Timing is Everything and the Hardest thing!

As I have mentioned before, our adoption process is a long one. Many have asked what the timeframe and process is. It is definitely not set in stone and has lots of variables that can affect it drastically, but here is a general overview of our steps and timetable.

Selection of Agency
Agency Application
Acceptance into Ethiopia Program-3-4 days
Home Study (Lots of paperwork, interviews, educational classes, and a home evaluation)-6-8wks.
Immigration Application/Fingerprinting-about 8 wks (WE ARE HERE-our immigration app was turned in last week)
Dossier (A LOT more paperwork!!!!)-6-9months
Referral of Child-6-8wks
1st Ethiopian trip (Meet our child and go to court for adoption proceedings)
Unfortunately we have to return to the US without our baby (Part I am most nervous about)
8-12wks later
2nd Ethiopian trip-Embassy clearance and Bring baby home!!!!
This entire process takes 1-2 years-that is quite a time range, huh?! So right now we have about 7 wks before we get our immigration approval. Our  Dossier is almost complete just a couple more things to add. It will be ready and waiting when we get out approval, then the LONG wait until we have our child referral.
We would really appreciate your prayers for the Ethiopian gov't right now. There are some major changes in the area that handles adoption.We want everything done in a concise, but ethical manner that is in the best interest of all orphaned children there. They have 4.6 MILLION orphans in Ethiopia.
Thank you all so very much for your support, love, and prayers!

Adding to our Family

In January 2011, we began the process of expanding our family through adoption from Ethiopia. We are so very excited about our addition on the way. We want to keep you updated on our journey, as it is a very long process!

For us, adoption is a God-inspired dream. If you want a little background on our story please look here. There is a ton more information on orphan-care, the adoption process, and our story that we want to share with you.  We also want to answer all the questions that are probably running through your mind right now. We hope this is a good avenue to do that over the next few months.

During this time of waiting that we are in, we truly cherish your prayers.

The LONG Version

The summer after my freshman year in college I went on a missions trip to Uganda. That is where this all begins-I fell in love with Africa! Not only was it the most beautiful place that I had ever seen, but the people there are like nothing I had ever experienced. Although they lived in extreme poverty, joy filled their soul and body so much it made their faces glow! We were building playgrounds in a couple of hte villages, and the children were absolutely incredible. My heart was never the same.That trip was only a couple of weeks, but I knew I would return.

Jump ahead a couple of years to the summer after my junior year. I had the oppurtunity to be a part of a summer long missions trip to Kenya and Tanzania. On this adventure I traveled around these countries along with 3 other American students and 6 Kenyans. I was able to see more of this gorgous land and become engulfed in the culture. Once again, when I left, I knew I would be back again one day.
Its a lot easier to go on these trips when you are a carefree college student-once I graduated, got married, and entered "the real world" I wasn't quite sure when and how I would be able to return to this place and people I loved.
  
If you know Jonathon, you know he is nothing short of AMAZING (ok I may be a little biased)! Although he is fabulous, he didn't exactly have the same passion I did for East Africa. Thats not really his fault, because he had not actually been there like I had. When we got married, I prayed that if the Lord wanted to use this passion I had for Africa, that HE would have to put that desire in Jonathon's heart as well. We didn't talk about it a lot, it was just always something in the back of my mind. 


During this time, I was a Resident Director of one of the ladies dorms as Trevecca. Basically, we lived in the dorm that I was in charge of. We knew that whenever we felt our days in the dorm were over, we would be looking for a place to live and I would be looking for a new job. We both started praying that God would make HIS plans clear to us.We began to discuss some possible missions related options. We knew that if we were ever going to do anything like this, NOW was the time. Another long story shortened...we had the chance to live in Kenya for 5 months through a volunteer missions program. 

We lived on the Nazarene campus and God was able to use our feeble talents to help out at the University.Very close to campus there was an orphanage that we were able to walk to about once a week to spend time and play with the children. Needless to say Jonathon was hooked. God had opened his heart in a way that only HE can to this place and these people so that we could share this passion. 
We knew it was time for us to return to the states but we also knew our journey with East Africa was not over yet. 

If you know us, you know when we returned we settled back in Nashville, God provided a job for Jonathon, and shortly after our return I got pregnant with Emory. Although we currently reside in the US and feel incredibly blessed to live in this free country, there remains a part of our heart that is on the other side of the world. From my first trip to Uganda 10 years ago I knew God had a bigger plan than I could imagine. Which brings us to where we are right now...after a decade of prayer, we are in the process of adoption from Ethiopia.