being prepared

We're back in our least favorite part of adoption, the unknown. Many families are hanging out here actually, but it's no party. It's so strange to not know, know, then not know again. I thought by now we'd have travel dates, plane tickets, and most of our things packed. 

Life is progressing though. The first day was rough. No crying, but still rough. So many wonderful people kept calling to check and see what we'd heard. Then when the news came, many called or emailed with encouragement or to parallel grief along side us. It's not so bad now. People are still checking in on us, but I don't have any answers. That part is a little rotten. No new court date, no idea for scheduled travel, no plans for bringing baby home. While it's been unexpected, it is not so bad. I feel much more disappointed for the people I have to tell than for myself. Sometimes I catch myself feeling sad for our little guy, spending more and more days away from his family -- but I am reminded that many wonderful people are looking after him and loving him and preparing him for us. (Well, if anyone could really prepare him for us! He is in for such a shocker... I digress) My heart is happy, even if everything is still up in the air. 

I posted on facebook earlier today that I needed some enthusiastic motivation and a friend was kind enough to remind me of James 1:2-4. For those of you who also need some, here you go:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 

Perhaps it is me who still needs to be prepared! 

court outcome

We received a call from our case worker, Julie, today that our birthmother was unable to attend our court hearing. This means we've been postponed until she can make it to court to testify. It looks as if this is going to postpone our travel to Ethiopia and our little guy about another month -- mid or late June. This was hard news to hear. Indeed, this has been the toughest day of our adoption journey. 

Instead we are choosing to focus on our dear friends, The Hulls, who are traveling in less than two weeks. They are precious people who are sure to love on our little bear and tell him we're coming for him as soon as we can. 

tonight's the night!

Well folks, tonight is the night! Our case is brought before a judge in Ethiopia while we (well, most of us) are sleeping. They are eight hours ahead of me (CST) so I'm guessing that they open around midnight our time. It's still completely surreal that our moment has come and judgment is on the way. Wow!

Yesterday I came across this verse and have been really refreshed by it so I thought I'd share. I hope you get some encouragement from it, too. : )

Isaiah 30:18
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
he rises to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
Blessed are all who wait for him!

ho hum

My best friend, Christina, drove through downtown last week during the International Festival. She told me all about how Ethiopia was on her left and it was so bright and colorful. Right across the street from Ethiopia was the place you go to meet up with your lost kiddos or find them if they get separated. Christina said it was such a fun thing to see, "Right next to Ethiopia was a big sign that read 'Find Your Children Here' -- because that's what you're doing!"  Doesn't God have a fun sense of humor.

God also has a desire to be our stronghold in hard times. I have been so blessed to not be sad or depressed or too anxious about our referral (way back when!) or even our court date (next Monday!) and I am so thankful for that. But lately, I have found my own struggle in the adoption world: updates.

There have been several families to travel since our referral, all pledging to do their best to look in on our boy. I understand that there are lots of things to prevent that. I understand. Really I do. It's been nice to hear from other families that our boy does indeed exist and that he is well loved. I just really wish someone could tell me something about him. It is so hard to hear again and again that people didn't see him or that he was sleeping in another room. It's even harder to read the updates of children on other family blogs about how their children are smiling and growing and giggling -- or rolling and crawling and walking. I know our little boy is young and not doing a lot, but I just wish that we had something to hold on to. During this complaining and griping is when the Savior reminds me to hold on to Him. 

get real

Time is flying by. Finally! I think it's just because I've been so busy lately. That paper chain of mine has finally dwindled down to less than two feet of links. As of midnight tonight, we have ten days until court. I can't believe it. 

Speaking of things I can't believe, it's almost our court date. 

I know I already said that, but it is still unbelievable! It seems like we've "been in the process" for so long it has just become part of our lives. You know, we live in Texas, we attend TWUMC, we like to read and we're in the process of adopting. It's just one of those things. No longer. 

Pretty soon, we'll be packing up our bags and rubbermaids -- and a diaper bag -- for the trip of a lifetime. We'll fly for nearly a day to the other side of the world and meet a little boy who is coming home with us to be a part of our family. We'll have a son. Our parents will have a grandchild. (Boy are they excited!) Our pups will have someone new to sniff. There will be a little body to fill the highchair, stroller, and crib. Life around us will be totally different. I know this. I love this. 

It's just not quite real yet. 

I've heard the saying, "a woman is a mother when she finds out she's pregnant but a man becomes a father when he first holds his child"

 ... which begs the question ...

When will it be real for us? 

And when did it become real to you? 

birthday stuffs

Today is Baby Galindo's 3 month birthday. 

Happy Birthday Baby! 

