No news to report. Still awaiting "the call" for our embassy appointment that lets us know we can hop on a plane and go pick up our kids.
Getting a little anxious and antsy with all the waiting...but trying to deal with it somewhat gracefully.
That's it for now. Will update this once we get news of our travel dates/plans...which will hopefully be soon.
Sean
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Awaiting Embassy Appointment....
Hello All! I guess it's time for a quick update.
We are currently just awaiting an embassy appointment so we can go pick up our two beautiful children. As mentioned earlier (by my sisters updates while we were actually IN Ethiopia) we passed court on our last trip and they are officially "our" children as far as Ethiopia is concerned. Now, at this point, we're just waiting on the U.S. side of things.
Embassy appointments are given out on certain days/times of the month according to ones agency. Our agency has embassy dates every other Thursday. Our paperwork was turned in to the U.S. embassy (in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) on the 23rd of December. So, it is looking like the SOONEST we would get an appointment at this point is February 3rd. Now, there is plenty of opportunity for delay in this... so, while we are "hoping" for a Feb. 3rd appointment, we aren't expecting it.
That's all the news for now. We are in the ending stages of "Operation Re-organization." We decided to not just fix up the kids room - but to also use this opportunity to go through EVERYTHING we own. We have sorted until we are blue in the face. We are not only making room in our lives and apartment for two small children - but we are also getting rid of much of the unnecessary "stuff" /clutter that is so easy to hang on to. It is quite freeing actually. It is nice to go through things and "remember when"... and keep some things you just can't part with - and to other things say "why the crap have I held on to this for 25 years???" and promptly find a better home for it.
As we reorganize things, rearrange exisiting (or get new) furniture, and paint/decorate our place we are seeing it develop into something entirely different right before our eyes. We used to wonder how in the world we were going to fit all of our stuff PLUS 2 kids (and all their stuff) in our apartment. Now, we are amazed at how much space we had previously wasted and how going through and revamping a couple walk-in closets and hallway storage can make a HUGE difference. Things are shaping up nicely. Gone is the 1950's style round bar height table and bar stools. A real (red!) dining room table and chairs take its place. We're ready for family dinners with the kids... no more eating dinner on the couch while watching the CSI's or Criminal Minds. It's kind of disturbing eating during some of those shows anyhow! ;-)
Well, I'll stop rambling for now. Hope to be updating this again soon with news of our embassy date.
Have a great week everyone!
Sean
We are currently just awaiting an embassy appointment so we can go pick up our two beautiful children. As mentioned earlier (by my sisters updates while we were actually IN Ethiopia) we passed court on our last trip and they are officially "our" children as far as Ethiopia is concerned. Now, at this point, we're just waiting on the U.S. side of things.
Embassy appointments are given out on certain days/times of the month according to ones agency. Our agency has embassy dates every other Thursday. Our paperwork was turned in to the U.S. embassy (in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia) on the 23rd of December. So, it is looking like the SOONEST we would get an appointment at this point is February 3rd. Now, there is plenty of opportunity for delay in this... so, while we are "hoping" for a Feb. 3rd appointment, we aren't expecting it.
That's all the news for now. We are in the ending stages of "Operation Re-organization." We decided to not just fix up the kids room - but to also use this opportunity to go through EVERYTHING we own. We have sorted until we are blue in the face. We are not only making room in our lives and apartment for two small children - but we are also getting rid of much of the unnecessary "stuff" /clutter that is so easy to hang on to. It is quite freeing actually. It is nice to go through things and "remember when"... and keep some things you just can't part with - and to other things say "why the crap have I held on to this for 25 years???" and promptly find a better home for it.
