November is coming to an end!

I can't believe that it is December tomorrow! I suppose to need to get moving on my Christmas shopping. This weekend I bought a Christmas tree - last year I had just moved into my new place so did not have one. I am realizing how picky I am about decorations and so far my tree is looking pretty sparse :) My job now is to actually sit down and make a list of all the Christmas presents and errands that I need to complete.

Another week gone by and no home study returned :( I have done a lot of reading and it looks like most people got them back in one month so maybe this will be the week for me as today is the one month point. I realize this is only the start of the waiting process but I think I will feel much better once my whole file is gone to Ethiopia. Despite my obsessively checking my mail all week for my home study the week went by pretty fast. I do some weekend respite (like a weekend foster parent) and had kids this weekend. We had a lot of fun and I find that it always helps to take my mind off the waiting period.

Ethiopian Dinner and meeting new people!

All week I have been checking the mail constantly! I know that it could be a couple more weeks until my homestudy arrives back from the government but I was hoping it would come. To my surprise my parcel from my secret pal arrived! I was like a child -- so excited and almost in tears as I read the beautiful poem and opened the gifts! I think this exchange helps me to pass the wait -- as everyone involved in this process knows.....I still have a LONG way to go!

Tonight was an Ethiopian event - dinner with many other people in different stages of the process. I met some wonderful people and loved to hear all about these experiences. There were also many beautiful children of all ages in attendance and it was nice to see that this long wait is so worth it! I made some great contacts and look forward to following different people through their process!

Keeping my fingers crossed that my homestudy will return to me this week!

The beginning

After reading tons of peoples international adoption blogs I decided that this was something that might help pass the time while waiting for my little one.

I have wanted to adoption since I was about 10 years old. Initially my dreams were to adopt from Haiti. For years I had researched into this process and the orphanages, agencies, etc... that I would need to have information about. After much soul searching and realizing that due to the volitility and political issues this program was not for me at this time. At this point I began looking into other programs. Instantly Ethiopia came to mind; after looking into this program I decided that this was the way to go. I liked the care that these children recieved and am very interested in all the cultural aspects. So began the journey....

In August 2008 I began submitting paperwork and decided on which coordinator and agency to use throughout the process. In September I had my home study and am not currently waiting for it to return and recieve provinical approval.