Going...going....almost gone!

Thursday is a big day for our family....  the day we have been looking forward to for many months! Four members of the family are leaving for Ethiopia to meet our boys and attend our court case on Tuesday, April 5. Two younger members of the family will be having an adventure of their own here in town, staying with friends and grandparents. We ask that you would keep us all in your prayers for good health, for courage, safe travel, and for our court case- we are praying we pass court this first time. We will be trying to update our blog with pictures and stories while we are traveling if we are able to get internet access. At the very least we will be sure to post updates and pics once we get home. Thank you for your support, prayers and encouragement!

With Hugs and love..the Grant Family

The eager travelers

Here are the eager travelers taking a self-portrait during their travel conference call with America World. Perhaps we should have paid closer attention rather than take this picture, but hey...you want to capture these fun moments, right? Now...what did they say we should bring?!?

Good news, good news....

We had our pre-travel conference call yesterday, which was an exciting time and makes it feel like our upcoming trip is real and actually going to happen! We are so excited!  We are in the midst of shopping for last minute things and beginning to pack. Hurray!

Today we received more good news from America World...an update on the MOWA situation which stated:
 

We are writing to update you on the current situation in Ethiopia.  While meetings between Ethiopian government officials continue, we have seen positive steps.  Within MOWA, there have been significant and positive personnel changes which have resulted in overall staff turnover and changes in the adoption unit.  This unit is now called the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA).  We are hopeful and expectant that the new leadership will not only support processing an adequate number of favorable recommendation letters, but also implement policies that will best serve the children.  Due to the staffing changes, we anticipate much transition over the next few weeks.  However, we expect that once everyone is settled into their new positions, MOWCYA will work to process a higher number of recommendation letters than they currently are able to process. 

Another huge blessing today was receiving an update from Lifesong. We opened our email to find both large and small donations which will now cover our entire airline expenses for this first trip. We thank you and praise God for your generosity!! What a mighty God we serve -  One who works in hearts, minds and pocketbooks to bring blessings to others.
 
We are praying our case will have favor with the Ethiopian officials (especially those at MOWA who need to write our final approval letters) and we look forward to bringing the boys home as soon as possible. Once we pass court and officially become the boys' parents we can post pictures. Brace yourselves for the upcoming onslaught of pictures from this proud momma!!

Well...I'd better get packing!

Possible Problem

We have been receiving word the main agency in Ethiopia that oversees adoptions is about to dramatically reduce their caseload. At this time America World is unsure how this will affect the timeline of those of us already matched with kids. We ask for your prayers with regards to this issue...for our hearts to be at peace and rest in God's perfect timeline; for our boys to be well cared for and loved in Ethiopia. At this time we are still planning on flying to Ethiopia at the end of this month, but we are unsure when we will be able to return to Ethiopia in order to bring the boys home.

Here is what we learned today:

Government of Ethiopia Plans Major Slow-Down in Adoption Processing

March 9, 2011

Citing the need to work on quality and focus on more important strategic issues, the Government of Ethiopia’s Ministry of Women, Children, and Youth Affairs (MOWCYA)  will reduce to a maximum of five the number of adoption cases it processes per day, effective March 10, 2011.  Under Ethiopian adoption procedures, MOWCYA approves every match between prospective adoptive parents and an Ethiopian child before that case can be forwarded for a court hearing.  The U.S. Embassy is working with Ethiopian government officials and adoption agencies to learn more about this change in procedures.  We will continue to share information as it becomes available.

Given MOWCYA's current caseload, the U.S. Embassy anticipates that this change could result in an overall decline in case processing of some 90 percent.  If this change is implemented as proposed, we expect, that parents who have begun the process of adopting from Ethiopia but have not yet been matched with a child could experience significant delays.  It is not clear if this change in procedures would have any significant impact on cases in which MOWCYA has already approved matches. 

Prospective adoptive parents should remain in close contact with their adoption service provider to obtain updates on individual cases

COURT DATE!

We received the long-awaited "court date" phone call from America World this morning....we are thrilled to announce we are heading to Ethiopia for court on APRIL 5! There is much rejoicing and hollering and thanking God this morning in our home. Join with us in celebrating!

With happy, thankful hearts,

The Grants

Lessons in Waiting

I would like to recommend a great book to read called, You're Late Again, Lord! The Impatient Woman's Guide to God's Timing, by Karon Phillips Goodman.

My mother bought me this book years ago in a completely different season of my life, but as I am re-reading it now with this adoption wait taking place, it takes on new and fresh meaning. I think it will bless you and re-focus your heart back to God's faithfulness if you take time to read it. Here are a few highlights to tide you over in the meantime...

(this is a good time to go snag the "While I'm Waiting" song by John Waller from You Tube and play it in the background!  I sometimes just let that song play over and over during the day. So..imagine that great song playing lightly in the background right here....ready?....)

*We can renew our spirit and strength while we wait. Isaiah 40:31 - Those who WAIT on the Lord SHALL renew their strength.

*Moving closer to God every day is something you can do in the wait time. "You don't have to wait patiently when you learn to wait purposefully."

*The waiting time can be productive and dynamic. This "waiting room" is here so I can rediscover what I've lost and learn what I need to do. It is there so I can renew my strength and my spirit and move closer to God.

*"You can't wait purposefully and control the rest of the world at the same time."  (I love that!)

*Waiting is not about what is happening on the outside, it is about what is happening on the inside.

*God has a plan, a blessed syllabus for your life, and it's always charted from the inside out.

*Each wait should get us closer to God and grow us so we see God better.

*One of the reasons we are so hopelessly annoyed by the time we spend waiting is because the events are often completely out of our control. We are forced to sideline our plans until someone else completes his. Then we try to seek more control and we can't so we grow more frustrated.  The key is surrendering into God's arms and letting Him comfort me from the inside out.

*GOD'S sufficiency strengthens our spirit.

*Develop the faith to turn to God FIRST, not last.

*God wants you to come closer, but you can't do that if you're fighting Him and arguing with Him; if you can't give up the control you think you need.


Lord, I pray for all of us waiting to meet our new children and waiting to bring them home. I pray you will renew our strength and refresh our spirits. Help us to trust you completely, and to rest in the fact that your plan and your timeline are perfect. Help us to enjoy each day and grow closer to you each and every minute of this wait. Thank you, Lord!

"Why Ethiopia?"

We recently came across this You Tube video clip from another adoption blog and thought it was great. We are including it here to help others understand why our family chose Ethiopia.
Ethiopia Statistics Video