The Odd Calls Every Dispatcher Gets

Happy New Year!

Well, it is officially 2008! I can't believe it has been that long since the millennium- seems like that whole Y2K thing was just yesterday!

It's funny how tensions build over the holidays. Everyone has a limited level of tolerance for the behavior of others and we all get a little snappy if things aren't put together just right. I must say that there is a big part of me that is glad to see the holidays pass, mainly due to the influx of calls that come into the office. Take last night for example...
Funny thing about New Years celebrations, they can get loud! Celebration itself must be a foreign idea to many in our community because as I was working last night the 911 lines lit up at midnight with complaints of gun shots heard all over town. It is a difficult thing to try to convince someone that the sounds they hear may actually be something other than a weapon being fired (vehicle backfiring, construction work, firecrackers, etc.).
It takes a well trained ear to tell the difference between gun shots and fireworks and go figure- people actually light off fireworks for big celebrations regardless of what the law says!
We had our officers running every which way looking for the "lone gunman" who many believed capable of being in all corners of town at the same time firing his weapon for no apparent reason!
We went out (as we always do), but alas, no lone gunman. We did find some remnants of fireworks, but shockingly our reporting parties didn't want to meet with an officer for further explanation- they wanted us to check it out so that they could to go back to bed.
Those who work in the Law Enforcement profession don't get paid enough.
Happy New Year!

Paperwork Update

We received an email today from CHSFS letting us know that all of our paperwork has been gathered and handed over to our placement social worker. She will go over all of our file, review it backwards and forwards and let us know when/if we are approved to adopt through their agency. She will also be the one that will match us with our child/children (what a huge job)! The agency said it will take around a week for her to fully review all of the information she has, then she will finalization our approval with FCCA and we will receive our final dossier documents.
Apparently there are only two or three items that take little more than a signature from us, notarization, and state certification (done down in Sacramento). Once that is complete, we Fed Ex our completed dossier to CHSFS and they review it, gather our placement deposit funds and send it off to Ethiopia.
Unbelievably, Garrett and I have accumulated enough funds to move forward with this huge step and once it is completed we will officially be on the wait list!
Just today over 4 families received referrals of infants and toddlers from Ethiopia! What a tremendous gift for the holidays. It is strange how I have begun to form bonds with others in our same situation. There is such a joy that comes in knowing that another child has found a home and that another couples dream has come true! Love knows no boundaries and like any family made of flesh and blood, these families would and will travel across the world for their children to bring them home. By the grace of God, these families will finally been united!
It makes the wait easier, knowing that every day, families are being built!

The Evil Eye

Merry Christmas

Well, it is freezing cold outside and we are getting warnings of snow at 1000 feet! Who knows, we could have a white Christmas after all.
The last two days have been so nice. It has been in the 60's and sunny. I know, typical California weather. I look forward to enjoying a cold, white, beautiful Christmas next year. Maybe we will even have a little one to love on by then.
It has been a very low key Christmas in our house this year. The lights and tree are up and the Christmas tunes are playing, but I miss my family really badly this year.
I picture all of my nieces and nephews, brother, sister, and their families all gathered around their trees enjoying the holiday together. I miss that and I look forward to a future time when it will be easier to join them in their holiday celebration.
For now, Garrett and I celebrate together, with our spoiled little dog and our humble plastic tree. How great it is to enjoy the simplicity of the season together.
Here's to hoping that we all sleep in warm beds, with sweet dreams in our heads.
Merry Christmas!

Three Years of Married Life

I love today. Our three year anniversary. Wow. I love my husband, my best friend, my love.... ahhhhhhh. I know, totally cheesy, but true!
Merry Christmas Eve everyone!

Click here for cute picture and funny memories of Garrett and I:)
My Slideshow 11/13/07

Child Brides in Ethiopia

Waiting to be Waiting

O.K., I am a little discouraged. I got an email from Christine today saying that our paperwork is still in the verification process. Apparently FCCA goes through things with a fine tooth comb and finds any little errors that the previous 4-5 people didn't find. The timing of this process can vary depending on how much work is already on the desks of those in the department. After they have completed their "verification" it goes to CHSFS (our placement agency) for any further corrections before we finally get approval from them. I had hoped that things would go through before Christmas, but it is looking more like it won't happen until a week or two (I hope not) after the holiday!
That's not the only delay either. The time line is looking longer all the way around.
Initially, when we started this process, referrals were taking 5-6 months after your dossier was sent in. Now, couples are being quoted 6-9 months. We expect that our dossier will be filed by early January, which means that we are looking at a much longer wait than we thought. With the travel wait included and court closures in Ethiopia itself, we are much more likely to be traveling a year from now to pick up our baby(ies).
Why the wait? Primarily due to lack of personnel in the Ethiopian courts. The number of families requesting children has gone up and while the process has been streamlined (something everyone appreciates), the number of staff at the courthouse has not changed so paperwork is piling up. The children are the ones paying the highest price, as they are the ones that are left waiting, but adoptive families are anxious as well and are prayerful that the government on that side, will find some funding to hire more help.
When all of these changes came to our attention it was a little tough to take, I'll be honest. You think about 9 months of pregnancy- well add on another 6 and imagine the anticipation you would feel! Looking at it now, after spending some time really processing things, we are ready for whatever God's timing may be (let's hope it sooner than we think)!