As we reorganize things, rearrange exisiting (or get new) furniture, and paint/decorate our place we are seeing it develop into something entirely different right before our eyes. We used to wonder how in the world we were going to fit all of our stuff PLUS 2 kids (and all their stuff) in our apartment. Now, we are amazed at how much space we had previously wasted and how going through and revamping a couple walk-in closets and hallway storage can make a HUGE difference. Things are shaping up nicely. Gone is the 1950's style round bar height table and bar stools. A real (red!) dining room table and chairs take its place. We're ready for family dinners with the kids... no more eating dinner on the couch while watching the CSI's or Criminal Minds. It's kind of disturbing eating during some of those shows anyhow! ;-)
Well, I'll stop rambling for now. Hope to be updating this again soon with news of our embassy date.
Have a great week everyone!
Sean
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Final Update Before They Come HOME!
For those of you who have been watching FaceBook you know that Sean and Jaime passed court! Yay! Prayers have been answered in that respect. They should be getting on a flight as I type this and headed for home. The next time they do this flight they will be bringing their beautiful babies home too! More prayers that this will happen soon and without a hitch. Happy Thanksgiving!
Sean's Sister
Sean's Sister
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Update
This is just a very basic update for those who are wondering how Sean and Jaime are doing in Ethiopia. They do not have internet access as they expected so our contact with them is very limited. They have arrived safely and have seen both of their beautiful children. Please continue to pray for the hearing which is Sunday night our time.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Two days!!!
We leave to meet our kids in two days!!! How crazy is that??
Still packing... but, I am pretty sure we have everything we need and won't need to be doing any last minute Target or Walmart runs. Finishing up the laundry at the moment... then will move on to the clothing portion of the packing.
Well, that's it for now... will update you as soon as I can. If we have a chance to go online we will e-mail some updates to my sister who will update this blog for us while we're gone.
Have a good one!
Sean
Still packing... but, I am pretty sure we have everything we need and won't need to be doing any last minute Target or Walmart runs. Finishing up the laundry at the moment... then will move on to the clothing portion of the packing.
Well, that's it for now... will update you as soon as I can. If we have a chance to go online we will e-mail some updates to my sister who will update this blog for us while we're gone.
Have a good one!
Sean
Monday, November 8, 2010
The Count Down...
One week from right now we will be in the sky - flying to visit our kids and go to court.
There's a lot to do... so no time for a long drawn out post. But, just wanted to say "Yay! We will meet our children in 9 days!"
Sean
There's a lot to do... so no time for a long drawn out post. But, just wanted to say "Yay! We will meet our children in 9 days!"
Sean
Sunday, September 19, 2010
We Received A Court Date!!!!
So, we got the call... we have a travel date (for Trip 1)!!
We are excited to have found out that we have a November 22nd court date. We will be heading out to Ethiopia on the 15th of November. We are impatiently awaiting this trip as it will be the first time we get to meet our children. Well, they are "our" children in our hearts... not quite so legally - hence the trip to Ethiopia for a court date. Der. Keep up, guys! :-)
Anyhow, all sarcasm aside (well, probably not for long... I can only go 5 or so seconds at a time without it), we are thrilled to be heading to Ethiopia and having an opportunity to meet these beautiful blessings in the flesh. Not that (occasionally and obsessively) staring at their pictures is not great and all... but we'd kind of like to see the live action 3-D version... with sound included!
Also, we have known their sweet faces for 3 months now and already have grown attached to them and have fully integrated/"pictured" them into our lives (in our minds/hearts). But to them, we are nothing at this point. Not a picture. Not a thought. Not even a figment of their imagination. How sad is that? We've got to meet these kiddos already... I mean, we have to get those weird "who the crap are these random strangers and why are they in my personal space?" moments out of the way. I mean, we can't expect to move immediately into a close parent-child relationship without going through some awkward stages first.
We'll be: strangers, visitors, playmates, irritants, those silly pale people who speak gibberish, and even those people who took me away from everything I've ever known AND much more. All this BEFORE we even get close to becoming: the people who comfort me, the people who take care of me, the people I trust, the people who will always be around, the people that have got my back, the people that provide my every need, the people that make me laugh, the people who read me stories and tuck me in, the people that love me and I maybe love too etc... mom.. dad...
