We recently received our referral/travel packet in the mail and had our "Referral and Travel Preparation" meeting with our agency. We still get giddy saying those words, "referral" and "travel". It was almost like getting a gift in the mail! As we were looking it over we couldn't read it fast enough. Although most of the information was already discussed with us, having the actual meeting to go over to the details of the referral and travel reminded us WE ARE GETTING CLOSER! Some of the topics that were covered included: what to expect with the referral (the call, the paperwork), understanding the Ethiopian court process, how to deal with the wait, being aware of our child's journey before she comes into our arms, various medical tests provided to our child, medical conditions common in Ethiopia, a couple pages listing words in Amharic, information on traveling in Ethiopia, the orphanage our long awaited meeting. Although we know that we will most likely not travel before May we couldn't help but get caught up in the excitement of envisioning us in Ethiopia. As we discussed all the variables, including the court proceedings and embassy appointments, we reminded ourselves of the importance of continuing to have the mindset to go with the flow during this adoption process. With the exception of CIS we have been pleased with the progress of our adoption time line, and hope that the process continues to go smoothly, however with adoption you must prepare yourself to deal with the unexpected. The destination is Ethiopia and being united with our daughter, however we must be prepared to accept possible detours on the journey.
Ethiopia is such an incredible place for too many reasons to list. We continue to learn about its rich history and amazing culture.
We found this great article about travel in Ethiopia if you are interested in learning more about areas in Ethiopia.
Our hearts are already in Ethiopia....we can't wait for our eyes to see Ethiopia!
The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page. ~St. Augustine
This journey to your child is indeed long with many steps towards completion. It may be filled with challenges that prove to be opportunities for your personal growth as well as a demonstration of your committment to the success of your child's homecoming. It is a journey worth taking and I support all of you however I can.
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