Changes in our Adoption Process

We received some pretty unexpected news today....as many of you know, currently with Ethiopian adoptions, families are only required to travel once. You pass court before you travel, and then go once to Ethiopia to pick up your child and bring them home.
As of this morning, a new policy was passed in Ethiopia in response to some recent occurrences of some 41 failed adoptions because these adoptive families (NOT from our agency!) decide their child is not who they thought they were! Yeah...don't get me started on that one!
But anyway, starting immediately, all families will be required to take two trips to Ethiopia. The first will be 3-4 weeks after you receive your referral. That trip will require the presence of both parents to meet and bond with your child, and then sign the adoptive contract in person. After that time, the court proceedings will take place. Once court has been passed (they're estimating 6-8 weeks after your first trip), another trip will be needed to bring your child home. This trip can be either one or both parents.
I know this in the best interest of everyone, but purchasing airfare two times in a matter of a couple months to Ethiopia...ouch!
As some of our fellow adoptive families from our agency have said though, we'll now have two chances to bring donations to Hannah's Hope, and get to meet our child that much earlier. I'm trying to look on the bright side of things!
Our agency has been awesome at keeping us updated about everything.

"Thank you Lord for an agency that cares about its families, the children they're serving, and the God in charge! Bring our baby/ies home soon." Amen.

Our New Official Waiting List Numbers!

So we received a call from our caseworker yesterday and we received our latest wait list numbers. We are now officially.....
#46 for Girls
and
#20 for Siblings

Yeah! We're praying the numbers keep on moving!