Well the dossier is done and has finally been approved by our agency. We just got word that our I-600A (petition for an orphan) is being processed. Brian sent off the power of attorney and the cover letter for the dossier to Columbia, SC for authentication. Once we get that back the dossier will be couriered to Washington, DC. Seems like the adoption could take another 6 - 12 months. On top of all of this it is my understanding that we still need approval from our government to adopt.
In the midst of all of this I believe God has been working on my heart. It's so weird to feel love for a child I have never met or even seen his face. I just know God has a child out there for us! I am excited, anxious, nervous...so many emotions. I am praying for our son, wherever he may be and whatever he is going through. That God will keep him healthy and safe! One day he will be with his forever family! We have decided to give him an American name and keep his Ethiopian given name as his middle name. His name will be Noah.
A couple of months ago, Selah our daughter, bought Noah a stuffed animal that turns into a blanket. She is going to give it to him when we go to pick him up. She said it can be his blanket for on the plane ride home! She is such a thoughtful big sister!
Prayer request: Please pray that we will be able to pay off the adoption fees quickly. Also pray for favor in all of our dealings with the adoption. That we will get approved and the process will all happen when it is meant to happen...in God's time!
Thanks everyone and God Bless!

We are experiencing our first frustration with the adoption process...the homestudy!!!
We had our homestudy back in August and here it is January and no final notatarized draft!!! What has been the most frustrating is to speak with others going through the process to find out that the homestudy was the quickest paperwork that they received. A few weeks ago we approved the 'final draft' and were told we would have the notarized copy right away. On top of that at one point during the process I was told that time was ticking and we needed to get this done. Yet there doesn't seem to be a fire lit under our provider!
If you read this please pray for our patience and that I don't go crazy on our social worker, thus endangering our chances of an approval! Please pray we will get this paperwork this week!