actually very close and should easily be finished before the kids get out of school.

Yesterday Russ and I had an appointment with the International Adoption Clinic at Vanderbilt. We met with a pediatrician, occupational therapist and psychologist. It was very interesting and very helpful information. We were there almost three hours but it was such good info that neither one of us minded. I had gone back and forth as to whether it was necessary to go to Vanderbilt (since we have a great Pediatrician in Murfreesboro) but what they do is in addition to what Dr. Collins will do and should be very reassuring.

Next step.........shots. Russ and I both go to the travel clinic tomorrow morning to get our immunizations in order to travel to Ethiopia. Can't really say I am excited about this part but it does make it seem pretty real.

Now for the important news..... I have mentioned before that there is a blog that keeps an unofficial waiting list. I am a regular viewer and even have the three names ahead of mine memorized (Nicol, Beal and Regalado). Thanksgiving week Nicol received their referral, last week Beal received theirs and YES yesterday Regalado received their referral. So we are "unofficially" next on the list for an infant boy!!!! What this means is that from now on I will sleep with my phone, jump everytime it rings and possibly be crazy for the next few weeks. As excited as I get I am at peace with the fact that it will happen exactly when it is suppose to.

That is the update as of today.......hope everyone is joyfully preparing for Jesus' birthday!

We are officially "ON DECK"

I was so excited to open my email today and receive our ON DECK email. For those of you who don't know the America World adoption lingo here is a paragraph from the email...

While there are many unknowns in the referral process, and this email gives no dates or guarantees, America World anticipates that your family could receive a referral within the next one to three months. Referrals arrive sporadically throughout the month. For this reason, families with the same DTE date frequently do not receive referrals at the same time. America World issues referrals as soon as a child’s paperwork is completed.

I already knew the approximate wait time but somehow getting this email makes it move from we will receive a referral in 5-7 months to we could receive a referral anytime in the next one to three months. We are moving forward in the process and our son is closer to being with us! Because of the age of referrals it also means that he is more than likely born, on this earth, and we are being carefully brought together in God's plan. My heart is overjoyed.

Hope everyone has a beautiful day!

Give Love --- I love you Beth Ann

I can't wait for you to hear about this incredible person that God brought into my life 4+ years ago. She is such an inspiration and you will be touched by her story. Beth Ann graduated from Lambuth College in May in pre-med and in 10 days is headed to Tororo (Uganda) to answer God's call and serve God. She has a great blog that tells more about her and her story and you just have to go visit....PLEASE. It is www.givelovejourney.blogspot.com Here is a quick excerpt:

Through an organization called Africa Inland Mission (AIM), I have an opportunity to serve God and His children in Uganda. My team and I will be helping care for 400 beautiful children in an orphanage in the town of Tororo. While I don't know the wonders in store for me in Africa, I am excited to begin this journey to give and to love.

Now for a story to show how amazing our God is.....
It was 4 years or so ago and I was working as was Russ both in different towns from where we lived and raising 3 children. To say the least we were burning the candle at both ends and I just needed some help. My mother is good friends with the guidance counselor at the local high school and called her to find out if there was someone she would recommend to help with her precious grandchildren. That is how we heard about what a beautiful person Beth Ann Carkuff was and she was so much more to us than a babysitter. Her heart is so big and loving, she is smart, beautiful and loves Jesus. This was her as a high school student and through college she has amazed me more and more. We hated to see her go to a college several hours away but were very happy for her.

Last Christmas (before I had talked to Russ about us adopting) I called Beth Ann to see if she was home on break and could keep the kiddos. She came over and we ended up figuring out that we were both being called to Africa! Her for mission work and us to adopt....how crazy 2 people from a small city in Tennessee, being brought together and being called to Africa. It just amazes me.

I am trying to be a little bit of help to Beth Ann and help her raise the money for her trip. There is a golf tournament this weekend at Blackberry Ridge golf course on 231 headed toward Shelbyville. It is an 8:00 shotgun start and there is room for several more teams....so if you like to play golf please come out and help send Beth Ann to Africa. Cost is $40/person or $150 for a team of 4. She also has great t-shirts on her blog site. Please pray for her, her safe travels, for the money to be provided and for her family.
Don't forget to check her blog out and keep up with her while she is in Tororo.

I'm So Excited.....

Actually not much has happened for us specifically BUT after 6+weeks of no baby boy referrals there were finally some referrals this week! I think I have mentioned before about the "unofficial waiting list" that is kept by some wonderful people. It is a list of everyone's information that has sent it to them so there could be families not on the blog and not on the unofficial list but it seems like to me that about 90% of the families from America World adopting from Ethiopia are included.

When I started "my list" we were number 10 of the known families requesting infant (0-2) boys. I check for referrals often (yes, daily) and after going for more than 6 weeks without seeing a referral I was getting a little down. Yesterday was a busy but wonderful day which I am going to post about next so I did not have time to check email until last night. When I saw the words referral and recognized the names I got SO excited. At first there were two referrals and then I went to send an email at 10:30 last night to one of the kids teachers and saw another boy referral----for a total of 3. Joy, love, hope, joy,love, hope kept running through my body - it was great. We have had a very difficult month dealing with losing Hallee and there was so much darkness in our grief - please know we are very happy for Hallee knowing she is with Jesus and happier than we could ever even imagine but we love and miss her so much and it is so difficult watching your daughter ache all day everyday that the darkness was present. This news is such a light to all of us.......a hope, a dream, a new Connelly boy!

Now I must admit in regards to information we have officially received nothing happened yesterday but on my list we made it to number 3!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! God's timing is perfect and I don't know exactly what it is for our family but I will sing praise to Him as we move a little closer family by family.