07.10.09
New court date!!!
Yes! We have a new court date! Our agency called us today with the news that the ban is officially lifted and our court date has been rescheduled for July 20! That’s just 11 days away. We have a tentative Visa appointment of August 20. The only catch is that MOWA (Ministry of Women’s Affairs), an agency involved in the adoption process in ET, is supposed to write letters of recommendation on the day of court. MOWA is closed for training for two weeks, but the judges have requested that someone in their office provide the needed letters on our court day. Not sure if this will happen, but we’re hopeful.
I feel such a sense of relief. I feel like I can start planning again and imagining our life with Asher in it. For the last two months, I wasn’t sure if that was going to happen.
07.03.09
Warning…today is one of my bitter days
I try not to bitch too much. I try to stay away from bitter people. I hate the haters. But man, do I feel like part of the club today!
What’s that saying?…fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me? Something like that. That’s kind of how I’m feeling about the news from our agency yesterday that there will be an “official” announcement today about how the abandonment cases will be processed. I’m so over their little announcements that there will be an announcement! How many times have we heard that over the last few weeks? A little bitter sounding, I know. It’s hard not get my hopes up that, yes, today will bring relief from this almost two-month nightmare. I’m ready for someone to wake me up!
Turns out this whole mess didn’t really even have anything to do with baby-stealing or selling, or even suspicious activity by the orphanages. According to our agency, it all started because it was determined that an agency working in Ethiopia is not doing humanitarium work, which is a requirement if you’re going to do adoptions there. So, in essence, the courts have been holding our babies “hostage” because of this?!? I just don’t understand. I don’t understand why we can’t get any clear cut information about this. Our agency director was in Ethiopia for two weeks, and yet our conference call yesterday left me even more confused about the situation. Everyone has been calling this the “abandoned child investigation.” Now that’s a lie too? Wow.
I will spend yet another day stalking my email. Another day hoping that we’ll hear something official, or positive. Another day away from my Son. How much more heartache can a person take? I guess we’ll find out.
06.07.09
A little hope
Well, it seems there just might be a little light at the end of this long, dark tunnel. Our agency reported Friday that they believe the courts have completed the investigation in Ethiopia. There has been no “official” announcement yet, but we’re hopeful that it will happen soon. The next step (hopefully) will be getting our court date rescheduled. I have no illusions that this will happen in time for the court closure in August. Also, there’s no telling what new procedures the courts will put in place because of this investigation. Hopefully, it won’t be anything that prolongs our wait even more! The orphanage that Asher is from is one of the facilities the investigation has been focusing on. I am cautiously optimistic. I refuse to get my hopes up again at this point. The day I celebrate will be the day we pass court and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he’s OURS!
I was so happy to get new pics of Asher this past week from my friend Sherry who was in ET picking up her little cutie. Thanks Sherry!! Asher is getting so big. He turned 7 months old May 26. I don’t know what they’re feeding him at the HOH, but little man isn’t so little anymore! He’s rockin’ the double chin too. I feel like I’m missing so much of his growing. I have drawers and a closet full of clothes that he’ll probably never get to wear. It makes me sad, but as long as he comes home, I could care less about the clothes!
Owen and I took a much-needed mini vacation to North Carolina this week. We rented a cabin in the mountains near the Nantahala River. It was nice to relax and enjoy the beauty of the Smoky Mountains. I see why they’re called the Smoky Mountains…they were shrouded in mist the entire time. We had reservations to go whitewater rafting, but it was chilly and raining, so we cancelled and drove to Asheville, NC instead. Cute, artsy little town. Now it’s back to reality!
