Two Visits

Yesterday, we received an email from our adoption agency notifying us of a change in the Ethiopian adoption process. It will require us to make two trips to Ethiopia. Here's part of the email:

"Ethiopian Federal Court announced a change in the court policies today. This change requires both prospective adoptive parents to appear at court in person to testify to their desire and commitment to adopted their referred child(ren).

Beginning today, families need to be prepared to travel to Ethiopia approximately 4 - 8 weeks after receiving a referral in order to be present in Ethiopia for their appointed court date. Families will remain in Ethiopia for roughly 5 -7 days and will then return to the US. After officially passing court, families will then travel back to Ethiopia approximately 10 -12 weeks later to pick up their adopted child(ren)."

We have mixed emotions about this change. Part of what attracted us to Ethiopia was that it only required one trip when you went to pick up your child. Originally, you did not have to go there for the court date. We didn't want to have to leave our boys two times. Plus, this will add $6000 or more to the adoption expenses. The exciting yet really difficult part is that we will get to meet our little girl earlier than expected,. Yet, we will meet her and then have to say good-bye until we are back three months later to pick her up. My heart already hurts thinking about what that will be like.

I guess that's just the way things go sometimes with adoptions. We are not in control, and things can change quickly. It could be a lot worse and we are thankful that Ethiopia is still moving along fairly smoothly with adoptions.

This is another opportunity to trust God more with the timing of everything, with our finances, and with our emotions. We appreciate your prayers.