While We Wait (1)

The Home Study will be complete this week, the official forms have all been gathered, and we are basically just waiting for our immigration to say we are eligible to adopt an orphan.  From the recent blogs I have read, most people have this in about 60 days from mailing in the form (I-600A).  We mailed ours on Jan 23rd so fingers crossed that by March 23rd we will have our approval in-hand and can send all our forms off to the U.S. and Ethiopian governments.  Patience is not my strongest trait...by far.  I want everything done NOW, and nothing drives me crazier than indecision and inaction  (Breathe Drea).  So, I am doing what I do best...over-analyzing every possible scenario and reading every book, article, blog, and post-it note that references Ethiopian adoption!

Here are some of the things occupying my time...

BOOKS



This is the best book I've read in a long time...it is the story of one woman in Ethiopia opening her heart and home to the orphans in her country.  However, the story is told in the broader context of the history of Ethiopia and  AIDs epidemic.  I cant even summarize the power of this book in one blog post.  Tor is reading it now, and I've seen him pick it up to read instead of playing video games...which says a lot these days.



This book is by the same author, but reveals the lighter side of the adoption journey.  She and her husband, a white Jewish couple in Atlanta have 4 "bio" children, a boy from Bulgaria, and 4 children from Ethiopia.  The book is so heartwarming and hilarious!



This is my current book, about a doctor who is actually mentioned in the first book I listed.  He moved to Ethiopia and ended up formally adopting (5) boys (the legal limit) and informally caring for many more.  He is pretty damn awesome too!

ETHIOPIAN ADOPTION BLOGS


Very informative (and its a black mom and white dad...HA!)
http://www.coilyembrace.com/coily-blogs/ethiopian-adoption-story

Super-cute twins adopted by a rather witty and fun-loving couple
http://whenwebelong.blogspot.com/2010/03/norwegian-nostalgia.html

ADOPTION JOURNEY VIDEOS

I love these...prepare to be moved

and then just a random favorite...Daddy and twin time

AND OF COURSE...WHAT HAS KEPT ME BUSIEST

MY ADOPTION SPREADSHEET WITH TIMELINE AND BUDGET (NERD!!)