There's quite a road ahead of us, we are more than aware. At this point, with our children not even knowing of our existence, it just feels like it's a road we can't even begin to travel... not really. Yes, we are on track with our adoption agency, immigration, the Ethiopian court, and the U.S. embassy etc.. to make these children legally ours. But, until the children are actually IN our lives - we can't begin to bond, form a relationship, and begin learning together how to BE a family. Agencies, courts, and governments can't really begin to touch that. That's up to us ... and we are ready for that phase and challenge. So, November... get your butt here already!!!
Well, on a lighter note: we also recently received updated pictures of our cuties. They are growing fast and looking good. Our one year old boy is sitting up in a chair and looking beyond adorable with his gorgeous eyes. He seems a bit hesitant with this whole sit there for a picture idea...but, is not visibly irritated as in one of the last updates Our 3 year old girl is looking cute as ever as well. She is striking some fierce little poses that make me giggle just a bit. She has awesomely expressive eyebrows - that in previous pictures have shown her laughter and mischief... and are now showing a little attitude. She's already a true Greener... even if she doesn't yet know it!
Well, that's all I've got. You can breathe a sigh of relief... this update is finally over. Sorry, but since I update so infrequently I have to squeeze in a lot of stuff each time!
Have a good one!
Sean
We are excited to have found out that we have a November 22nd court date. We will be heading out to Ethiopia on the 15th of November. We are impatiently awaiting this trip as it will be the first time we get to meet our children. Well, they are "our" children in our hearts... not quite so legally - hence the trip to Ethiopia for a court date. Der. Keep up, guys! :-)
Anyhow, all sarcasm aside (well, probably not for long... I can only go 5 or so seconds at a time without it), we are thrilled to be heading to Ethiopia and having an opportunity to meet these beautiful blessings in the flesh. Not that (occasionally and obsessively) staring at their pictures is not great and all... but we'd kind of like to see the live action 3-D version... with sound included!
Also, we have known their sweet faces for 3 months now and already have grown attached to them and have fully integrated/"pictured" them into our lives (in our minds/hearts). But to them, we are nothing at this point. Not a picture. Not a thought. Not even a figment of their imagination. How sad is that? We've got to meet these kiddos already... I mean, we have to get those weird "who the crap are these random strangers and why are they in my personal space?" moments out of the way. I mean, we can't expect to move immediately into a close parent-child relationship without going through some awkward stages first.
We'll be: strangers, visitors, playmates, irritants, those silly pale people who speak gibberish, and even those people who took me away from everything I've ever known AND much more. All this BEFORE we even get close to becoming: the people who comfort me, the people who take care of me, the people I trust, the people who will always be around, the people that have got my back, the people that provide my every need, the people that make me laugh, the people who read me stories and tuck me in, the people that love me and I maybe love too etc... mom.. dad...
There's quite a road ahead of us, we are more than aware. At this point, with our children not even knowing of our existence, it just feels like it's a road we can't even begin to travel... not really. Yes, we are on track with our adoption agency, immigration, the Ethiopian court, and the U.S. embassy etc.. to make these children legally ours. But, until the children are actually IN our lives - we can't begin to bond, form a relationship, and begin learning together how to BE a family. Agencies, courts, and governments can't really begin to touch that. That's up to us ... and we are ready for that phase and challenge. So, November... get your butt here already!!!
Well, on a lighter note: we also recently received updated pictures of our cuties. They are growing fast and looking good. Our one year old boy is sitting up in a chair and looking beyond adorable with his gorgeous eyes. He seems a bit hesitant with this whole sit there for a picture idea...but, is not visibly irritated as in one of the last updates Our 3 year old girl is looking cute as ever as well. She is striking some fierce little poses that make me giggle just a bit. She has awesomely expressive eyebrows - that in previous pictures have shown her laughter and mischief... and are now showing a little attitude. She's already a true Greener... even if she doesn't yet know it!
Well, that's all I've got. You can breathe a sigh of relief... this update is finally over. Sorry, but since I update so infrequently I have to squeeze in a lot of stuff each time!
Have a good one!
Sean
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