A Praise!

Oh my word, since there have been so many detours on this journey, once something positive happens, there is MAJOR REJOICING in our home!!!

We received an email this morning that our I-604 investigation has been completed.  This is the process that is required and implemented by the US government.  Our paperwork has been forwarded from the US Embassy in Addis back to the USCIS office in the United States (where the process began).  At this point, we will now be waiting for our PAIR letter to arrive in the mail.  This feels like a huge hurdle we finally overcame so we are thrilled to feel like we are moving forward again.  (To my neighbors - yes - you will be seeing me stalk the mailman until this document is in my hands.)

Additionally, as I've mentioned several times, on the Ethiopian side of the process, we have been waiting for a Regional Head/Director to sign a document.  It has been difficult to figure out whey she wasn't signing, what she was looking for, when she would sign, IF she would sign... you get the picture.  However, just last week we received an outline of three things she has requested in order to sign our paperwork.  We are ecstatic that there is a plan in place and the potential to move forward in this regard.

As will all things adoption related, it's difficult, if not impossible, to guess a time frame for this to happen.  The courts are closed now in Ethiopia, but these three requirements and her signing can all still happen during the closure.  Our hope and prayer is that these things will be accomplished within a couple of weeks, but realistically, we know it could take longer.  As soon as she signs, a court date will be scheduled for sometime after the courts re-open around October 15. (That first one we do not attend).  After the first court date occurs, then OUR court date where we DO attend is scheduled and we will book our flights to Ethiopia.

BE STILL MY HEART.

Please continue to pray for those little hearts over there.  Also, now that we have a specific understanding of what needs to happen, please pray that it happens SOON!!!