In honor of that, here are the top three things Justin wants to do with his son:

1. Teach him to catch. And throw.

2. Read with him.

3. Teach him to shoot.

Three things I want to do with our son:

1. Playing in the bath and getting ready for bed.

2. Showing him off to everyone I've ever met.

3. Teach him silly songs and motions to go with them.

Also, the office of Homeland Security also sent our boy a present...

In the mail today, we received his FDL!!! YAY!!!!

Our baby boy can come home! 

In other news, one of the case workers for our agency was in Ethiopia all last week, and I think we might get some updated pictures this week. Yippie! I'm a little worried we won't recognize him, but I remain hopeful that we will. And I'm sure he's become even more handsome. I'm positive, actually. 

Happy three month birthday little guy! Only one more birthday and you should be home with us! Hallelujah!!!

fingerprint info -- Edited and Updated

Over the weekend we received information stating that Justin did indeed fail his second attempt at fingerprinting. I'm pretty sure we only received this info when we did because I've been calling the Senator's office as well as one of the state representative's office and they've in turn been hounding CIS for an update. I'm glad to see our tax dollars at work. 

Anyway. When you fail twice, the person in question must have a criminal background check performed by the police department where he's lived for the last five years. (We are lucky because if we got this only a few months earlier, we'd have to contact another city!) Today I went to the county municipal buildings and got yet another background clearance done on Justin. (This is at least the third I've had done. I thought for sure the lady would start to recognize me...)

Bright and early Thursday morning, Justin will head down to hand that in and make a sworn statement. I was told over the phone by one of the CIS case workers that we should be approved immediately after the paperwork is signed. This is good news, but I'm still not sure how long it will take for the approval to make it to whatever office it is that does the official FDL, which is what we need to bring our son back to the US.  Justin asked me to go with him to plead our cause and keep his attitude in check. He thinks I'll say things a lot nicer than he would. He's probably right. We'll see. I'll post when everything's is (hopefully) done.

In other news, our court date is approaching! Several of our friends had court dates 3/31 and all passed. I'm really hoping they will go and love on our little guy. None of the other families have been able to tell us much about him. We've heard twice that he was sleeping out in the sun, so until we have other news, that's his only hobby we know about! I know these other mommies will love on him lots for me. (You know who you are!!!) 

We have 32 days until our court date. The girls in my small group made a paper chain for me to count down the days. To be honest, I couldn't take them off at first. Things like "58 days till court!!!" weren't really very uplifting. Now we're half way though so I'm feeling much better. Plus, a month isn't really that bad, right? Here is the chain stretched across some shelves. One fun little piece of trivia is that the paper our chain is made of is the scrap left over from our wedding reception dinner menus that I made. Fun! 

I will be posting more pictures soon! I have shower pictures and I'm nearly done with the nursery, too...now if only I could say the same for the last of those thank you notes...

********************

We went to our fingerprint appointment this morning and after a small, but humorous situation (maybe a later post?) met with the CIS officer dealing with our case. She read Justin's background check, had him stand to swear an oath, and answer a few questions. He signed. She signed. That was it. We're done! 

She said she'd finish processing our paperwork today and we should receive our stuff in the mail next week sometime. Praise God, our son can come home! Praise the Lord who is Faithful! 

We give thank to you, O God, 

we give thanks for your Name is near;

men tell of your wonderful deeds.

You say, "I choose the appointed time;

it is I who judge uprightly.

When the earth and all its people quake,

it is I who hold its pillars firm."

Psalm 75: 1-2

promise

I realize there are no pictures. Boo. I promise to work on that soon. 

I'm a little busy. It takes time to contact senators and representatives. 

Our adoption case worker, Julie, suggested that we press on with this plan to get our stuff in line with CIS. We don't want anything to hold up our travel. 

If you don't mind, say a little prayer for us. I feel confident that God is waiting for the perfect time to make this an obvious display of His power and His grace, but some of us are having a harder time relying on that than others. : ) Please pray that we continue to feel His abundant peace in this process as we wait for court (52 days) and also for our CIS statements. Thanks for stopping by. I promise next time there will be fun pictures! I promise! 

happy two month birthday

sweet baby boy,

today is your two month birthday!

you are just waking up for a fun filled day of eating, snoozing, sunning and funning.

we pray you get lots of hugs and giggles today

and that you know we have eight weeks exactly until our court date. 

we can't wait to meet you

and hold you

and kiss you

and bring you home. 

we are already so in love with you!

And, in true blog fashion, two things we love about you:

1. Your fantastic facial expressions. Our referral pictures are from your first week of life, and even in them you are so expressive! We can't wait to see what new faces and expressions you can make now. This is just one little thing that proves you were meant for our family.

2. Your totally smoochable lips. Everyone comments on how they can't wait to kiss you. We're already preparing to keep the girls away, Mommy's friends included. 

Happy Two Month Birthday!

court date

Our court date is set. We're scheduled for Monday, May 4, 2009!